Key events
3rd over: India 15-0 (Sharma 14, Jaiswal 0) Root serves up a couple of full bungers – the first he gets away with as Rohit picks out Stokes at cover… the second he isn’t so lucky and is driven away for four. England have an in/out field. Knowing they need to attack to take wickets but also trying to protect the boundaries and build pressure. BIG APPEAL! Root gets on to straighten but Umpire Paul Reiffel is unmoved. Stokes decides against a review and wisely s0 – it was just sliding past leg stump.
2nd over: India 10-0 (Sharma 9, Jaiswal 0) Rohit waits for Mark Wood and steers his very first ball wide of gully for four! DROP! Tough chance as it went very low and fast but Zak Crawley can’t cling on at first slip! Wood has his head in his hands, that would have been a seismic moment. Great seam position and pace from Wood as he zips one across India’s skipper and takes the edge. There’s plenty in the wicket for England – Wood gets bounce and has Rohit fending away for a single before the last ball skids through at shin height.
1st over: India 1-0 (Sharma 1, Jaiswal 0) Root is accurate and skidding the ball off the surface. Yikes. Turn and bounce off the final ball has England hopping with hope. Jaiswal does well to let it go past his gloves. Mark Wood is going to have a burst with the new ball. A couple of early wickets would really get things bubbling.
Here we go then, the players emerge after lunch. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open up for India. Joe Root is going to start with the ball for England. 231 runs plays ten wickets. Let’s play.
The Nut is cracked but not broken…
England have confirmed that Jack Leach will take the field and is fit to bowl. He’s been receiving treatment for a bruised left knee.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 28, 2024
“Morning James”
Hello Adam Levine.
“My relationship with Bazball is like Sylvio Dante (Little Stevie van Zandt) doing his best Al Pacino impression in The Sopranos: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”
*Caution – some fruity language in this to have with your muesli:
That’s lunch in Hyderabad. Over in Brisbane, there’s a real story unfolding. Shamar Joseph and West Indies are at the centre of it. Rob Smyth is calling that one in his inimitable style. You’d be daft not to join him for the next fifteen minutes:
Pat Cummins has been dismissed on the stroke of lunch. He jumped back in his crease and edged Shamar Joseph to the right of Joshua da Silva, who dived to take a fine catch. Shamar Joseph has taken six wickets in a single spell, with a knackered toe.
Hang on, it should be lunch – but Kraigg Brathwaite has claimed the extra 15 minutes. That’s good captaincy because Shamar Joseph is in the middle of the mother, father and extended family of all bowling spells.”
This has been one of the best test matches I’ve been privileged to witness.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) January 28, 2024
England all out for 420!
Pope is bowled by Bumrah for 196! Attempting a reverse scoop too. The shot has been a feature of this remarkable innings but Pope misses this time and the off stump is torn from the turf. One of the great Test innings by a visiting Test batter in India comes to an end. Rohit Sharma and the India players shake Pope’s hand and pat him on the back as he leaves the field, a bashful and very weary grin on his face. Well played that man.
India require 231 to win. Do not adjust your set.
WICKET! Wood c Bharat b Jadeja 0 (England 420-9)
Wood nicks Jadeja behind and just like that England are nine down.
101st over: England 419-8 (Pope 195, Wood 0) That really was a shooter from Ashwin, not much the batter could do about that. A fine innings comes to and end, well played Tom Hartley. He’ll have a chance to make his mark with the ball shortly.
Mark Wood is the new batter, some long handled humpty from him could really get India worried.
“Hey Jimbo! Glad tidings from Brooklyn!”
Hey, Paul – I’m bloggin’ here! (Apologies)
Plenty of tea-pots in the fieldIs.This.Actually.Happening? Coming off a Covid bout with deep sleep hallucinations so looking for third party affirmation that we *could actually win this*?”
WICKET! Hartley b Ashwin 34 (England 419-8)
Bad news for England: Ashwin bowls Tom Hartley for 34.
Good news for England: He did so with a ball that skidded on and shot along the deck.
100th over: England 419-7 (Pope 195, Hartley 33) England have kept India in the field for 100 overs now. Axar Patel into the attack for the first time this morning… Pope greets him with a sparkling cover drive for four. He’s onto 195. We’re witnessing an all time Test innings here. Two more singles take England’s lead to 229 runs.
99th over: England 412-7 (Pope 191, Hartley 33) A maiden for Siraj as India get some respite for six balls.
California’s Stephen Dobber sends a wire across the pond.
“If Shamar Joseph can bowl Australia out with a busted toe, maybe Jack Leach can hobble through some overs with his gammy knee and take a five for!?!”
IT IS ON IN BRISBANE:
2 incredible games of Test cricket unfolding at the same time but I think I speak for everyone when I say I’m looking forward to the 94 match, 3.5 month season of the IPL in 2027
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) January 28, 2024
98th over: England 412-7 (Pope 191, Hartley 33) Tom Hartley is playing a little corker of an innings here, taking some of the burden off a tiring Pope and picking up runs regularly. The partnership between this pair approaches seventy runs. The Lancashire lad drops to his haunches and reverse-sweeps Ashwin for four!
