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By Tom Fordyce
Morning - all well? Grey overhead, green out in the middle, forecast iffy like Onuora. If England win at Edgbaston, they will officially become the number one side in the world. Fact.
Skippers in the middle. Coin in the air. ENGLAND WIN TOSS AND BOWL. Remember last year? Pakistan skittled out for 72 in three hours? Relax, history never repeats itself. What's that?
"We know the quality in their ranks and we'll have to be on our game," says Strauss. Dhoni says India believe in their ability to turn this around. Massive first session with the returning Sehwag and Gambhir to lead the way for the tourists. Spinner Mishra comes in for Harbhajan.
"The omens don't bode well for India. In five visits to Edgbaston, they have lost four and drawn one, the most recent being an eight-wicket defeat in 1996, which came despite Sachin Tendulkar's fighting century. India have not lost the first three matches of a series since 1999-2000 in Australia."
Slightly strange view from the new media box as we look back north to Birmingham city centre; to the east of the tower blocks in the middle of town, a thick plume of black smoke is billowing into the sky. A fire at a scrapyard, we're hearing, although no-one certain of its cause.\u00a0
From Ian in London, TMS inbox: "Do clouds of smoke caused by burning buildings cause the ball to swing in the same way as 'conventional' clouds?"
If you haven't seen Edgbaston since its major surgery, it's looking in good nick - no mere Botoxing of the old visage, you'd have to say, but a major facelift plus dramatic toupe, new threads and - in the shape of the massive new stand at the old pavilion end - the equivalent of two new limbs. I've made it sound rather Frankenstein, haven't I? Unfair. It's rather spectacular.
Here we go - James Anderson to open from the City End, three slips, gully, bacxkward point, Gautam Gambhir to face the first ball, Virender Sehwag loosening his muscles at the non-striker'ss. Dabber onto a short wide one - first four of the day past the sprawling KP at gully. Onto the hips, tucked fine for four more. Ground no more than half full at the moment; stiff security getting in this morning.
Sehwag for his first ball from Broad - short, nasty - they think they've got him here...
Let's have a look - big nibble on the glove, big glowing mark on Hot Spot... GONE! Golden quacker for the mighty swordsman of Delhi... What a start for Stuart Broad, what a start for England - it climbed and came back in to Sehwag as he tried to lean away and drop the hands, and the England fielders just knew. Umpire Steve Davis was possibly the only man within 50 metres who failed to hear the thwick of ball off paw.
"Sehwag was the magic potion that India had to toss in, someone who might kick-start their team, but it's not going to happen this innings. What a start for Broad - one ball, one wicket. He couldn't buy a wicket against Sri Lanka. but it's all changed for him now."
Anderson suddenly conjuring inswingers to Gambhir. No shot, bat held high, huge pleading appeal... no, says Umpire Taufel, and that had to be close. Same again, this time Gambhers pushing at it late - screaming appeal from behind the timbers, shake of the head again from Taufel. Top umpiring, confirm the replays - just snicked the pad on the way past the blade. Fuller now, and Gambhir will lean on that to cream away through extra cover for four more before jabbing another away to third man betwen gully and third slip. It's all happening...
From Steve in Edinburgh: "Huge 'yesssss' after reading about that wicket in the middle of a lecture at the world congress of epidemiology."
Four slips in now for Broad as Gambhir waits. Ooh, vicious snaker that has him squared up and edging... just short of a sprawling KP at gully. Three pushed through midwicket, and then the most delicate of leg glances to the fine leg fence to take Gambhir to 23 - 100% of his team's total. Edged! Vooosh - just shy of the fielder again, this time third slip.\u00a0
From Aash in Chennai, TMS inbox: "It's tea-time in India and a collective groan was heard around the office when news broke of Sehwag's dismissal. Frankenstein or otherwise, Edgbaston is quickly turning into a monster for us."
Frenetic start to this Third Test, so let me quickly squeeze in two items of Other Business: some of you seem to be enduring poor sound quality on the TMS web feed; the chaps with spanners are on it. And regarding the fire at the scrapyard, local bigwigs inform us that it has nothing to do with looters, rioters or anarchists. Other urban insurrectionists also available. Dravid off the mark with a dab down into the leg-side.
Birmingham looking rather green on this mid-August morning, trees like florets of brocolli sprouting all the way round the back of the stands behind Stumper Prior and his three slips. Mmm, silky-smooth from Dravid, driving past the turning Bopara at extra cover for two sumptuous fours. The better of the two? The first, and I'll unveil the first champagne icon of the day for that.
Sehwag's sixth golden quacker, I'm being told. Back in the side, back in the hutch. Dravid pushes and nudges, and the scoreboard continues to ping round rapidly. England's players wearing black armbands today to mark the death of Neal Abberley, Warwickshire CCC stalwart and batting mentor to Ian Bell.
