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England ended day three of the third Test at Lord's on parity with India in what is developing into an enthralling contest at the Home of Cricket.
KL Rahul's sublime century looked to have put India on top, only for England to surge back with the ball and end the day two runs ahead after facing a solitary over of their second innings.
After a fascinating day at Lord's, Mail Sport delivers its latest edition of BUMBLE ON THE TEST.
Why the ball should stop being changed
I agree with Nasser Hussain that the players are far too precious regarding the cricket ball. Of course it gets old, soft and out of shape. I’ve played since 1965 and it always has.
So I suggest the ICC issue a directive and say the ball can only be changed at 80 overs unless the stitching has burst. And the umpire should leave the ball ring in the pavilion!
Players need to stop being so precious over the state of the cricket ball these days
All ready for blast-off in the Blast
Let me turn your attention to the T20 Blast. We’re not losing any overs there.
Yorkshire took bragging rights for Act One of the Roses clash courtesy of an exhilarating Jonny Bairstow century and a blistering 90* from Will Luxton.
Four teams are locked at the top of the North with 28 points and Lancashire head over the M62 on Thursday for Act Two at Headingley.
Umpires complicit with slow play
Surely it is abundantly clear now that the pace of the game is a major problem. There’s so many interruptions to the flow of the game.
The players are primarily to blame and the umpires are complicit. Drinks, gloves, pills, towels and now back massages on the field of play.
Whatever next? Probably a barber to deliver a quick trim. It’s all nonsense.
India were incensed with England's ploy to slow things down at the end of the day but umpires are equally as complicit
Breaking down Stokes' brilliance
What an absolute worldie from Ben Stokes to get rid of Rishabh Pant and it was a dream for the fielding coaches too.
I’ll break it down in stages - the instinct to anticipate, quick to the ball, a clean pick up, turning the body, an instant release and an accurate throw. Technically spot on. Stokes was excellent with the ball too. The man makes things happen.
It always makes me chuckle when few verbals are overheard on the stump mic.
Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill were goading England’s batters about playing boring cricket and England were no angels either. It’s all part of the game but just be careful when you pick your enemy, particularly if you’re batting. My advice is to keep schtum.
Jadeja is my kind of cricketer
Just when England thought they had a sniff, up pops Ravindra Jadeja. 36 years of age and possibly an unsung hero. Three half-centuries on the trot. He gets it done.
A lovely batsman, a fabulous fielder and give him a spinning pitch and he’ll deliver. He likes a bit of mischief too and is never afraid to get under the skin of the opposition. My type of cricketer.
Ben Stokes made things happen both with his run out of Rishabh Pant and with ball in hand
But then Ravindra Jadeja got it done once again with another half-century
Atkinson appears in club game
Word got out that Gus Atkinson was playing for Spencer CC in the Surrey Championship at Sunbury CC on Saturday. I think that is terrific.
Anyways, Atkinson didn’t get a wicket across eight overs, which tells you how high the standards are. He then batted at three, getting a quickfire 32. If you’re a cricketer, then don’t sit and watch cricket. Go and play.
Temper, temper
Tempers flared at the back end of an enthralling day, that was largely played at pedestrian pace. It was another instance of time-wasting that summed this Test up perfectly. The verbals from India were sheer frustration. Zak Crawley was hell-bent and got his way.
The umpires are powerless. They should have said that we’re getting these two overs in, come what May.
