Cricket

I just want to see Root come in and enjoy himself! This is such a rare opportunity for him over the past few years, to come in at such a dominant position, no pressure, just have fun. He deserves it. Malan must be licking his lips too and I could imagine Bairstow really enjoying the chance to engage one-day mode against tiring bowlers...

All of this is obviously horrible fate-tempting and we'll struggle to a 120 lead...

Shame for Hameed. But he had got himself a bit bogged down.

God I love Joe Root

Can't figure out whether Root and co are trying to score quickly or just build a huge total today and tomorrow ... wish they'd make up their minds.

Root on 43/53 balls suggests quick scoring is now the plan?

I mean, just pile on the runs, take your time, win by an innings. Simple stuff really, and for once Root can play with some freedom.

India truly have lost the plot with this fielding

Interesting to see if they'll just try and bat through, post such a score (and give batsmen some time to bat and try to claim some form) and hope to not have to bat again or if they want to accelerate a bit and maybe get India in for 45 mins at the end of the day. With the forecast suggesting some weather around and going from the speed Root has scored at just now, I reckon they'll do the latter which is probably correct. We NEED to win this, and if we might lose some time from the game we should go to up the scoring. Especially with Bairstow, Buttler, Moeen and Curran to come. Got some depth to score quickly...

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

or if they want to accelerate a bit and maybe get India in for 45 mins at the end of the day

Can't see any reason to declare on day 2. Maybe at this point tomorrow when the lead is ~500 yes, but not on day 2.

Yep, got to take into consideration there are back to back tests, so might as well try and wear out their bowlers as much as possible

The weather forecast would be the reason, but looking now I can't see whatever the commentators were alluding to earlier so would agree entirely...

Heh, talk of declarations have brought England back to normal practice.

There's a value, to the team, in having been able to bat through a complete day.
Now Eng are for 7 this is becoming increasingly unlikely.

Another strong finish: 40 from the last 10 overs.

All these overs haven't left the indian bowlers looking fresh

Bit of a flurry of wickets at the end there, some silly dismissals, a bit complacent. Good to see Curran easily avoiding his third duck though, and Overton looked comfortable.

I can see England coming back out tomorrow just to mess India up a bit, even if it only lasts 10 minutes. A lead of 350 and three days to get India out, lovely stuff.

England have avoided falling into the trap of throwing back the sass at India after Lords so far.

But copying the delayed declaration sems a good ploy to disrupt the batsman.

Throughly enjoyable day today apart from the northerly wind blowing into the top of the big new stand.

I’ve never seen someone score a hundred as effortlessly as Root. Majestic.

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Ooh - nice one. Well jealous.

Just glad I get to see us bat for a little bit tomorrow, shithouse some runs from the tail.

Two days of good cricket, pinch me

Malan looked decent. Very pleasing to see him playing test cricket again.

Dare I say they all looked good albeit on a flat pitch. It’s not fair to judge Bairstow, Moeen or Buttler because they were sent out to move the score along.

I don’t think England will need to bat again.

Apologies to Jonny Bairstow,
if any of my upthread comments doubted his performance at slip.

Great session that. India’s openers have properly scrapped in the face of a good probing.

Reckon Root had that covered if it hadn’t stuck in Bairstow’ skirt.

Inverse commentators curse ftw.

We're* on our way!

(* optimistic, vicarious use of 'we').