"It's been a\u00a0 fascinating start. You just feel there's plenty of movement out there for the bowlers and there's an India batting line-up that's not been firing. I think the only way for India to win is for them to have batted first. They need to\u00a0get 300, that will be a good effort, and\u00a0put pressure on England."
From Mark in Portsmouth, TMS inbox: "Will the impending meltdown of the global stock exchange and the breakdown of civilised society get the ball to reverse swing earlier?"
Skipper Strauss isn't enjoying the way Gambhir keeps running them away to third man, so he brings in a fourth slip who will stand quite short. Perfect position from which to watch Gambhir unfurl a classical cover drive away for his 28th run of a rollercoaster morning session.
Single sprinted through by Dravid. Four lads down there dressed as Thunderbirds - the puppets, not the iconic motors. I think we'll have a change from the Pavilion End next up too - Tim Bresnan to rumble along in place of Broad. 1-18 off those four from the glamourpuss Notts man.
"So, what do you reckon then, is this England's best ever side? Debatable? Too right. And that's exactly what they are going to do at lunchtime on Test Match Special. Get your thoughts to Aggers and the team by emailing tms@bbc.co.uk or comment on producer Adam Mountford's insightful blog."
Always a pleasure watching Brezuci tear in. Such is his muscular, quasi-rotund build that you almost feel he needs a Space Shuttle-type booster rocket to get him up to speed, which can then drop away as he comes into the crease. Memo to self: send exploratory email to NASA at lunchtime interval. HOWZAAA! No, inside edge, well spotted Umpo Davis.
We probably need a snappy name for our rocket. The BrezBoosta? Anderson angles them across Gambhir, the leftie leaving alone with Benedictine discipline until drawn into a crazy-eyed slash at the final ball in the over. Stumper Prior snaffles the untouched ball before putting gloves to face in exaggerated anguish.
From Doug, TMS inbox: "To maintain Mark from Pompey's analogy, it seems Gambhir's and Dravid's in particular quantitative easing of the ball for four has stimulated growth in the sub-continent."
Panic in the press box as the chap to my right discovers that the 's' key on his laptop no longer works. I'd suggest that he takes a leaf from Ke$ha's book and simply substitutes a dollar sign instead. Everything will remain perfectly clear, I'm certain of it. Bre$nan to Dravid, and the old $tager will da$h a quick $ingl... scrap that, he might need a new keyboard.
"I think this is the best England batting line-up I have seen. Swann batting at number 10 shows the depth. I think in a year or two if they get to number one and stay there it's an easier conversation as to whether this is the best ever England side. Even though they won in Australia and assuming they beat India at home, we'll know more when they play South Africa. The mentality of this side is as good as I've ever seen in an England side as well. They win the key moments."
Smears of grey cloud overhead now. Anderson into his seventh over, Gambhir crouching at the crease, the slips leaning forward with hands at the ready. Lovely to watch Jimmy in this smooth shape, finding swing both ways as his close fielders ooh and aah in appreciative chorus. Stands almost full now, the pulse quickening as the morning unfolds.
From Vince, TMS inbox: "Surely it has to be 'The Brezzanator'"
"That's India's hour. They lost Sehwag early on\u00a0but Gambhir, with some luck, has cruised along and Dravid is looking very Dravid-like and has barely made a mistake. I think India will be happier than England at this stage."
Roars of bloodlust from the Eric Hollies Stand as Bresnan sizzles a brace of bouncers past Gambhir's rearing snout. Drinks, and honours just about even aftert the first half of the session.
From DanielAGleeson: "The Brezuka obviously."
Stuart Broad switched to the City End now post beverages. Dravid creams away one of those timeless cover drives for four, but is then made to look like a wide-eyed novice by a jafferoo just outside off that tempts him in before curling away at the very death. Battle beautifully poised.
From Henry, TMS inbox: "Re: the bloke who's broken his keyboard. You can find some programs that remap your keyboard layout, just swap s and something like 1 and use the number pad."
From Neil in Leamington Spa, TMS inbox: "As an homage to \u201cSputnik 1\u201d, I think \u201cBreznik 643\u201d has quite a nice ring to it?"
Brezucio miserly as well as muscular this morning - just seven runs shipped from his four overs so far. Broad jags one back in to Dravid as the sky darkens still further. Will it rain? Even the experts have been split on that one today. Phrases like "skirting the" and "sporadic bursts of" much in use.
From Dave in Bristol, TMS inbox: "Surely a rocket is too high-tech for the old-school Yorkshireman? I think he'd be fine with an internal combreztion engine."