97th over: England 401-7 (Pope 189, Hartley 28) Tom Hartley climbs into a Siraj short ball and picks up a boundary at the midwicket fence. A deafening hush falls over Hyderabad save for a few visiting fans.
“Do mine eyes deceive me?” Writes Dean Kinsella. “A 200 lead and Pope still with power to add? He’ll be pulling swords from stones next. I certainly did not expect to see that on awakening this morning! Is it really on? Can Albion truly pull this off?”
A quick reminder – India have only lost three Test matches at home in their last 46… But by jove there is a chance we might see something truly remarkable over the next day or so. A chance.
96th over: England 401-7 (Pope 189, Hartley 24) FOUR HUNDRED UP FOR ENGLAND! It’s been TWELVE years since a side has scored over 400 in a Test match in the fourth innings against India. Remember that tour? Four runs off Ashwin’s over collected with relative ease. India are still reeling from the KL Rahul drop off the last over. England’s lead is up to 211. No, you stop it.
95th over: England 397-7 (Pope 187, Hartley 22) Shot! Pope scorches a length ball from Siraj down the ground for four. Taking a step out to turn the length ball into a half volley. Imperious. DROP! KL Rahul shells Pope in the slips! Easy chance, well regulation. A back cut finds the edge and goes straight to KL who snatches at it. Head in hands for India. Are they starting to get worried? Are they? Siraj is ticking – he whangs down a short ball and gives Tom Hartley plenty of verbals for after. The crowd jeer, great drama in Hyderabad.
94th over: England 390-7 (Pope 180, Hartley 22) Ashwin to continue after the short break. England take the lead past 200 with a single each to Pope and Hartley.
Meanwhile – over in Brisbane there’s potentially a big shock in the offing. West Indies have taken a couple of quick wickets to reduce Australia to 124-4, the home side still needing 91 more runs to win. That man – Shamar Joseph – has just taken two wickets in two balls, he’s got quite the story:
93rd over: England 388-7 (Pope 179, Hartley 21) Siraj comes into the attack for a bit of fire and brimstone, India need to break this partnership. Leach’s injury is such a shame and a huge blow to England’s chances of pulling off an incredible win but a target of over 200 is still going to be a challenge on a wearing pitch. All that’s to come. For now, Pope punches for two and Hartley takes a single past point.
DRINKS. England’s morning so far – 70 runs added for the loss of one wicket (Rehan Ahmed).
This is now England’s third highest 2nd innings in India, after Ahmedabad 2012 and Kanpur 1961.
We’re into interesting territory.
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) January 28, 2024
92nd over: England 385-7 (Pope 177, Hartley 20) Apologies I missed a rapid Ashwin over. These two spinners are rattling through their overs at pace, the scourge of an OBO scribe. His latest is very profitable for England who increase their lead to 195 runs. Hartley drives through extra cover for three and a couple of scampered singles follow. The crowd get restless, they are not used to seeing India being put under the pump. Ashwin goes round the stumps and extracts some pronounced bounce from a length ball, it duly beats Pope and Bharat behind the sticks, four byes added to the total.
91st over: England 366-7 (Pope 175, Hartley 16) Tom Hartley is playing a little gem of an innings here, he slaps a full ball from Jadeja back over the bowler’s head for a one bounce four. That was well struck, the new ball tracing off his blade at speed.
89th over: England 366-7 (Pope 173, Hartley 9) India take the new ball. Belatedly. It is a deep cherry red and Jadeja will have first use of it. Hartley nudges a single to get off strike… WHAT.A.SHOT! Ollie Pope pulls off another ‘no look’ reverse ramp that flies away over the keeper for four. That shot twists my melon, man.
88th over: England 353-7 (Pope 169, Hartley 8) Tom Hartley gets on the front foot and drives Ashwin with power and panache back over the esteemed bowler’s head. Four runs. Aswhin goes over the wicket and Hartley has no qualms reverse sweeping for a single.
Ashwin and Jadeja both conceding 100+ in a side’s second innings in India.
When did that last happen? Has it ever?
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) January 28, 2024
87th over: England 353-7 (Pope 167, Hartley 2) Jadeja beats Pope with a flighted ball outside off, the bails are whipped off in a blink but he manages not to topple out of his crease. A bye and a leg bye keep England ticking over, the lead stands at 163 runs.
86th over: England 350-7 (Pope 166, Hartley 2) England bring up the 350 as Ashwin comes into the attack. Pope clips for a coupe square, sprinting back to make his ground for the second. A single to midwicket sees him keep strike for Jadeja. Pope is looking very determined this morning, he bumped shoulders with Jasprit Bumrah a few minutes ago and it seems to have fired him up a bit. His dander us up. Beans going. Ticking. You know what I mean.
“Morning James, chilly feet woke me, check the first over while the electric blanket does its work, but then a different comfort from you and the english batters, so now coffee and who knows what? Back to bed at the first wicket?At least some moral support for your graft!”
Much appreciated and do stick with us Tone White – Crank the electric blanket, slap on some slipper socks and dare to dream!
