Come on Root and Cook hurry up

Cook now has the highest average out of any opener?

Moving away from this match briefly, Somerset are going to be involved in another low scoring thriller, although this one is at the Ageas Bowl rather than Taunton. They were all out for 106 but Hampshire are 16/3 in reply

Back to this game, Cook and Root have been going at 4.2 an over today so another hour of that should get the lead over 400 by tea. They may look to accelerate but no real desperate need to.

I see also that James Hildreth's form has deserted him at the worst possible time

To be fair Denly and Gubbins are probably ahead of him in the pecking order anyway, and if Jennings is being kept in the side on the basis of his "strength vs spin" then there's no room for any of them anyway, assuming Burns gets the nod for the other opening spot.

Not that Jennings has shown any strength against any type of bowling this summer, but I'm just trying to think like the selectors here.

Not now, I think he had it before - but Cook has the highest average out of any opener.

I keep looking at the score. 300+ for 2 wickets. So unfamiliar.

comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 5 minutes ago
Not now, I think he had it before - but Cook has the highest average out of any opener.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Gavaskar is still ahead of him. Certainly the rest of the 10,000-run club batted 3-5.

Unless you mean for England maybe? I don't know that one off the top of my head but I could certainly believe that's true.

This is surely the best evidence anyone could ask for of the importance of psychology in top-level sport. Incredible what a difference it has made to Cook's performance now there's no pressure on his shoulders.

comment by HaaK (U11574)
posted 6 minutes ago
I keep looking at the score. 300+ for 2 wickets. So unfamiliar.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This feels like 5-6 years ago with Strauss, Cook, Trott and KP giving us a formidable top 4.

Root gone.

Someone go out there and whack it ffs

I say 5-6, Strauss retired some 6 years ago so more like 7-8!

Cook gone

comment by TCM (U8959)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by HaaK (U11574)
posted 6 minutes ago
I keep looking at the score. 300+ for 2 wickets. So unfamiliar.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This feels like 5-6 years ago with Strauss, Cook, Trott and KP giving us a formidable top 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And I also mean in terms of us being 300+/2. Obviously Cook and Root have contributed the majority of these runs.

the 3rd wicket falls at 94.1 overs. That's about 85 overs later than usual.

Strauss was a seriously underrated player. Feels like the only stat people remember about him is that one where our #1 bat (Strauss) had a lower Test top score than our #11 at the time (Broad).

His average was around the 41 mark across 100 Test matches. Can't argue with that.

Well, how about that. Both out in the same over to a part-timer.

Oh well. Alastair Cook, I doff my cap sir. Well fecking played

Vihari on a hattrick, fair play lad.

Root
Cook

Now the lower middle order boys can come in for the sorts of scenarios they'd love to come in for more often. However they still need to make sure India don't get a few more as we'll still be looking for a lead around the 450 mark.

Yeah, after everything that's said about how we have a desctructive middle order and all they need is a solid platform... just watch them fall apart now

Bairstow GONE

England to finish all out for under 400 chasing quick runs

Buttler GONE

As Kash says....

Buttler GONE

Terrific

The lead is 400, I repeat, the lead is 400.

To be expected really, whilst there's not loads of demons in the pitch, it's not a flat ODI wicket where you can come out and score quickly as soon as you walk out to bat.

I expect Moeen and Rashid will have bowled a lot of overs by the end of tomorrow if India set out to draw this game.

No real need to bat beyond tea, but this England setup is very cautious so I expect we'll push for the 450 lead.