Dravid a little unhappy with the state of his bat here. He wanders over to Umpire Davis and points at something on the edge, and the official pulls out a pair of scissors from his pocket to trim helpfully. Bresnan on the rumble, and that's a nasty one - spitting up off the track, forcing Gambhir to go aerial and jab down off the splice. Very well played, to be fair, and **** start of usual mockers section **** these two batsmen are doing an excellent job of negating these bowler-friendly conditions at the moment ***** end of usual mockers section ****
Broad now getting late, vicious lift - Dravid wears that on the fingers, and jerks his glove off the bat handle as if bitten by an electric eel. Single taken as he jogs through, wringing the battered digits. Anyone been bitten by an electric eel? Do baby ones offer a lower charge?
All hail the Brezuca! Full, fast, drawing the drive and just flicking the inside edge on its way through to splatter the stumps.
"That's the virtue of plugging away. With a relatively defensive field the runs had dired up a little and Gambhir\u00a0drove a little loosely. Now we have Tendulkar and what an ovation that was. I feel a little bit sorry for Dravid who has scored almost as many runs but never gets the same reception."
From Steve in Kettering, TMS inbox: "Surely it should be called the Brezziere, to aid lift and bounce?"
Is there a more joyous sight in sport than a stump cartwheeling away? Perhaps a billowing net, but that happens far more frequently. I'll get onto the web designers and commission a new graphic forthwithly. Bresnan ran into the embrace of his slips at such a pace that you feared for a moment he might just leave a pile of white-clad limbs and smiling decapitated heads.
Here comes Sachin Tendulkar, the atmosphere even more febrile for his feted arrival. Strauss won't mess about - he signals to James Anderson, and when you have a bowler in your ranks who has dismissed the great man seven times in Test cricket, why wouldn't you? WAAAGHHH... no, it's missed everything! Peach of an inswinger, fizzing between poking bat and motionless front pad, somehow missing the shivering timbers.
Edged, Anderson... caught! Edgbaston alive, England rampant, and it's Stuart Broad who has taken the plum - it was full, it went away late, and the master was drawn to it like a nibbling novice. Straight down Jimmy's throat at third slip...
"Perfect length and line from Broad,\u00a0Tendulkar pushed a little bit firmly at it,\u00a0and it went to the best catcher in the side, Jimmy Anderson. I've never seen a fast\u00a0bowler who fields as well as Jimmy.\u00a0That wasn't a difficult chance but he's such a\u00a0 good catcher I don't think he's ever going to miss one."
Remember that update at 1222? Since that serving of mocker pie, India have lost two wickets for one run in 16 balls. I'll say no more. VVS Laxman the new man, the crowd baying, the fielders closing in like a noose... ooooh, prodding, fearful push, the ball ricocheting away off the inside edge to the fine leg fence for four. Broad stands with hands on top of his head, cheeks red with effort and eyes wide with disbelief.
From Mike, TMS inbox: "Re: 12.34. Is there a more joyous sight in sport than a stump cartwheeling away? Yes, seeing Tendulkar walking back to the Pavilion with not many against his name."
Once again Dravid standing almost alone against the English onslaught. Up onto the toes to punch away off the back foot for two past Bopara at cover. The wait for Tendulkar's 100th international 100 goes on, and on, and on. He's barely looked settled all series, barely got those feet moving or the trademark textbook open.
"A tad more info on the England's greatest XI debate on TMS this lunchtime. Geoffrey Boycott, Ray Illingworth and Ashley Giles will all be joining Aggers for a chinwag. Hard to argue against Strauss and the boys after another fine morning, but then again... Get your views to tms@bbc.co.uk."
Bresnan, short hair gleaming in the low midday light, arms pumping. Laxman's batting as if the soles of his shoes have been smeared with quick-drying glue, possibly from the same Acme range that releases their best-selling concrete. Hasty chop down late, the ball scuttling down past third slip for four more.
Anything else before lunc... OUT! Full and fast, and Dravid was done there by the inswing on the previous few - he played inside the line, and the ball simply held its own to ping back off stump. What a morning, what a morning...
"That was an absolute corker from Bresnan. England fancied bowling first because their bowlers are on top this series and so many of the India batsmen are not in any sort of\u00a0form."
From chopper248: "Got tickets for Saturday. Any chance of England slowing down a bit here and dragging it out too the weekend?"
Catch your breath while you can. In that last half-hour before lunch, India lost three wickets for 16 runs in 40 balls. Tim Bresnan has 2-13 off 7.2 overs. Someone start forging the statue.\u00a0
From Kevin in west Sussex, TMS inbox: "That ball that got Dravid was Timmense."
"This side is rightly going to number one. I have no doubt they will beat India again, which is great for the team and the public, but greatest ever side, you are going too far."
