[Jake]

For one silly moment there I thought you were referring to West Indian Charlie Griffiths

Just showing my age

[old crust]

Originally Posted by Jake

For one silly moment there I thought you were referring to West Indian Charlie Griffiths

Just showing my age

Standards around chucking have fallen so much that Charlie Griffiths action would not even be looked at today. The game is much poorer for the lax attitude to an important part of cricket.

[Frankie]

Arise Sir Jimmy Anderson the Burnley Lara strikes again (for the first time). Aided by a top innings from Joe Root.

But what was Dhoni thinking about? No strategy or even a basic game plan. Seemed to me he was waiting for something to happen and what a long wait he and his team had.

[Jake]

It made for watching a great first session this morning though, didn't it ?

[old crust]

We are starting to see the down side of the installation in recent years of drainage systems on English grounds. Three test matches so far and three dead decks.

Frankie, you are spot on with Dhoni, very poor leadership and by leaving Ashwell out, poor selection an'all.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Jake

It made for watching a great first session this morning though, didn't it ?

Your right there J. I thought it would all be over in the first few balls. Then I thought maybe get the lead down to under 100 runs, possibly 75 runs. But to be runs ahead and batting into the afternoon session was amazing. Plus keeping India in the field for 2.5 hours in the morning + + + all the other stuff.

An amazing morning session, with records broken from what was a desperate situation.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by old crust

We are starting to see the down side of the installation in recent years of drainage systems on English grounds. Three test matches so far and three dead decks.

Frankie, you are spot on with Dhoni, very poor leadership and by leaving Ashwell out, poor selection an'all.

I will spout on about Anderson but when tailenders are weighing in so heavily with the runs in the same Test match there has to be an issue with the track. It seems numerous grounds have installed super fast drainage systems that have withdrawn too much moisture resulting in lifeless wickets. Easy to bat on but will result in the team batting first putting on a good score with the opposition then doing likewise as the bowlers cant get any assistance. Result, loads of drawn Tests that wont interest paying punters.

Couldnt understand what Dhoni's thoughts were in the morning session. Started with seamers, that didnt work but kept going with it anyway. Result Anderson settled in and Root, as he should be, was in control. Couldnt understand why Dhoni didnt revert to spin at one end after 8 overs or so, then rotate the seamers from the other end. Plus let one of the batsmen bowl some flighted filth and see if Anderson would have a dip. Mix and match, change things to try and upset the batsmens rythm. But no.

Holding summed it up best on commentary with "Whats the defintion of madness? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time. Well thats what Dhoni is doing".

[Frankie]

Well Jimmy got Man of the Match, well deserved IMO as without his batting effort Root would have been left high and dry and England would have been facing a big first innings defecit.

India could have then applied some preassure and with England's ability to capitulate, Cook out of form anything could have happened.

[foz]

Cook has to step down .Hes clueless and field placings,and its had a massive down turn in form.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by foz

Cook has to step down.

Its looking more like that as every innings goes by without a score.

Anyway on to Lords. After the dead wicket Test at Trent Bridge a green track is served up. I bet Cook was bricking himself when the coin was spinning. England win toss, put India in and fail to bowl them out on day one on a wicket ideally suited to seam bowling.

IMO at the end of Day Two India are ahead on points as well as runs.