Thinking about waiting for the new ball, a wicket or two and having a little bet on the draw.  I still maintain the Lords pitch is great to bat on.  India are showing here how easy it will be over the next two days.  England should bat all day Saturday and score say 300.  It may rain Saturday possibly curtailing play to one or two sessions  England could be 500 by end of Staurday and a lead of 250, maybe more.  I cannot see how India could win the game from a position like that.

Doh, cancelled my draw bet.  England could still stuff this up with shoddy batting.  Lets see how the new ball goes.  I cannot see the ball swinging around tomorrow like it has today but then that is the question. It will be hot and humid and India do have the bowlers to exploit any swing.

Happy with my England lay at present.  England have not made the most of their opportunity.  Shameful waste by people paid money to play cricket.  The Captain and management should also bear responsibility although I doth my cap and tug my forelock to Captain Co ck re Moen's wicket of Jadeja who should not have been playing in any case.  Dhoni and Indian selectors also culpable of dumb dumb's

Might have a speculative punt on india here, and hope they can neutralise this new ball

England were 200-7 on a flat one at trent bridge. Only Andersons heroics bailed them out. Could see similar here with englands top order.

top knock from bhuvi.  Got India back into the game.

(Rahul Dravid) "India will be happy. They were in danger of being bowled out for 160-170, but Ajinkya Rahane has been superb and if they can get to 240-250, that is par on this pitch."

I'm all over India as well. Keep topping up and having more on!

India won't bowl short like we have.

Not sure about this score on this pitch. Commies getting excited to see some greenery but as the excellent Rahane is proving, the ball comes on, the outfield is fast and with pace on the ball from England, he's flourishing.

Great to see some seam movement.

If I prepare a pitch like that I get marked down....The ECB instruction says (to get a 5/5) 'at best, limited seam movement throughout the match'.

a '2' is for 'more than occasional seam movement throughout the match'.

If I prepare a pitch with turn, I get marked down. 'Considerable' turn I get a 2....

Wonder if Lord's will get 2...

Yep. Shame he got out, I was enjoying it!

magnificent and memorable knock.  Probably a series saving innings.  I agree about the pitch.  I think it is good and England will score well but might get the occasional jaffer.  More chance of India pitching it up to get any swing.  Whatever a great days cricket.  England wasted a big chance here.

I shall be at Lords on Sunday too, weather should be ok. Edrich Stand, Row L. Upper Tier!

Do you think there is any mileage in abtting on overnight using the light roller and declaring or is it best just to bat on and see how many they can get.  I see no reason to pork around as the sun will continue to dry the strip out.  Best to get Captain Co ck in as soon as possible

any chance this pair will make a ton?

If you'd said to India at 11am this morning "You'll still be batting tomorrow" they'd have taken that.

I'm there on Sunday too!

WD - you'll need a hat up there!

Green again!  What a day wasted by England.

India still playing to save the game imho but may well have done enough today the give themselves a real good chance.  Who knows the way things have gone if they can have a lead over England!  Good luck all tomorrow. I am definately not betting any more but will be enjoying the game.

i'm not sure how much mick hunt can really do to make this different from all the other lord's wickets, other than leave plenty of grass on it.

it's not the first time it's been a bit green either.

normally you'd expect it to get better and better to bat on with minimal deterioration, particularly with the grass holding it together, and if the weather was set fair for the next five days, somewhat counter-intuitively, the draw seems very big.

however with the rain due, you'd think that the atmospheric conditions as well as the rain retarding the pitch completely drying out, will keep the bowlers in this all match.

absolutely critical england go well tomorrow, with probably the best conditions in the match to establish dominance, and for that reason a bet on india for the rest of their innings as well the first half hour of england's, seems a very attractive position.

YES,i laughed at that.

Injera,

I am extremly concerned the GF has thrown out my Guiness hat!  Can't abide baseball caps but needs must! we might have to have a betfair meet up at some stage, probably AM,  I am not too good in the afternoon on account of living and drinking with boorish people!  I don't do football chants but may well give Captain Co ck, Prior and Andersen the bird for fun but I do want to see some great cricket from either side.

I like the occasion Joe, behind the bowlers arm is a great view.  I put up with the prices as I refuse to allow it to rain on my parade but bring a great packed lunch salami, cheeses, olives etc.  I might go Monday too as I am in the area.