peasy23

We could have the situation for the first NZ test in the summer that players are missing because they are playing in the final of the IPL. The ECB need to back up their talk about how important test cricket is with contracts to match.

Lawrence seemed to be the only player learning as he went along with his scores getting better thru his 4 innings (9, 26, 46 & 50). Even taking into account that this was a first trip to India for a lot of the squad, there were a lot of truly dismal performances. Biggest criticism for me is that there seemed to be no clear strategy as to whether to attack or defend against the bowling, and that criticism has to include the coaching staff.

Today's tee offs for the Scots 3.45 uk time Russell Knox and Kristoffer Ventura* 4.55 Robert MacIntyre and Jason Day 6.45 Martin Laird and Corey Connors *If he isn't nicknamed Ace there is something far wrong.

That first test feels a very long time ago now, and as I posted after the second test it was a strange choice to tour India with a weaker team than was available, Sri Lanka was the time to be resting players. Not saying that Burns, Buttler and Moeen would have fared a lot better, but there are a few players who might never play again after this. The Indians have destroyed Bess at this level, and Bairstow must surely have run out of chances now.

Sundar runs out of partners and ends up stranded on 96 as India lose their last 3 wickets for 0 in 5 balls. England start their second innings 160 behind.

Tyrell Hatton looked to be in trouble defending the title he won last year, but he's just rattled off 4 straight birdies to get back to even par.

Jimmy White beats Bingham 4-2 at the Gibraltar Open.

Knox is in for the weekend on +1, with the cut currently at +3. Decent start from Laird as he moves to 5 under.

Another 71 for Robert MacIntyre sees him move to 2 under and currently tied for 17th. A decent finish here should cement his place in the Masters field. Robert Gamez failed to break 90. Ouch.

Just as India seemed to be getting on top Stokes gets Rohit Sharma lbw. The commentators will be seething as it was umpire's call on two counts, with the impact just on the very edge of the stumps and the ball just clipping the bails. Only downside for England at the moment is Bess's bowling, nowhere near good enough for this level. 121-5, 84 runs behind.

Anderson gets Rahane to edge one and Stokes takes an excellent diving catch at 2nd slip. 80-4 at lunch and definitely game on.

Collectively England have bowled 14 maidens, with 150 dot balls from 29 overs. One of their most consistent spells I've seen for years, hardly any loose deliveries

Stokes gets one to kick up off the pitch which Kohli goes chasing and nicks it to Foakes, out for a big fat 0. India 41-3 and the home side under pressure.

Leach gets Pujara lbw, 40-2. That's the 4th time Leach has got him out in this series.

No early breakthrough for England thus far, Anderson bowling phenomenally well though. 10 overs, 8 maidens, 1 wicket for 3 runs. Superb stuff.

8 for Friday, state and film wrong.

An astonishing stat.

Ben An was high on my list for the chop, he's done nothing this season. Then he goes round in -4 today. MacIntyre currently -1 thru 16 holes.

Ooft. Another 10 for Thursday, couple of guesses again.

First rule of the golf thread. Don't mention a Scottish player by name when they are going well, it guarantees they will drop a shot almost instantly.

Stokes gets his 50 but Sundar pins him lbw not long after, 121-5.

Bairstow out lbw, he reviewed it but it stood on umpire's call, was just clipping the bails. 78-4.

England win the toss and bat and slip to 15-2 and then 30-3. Stokes and Bairstow have steadied the ship a bit but 74-3 at lunch wouldn't have been plan A.

Robert MacIntyre out with Camillo Villegas and Erik Van Rooyen for the first two rounds at Bay Hill. 1.08 pm uk time on Thursday and 8.28 am on Friday.

Easy win for Zimbabwe with Afghanistan making just 131 and 135 in their two innings. Zimbabwe needed just 17 to win in their second innings, and knocked them off inside 4 overs for a 10 wicket win. Whole match was less than 170 overs.