Former England spinner Ashley Giles with Aggers now discussing whether this current side, of which Giles is a selector, is England's best ever side. Some stiff competition - Giles, though, does believe it's a better side than the 2005 Ashes-winning team.
From Greg Heathcote: "Sunday's tickets are in the bin and my fancy dress in the wardrobe. Good start though!"
From Nigel Emes-Runciman via text: "Is Tendulkar going to end up on 99 just like Bradman?"
As pickles go, this is a deep and spicy one. India four men down, including three of the biggest of wigs. Tim Bresnan with four balls of his pre-lunch wicket-taking over to complete, and Suresh Raina wriggles off the hook with a stabbing poke into the legside for two.\u00a0
Sunshine for the first time all day, albeit an apologetic milky light rather than a sizzling August special. James Anderson to take the first over from the Pavilion End, hair pushed up straight by the breeze as he races in, shirt tugged by his slipstream. Laxman is happy to get off strike with an edgy single, and then Raina drives uppishly to get a slicing edge away that falls two feet in front of Morgan at backward point.
From Carole in Maidenhead, TMS inbox: "If I didn\u2019t actually have far too much respect for him, I might unkindly suggest that the crowd taunts Mr Tendulkar by waving Flakes and Ice-cream cones at him every time he comes out to attempt him 100th 100."
Bresnan, chest thrust forward, eyes narrowed. Laxman getting right in behind these, housing the aggression and expansive strokeplay in favour of resolute defence. Slightly leggish this time, and does that flick the pad? It does, and the deflection is enough to take it past the diving Stumper Prior and down to the fine leg fence for four leg byes.
From Nathan_Hooper: "If one was to serve your classic "mocker pie" as a traditional English dish, what would one have as an accompaniment?"
Anderson again, three slips standing bright as the strengthening sun bounces off their whites, backward point. "JIMMY!" yells Stumper Prior, thumping his blue mitts together. Raina does well to pull his blade from the path of a snaking lifter and then gets right forward to smother the swing on another.
Re Nathan Hooper, the secret of good mocker pie is as much about when you serve it as what you accompany it with it. So to answer your question, with chips, but only when they're down. Testing maiden from Bresnan, the second on the bounce - no freebies, no relenting.
From Tom in London, TMS inbox: "Regarding Nathan Hooper's gastronomic inquiry, they're traditionally served done up like a kipper."
On the subject of unrelenting pressure, England gave up just a single extra in that morning session. Laxman examines the shackles, finds them chaffing and pulls hard against his chains with a crashing square drive for four past extra cover. A little straighter, a little quicker off the VVS meat - four more, this time belted past a motionless Cook at mid-off.
And that's what pressure does...
"He thought he saw a half volley and tried to drive but it went through the gate.\u00a0That's a lovely piece of bowling from Anderson, it was full and angled in\u00a0with a smidgeon of inswing to the left-hander. It's\u00a0a wonderful sight for Anderson. He is an artist because that one went in the opposite direction to all the others."
From Adam in Dulwich, TMS inbox: "Re Nathan Hooper. I have my Mocker Pie with \u201cCurse-tard\u201d."
Raina's feet barely moved, at least not until required to shuffle him back to the pavilion. The Edgbaston atmosphere, always lively, climbs through the gears as India's skipper MS Dhoni jogs in. A squint to the sky, a fiddle with the glove, a blink back down the pitch - ooof, nearly snagged behind first ball as a fizzer outside off draws a panicked slashing cut.
And another! A wobble becomes a slump becomes a full-on collapse - a ball after being driven back down the ground for four, Bresnan digs one in and watches with delight as Laxman scoops it straight up and down Broad's throat at long leg. The fielder barely had to move - the third time in three innings that Laxman has got himself out on the pull, and India sink deeper, deeper into the mire.
From Greg in Blyth, TMS inbox: "England\u2019s B&B open for business and doing brisk business."
"I don't understand it.\u00a0Laxman's team is in trouble and he pulls it straight down fine leg's throat. What is going on in their heads? England have such a\u00a0hold over them. A\u00a0really good batsman should be prepared to stay in and work at it, you might get a really good one like Dravid did, but you should fancy making runs here."
"While the wickets tumble at Edgbaston, some more good news for English cricket courtesy of the International Cricket Council. No\u00a0fewer than eight England players have been named in the 17-man long-list for the ICC Cricketer of the Year award. James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett and Jonathan Trott are the chosen ones, with Trott and Swann also included in both the Test and one-day player of the year lists. The winners will be announced in London on 12 September."
Some cunning punters on Twitter pointing out that the last batsman's careless dismissal indicates he was indeed lax, man. Mishra joins his skipper in the trenches, and England are rampant. India have lost five wickets for 41 runs, and it's almost six as Broad bends one back to Dhoni and is an inside edge away from another clean bowled.