85th over: England 347-7 (Pope 163, Hartley 2) A solitary Pope single off Bumrah’s latest. India persisting with the old ball. Hartley does well to jam down on a yorker and plays a confident drive off the last ball but straight to the fielder at mid off. A yard either side and it was four.
“Morning James / Jim / Jimbo (not sure which you prefer*…),
I have this strange fluttering sensation in my heart, and I think it’s called Hope. (Rhymes with Pope.) But I fear that if you don’t post this comment very promptly, it will look deluded… Keep the Kenco flowing!”
*You can call me anything you want, Martin Wright.
84th over: England 346-7 (Pope 162, Hartley 2) Jadeja is getting some biting turn and low bounce off the day four surface. Tom Hartley biffs a couple of singles down the ground and Pope plays with soft hands to pick up three wide of slip. He keeps strike for Jasprit.
Mark Kelly is not full of 4am mirth…
“Hi James, sorry to be a negative Nelly, but magnificent innings or not from Pope, it doesn’t mean much unless it is game winning. Has everyone forgotten that England’s bowling attack led by Root will need to go through a formidably deep Indian batting line up? I haven’t. A deteriorating pitch could come into play I suppose… Bah humbug.”
WICKET! Ahmed c Bharat b Bumrah 28 (England 339-7)
Bumrah does the business and makes the breakthrough with the old ball! A hint of away swing and Rehan hangs his bat out, a thin edge is swallowed by Bharat behind the stumps. A punky little cameo comes to an end. England lead by 149 and Tom Hartley is the new man. Three dots to end a successful over for India.
83rd over: England 339-7 (Pope 157, Hartley 0)
82nd over: England 338-6 (Pope 157, Ahmed 28) Rehan Ahmed bunts Jadeja over mid off for a nonchalant four! The stones on this 19 year old, seriously.
81st over: England 333-6 (Pope 156, Ahmed 24) India continue with the old ball, I can’t see signs of reverse swing, perhaps they are slightly concerned with how fast the new nut could fly off the bat. Bumrah stutters in and unleashes his bull whip in inimitable style. Rehan guides past gully to take a single and bring Pope onto strike. Shot! Pope opens the face and purposefully guides a length ball in the gap at third for four. Class. More than a hint of Ian Bell in his pomp with that shot. Perky start for England this morning. The same can’t really be said for me, I’m hooked up to a Kenco drip.
80th over: England 327-6 (Pope 152, Ahmed 23) Everything has been hitting the middle of Rehan Ahmed’s blade in this innings. He rocks back and slaps a shorter ball from Jadeja into the leg side for a couple and keeps strike with a single to point. He oozes talent.
79th over: England 324-6 (Pope 152, Ahmed 20) Jasprit Bumrah to start from the other end, the new ball is due for India after this over. He bears Pope first up as the ginger one gropes at a ball he could/should have left. Early signs of nerves? Not really – Pope moves to 150 with a poke to point. A subtle wave of the bat, he knows there is plenty still to do. Rehan drives for three into the space at extra cover and Pope clips a couple off his pads to make it a profitable six runs off the over.
78th over: England 318-6 (Pope 149, Ahmed 17) The karate bandana clad Jadeja darts one wide of the stumps to get the day started. Rehan watches it fizz on by. A single off the next ball to point brings Pope on strike. Pea roller! Jadeja gives it a rip and the ball spits off the surface at metatarsal height! England won’t mind seeing a bit of that. Pope leans on a single into the covers to make it two runs off the first over.
The players are readying in Hyderabad. We’ll be underway any second. Do get in touch if you are out there and tuned in from under the duvet, wee small hours company very much welcome. Drop me an email or send me a missive on the socials @Jimbo_Cricket.
Ravindra Jadeja has the ball in hand and will be spearing them in at Rehan Ahmed. Let’s play!
Over in Australia, another day four and another cracker potentially in the offing:
The masterful Rob Smyth has got you covered for that one.
Jack Leach’s knee looks massive. Not in a good way. TNT has footage of him limping off the team bus with a sizeable amount of strapping on his leg. This is not good news for England.
Noises are not great around Jack Leach’s knee injury. Word is he will bat but tbc whether he will be able to bowl in the fourth innings.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 28, 2024
Catch up on Day three:
Preamble
James Wallace
Hello and welcome to the day 4 OBO of India v England from Hyderabad. The game is set up quite beautifully after Ollie Pope’s masterclass of an innings yesterday. The Surrey man stepped up on day three and played the innings of his England career so far, 148 runs of silken brilliance. Don’t take my word for it – just ask Joe Root:
I’ve seen a lot of cricket, I’ve played and batted out there in the middle with a lot of brilliant players and to witness that was really special… Honestly, it’s an absolute masterclass in how to bat in these conditions as an overseas player. That’s the benchmark. I might have scored a few runs in the subcontinent but not on a surface like that against an attack like that.”
England managed to wipe off a deficit of 190 runs on first innings and now lead by 126 runs with four wickets remaining. They’ll need every single run they can muster to try and put some pressure on India’s stellar batting card with their inexperienced bowling attack. Play will get underway shortly and it just might be a belter.
