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Mea culpa,<\/strong> I cocked up with my Gill stat earlier. He is alongside only Bradman and Gavaskar as the only CAPTAINS to score four centuries in a Test series. He matches Kohli and Gavaskar with the most hundreds by an Indian player in a Test series. Thank you to those of you who pointed that out.<\/p>\n And to Romeo who points out that \u201cClyde Walcott is the only man to score five centuries in a series, at home against Australia (with Lindwall, Miller and Benaud) in 1955, but Denis Atkinson and Jeff Stollmeyer both captained the side.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.41 EDT<\/p>\n Fortified by toast, back to the OBO inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWould you recommend..a WIKI search to a Yank, who has been both to The Oval and to Lord\u2019s whilst serving ad \u201cAmerican Lacrosse Coachin AMBASSADOR\u201d (..my actual title) back in 1983-84. I do not understand the scoring of cricket. Best to my mates at The Hampstead Lacrosse Club.\u201d<\/p>\n Hello Ken! Do you mean the scoring of the runs \u2013 in which case this<\/a> might work \u2013 or how to note the runs down in a scorebook? If the second, maybe this<\/a>?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lunch – India 223-4, trail by 88<\/p>\n 89th over: India 223-4 ( Washington 21, Jadeja 0) <\/strong>An uneventful last over from Dawson, and India go into lunch alive (just) but hobbled, after losing both their great cavaliers from yesterday. Both captains have quite brilliantly led from the front. Time for me to grab a drink \u2013 back soon.<\/p>\n Sign up for The Spin newsletter,<\/a> out every Wednesday. And follow Guardian sport on Bluesky<\/a>, if you want.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.22 EDT<\/p>\n 88th over: India 222-4 ( Washington 20, Jadeja 0) <\/strong>Nearly two in two from Archer as Jadeja immediately plays a swashbuckling waft straight out of Captain Hook\u2019s handbook, gets an edge which flies to slip where Root leaps, parries, juggles but can\u2019t hold on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Gill c Smith b Archer 103 (India 222-4)<\/p>\n Not a pretty dismissal as Gill plays a tired cut at a wide ball and Smith does the rest. He walks off, looking devastated, and with that, you\u2019d think, goes India\u2019s chances of survival.<\/p>\n Jofra Archer celebrates after dismissing Shubman Gill. Photograph: Gareth Copley\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.16 EDT<\/p>\n 87th over: India 219-3 ( Gill 103, Washington 17) <\/strong>Fine company for Gill \u2013 the only other batsmen to have made four centuries in a Test series are Bradman and Gavaskar \u2013 with the asterisk that not many teams play modern series that are five Tests long. An easier over for the batsmen from Woakes, Gill boxes a couple through mid-on.<\/p>\n \u201cJust wondering,\u201d types John Starbuck. \u201cHas any batsman, English or not, ever batted through an entire day, with perhaps a bit of a start the day before, at Old Trafford or any other Test ground? No promises or forecasts, but it could happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 86th over: India 213-3 ( Gill 101, Washington 13) <\/strong>If India manage to get through the next 13 minutes until lunch, it will be a small miracle. It\u2019s intense. At the other end from Stokes, Jofra is torturing Washington Sundar, though he picks up three from one loose ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 85th over: India 213-3 ( Gill 101, Washington 13) <\/strong> An edge! But just short of Jamie Smith. Gill instantly looks behind him, the slips have their hands on their head, then, the very next ball, a piece of art from Woakes, that jags back and misses Gill\u2019s off stump by a sheet of tissue paper. Gill turns back to Woakes, widens his eyes, and smiles. Woakes cannot believe his bad luck.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84th over: India 210-3 ( Gill 101, Washington 10) <\/strong>This has been such a wonderful innings by Gill, preternatural calm, despite the situation and being physically hurt at times. His fourth hundred of the series. Jofra is on the button with his second over, nearly jags through the defences.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>A hundred for Shubman Gill!<\/p>\n 83rd over: India 206-3 ( Gill 100, Washington 7) <\/strong>Oooof Woakes wobbles a ball an angel\u2019s breath outside Gill\u2019s straight bat. A couple nudged behind takes Gill to 99 \u2013 and there\u2019s the hundred! To a huge roar, he raises his bat, without a smile, kisses his bat, kisses his helmet and closes his eyes. Back to work.