From Matt in Chester, TMS inbox: "Mocker pie should be enjoyed with relish. Word of warning though, it doesn't satisfy the appetite for more Indian ducks."
Dhoni wears a short one on the arm after Mishra pushes Bresnan's fuller one back past his toe-caps for four. Skip yet to get within 20 runs of a half-century in this series so far; if it wasn't so cruel, you'd say that the best thing about the skipper/stumper/batsman this summer has been his bowling. Snorter past the snout, throaty cheers from the happy Birmingham hordes.
From GuideDogSaint: "How can Matty Prior not be in that 17?"
Best weather of the day so far as pints are thrown down throats by thirsty spectators. "STUART BROAD, MY LORD, STU-ART BROAD...." sing the hordes, and why not? Mishra pushes again and gets the ball just past Pietersen at mid-on, who goes down like a tree in a gale. My word, that is terrifying from Bresnan - short and fiery, chasing Mishra as he attempts to limbo under its path, honing in on his chops before sizzling past with glee.
Full, feet nowhere, obvious edge. Nelson joins mockers in the mayhem - England will be batting before tea at this rate...
"No footwork, simple as that. It was very full and\u00a0Mishra didn't\u00a0get his feet out, he's a leg-spinner and not a very good bat. The India tail is pretty poor, they don't have batsmen like Prior,\u00a0Bresnan and\u00a0Broad\u00a0who can get you out of trouble. I couldn't bowl that well but I'd have liked a go at these. Imagine Fred Trueman, he wouldn't have taken off his cap and jumper to\u00a0bowl to these guys."
From scottymbradley: "For dessert it has to be knicker mocker glory."
Praveen Kumar trudges in, and he just doesn't fancy this - do any of them fancy this? Broad sprinting in to rhythmic clapping, the batsman's knees almost visibly knocking. Full - oh I like it, a slower one when Kumar was expecting an express-pace yorker, and it so nearly works - Cook diving forward at mid-off to a ball dying just shy of his outstretched fingers. Short, and Kumar barely moves - THUNK! \u00a0into his motionless shoulder.
A telling comparison for you: England were in even worse bother than India at this stage of the second Test at Trent Bridge, yet recovered from that 124-8 to win by 319 runs. Anyone see India doing the same here today? Anderson to replace Bresnan (eight overs, two maidens, two wickets for 32 in that spell either side of lunch) and Dhoni launches straight into him - four, lofted down the ground, four more crashed through square leg with splendid brio.
From Michael Neal, TMS inbox: "The Mocker Pie, served with relish, should always be followed by Just Desserts."
Lovely vista from high above Edgbaston here. The new stand stretching round high to the right, dropping low to expose the dark green chesnut trees in the park over the road, the red spire of the church in the foreground and the tower blocks of the offices in the city centre the backdrop to it all. Kumar plants a foot down the track and clouts Broad back over his head for a slogging four.
From Adam, TMS inbox: "And to wash it down a tall glass of mockercino."
From Stuart, TMS inbox: "Unfortunately for India, they have served up a few has-beans with their mocker pie. Maybe they should try and replace with a few spring chickens?"
Dhoni backing away to leg in one-day fashion to jab away a strange single. Slogging this time, almost a forehand pass down the line, played with horizontal bat past mid-off. Short again, pulled away with contrasting class through midwicket for four more. Starting to get a bad feeling about the 1441 entry. Doesn't take much, does it?
From Mick in\u00a0Scotland: "All the discussion of how this England team can't be the best ever because they haven't faced any of the game's greats is absolute nonsense. The great Australian team of the nineties and early naughties didn't have to face any of the games greats either because they possessed them, like England do now."
Dhoni does nothing to calm my nascent fears by battering Anderson back over his head for a massive six. Sun slides behind a cloud; punters stretch arms, gesture with that shaking hand to mouth move and wander off to join the lengthening queues on the concourses below and behind the stands.
From Mary Poppins in Wirral: "SupamockerfragileIndytodatetheyareatrocious."
Broad gets the old heavo-ho from Skipper Strauss after the marmalising of his previous over - Bresnan to return, this time switched to the Pavilion End. Kumar starting to relax as his captain leads the counter-attack, and he'll pick up four of his own with a waft outside off that sends the ball pinging away past point. The partnership to 44, closing in on the best in the innings so far.
From Josh in London: "To say that Australia didn't face any of the game's greats is way off. Lara, Tendulkar, Kallis, Donald, Murali and Tufnell were all in their prime whilst Australia dominated."
46 overs in, and Graeme Swann will get his first twirl of the day. Single apiece to the the India pair. If you haven't seen the new floodlights here at Edgbaston, they are angled forward about halfway up their base towers, giving the impression that they're leaning in towards the action, keen to keep as close an eye as possible on proceedings in the middle.
