This was another fantastic Test match that had everything you’d want, other than an England win. It ebbed one way and then the other and contained classic duels between batsmen and bowlers.

We saw the return of Chris Woakes who was outstanding with both bat and ball. He immediately settled into a good line and length and soon had Rohit caught behind with one that lifted. He claimed four first innings wickets as India crumbled to 191 all out, with only Kholi and Thakur making half centuries.

In reply England were 62-5 at one stage , Bumrah and Yadav doing the bulk of the damage. The lower order then rallied with Pope making a vital 81 and a half century from Woakes. Having made 35, Ali was dismissed attempting to loft Jadeja over mid on , when perhaps he and England could have been more ruthless. However a 99 run lead was more than might have been expected earlier.

India batted far better second time around, while England’s bowlers toiled. It was definitely the best time to bat on a drying Oval pitch that offered little movement. India took full advantage. A match winning century from Rohit and 50’s from Pujara, Pant and Thakur gave India a total of 466 and 345 for England to chase.

While Burns and Hameed were compiling a century partnership on the 5th morning all three results were still possible. Then England collapsed from 120-2 to 147-6. The rest was inevitable as India’s bowlers ran rampant to give India victory by 157 runs.

It remains to be seen whether England will rotate their fast bowlers. Anderson and Robinson must be weary after all the overs they’ve bowled. Fresh arms and legs may prove vital if England are to level the series.

England put in a superb performance to win this match by an innings and 76 runs. Again Root was the stellar batsman with yet another dazzling century notable for faultless defence and perfect back foot drives. England are lucky to have him and Anderson in the same team, the latter also doing what we have come to expect.

There was little resistance from India in their first innings, crumbling to 78 all out in the face of skilful bowling. It is strange how India can be so brilliant with the bat on one day and so woeful the next. They will probably have to conclude that this was an aberration and refocus for the next match.

England, on the other hand, put in a vastly improved performance with the bat. Burns, Hameed and Malan all made half centuries, contributing to a total of 432 and a massive first innings lead. It was heartening to watch and the Headingley crowd boisterously celebrated every single run.

There was an Indian fightback on day three, however. Pujara made 91 and Kholi 55. It was a partnership that looked ominous at one stage. England players and supporters were fearing there might be a tricky run chase to come. After all, India recently managed to beat Australia having been bowled out for 36!

Then came day four, a new ball and three maidens in a row. Soon all fears evaporated in the bowling heat, created chiefly by Ollie Robinson. He claimed the wickets of Pujara and Kholi in a scorching spell of 5-65, which ensured he was man of the match.

It shows the strength in depth England have with regards to fast bowlers. Wood and Woakes are also now available for the fourth Test which means that either Overton or Curran may be rested.

All of which means this series is now fascinatingly poised. India will doubtless come back strongly, though both sides remain completely unpredictable. It will be decided by whoever is able to play the most consistent cricket over the next two Tests.

Firstly I’d like to apologise to my legions of fans for not being able to document the first two tests due to ill health. I have endeavoured to produce a brief synopsis of the first two tests before the third is upon us. Very entertaining they were too, if not concerning for England.

The possibility of a result in the first Test was washed away by rain on the final day. England started poorly with only Root able to pass fifty in a total of 183. It was nice to have an excuse to growl, ‘Rooooooot!’, though it is becoming increasingly clear that the rest of the top order aren’t good enough for Test cricket. Changes will definitely have to be made.

The second day saw a good fight back by Robinson (5-85) and the ever ready Anderson who removed Kohli for 0. Like Root, Anderson must be tired of constantly having to drag England back into games. Robinson was accurate and probing though and looks a good prospect. I would have liked to have seen Leach given a game, especially as Broad and Curran were largely ineffective.

Such is India’s strength in depth that they were able to leave out a spinner of Ashwin’s class. Jadeja is a worthy replacement though, and an exciting cricketer. He produced a swashbuckling 56, complete with trademark bat-swishing celebration, to give India a 90 run lead. Ultimately his bowling wasn’t even required as India’s pacemen decimated England’s top order again. Only a match saving century from the imperious Root allowed England to reach 303. Root has now passed 1000 Test runs for the year and no other England player has more than 354.

One has to question whether the administrators care about Test cricket. They are doing it no favours with the current schedule: Players are coming straight into the Test arena from The Hundred and there are no first class matches before Tests.

Changes were made for the second test with Hameed in for Crawley, Ali in for Lawrence and Wood for Broad. Once again India’s openers showed how it was done with Sharma making 83 and Rahul 129. Contributions from Kohli, Pant and Jadeja gave India a total of 364.

Anderson continued to be inspirational, claiming 5 for 62. Robinson and Ali bowled well, while Wood bowled with hostility despite having an injured shoulder. Curran was underwhelming again and may well be rotated for the third Test.

