[GREGMT]

Outplayed so far.  Why has Ben Stokes stopped playing attacking, enterprising innings?  He's just going out to block. 

[WBASPE77]

Bloody rubbish. The big problem we have we don't know our strongest 11 . Why no Bess again? Don't get these selections.

[TheJacko2000]

Doesn’t matter who they select if they can't pick an arm ball. 5 out now basically missing straight ones.

[timdon]

It's a long tail. Would you rather have Broad coming out at 8? Archer, Leach and Anderson aren't really going to provide much resistance, and Broad is hit and miss.

None of them should be batting at 8, it's poor selection, but both Leach and Broad are better batsmen than Archer. He's barely better than Jimmy.

[Mikkyk]

Outplayed so far.  Why has Ben Stokes stopped playing attacking, enterprising innings?  He's just going out to block.

The whole team pretty much went out to block.

Surely after seeing all your teammates out standing in the crease and blocking you would try something different?

You suspect that a) India's batsmen won't do the same and b) our bowlers won't be as consistent so their batsmen will get release balls

[boinging_along]

Bloody rubbish. The big problem we have we don't know our strongest 11 . Why no Bess again? Don't get these selections.

It was obvious India was going to prepare a spinning pitch.  So we pick Broad, Anderson and Archer.  It's asking a lot of them.

[LiamTheBaggie]

105-9 - five for Axar Patel

8 of the 9 wickets falling to spin.

Hope our seamers are ready 

[LiamTheBaggie]

Can anyone explain to me what exactly Archer has achieved with the bat to justify him batting at 8 (or even 9)?

Doesn't make much difference when the first 7 aren't putting any runs on the board..

[WBASPE77]

That was appaling batting from England, just sitting ducks, happy to block and push. Inda will win this series 3-1

[TheJacko2000]

Stokes has just dropped a catch then tried to claim it, once DRS gives it not out England complaining like some huge injustice has occurred. What a dreadful day so far.

On a more positive note Anderson and Broad look very good so far.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Stokes has just dropped a catch then tried to claim it, once DRS gives it not out England complaining like some huge injustice has occurred. What a dreadful day so far.

On a more positive note Anderson and Broad look very good so far.

Clear dropped catch - no need for the sarcastic applauding of the umpires decision. Bang out of order.

[TheJacko2000]

Clear dropped catch - no need for the sarcastic applauding of the umpires decision. Bang out of order.

Just incredibly small time.

These bottlers need to be a bit more introspective.

[Baggies]

Too many passengers in this test side at the moment. The likes of Sibley, Pope and the now dropped Burns rarely put in good enough scores. I understand there are currently no alternatives and so we need to hope they come good but it always feels if Root or Stokes go easy, we are done for.

I do agree with Timdon about Archer (never quite understood him coming in so far up the order), but it is fairly inconsequential today. I did find Foakes innings a bit odd, batting like a night watchmen and not owning the batting when paired with tailenders, but superb bowling from Patel and Ashwin. Did Sundar even get to bowl?

No idea why Stokes moaned after his clearly dropped catch. Projecting a bit there.

Huge task now, game probably gone. Maybe could have done with 2 spinners but understand why the selectors chose the 4 seamer option.

[TheJacko2000]

First time we've been bowled out for under 200 in 4 consecutive test innings since 1909. That is disgraceful. As Baggies says there aren't enough runs in this team. Only Root averages 40+ which is the base level for a test batsman.

[timdon]

First time we've been bowled out for under 200 in 4 consecutive test innings since 1909. That is disgraceful. As Baggies says there aren't enough runs in this team. Only Root averages 40+ which is the base level for a test batsman.

Ben Foakes

[TheJacko2000]

Ben Foakes

38

[timdon]

38

Ah yes, my bad, forgot to include today.

[mikehy]

First time we've been bowled out for under 200 in 4 consecutive test innings since 1909. That is disgraceful. As Baggies says there aren't enough runs in this team. Only Root averages 40+ which is the base level for a test batsman.

i predict the fifth in a row before Saturday

[LiamTheBaggie]

India finish 99-3 -13 runs behind with two wickets for Jack Leach.

What a rubbish day. Had we not been so abysmal with the bat I’d have been delighted to have India 99-3 !

[hardtobeat]

The batting is very poor. but with the possible exception of Buttler it is difficult to see who else has been knocking on the door with weight of runs . Could possibly play Woakes or Bess  to lengthen the batting order but you then have to leave out either Broad , Anderson or Archer

[TheJacko2000]

This is incredible stuff from Root. 3 for 0.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Absolutely fantastic from Root.

I won't be getting excited just yet as we need to bat again on this... 

[BlackCountryPride68]

This is bonkers.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Root with another.

Makes a bit of a mockery of our team selection 

[TheJacko2000]

Doesn’t matter how well our bowler's do with this bottling batting line up. 0 for 2 off 3 balls.