Amazing how a decent first innings total can allow you to dictate terms. All of a sudden Cook’s captaincy looks great, but really that is a result of having runs on the board and more to play with. I don’t think he will ever be a brilliant skipper, but he’s the best we have got and is doing his best.
Our seam bowling still worries me. Anderson will be a big miss if the Indians succeed in stitching him up, but it’s his own fault for acting like a petulant kid, really.
I don’t know who has been coaching Jordan and Stokes but they both have fairly simple problems to cure. Jordan needs to attack the crease 5% more to avoid falling away too much and pushing the ball ‘out of the side door’. Stokes (although he didn’t play this game) is now releasing the ball from past the vertical, which makes it very difficult to hit the pitch hard. Woakes still looks like a pumped up middleweight.
Still roll on Old Trafford. In cricket terms a really good strip. Hard and bouncy to start with, giving way to a bit of turn later on.
