A gradual but inevitable descent into cricket-based loathing and bile.
England vs India, Third Test: Day Three Review
India 224 all out (Dhoni 77, Bresnan 4-62, Broad 4-53) & 35/1 (Anderson 1-18)
England 710/7 dec (Cook 294, Morgan 104, Mishra 3-150)
In a sentence
England piled up their third-highest ever score and Alastair Cook scored a career best 294 as a one-sided series became ever more one-sided.
Player of the day
It can only be the man who came within six runs of a maiden triple hundred which would have been only the third by an England player since the second world war; one Alastair Cook. This was not a flashy or even especially attractive innings. It was full of nudges into gaps, sharp running and incredible concentration for over 13 hours at the crease. A remarkable achievement from a player who will, barring something extraordinary happening, break all English batting records.
Alastair Cook's mammoth batting effort has all but ensured England's upcoming status as world number one
Moments of the day
Take your pick. Cook reaching milestone after milestone. Eoin Morgan’s second Test century; a slightly fortuitous one given his two escapes yesterday, but still a fine achievement for a player over whom question marks remain. Tim Bresnan’s mighty six during his second successive excellent innings with the bat. The indolent Virender Sehwag picking up the 13th king pair in Test match history. On the negative side, the farcical removal of the players for bad light on two occasions left a sour taste in the mouth and we possibly saw the end of Ravi Bopara’s Test career as he departed limply for 7.
Outlook for tomorrow
England will fancy their chances of wrapping up the series and the world no 1 ranking against an Indian line-up which, the admirable Praveen Kumar and Rahul Dravid apart, appears to have little appetite for the fight. The amount of turn extracted by Graeme Swann – unfortunate not to claim the wicket of Gautam Gambhir near the close of play – suggests that he may finally make a meaningful contribution for the first time in the series.
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5 Comments
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1
James Knight
13 Aug 2011 01:24
I don’t have as big a problem with him as some people seem to, I just think he isn’t quite good enough technically. There’s no question that he has the right temperament to succeed at this level – I’ve been very impressed this summer with the control he’s shown when he’s actually got in. I think there were worries that he’d get carried away with the scoops and sweeps he uses in one day cricket, but he’s shown excellent awareness of when to use those in the longer form.
I actually think part of his problem is that he spent considerable time in the ODI team before really becoming part of the Test thinking. Generally in England we pick players for Tests first, then they end up in the ODI side. On the odd occasion that the reverse has happened their Test introduction comes very soon after. Because of the gap I think Morgan has been pigeon-holed as a one day specialist, which is perhaps a bit harsh.
Thing is, by next summer James Taylor is gonna have to be in the side, and no one else is going to be dropped.
2
CD
12 Aug 2011 23:38
Don’t really get the negative comments about Morgan to be honest. Sure he’s got flaws (outside off, which he seems to have improved, genuine pace of which there is a minimal amount about these days) but in test batting terms he’s very young and has shown he can learn very quickly.
There seems to be a slight prejudice about because he hasn’t piled up the runs in county championship like other potential contenders for test spots but I really don’t see what more he can do at the moment. Give him a chance…
3
Anthony
12 Aug 2011 22:51
Morgan has ensured his place in the 11 for the winter and will do well in the UAE and Sri Lanka, but his future will be decided v SA next summer, particularly Steyn & Morkel.
I have my doubts and think we may well see one of the next wave, probably Taylor, coming into the reckoning by the tour to India in nov 12.
4
Ben Smith
12 Aug 2011 21:08
One of the more frustrating moments from earlier in the series was Boycs being proven absolutely right about Morgan when he was going well against the old ball/occasional spinner and then got cleaned up the instant the new ball was taken. I’m still not convinced he’s a long-term test option.
5
Matthew
12 Aug 2011 20:31
Morgan is remarkable. His technique seems to become more and more unorthodox, with exaggerated movement as he squats down and rises up, so that it would seem to contradict the coaching manual.
However another old adage is that if it is effective, it doesn’t matter what the technique is. I’m not convinced that he’ll become a permanent member of the side, (I will remain unconvinced until he faces genuine pace) but he seems competent enough. Indeed the remarkable aspect is how quick he moves into position following his initial ungainly movements. That he batted predominantly against the spinners today helped his cause.