The 50 partnership comes up off 54 balls as Kumar thumps back down the ground with slogging simplicity. And again! This time a more authentic shot, driven away though cover. 57 in the stand, overtaking the Gambhir-Dravid partnership for the second wicket.\u00a0
A rush of emails, most containing just two words: "Josh - Tufnell?" KABOOM! What a shot that is from Dhoni, sidestepping down the track to swing Bresnan high, high, high over the midwicket fence for another mighty six. Beseeching arms and flailing fingers go up in the Eric Hollies Stand as fans fall over themselves trying to pouch an attention-grabbing catch. All fail.
"It's the best innings Dhoni has played this series by a long way. They've added 70 together and Dhoni has played some fine shots, with two huge sixes, in his\u00a0fifty\u00a0so at last some defiance and some fine entertainment."
Swann's not had much fun in this series so far, and he's having even less out there today. Dhoni defends haughtily and then suddenly opens his shoulders to crash a fuller one away past a motionless extra cover for the four that takes him to his first half-century of the series. 62 balls, two sixes, seven fours, and he's almost singlehandedly dragging his side towards some sort of vaguely competitive total.
From Andrew Weild, TMS inbox: "He calls that shot "The Helicopter Shot" .. The way he takes a few steps and swings hit bat. I was in Bangalore a few months ago and he was on a cola advert and the advert was called 'The Helicopter Shot'."
Anything you can do, says Kumar... is probably beyond me, so I'll just slog merrily instead. Wallop - six crashed down the ground with minimal style but maximum result. India, if you're just joining us, were 111-7 an hour ago. With 10 minutes till tea, Dhoni and Kumar are turning the game around.
Has Kumar hit that? Umpire Davis says no, but Strauss's merry men say yes...
The merry men have it... It was short, and Kumar tried to hook it - the skinniest top edge, unheard by Umpo Davis but clear as a spotlight on Hot Spot. No-one likes to over-play any angle, but if the comment at 1529 escaped you at the time I might just direct you back to it.
"The crowd is noisier now. They enjoyed that partnership but especially enjoyed the fact that England have broken it."
Bresnan's figures? Hourglass. Oh, I see what you mean - 4-58 from 19, with another Test five-for there for the taking. Ishant Sharma watches Dhoni push two with midwicket deep saving the four. He won't save that though - smashed like an overhead at Wimbledon for the boundary that brings up India's 200. One more before tea?
From Reece Procter, TMS inbox: "Stumbled across this on Wikipedia: 'Bres is a member of the Fomor, extradimensional beings of the 12th century AD. Bres possesses magical powers, second sight, and superhuman strength.' Not Tim Bresnan in fact, but a Marvel Comics character who was clearly plagiarised from our Yorkshire hero."
Strayer down leg from Brezza - we'll forgive \u00a0him that - and the hopping Sharma can shovel that away fine for the last four of the afternoon session. 29.4 overs in it, 130 runs scored, four wickets taken. Test cricket boring? On your bike, fool, and don't come round here with that jibber-jabber until you've taken a good, hard look at where your chat is going.
From @lewiscon on Twitter: "'turning this game around' and then a wicket falls. You have a gift. Like a superhero. Mockerman."
Afternoon folks. It's the traditional tea-time switch up here with Sam Sheringham replacing Tom Fordyce for a stint on the keys. Give your page a manual refresh and all should be hunky-dory. There's a distinct lack of fancy dress in the crowd today I'm disappointed to report. Usually saved for the weekend, but with the match moving on apace, maybe we'll\u00a0be treated\u00a0some hastily-assembled comedy outfits over the next couple of days.\u00a0
From Dave, TMS inbox: "Re Reece\u2019s comments \u2013 I like the 'Bres is portrayed as beautiful to behold, yet harsh and inhospitable'. Like a late night in Pontefract."
Here we go then for the evening session. Can the Dhoni-led fightback continue or can England wrap up the last two wickets sharpish? Anderson to get us underway...
On the subject of fancy dress, has anyone heading to Edgbaston tomorrow got anything up their sleeve that will add some colour to proceedings? Dhoni watches the first five balls of the over before effortlessly cutting the last one for four.
It's Broad now, bounding in from the Pavilion End with a short leg and a silly mid-off in place. Just the two slips though and no third man. Sharma concocts a plethora of unorthodox ways to keep his wicket intact, all successful, and it's a maiden.
From Andy, TMS inbox: "There\u2019s already one \u201chastily-assembled comedy outfit\u201d on show today."
