My dear old things, it's STW TMS!

Argh.

Ooh! Chef survives!

Lucky Cook.

Erratic batting displays have been the hallmark of the team for a while now.

Good grief

It’s all over. Epic collapse – 10/64

Brilliant test well done Bangladesh . Dodgy pitch, total bunsen mind but good job!

What happened – went out to play tennis at 94-0. Come back and we have lost 😯

Well played Bangladesh.

I’m tempted to say we were rubbish, but that doesn’t properly credit Bangladesh. Nothing much wrong with the pitch either I don’t think, simply that it’s not what we’re used to.

Well played Bangladesh.

We are absolute toilet against spinners. India are going to murder us.

I think we’re seeing the glimpses of how the crash bang wallop approach of our players comes unstuck when it’s properly tested.

THIS

So Hameed gets the nod, excellent news, think he will be a special player.

So Hameed gets the nod, excellent news, think he will be a special player.

So, having missed the chance to ease him in against Bangladesh, and persevered with Ballance for no good reason, we’re throwing him straight in at the deep end. Brilliant.

So, having missed the chance to ease him in against Bangladesh, and persevered with Ballance for no good reason, we’re throwing him straight in at the deep end. Brilliant.

I agree it isn’t great foresight – I liked Ballance’s attitude and I can see why he would be given a good crack at it, but he just looked totally out of depth against Bangaladesh.

At least India tend to open the bowling with some token medium pace, so at least Hameed might get some chance to get his eye in against some military medium rubbish before all hell breaks lose.

Subcontinent Test Cricket really is like a separate game. Instead of having 30 odd seconds between each ball to compose yourself and only have one or two fielders within five yards of the bat, it is just bang-bang-bang ball after ball in quick succession, claustrophobic fields and tons of chat and noise. A true test.

Cook made his debut in India and it worked out ok for him.

Cook made his debut in India and it worked out ok for him.

Indeed. Cook is a truly inspirational role model for younger players. His technique is not beautiful, nor textbook perfect. But he knows where his off stump is and plays with soft hands when defending and makes it count when attacking. He’s had his technical issues with his head falling over to the off side and conquered them.

Not the worst of starts.

Not the best, either, though.

Pre-emptive apology …..Going good I think

TMS is making this dull and rainy day outside and a dark day elsewhere a little brighter.

That catch was the equivalent of Ashton’s “Ash-Splash” celebration! I agree with the umps it was out, but what a tit he’d have felt.

Unlucky Root, great knock . Good toss to win too

…and more recently a couple of promising chaps called Williamson and Root, who are both showing signs that they might know which end of the bat to hold. It’s certainly not the most inauspicious place to make your debut, and it doesn’t even appear to be the worst decision ever as far as he is concerned based on what we’ve seen so far.

Kohli “is about to combust”

What a knock from Stokes.

*applause all the way back to the hutch*

Feel sorry for broad at 11 not many with a test century I imagine have played there. Still , since he had his face rearranged he hasn’t been the same .

Subcontinent Test Cricket really is like a separate game. Instead of having 30 odd seconds between each ball to compose yourself and only have one or two fielders within five yards of the bat, it is just bang-bang-bang ball after ball in quick succession, claustrophobic fields and tons of chat and noise. A true test.

I imagine the Indians feel the same about playing in Durham in May, wearing about five sweaters, on a seaming and swinging green top. That’s what makes test cricket so compelling for me – the truly great players are the ones able to master very different playing conditions.

Cook made his debut in India and it worked out ok for him.

Sure, but he’s the most successful batsman in English history. Anyway, from what I saw on the highlights, Has looked very promising.

I don’t think there could be more of a contrast…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-12/australia-v-south-africa-second-test-day-one-live-blog-hobart/8016778?section=sport
Looking like being all out for less than 100? Rain just starting here so it’s going to be a bit of a break, got tickets for day 3, thought it was the weather that was going to be the biggest issue.

Australia making a habit of woeful 1st innings! As for England, chip, chip, chip. Plenty can happen on day 5, so a 50 lead would be nice!

9 out….. 1 left

Holding that nick would have been a useful 75 lead

Well bowled England. It’s my first chance to watch Hameed. Trial by spin it seems.

Not commenting on capability for fear of **** it all up.

But he has just played a cover drive of such class; against the spin, quick step, all on the ground – beautiful.

Wonder who they’ll drop to get Anderson in. I’d like to see them drop Duckett, and move everybody up one.

I’m a big Anderson fan, but I wouldn’t parachute him in.

Strauss seems quite attached to his laptop. Mumsnet?

50 for Hameed. Looks pretty composed.

Afternoon everybodeeeeee.

Tidy start to the opening session so far.

England certainly have the upper hand, but it’s hard to see past a draw.

Yep. Not quite enough on the board for anything other than a draw.

At least they’ve gone for a win and not just taken batting practice.