Remarkably, a century in his final Test innings for Alastair Cook. He made a 50 and a 100 in his first Test match in 2006 and he's done the same in his final match in 2018 - the only man to do so. Even more remarkably, it was scored off a five! Cook clipped for a single, but Bumrah overthrew and the ball hit the boundary rope.
He's also gone past Kumar Sangakkara's Test run total, up to fifth place in the all time list, and will finish with a career average above 45.
A superb morning for England in general. Runs flowed, no wickets lost, and Root is also approaching 100, taking lunch at 92 not out. The lead is 283. Presumably a mid-afternoon declaration will follow. Will Jimmy claim the three wickets he needs to draw level with Glen McGrath on the all time bowling list?
100 for Joe Root. That's his drought over as well (stretching back 13 months). Tomorrow will be the last cricket for England until the Sri Lanka tour starts on... 10th October. How quickly they come round Then it's the sun-soaked pitches of the West Indies for England in January.
Also this year: Australia tour the UAE against Pakistan in October (the first Test they've played since SandpaperGate, with two Smith and Warner-sized holes in their batting line up) The West Indies tour India and Bangladesh in October/November NZ tour the UAE against Pakistan in November India tour Australia in December Pakistan tour South Africa in December Sri Lanka tour NZ and Australia in December/January
Lots and lots of lovely Tests for Bill to look forward to.
Well that was strange, Root out for 125 and Cook out for 147 the very next ball. Both by debutant Vihari. Gonna be a good pub quiz question. Farewell, Alastair!
Well that was strange, Root out for 125 and Cook out for 147 the very next ball. Both by debutant Vihari. Gonna be a good pub quiz question. Farewell, Alastair!
The lead - 361.
Good to finish on a 147 break!
Actually that averages over a ton in these two last knocks. Makes replacing him, and of course finding another opener, even more daunting. The sooner they start the better. Has Morgan failed at this level, I can’t quite remember.
Today has been as bad for England as it was magnificent yesterday. India are scoring runs at will and we've only taken two wickets all day. Two of their batsmen have scored hundreds and there has been some baffling captaincy from Joe Root. He bowled Anderson for four overs this morning. then nothing until quarter past 3, by which time the new ball was approaching and you'd think he'd have been kept fresh for it. But no, he's just bowled the 77th over.
Also, Root has been loathe to bowl our legspinner for some reason, and instead brought himself on for an extended spell. The game drifted.. and drifted... and drifted... with the result now being that India could conceivably win the game (they need to score 152 runs with five wickets in hand and two centurions at the crease).
Hopefully the new ball will finish them off shortly... if Anderson is fresh enough.
Hopefully the new ball will finish them off shortly... if Anderson is fresh enough.
Well he bowled a 14 over spell - but managed to snick the last wicket out to win the match and series 4-1. 564 Test wickets, well done Jimmy.
Glenn McGrath has challenged him to pass 600, which you can't rule out - as long as he stays fit!
The scoreline is very unfair on India as they were competitive throughout.
Despite the series win, England have more questions to answer now than ever. Before this series they needed someone to fill spots 2 and 3, and find a spinner who can do the business overseas.
Now they need to fill spots 1 2 and 3 and find a spinner. They've gone backwards!
Our other major problem is that our best players all slot in at 6 and 7. Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran. 6 and 7 are arguably the best spots for them. Don't be surprised if you see England trying to fit one or two of them into the top order come November.
Moeen at 3 is a conundrum. He can probably bat well enough, but a long spell of bowling and then coming in at the first fall of a wicket seems too much for one guy, even a spinner. Lots of concentration needed with the ball and then probably batting within the first few overs given our current choice of openers? I don’t think he’s good enough to do that reliably for a series.
Moeen at 3 is a conundrum. He can probably bat well enough, but a long spell of bowling and then coming in at the first fall of a wicket seems too much for one guy, even a spinner. Lots of concentration needed with the ball and then probably batting within the first few overs given our current choice of openers? I don’t think he’s good enough to do that reliably for a series.
Agree. Would rather see a classic top order player at three. But none seem to exist!
Uncapped opener Rory Burns, fast bowler Olly Stone and 32 year old Joe Denly included in England Test squad for Sri Lanka. Keaton Jennings keeps his place. The search for a good opener continues!
Olly Stone will be interesting as he is very, very fast... but he's had injury problems like so many other of our bowlers so we'll see.
Meanwhile the ECB have charged Alex Hales and Ben Stokes with bringing the game into disrepute. Hearings will be held on 5th and 7th December.
Totally unnecessary. After a long wait for a trial for Ben Stokes, why dredge it all up again, and why wait three months to have a hearing? They could have gotten it over and done with immediately after the court verdict, or after the India series. but no, the have to let it drag on. The ruling bodies in sport really baffle me sometimes.
Uncapped opener Rory Burns, fast bowler Olly Stone and 32 year old Joe Denly included in England Test squad for Sri Lanka. Keaton Jennings keeps his place. The search for a good opener continues!
Olly Stone will be interesting as he is very, very fast... but he's had injury problems like so many other of our bowlers so we'll see.
Meanwhile the ECB have charged Alex Hales and Ben Stokes with bringing the game into disrepute. Hearings will be held on 5th and 7th December.
Totally unnecessary. After a long wait for a trial for Ben Stokes, why dredge it all up again, and why wait three months to have a hearing? They could have gotten it over and done with immediately after the court verdict, or after the India series. but no, the have to let it drag on. The ruling bodies in sport really baffle me sometimes.
Today is the start of a busy cricket season. It's Day 1 of the First Test between India and the West Indies at Rajkot. The Windies haven't won a Test in India since 1994 so it's already looking ominous. India will be keen to restore order after losing 4-1 in England. Virat Kohli finally won a toss, and they opted to bat, giving new 18 year old opener Prithvi Shaw his Test debut. And it has immediately paid off, as he made his maiden Test century in 99 balls. India are 219/2 and looking comfortable. Fourth-youngest to a Test century on debut, and the youngest Indian to do so.
Day Two and the Windies are in a right mess (what's new). India, now back on the comfortable pitches they're used to, racked up a massive 649/5, with centuries for Shaw, Kohli and Jadeja, before declaring. The tourists then collapsed to 61/5.
Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, England are playing a 50 over warm-up match against a SL Board 11 chasing 288 to win.
The First Test between Pakistan and Australia begins on Sunday.
India thrashed West Indies in the first Test. After declaring on 649/5, the Windies were all out for 181, then followed on and were all out for 196. This was India's biggest innings victory - they won by an innings and 272 runs. The tourists kept playing reckless shots ODI style.
Meanwhile Australia have found it hard going in their first Test since the infamous tampering series in South Africa last year. Pakistan won the toss in Dubai, and ground the Australian bowlers into the dust, racking up 205 before they lost their first wicket (Imam ul-Haq for 76). Returning opener Mohammad Hafeez scored 126. They closed the day on 255/3. Australia have three debutantes - Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
I’m surprised that it’s Finch’s first proper test - he’s no spring chicken and is a really good player. Had a year or two with Yorkshire it no for a year or two.
Then it's the sun-soaked pitches of the West Indies for England in January.