If Andy (below) is referring to India, not sure he's been watching the last hour or so. Starting to look like Trent Bridge in reverse, although their tail was bound to wag one day. Anderson strays onto leg stump and Dhoni glances him for another boundary. Easy runs to the skipper.
"Dhoni's looking for short balls to hit. He has a good eye and he has power. India have momentum now -\u00a0this field\u00a0is not working for England. Runs are coming like lightning. It's a great skill to knock over tail-enders quickly."
Strauss has now pushed every fielder back to the boundary as Broad\u00a0comes in to Dhoni. It's short and down the leg side and Dhoni hooks it for six! A single gives Sharma the strike and the field comes in, but the batsman's defence is robust. India were 111-7 remember, and Boycott is embarking on a predictable rant about how to bowl to tail-enders.
From anonymous: "I hear Birmingham needs some help - luckily there will be a group of super heroes attending Edgbaston on Friday,including Mario and he-man."
How England needed that. A tempter from Broad, pitched up outside off stump with a hint of away swing and Dhoni couldn't resist a swipe.\u00a0The ball took the edge and Strauss snaffled at waist height.\u00a0
"Broad dangled the carrot with men out on the boundary. That was sensible bowling, but well played Dhoni. He's had a lot of stick but he's batted well today under pressure. The team's problems are not all his fault, he has to accept some responsibility, but he's a good player, a good guy,\u00a0and I'm glad he played positively because that's his strength.\u00a0With a bit of luck they'll get to\u00a0250 and that\u00a0is a working total."
India's final pair are at the wicket as Sreesanth jogs out to join Sharma. Broad raps Sreesanth on the front pad and there's a big appeal but umpire Davis is having none of it. Rightly so, it was missing leg stump by some distance.
If I could use an ouch graphic and a wicket graphic at the same time I would as Cook takes a full-blooded drive straight in the stomach but somehow clings on to the catch.
"I think England will post a big score but you never know. Has Dhoni given India a chance? I think this is a good pitch and there's a big score out there if England can get through the opening overs, and a very big individual score too."
I've had another look at that and I think the ball might have lodged in Cook's armpit as he tried to take evasive action at silly point. They do say he's the least sweaty man on the team, and thus the ball shiner. Could lack of sweat have assisted grip of ball in pit?
From samroake: "Lashings of drama and excitement in every innings of every match of this series. Great advert for the game."
Bananaman. Three Super Marios. Mr T. Some bloke who looked a bit like Nigel Havers in Chariots of Fire. Such are the delights of a tea-time stroll around Edgbaston's concrete concourses. Praveen Kumar to open out from the Pavilion End, Andrew Strauss waiting. Big appeal for an lbw, but I think it pitched just outside leg. Fordyce back with you, by the way \u00a0- manually refresh to put everything where it should be, would you?
From Andy in Birmingham, TMS inbox: "Comes to something when we're disappointed at bowling out India for 224."
Sreesanth to share the cherry. The skyscrapers of Birmingham city centre - alright, the tower blocks - stand higgledy-piggledy on the skyline behind him like a half-finished game of Tetris. Wide of off, wide of off, wide of off, and Alastair Cook will watch those go by all day long.
Kumar sending them across leftie Strauss's bows from right arm over, and there's nothing there to be hit. Three overs, three maidens, three slips applauding as they jog back past the stumps on their way back to the other end.
Relieved cheers as Cook gets off his own quacker with a slashing cut. Looks like a four off the blade, but Gambhir makes a fine diving save at gully. Might even have run Cook out had he aimed at the non-striker's end - the England openers almost ran for the beauty of the stroke rather than the reality of it. After 22 scoreless balls, the reply is under way.
Nice line from TMS scorer/good egg Malcolm Ashton: Strauss and Cook have now scored more Test runs in partnership than the Aussie pairing of Mark Taylor and Michael Slater. Lord, how I used to fear those two... Kumar will scream another lbw appeal, this time from round the wicket, but Strauss got his front pad well outside the line of off-stump there.
Spent a little time with Slater in Aus last winter, and my main memory was the size of his forearms. You think Strauss's are big? Slater's are like the smoked hams you see hanging from the ceiling of French delicatessens. Sreesanth strays, and Strauss will tuck in - four, slashed past point, four more clipped off the pads, three dinked between the two midwickets. Contented cheers from the stands. England require nine to avoid the follow-on. We used to worry about such things, didn't we?
Kumar had tied Strauss up for most of his proto-innings so far - 16 balls without a run off the bat. With the crack of cherry on leather the shackles are cast away - four, cut away as Strauss leans back and whips his hands through fast; four more from a less certain shot that skids past Raina at shortish fourth slip and races away to the third man rope.