England batted better this time around with 49 for Burns and 57 for Bairstow. Root was the outstanding performer once more though with a classy 180. With a slender lead at this stage England looked in a good position. That impression was strengthened when India were reduced to 55 for 3.

However, Rahane and Pujara dug in, the latter taking 35 balls to get off the mark, a moment that was greeted by loud cheers from the Indian supporters. When India were finally eight wickets down England were still in with a chance of winning the match. What followed, though, was a bizarre period of baffling short-ball tactics that allowed Shami and Bumrah to share an unbroken stand of 89. Kohli seized on the opportunity to set England 272 to win.

England duly capitulated, handing India victory by 151 runs. Root later admitted he got his tactics wrong against the Indian tailenders. India now appear to be favourites to win the series, such is the fragility of England’s batting. It will be interesting to see what changes England make to their top order. Improvements can’t come soon enough. Something needs to click with The Ashes looming.

It all started so brightly at Edgbaston. A near capacity crowd were in full voice under the summer sun. All the usual songs and chants could be heard, including , ‘Football’s Coming Home’ in reference to the Euros. There was fancy dress galore, including bananas, crayons and one chap dressed in full cricket gear (helmet and all).

At one stage a man dressed as the Coronavirus was being chased by a man wearing a Boris mask brandishing a big rubber syringe! Everyone was intent on enjoying themselves. It was a wonderfully vibrant and euphoric atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the genteel hum at Lords a week before.

Things started reasonably well on the pitch too. Eighties from Burns and Lawrence and forty one from Wood helped England to a score of 303. However this total was proved to be below par when England were unable to dismiss Conway, Young and Taylor before they too had made 80’s in compiling 388.

From then on England were comprehensively outplayed for the remainder of the match. They were bundled out for 122 in their second innings and ended up losing by eight wickets. Wood was England’s top scorer with 29.

Clearly England will need to improve drastically (especially in the batting department) if they are to stand any chance against India and in the Ashes. The top order is looking increasingly fragile recently and only Root is averaging over forty.

This defeat has raised questions about selection and rotation that will need to be solved quickly. Obviously the return of Stokes and Buttler will make the side stronger. However England need to decide whether Malan and Hameed will be inserted in place of the ailing Crawley, Pope or Sibley. Also, how will they continue to rotate their bowlers? Will there be a spot for Woakes? Will they include a spinner in their next match?

We shall have to wait and see. Watch this space.

How wonderful it was to see a crowd at Lords again with the sun shining! And a relief to hear a real ‘hum’, rather than a recorded one on a loop! It is a shame we can’t play more than two Tests against New Zealand as their current status certainly merits it. They are an excellent side with a long batting line up and fine bowlers in Southee, Boult, Jamieson and Wagner.

The first two days were notable for the astonishing 200 on debut from Conway. He rarely looked troubled throughout his innings while England’s bowlers seemed to lack a bit of rythm. Fortunately Wood was able to combine his pace with more accuracy to help restrict New Zealand to 378.

After day three was entirely washed out, day four belonged to Rory Burns who eventually managed to reach three figures in a watchful innings. It took him almost 2 hours to progress from 66 to 76. He was hit on the head twice, dropped once and survived a stumping opportunity. It was exactly the innings England needed at the time , after Crawley and Lawrence had both perished playing loose shots.

The last day saw New Zealand set England a generous declaration. It would have been nice to see England make an attempt at chasing the target, though it was encouraging to see Dom Sibley compile a half century before a draw was declared.

Ultimately there was a lot to enjoy in this Test match, especially the batting of Conway and the magnificent bowling of Southee and Jamieson. It was a shame that a day was lost to rain as the game’s conclusion might have been even more entertaining. It was also a shame that someone had to dig up historical tweets that Ollie Robinson made as a teenager. Personally I think his punishment has been far too severe.

It will be interesting to see if Crawley, Bracey and Lawrence find any form in the second Test and what changes are made to the bowling , especially with the Ashes looming on the horizon! Watch this space.

This is definitely one of my favourite herbs. It is a member of the mint family and very easy to grow. Fortunately it’s not as rampant as mint so is unlikely to take over your garden, especially if confined to pots. It will emit a fragrant lemony odour when brushed which attracts bees to your garden.

Lemon balm has many beneficial properties when ingested: It is an anti fungal agent as well as being anti inflammatory and anti viral due to the antioxidants it contains. This means it helps with indigestion, certain skin conditions and possibly dementia. However it is primarily used as a mild sedative, it’s relaxing effects caused by its ability to raise GABA levels in the brain.

