Fourth day
Bob Tickler called it right that India would bat until around lunchtime. After a superb knock of 235 by Vitaj Kohli they had an unassailable lead of 231 runs. They also had 4 sessions to bowl England out and Allan Lamb thought they only needed one. The game could be defined in one word – spin: England can neither deliver it in the same quality nor play it. Only Keaton Jennings and Joe Root have played spin convincingly because they get down the wicket and onto the front foot. The rest stay in the crease like rabbits in the headlights and fail to read it getting themselves caught or lbw. Root even used the sweep to some effect. It was otherwise pitiable to watch and one wonders what batting coach Ramprakash, who would have faced the likes of Mushtaq Ahmed himself once in the England set up – and Saqlain, Harbinjer Singh – has taught them. England’s only forlorn hope is that Buttler, Woakes and Bairstow can stay in long enough and score enough runs that India have a run chase to win. This seems unlikely and the view in the box is that we will be sightseeing in Bombay by lunch.
Only 2 wickets have been taken by seamers. Jimmy Anderson as senior pro damned Jake Ball with faint praise but the former has yet to take a wicket. He will be hard to dislodge from the team but he has made no impact this series. Allan Lamb met with Keaton Jennings – his father is friend of his – and the debutant said he came to the side with no fear . Sadly he could not replicate his 100 and must make a record for a century and golden duck on debut. Mooen Ali is another who has not enhanced his reputation and he fell cheaply. We desperately need a number five sheet anchor. In the emphasis to improve white ball performance we have too many bits and pieces players, too many left-handed batters who are meat and grist to Ashwin and Alistair Cook looks tired in and from his captaincy. This is to take nothing away from India who are far from a one man side. Yadav at number 9 scored a century and took the crucial wicket of Root and Ashwin is no mug with the bat.
It’s a noisy crowd and we are rather sealed from it all in our box as well as the searing heat. Particularly the ladies in the party tend to chat inconsequentially which I find distracting as it’s been an absorbing Test and there is always something to watch. Beers are served in the box but I prefer water – bottled of course. I have enjoyed the whole experience of test cricket which is healthier in India than reports suggested. Kohli is becoming as popular and revered as a Gavaskar or Tendulkar, both of whom have stands named after them. He is only 27 and his is the biggest score by an Indian captain.
India’s superiority is defined by a discussion we had as to who of the England team would make their side. We only thought Root, Bairstow and possibly Stokes and Broad. That makes for a 7-4 majority. Enough said.
