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[jimmy23]

Gray Nics will be rushing another set of pads to him ready for tomorrow.

[SD]

Anyone else think we need to get rid of the toss in international cricket? Make teams prepare proper wickets, this is dross. 7 overs in and it was already deteriorating 🤬

Yes, I completely agree.  This sort of wickets isn't fit for first class cricket and would result in points deductions if you prepared something this bad in the CC. 

Root looked the pick of our spinners.  I think he generally under bowls himself.  India look ahead of par with both Leach and Ali under performing but waited an age to have a go himself.

[ppccopener]

Kholi reportedly unhappy with the wicket(and ball) for test 1. So we do have a bit of a different wicket. More carry and less red than the last one.

But there were dust bombs halfway into day 1 and it looks like it will completely go quite soon. They clearly must get Ashwin into the game and it looks like he will def be in this one 

I thought Root and Leach bowled well and very impressed with Stone also. We stuck at it and with some better umpiring would of got a couple more.

300 looks like it's a good score, and we will struggle with the bat here, I guess home advantage and a pitch that breaks up is a fine line.
But Kholi appears to have got his way and will have best use of the wicket.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Leach bowled pretty well.

[alexhilly1492]

Gray Nics will be rushing another set of pads to him ready for tomorrow.

Or they'll be disinfecting Johnny's kit

[six and out]

The way I always look at pitches like this is what would of happened if we had won the toss? Would we be discussing it as much if we were 300-6?

They prepared a pitch to best suit them and they are at home, I don't mind that. They wanted to take the toss out of the equation to a certain extent too because with it turning from ball 1 you also give yourself a chance bowling 1st and I think that's also what India wanted.

Is it any different than a green seamer we might prepare at Headingley? That is what playing test cricket away from home is all about.

[jonny77]

The way I always look at pitches like this is what would of happened if we had won the toss? Would we be discussing it as much if we were 300-6?

They prepared a pitch to best suit them and they are at home, I don't mind that. They wanted to take the toss out of the equation to a certain extent too because with it turning from ball 1 you also give yourself a chance bowling 1st and I think that's also what India wanted.

Is it any different than a green seamer we might prepare at Headingley? That is what playing test cricket away from home is all about.

Pretty sure Rohit won't be complaining! 😆

[ppccopener]

Don't think we can complain too much about the pitch, we are away you expect it to a certain degree, this one does look like it will completely 'go' fairly soon 

Rohit does play a few shots and he might of expected this pitch so came out determined to play all of them. He's a very stylish player when in full flow.

I'd like to see us be positive when we bat and not get caught by close In fielders. If we go down then at least be positive, not wait for an unplayable bomb.

Away wins are getting harder to get but I think we are playing pretty well so far. The problem of a good second spinner has dogged us for quite a few years, and is still there.

[alba caerulea]

Don't think we can complain too much about the pitch, we are away you expect it to a certain degree, this one does look like it will completely 'go' fairly soon 

Rohit does play a few shots and he might of expected this pitch so came out determined to play all of them. He's a very stylish player when in full flow.

I'd like to see us be positive when we bat and not get caught by close In fielders. If we go down then at least be positive, not wait for an unplayable bomb.

Away wins are getting harder to get but I think we are playing pretty well so far. The problem of a good second spinner has dogged us for quite a few years, and is still there.

I agree, i think Rohit showed the way to go, be positive if you can. Of course not easy against Ashwin in particular. Kuldeep is also an excellent bowler but hasnt had much cricket for quite a while. I know nothing about Axar Patel other than what ive seen in T20.

Sitting in wont be easy on this track and you have to think that there will be a delivery with your name on it eventually.

Got to get these last few wickets first without conceding many more!

[adb club cricketer]

I am not sure if the pitch can be claimed to be made per Kohli specifications assuming batting first. Since if Ind lose the toss, it would also go against them given we have seen how well Root and co are tackling spinners. From what I read, the Ind team wanted to have a pitch that doesn't rely so heavily on the toss like in the 1st test e.g., so basically two options left for the curator

1) Provide batters good pitch to bat even after day 2 which could lead to a dull draw, or alternatively
2) Give bowlers much more chance from day 1 itself.

Option 2)  can be satisfied either by seaming wicket or spinning wicket from day 1 and depending on home country, you can guess how that would go.

For tests anywhere in the world, that is fair enough request IMO which can provide both teams a more level playing field irrespective of toss.

As to whether the actual pitch served satisfies that requirement is a different thing and that would be in hands/skill of the curator.

[SouthpawMark]

England will be fine. Knock over the remaining Indians in the first 20 minutes, then let Sir Joe Root score another 150, followed by a quick fire 200 from Sir Ben Stokes. Simples.

[six and out]

It will be interesting to see what Kohli has planned for Root in terms of field placement because they surely have to cut off his sweep shot.

[alexhilly1492]

Which sweep? Normal, paddle, slog, reverse?

[Alvaro]

A really enjoyable day of cricket.

[brokenbat]

300-6 after day 1, with one batsman smashing a quality 100, and another outdone by a Jaffa. The pitch is absolutely fine and made for fantastic viewing.