It is easy to make a tea by crushing and brewing the leaves and the taste is delicious in my opinion. It is readily available to buy and is often found in combination with other herbs in teas designed to combat insomnia. Capsules of varying strengths are also easy to buy.

Personally I like to drink it as a tea in the evening and before bed. I find it helps me to relax after a busy day, especially if I’m avoiding alcohol! In my experience it’s sedating effects are enhanced in combination with valerian.

Occasionally I will take a 1500mg capsule of lemon balm before bed which usually provides me with a very refreshing night’s sleep with no ‘hangover’ in the morning. In fact I usually find I am less anxious the following day. Importantly for me there are also no interactions with my antidepressant medication. A thoroughly recommended herb.

Recently I have decided to widen the subject matter of my blogs. This is partly due to a lack of England Test matches at the moment and also because I won’t have membership for Somerset CCC this year. My new blogs will cover an area in which I have considerable knowledge and experience – that of herbs and supplements. Today’s offering is about ginseng.

There are three main varieties of ginseng: Korean, Siberian and American. Korean is probably the most popular and well known type in this country. Siberian is not officially a ginseng at all, but an adaptogen created and grown in Russia which has similar properties. American ginseng is very popular in the US and is said to be more calming than the others, whilst still increasing energy and libido.

My own experiences are primarily of Korean ginseng , which I find to be a highly effective and beneficial adaptogen. It raises my levels of energy and libido whilst simultaneously lowering my stress levels and allowing me to sleep normally. I have also experienced no negative interaction with my antidepressant medication, though anyone considering taking it should naturally check for contraindications.

It can take a week or longer to notice any effects and it is also advisable to have a two week break from taking it every few months. It is also possible to combine all three varieties or take it in conjunction with other herbs such as ginkgo biloba. I would recommend it to anyone who is feeling stressed or run down. Personally I take a supermarket brand of Korean ginseng alongside the small amount of Siberian ginseng that is in my vitamin supplement.

I have yet to try American ginseng, though surely will in the future, so watch this space. In conclusion I would say that Korean ginseng is probably the most effective adaptogen I have tried. For the curious it is worth experimenting with different types and strengths. I look forward to sharing my experience of a different herb next time. Until then, take care and stay safe.

There is no doubt that the pitches in India were very poor for the last three Tests, but both teams had to play on them and ultimately India out-skilled England with both bat and ball. Rohit Sharma scored in excess of 150 in the second Test, while Ashwin was allowed to reach a century. In the final Test, Pant took the game away from England with a brilliant attacking century that included a reverse scoop against Anderson with the new ball.

Pant timed the acceleration of his innings perfectly, just as England’s bowlers were starting to tire. Anderson and a poorly Stokes performed heroically with the ball and almost dragged England back into contention. Alas, their efforts were undermined by the skills of Pant and the inability of Bess to exert any pressure once again. It was painful to watch him offering repeated half-volleys, full-tosses and long-hops to the Indian batsmen.

Bess was clearly bereft of confidence to the extent of having the full blown yips, though he has been poorly treated by England. Having been replaced by Ali for one Test he was then reinstated, with Root claiming Bess had refound his wavering form. Clearly he hadn’t and was feeling the pressure. England definitely made selection mistakes for this Test with circumstances crying out for an extra seamer.

The series has also highlighted the need for England to become more adept at playing on turning pitches, both with bat and ball. So many English dismissals were to straight balls, which should surely be countered by playing the line of the delivery. If the ball turns and finds the outside edge so be it, though most times it will miss. In the bowling department, producing quality English spinners requires the ECB to make it a priority, which in turn means allowing Counties to create turning pitches. Thus not docking Somerset points for having a worn pitch would be a good start!

Obviously there were lessons to be learned from this tour, but it was certainly not a complete disaster. England did brilliantly to win the first Test so emphatically when they are usually slow to start series. The fourth Test was also much closer than the scoreline suggests. Had Pant been given out LBW to Bess when on 35 (he survived on umpire’s call), the match might well have swung in England’s favour, resulting in a drawn series. One could also argue that our current rotation policy did us no favours. Foakes is a quality replacement but obviously doesn’t have the dangerous batting prowess of Buttler, while Bairstow and Ali came into the side with very little match practice.

It will be interesting to see how the current one day series develops and also how India will fare when they come to England. Personally I feel that players have to be rotated at the moment with the schedule as it is. As long as we have a full strength side for the upcoming Ashes I won’t be complaining! Watch this space.

This is an account of two entirely different Test matches in Chennai. The first was won comfortably by England and the second just as emphatically by India. It is tempting to say the series is England 1 – Indian wicket 1, but there’s a little more to it than that. It was a very poor test wicket though ,and India clearly panicked and decided they needed more assistance from the surface.

