3rd Test: England v India at The Rose Bowl

Jos Buttler will make his Test debut as England look to level the series against India.

Pitch Report:

Quote:This season has brought four County Championship draws in six matches at the Rose Bowl, with several sub-300 first-innings scores suggesting initial help for the bowlers gradually flattens.

No Division Two captain has opted to bat first after winning the toss, continuing the precedent set by then England skipper Andrew Strauss three years ago. Alastair Cook or Mahendra Singh Dhoni shouldn't differ this time.

Pace and bounce are likely to abound, leaving England more justified than ever in not naming a specialist spinner in the squad. This, too, leaves a return for the sidelined Ravichandran Ashwin unlikely.

http://www.cricket365.com/news/story/939...outhampton

let me go to bed to be up early for this one

It is still early days and if England find redemption,they will be a hard nut to crack.I feel Pujara will be a factor here.He has often got the starts and like "the wall" he has been grinding down the bowlers to pulp.He will look to inflict some tangible damage to the bowlers.
DHoni shouldn't change the winning combination and seriously,Binny shouldn't be replaced.He is a vital cog in the wheel.No need of Rohit in his place..We have enough batting fire power.

England win toss and choose to bat first.
England at 25/0..Cook and Robson batting sensibly to make sure they don't get early jitters in their innings.
Ishant has been rested..and Pankaj singh brought..
He has no real pace at all.Just like a trundler.

Cook scores his first Test fifty since the second Test in Melbourne. He has had some luck along the way but he has battled hard. England are 101/1 from 35 overs.

cook actually making runs 70 not out

"It's a very frustrating time, no doubt about it - there a lot of guys hurting," said the 32-year-old four-time Ashes-winner.

"As a team, the last four games we have had windows to potentially win all four games, but we've just never taken those opportunities.

he got the chance he needed with an easy drop

Ballance will always look ugly and out of form....will probably end up in the top 5 English international scorers of all time.

Alastair Cook (76*) his highest Test score in his last 28 innings since his last Test 100 - 130 v NZ at Leeds in May 2013