Short delay as the groundsmen stride on to fill the holes left by the bowler's pounding feet at the Pavilion End. Mexican waves roll round the packed ground. Cook re-takes his guard and then clips Sharma \u00a0through midwicket for his first four from the 19th ball he has faced. "BARMY ARMY!" bellow the boozier elements. Cook then dinks one off his hip fine, and that is a desultory attempt at fielding by Kumar running round the rope, plonking a boot down in the style of Bob Willis circa 1982. Sharma screams again - Cook trapped on the back pad... Simon Taufel appears to start lifting his hand, but it's a feInt, it's a feint...
Kumar again. Short, on a tray for Strauss, and England's skipper will swivel on his back peg to pull away through midwicket for his fifth four in 26 balls. Kumar not at all happy with his footmarks, and he will gesture to Umpire Davis with obvious dismay. Three slips wait for the error, crouched low like downhill skiers, a gully to their left and point beyond that on the curve. It doesn't come.
From spookydukesy: "When was the last time England had to follow on? Seems like we should take those words out of the English Cricket Dictionary."
England have gone back into blocking mode here as Cook plays out a maiden from Sharma before Strauss does the very same to Kumar. Solid, risk-free cricket.
"Strauss and Cook have almost limitless patience. They don't get rushed if they don't score."
Birmingham looking very green from this southern vantage point. That's the thing about subterranean dual carriageways - nightmarish for the pedestrian or cyclist, ideal for the long-distance vista aficionado. Cook shoulders arms, and that's drinks. 13 overs left in the day.
Drinks drunken - drunked, erm, dranked, ah, taken, Kumar will persevere from the Pavilion End. Angled across, and Cook has a skittish flirt with one - stay strong, Chef, stay strong...
Apocalyptic weather forecast coming in for Friday. I'm exaggerating - there are no locusts due, and only a little light pestilence - but the rain looks nasty. Heavy until 1300, they're saying. Not that I'll mind if it means we see the Brumbrella - Jane Fonda never better, in my humble opinion. Maiden from Sharma.
Cook clips Kumar off his toes for four to the midwicket fence. No attempt at all from Sharma to dive to cut that one off. Would Jimmy or Stuart Broad have ushered that to the ropes in the same compliant fashion? That's rhetorical, before you use up one of you 800 free texts. Same ball, pushed this time rather than hit, and that's a well-run two as the fielders converge from distant points.
"Aggers, it would help if the fielders didn't have their hands in their pockets. It's not that cold.\u00a0They need to\u00a0look interested and\u00a0show some desire.\u00a0If you don't want to be here go home."
Ah yes! With four men on the leg side, Strauss can step away and thrash the returning Sreesanth off the back peg through the enormous vacant acres on the off side for his seventh four. Once again a lack of energy from India in the field. If they're desperate to get back into the series this is a strange way of showing it.
Kumar toils away. Comes in uncomplainingly again and again, much like Angus Fraser of old. Mind you, Gus didn't mind a complaint. A swing of the boot, a filthy stare. Strauss clouts to point, where Raina makes a terrible mess of the attempted stop. Four, should have been a single.
Strong wind whistling round Edgbaston now. There we go - Umpire Taufel's hat has blown off. It rolls and flips in the direction of Virender Sehwag at third slip, who bends low to take an exaggerated catch and then sprints over to hand the titfer back. I've given that a champagne graphic, only because a Cava one is not available to me. Cook turns Sharma away past mid-on for two and then defends to mid-off with a big stride.
From MikeBro71: "Please don't let it rain on Friday - marriage, mortgage, three kids: my sole day of live cricket in the summer."
We'll have some leg-sping from Amit Mishra, decides Skipper Dhoni. Excellent, replies his opposite number Strauss, slapping the first ball (long hop) through point for four, and his second (too full) slightly straighter for the same result. Single to move to 48 from 66 balls.
Three overs left in the day. Easy single angled in to the leg side, the ground starting to empty as the cold wind pushes shivering punters towards their homes.
Nudge to leg from Strauss, and that's his 50 - 76 balls, 10 fours, 100 minutes. Lovely numbers, warm applause from those left in.\u00a0
Marbled grey and white clouds overhead, the floodlights on with their stylish 'e' shaped heads. Easy single off the benign Mishra; one more over in the day.
Suresh Raina for a token over of tweak. Single to leg, stout defence from Strauss. Final ball left alone, and that's the day done - absolutely England's once again, and had it not been for MS Dhoni's cavalier assault India would now be on the brink. As it is, they're merely teetering. Strauss will overnight on 52, Cook on 27. Same place on Thursday?
"There was a little bit of defiance from Mahendra Dhoni but England would be very happy to have bowled India out for 224 after putting them in. There was a broad smile on Strauss' face as he walked off. England have been pretty ruthless once they get ahead in every match so far. It's impressive but it's also slightly disappointing."
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