The first Test saw an almost perfect performance from England and was a fantastic way for Joe Root to celebrate his one hundredth Test. The captain himself is in the form of his life and scored yet another double hundred. Sibley deserved a century with his determined 87 helping to lay foundations, while Stokes injected impetus with a typically swashbuckling 82. With the ball turning from the rough, the left handed clearly decided he was going to live and die by the sword.

English momentum continued into India’s first innings, when a sharply rising delivery from Archer found Sharma’s edge. There was resistance from Pujara and Sundar while Pant rocketed to 91, largely at the expense of Jack Leach. Ultimately though, England bowled well enough with scoreboard pressure to restrict India to 337.

As England’s lead approached 400 in their second innings, many pundits and spectators were frustrated by the lack of a declaration. Root later explained that he wanted to take an Indian win entirely out of the equation, leaving only two possible results. In the end he needn’t have worried at all.

A draw was still looking a decent bet ,with India approaching 90 for 2, when Root threw the ball to Anderson. What followed was one of the best overs ever seen in Test cricket. Both Gill and Rahane had their off stumps sent cartwheeling by perfect reverse-swinging deliveries. Not long after he claimed the wicket of Pant, leaving India 110 for 5 and staring at defeat.

Leach came back into the game admirably, taking 4 wickets, while Kholi was bowled by a ball from Stokes that nipped back and kept low. Archer finished proceedings with a bouncer to get rid of Bumrah.

The second Test saw Ali come in for Bess which seemed slightly unfair after just one poor spell from the latter. Yes Ali can turn the ball more and potentially offers more with the bat but he has had very little cricket recently. Stone replaced the injured Archer and Broad the rested Anderson.

The wicket was described as ‘dust and pebbles’ by Ajit Agarker and was turning sharply from the first morning. Both teams had to play on it however and India showed England how to master conditions. England’s batsmen were unable to cope with Ashwin and co. , while Sharma and Ashwin were both allowed to reach centuries.

Despite getting Kholi out twice, Ali bowled too many loose deliveries, meaning Root was again unable to exert any control with his spinners. Meanwhile Stone and Broad were unable to harness reverse-swing as effectively as Anderson had done.

Having lost by 317 runs, Root admitted that lessons would have to be learned, primarily regarding batting better on turning pitches. The batting may be bolstered with the arrival of Bairstow and the reintroduction of Crawley, while Root may use himself as the second spinner. Anderson is also likely to return and possibly Woakes.

Nobody knows if the pitch will be as poor in Ahmedabad. Conditions may be more seamer-friendly , however, with it being a day/night game using a pink ball ,which may suit England. If England are able to nullify the threat of Ashwin and improve in the spin bowling department, the 3rd Test could be much more competitive. One thing is certain, neither team will back down. This series is very much alive.

England’s recent two nil win in Sri Lanka was very encouraging, though they will have to improve if they want to beat India.

At first glance England’s spinners did a good job with both Leach and Bess taking lots of wickets, though their figures were somewhat flattered by some reckless Sri Lankan batting. Both also have a tendency to bowl too many four balls, thus relinquishing the control that can be so important for a captain.

It’s possible that Moeen Ali may enter the side for at least one test in India, but who would he replace? Leach appears the most capable of being able to tie up one end, though Bess’s omission would weaken the batting lineup. Personally I would replace whichever spinner has performed the worst for the last two Tests if necessary.

The other slight cause for concern was our openers who both struggled. Burns will probably come in for Crawley, while Sibley’s determined half century in the final innings may earn him a reprieve. Even during this knock he survived three LBW appeals, trapped in familiar fashion back in the crease. He will certainly have to work on this aspect of his technique if he is to prosper in India.

There were lots of positive signs on display throughout the rest of the side though. The rejuvenated form of Root was a joy to behold and has quieted concerns that captaincy was negatively impacting his batting. New incumbent Dan Lawrence didn’t look out of his depth while Bairstow and Buttler provided reassuringly solid experience.

Bairstow’s omission from the tour of India is disappointing considering how well he played the spinners, though understandable considering the congested international schedule. Buttler is also only due to play one Test in India, though his replacement with Foakes should not weaken the team at all.

England also seem to have a healthy amount of fast bowling options at present. Both Broad and Anderson were as effective as ever in Sri Lanka , while Wood bowled with hostility and was able to harness reverse swing at times. With Archer coming back into the side in India and Olly Stone in the wings, calculated rotation should ensure this aspect of the squad is strong for some time.

However India also have considerable strength in depth and will be formidable opponents. This was proved in dramatic style in Australia where they recently conjured an awe-inspiring series win , having overcome numerous injuries and being all out for 36 in the first Test. It promises to be an enthralling series which I believe England will do very well to draw.