Summary

  • Pant hits 91 off 88 balls after India fall to 73-4

  • Pujara out for 73 after ball loops off short leg's back and into hands of mid-wicket

  • Bess has Kohli caught at bat pad; Rahane falls to superb Root catch

  • Archer removes Rohit & Gill with new ball

  • First Test, day three, Chennai

  1. Postpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    I think in Test cricket Archer tries to bat too properly. He should go out and start swinging, really be aggressive. When he's tried to play a technical defensive shot he has not looked comfortable. When we've seen him score a few runs it's because he's been hitting and striking the ball.

    Jofra ArcherImage source, BCCI
  2. Ind 253-6published at 73 overs

    Jofra was ramping the pace up throughout that over. He started with a 78mph delivery before getting up to 84mph.

    He looks exhausted. He hasn't played Test cricket since August remember, and hasn't played any cricket since a Twenty20 in South Africa in December.

    Sundar takes a single off the over.

  3. Postpublished at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Here's an attacking move for you, Ant.

    Jofra Archer is back into the attack. He's probably got time for two overs.

    Good move from Joe Root.

  4. Postpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    I wouldn't particularly say Alastair Cook or Andrew Strauss were attacking captains and look what they achieved for England.

    It is far too early to say this game is going to be a draw. England are more than capable of adding very quick runs with Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Ollie Pope etc tomorrow.

    Relax, Ant.

    BessImage source, BCCI
  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:21 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

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    Root is not an attacking captain. He waits for things to happen, rather than making them happen. Draw written all over this.

    Ant, Bham.

  6. Ind 252-6published at 72 overs

    Jack Leach has been much better since Rishabh Pant got out, but Washington Sundar punishes him for bowling a half-volley with a lovely drive to the fence.

    He is getting a fair bit of spin and bounce, though. England will be hoping this pitch just keeps getting worse.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    #bbccricket

    Jeremy Garrett: Would be a genius piece of sledging if someone says to Ashwin: “Can’t wait to get you to the Gabba, Ash”

  8. Ind 247-6published at 71 overs

    BessImage source, BCCI

    Another maiden for Dom Bess - he's bowled five now. He's offered England a lot more control today than he did in Sri Lanka.

    England are rushing around between overs now. They are definitely wary of their over-rate.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

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    Re John in Leeds (11.00), West Indian Lawrence Rowe averaged 314 after two innings, so not quite top of the tree. Still a magnificent achievement though.

    Stuart in London

  10. Ind 247-6published at 70 overs

    Just those two runs off the over.

    India are a mammoth 330 runs behind still. I can't imagine many of you envisaged England being in this position when we won the toss on day one.

  11. dropped catch

    Sundar dropped on 25published at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Ah, Jofra!

    Washington Sundar has had enough of trying to defend out of the rough and attempts a big ol' heave ho but it goes more up than anywhere, but Jofra Archer, back-pedalling, looking back over his shoulder, drops it.

    He gets both hands to it, but it pops out, and he can't quite clutch it on the rebound.

    It would have been a very good catch and would definitely have done Jack Leach the world of good.

  12. Postpublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    I remember when Brian Lara got his world record, Michael Atherton came over to me when Lara was on 60 and said 'Brian's batting well, I think he might break the world record'.

    I couldn't believe what I was hearing - he needed about 300 and odd! He was right though.

  13. Ind 245-6published at 69 overs

    I'm almost certain that England will bat again. There is no way they will want to bat last on this pitch. The questions are more how quickly can England bowl India out now? How long can they afford to bat for? How long do they need to bowl India out second time round?

    They will want at least four sessions at them second time round so England may only have a session and a bit, at best, to add runs.

    Just a single from Bess' over.

  14. Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    Yes! These are the things which go through your head when you're skipper.

  15. Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    Did you just say England will be worried India could score a quick 450?

  16. Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on the Cricket Social

    England will be worried India could get a quick 450 if they followed on.

    SundarImage source, BCCI
  17. Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Dom Bess is going to replace Ben Stokes.

    England are going to have to go some to get nine overs in, but they won't want to lose too many of them. It could come back to haunt them.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

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    LeachImage source, BCCI

    Joel Heritage: Think everyone seems to be forgetting how awful England are at bowling out the tail with all this talk of the follow-on.

  19. Ind 244-6published at 68 overs

    Need another 135 runs to avoid the follow-on

    Washington Sundar definitely doesn't look entirely comfortable against Jack Leach with the ball pitching in the rough but he's battling hard for his team. He's up to 24 off 48 balls.

    India need this pair to get them through to the end of the day.

  20. Postpublished at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on the Cricket Social

    It feels like England won't have a better chance to beat India than they have now. Whatever they do, do it with positivity.