Yup not to many big offerings considering the downside but run lines was fun

Draw price trying to liven things up.

It does look ridiculously easy to bat.

Bbut then that one just deviated by about a foot from outside leg!

That was *a lot* trickier than Pope's but boy oh boy, have we wasted some golden chances so far

*not ropey but like it has (and will) deteriorate!

Can’t see anything but an India win

But I want to be entertained

Fancy unders on the run line, up to 371 but I shall wait and hope for 400

Wow, great stat...

6 out of 7 innings in India, England have made 50+ opening partnership. The one time they didn't, it was 45.

Serious foundations, those.

It should be inconsistent and overly risky, the England approach.

Waiting for the draw to collapse to get laying

This is bat sheite crazy!

From England's perspective, shame the big no-ball was the ball before...

Well, well - just wonderful from England, once again.

The fact we're making a game of anything is exceeding most predictions before we set sail.

That we're one apiece, going toe-to-toe and scrambling Indian heads in their own back yard, is beyond the pale.

Bat the same number of overs as India and we'll have 750

Great to support. Great just to witness.

Ended last night with Sunil Gavaskar stating the West Indies should perhaps consider playing T20 style cricket in their Test matches.

Fast-forward seven overs into the morning (where England have - not unironically - gone at under 3 per over)...they lose two wickets and Joe Root should come out and dot his first 20 balls likes Stokes

I would come right back at them with the fact we have allowed the bowlers to bowl a little more this morning - in much the opposite way to how our openers typically walk out and play.

And just look what has transpired...!

It is certainly easy to walk out at 200/2 and be drawn into a touch of caution and consolidation. We've gotten right into/ahead of the game with yesterday's batting and they're also down a frontline bowler.

But Alastair Cook (genuine great that he is) suggesting Root should have come out and tried to 'see off Bumrah' belies everything that they have praised yesterday, and betrays an almighty lack of understanding.

Bring in KP, or Eoin Morgan, or DK to shed some legitimate insight into where/how perhaps Root/England have gone awry in the first hour.

morning Apt. - hope u r well mate..

I have a slight issue with Root's approach just because of the quality of player he is ...

is he more likely to average 50 playing as he has recently or playing as he used to..? ...a lot of other players don't have the technique to play like him and have more than proved that they benefit by being very aggressive and average more than they would if they tried to play conventionally..not sure that's true of him.

of course he might just be a bit out of touch ..

I thought it was his time this match (and yet could be).

All I'd proffer is he's averaged more under Stokes/McCullum than prior (which includes this teeny drought) so he's probably capable of going both ways.

could well be so Apt...just my take on him.

could well be so Apt...just my take on him.

Yup, don't disagree either.

I reckon he's not bang in his best nick and as such, perhaps could trim the outlying 10% of his shots until he feels tip-top.

Also would add that being becalmed for 5/6 overs and then attempting that as your first foray into attacking realms might be sub-optimal

yep..

Jadeja still not bowled..radio speculating possible injury issue..

First day was frustrating sense of a missed opportunity.

Second day was mega.

Third day disappointing beginnings from such a potentially glorious position. (I genuinely woke thinking 600+ was ~50/50)

All the above and we have a Test that can go every possible way from here - love it!