This Thakur guy punches above his weight. Though not a massive wicket taker, he picked up the highest scorer in Eng 1st innings, opened up the gates today morning and then the wicket of Root. Plus without his batting in both innings, game would have been over by Day 4.
Burying Ashwin’s hopes in this series
Can't blame Thakur for Ashwin's non-inclusion. Thakur more than proved his worth in this test. Ashwin could replace Rahane, still score more runs than him just as a batter.
Got Malan, Bairstow and Ali to come. Eng have really good chance of winning
Irrespective of what Vaughan said, Hameed batting was really surprising. With 300 to chase, 10 wickets in hand and a flat pitch, he seemed batting for a draw up front. Can understand if he switched into block mode after few wickets fell but when he batted, Eng were only 2 down. If Eng got 40 more runs in first session, it could have ended quite differently.
Nonsense...wickets did not fall because England were trying to chase the runs down. Wickets fell to some excellent bowling. If it wasnt for Hameed and Burns, this match would have ended already. Flat or not, its never easy chasing such a big score on Day 5. Also credit to Indian bowlers to the way they stuck to their lines in the morning session.