<\/p>\n Shubman Gill celebrates after reaching his century. Photograph: Lee Smith\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.56 EDT<\/p>\n 82nd over: India 203-3 ( Gill 97, Washington 7)<\/strong> Jofra! And his first ball is a short floaty thing \u2013 Gill says yes please, and pulls four. Temporary light relief. Washington pulls his bat inside some that jag closer to the point.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.30 EDT<\/p>\n New ball<\/p>\n 81st over: India 198-3 ( Gill 92, Washington 7)<\/strong> Woakes from the Jimmy Anderson end, with a saucy little grey quiff. The three slips (and a gully) retreat. A genuine edge from Washington but soft hands save him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 80th over: India 198-3 ( Gill 92, Washington 7)<\/strong> Dawson with his last for a while. Gill shows an exemplary high elbow.<\/p>\n \u201cDid they make the ball harder for this Test match\u201d asks Andrew Goudie. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had stoppages to change it, but instead we\u2019ve had broken bats and a broken bone.\u201d It\u2019s that Manchester magic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 79th over: India 198-3 ( Gill 92, Washington 7) <\/strong>Stokes has a swig of magic beans and continues. HE\u2019s going to be haunting Gill\u2019s dreams, but Sundar takes the over, able to let a few pass harmlessly by. One over till the new ball<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 78th over: India 196-3 ( Gill 92, Washington 5) <\/strong>A bold shot to finish the over, as Washington attempts to slog Dawson for six. Falls safely, but he only gets one. The commentators wonder why Gill turned down an easy single earlier in the over \u2013 perhaps that\u2019s why?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 77th over: India 194-3 ( Gill 91, Washington 4) <\/strong>Stokes continues, and with his second ball hits Gill again with a nasty lifter. Poor guy, Stokes must (surely) finish this spell soon, but then England will take the new ball. It looks dark on the television, but worry not, out of my window a couple of miles away, it is quite bright<\/p>\n Love this stat:<\/p>\n #ENGvIND<\/a> KL Rahul falls for 90 … to the 998th ball he has faced in the series. It’s never easy in the nervous 990s.<\/p>\n \u2014 Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) July 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.11 EDT<\/p>\n 76th over: India 193-3 ( Gill 90, Washington 4) <\/strong>India have ground to a halt a bit here. Dawson tightens the net- rip and turn- Washington widens his eyes in concentration, and after an hour of tense cricket, they take DRINKS.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 75th over: India 193-3 ( Gill 90, Washington 4) <\/strong>Stokes unbelievably comes in for a sixth on the trot. I think that what I thought was him clutching his hamstring , is him keeping his arm close to his leg to stop his shoulder hurting in his follow through. Anyway, he continues to do that, continues to test Gill and Gill continues to carefully bat him away. A maiden \u2013 and five overs until the new ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 74th over: India 193-3 (Gill 90, Washington 4) <\/strong>A punch wide of mid-on for two by Washington, two close fielder crouching either side of the stumps. Drifts wide, and Washington defends awkwardly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n 73rd over: India 191-3 (Gill 90, Washington 2) <\/strong>We now have injured Stokes v injured Gill, both playing at the highest level. Both survive the rest of the over.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re being over-generous calling Stokes\u2019 haircut a mullet,\u201d says Boyce. It\u2019s more of a David Lynch swept back thing, nothing over the collar of his shirt. Thommo\u2019s was a proper mullet, and a helluva bowling action too, maybe where Jasprit took his inspiration from ? \u201cKnock \u2018is f**kin\u2019 \u2018ead off\u201d Thommo was the fastest I ever saw live. We could do with some of his spikiness today, eh ?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n Injury for Gill<\/p>\n A horrible ball from<\/strong> Stokes explodes up and hits Gill first on the bottom hand, then into the helmet. Gill immediately pulls away and shakes his finger in obvious pain. The physios comes out and everyone takes a break \u2013 I think he\u2019ll be ok to continue.<\/p>\n Shubman Gill was hit on the finger by a rising Ben Stokes delivery. Photograph: Martin Rickett\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n 72nd over: India 191-3 (Gill 89, Washington 2) <\/strong>Dawson has his left hander. England have left the covers open, says Ponting, to encourage Washington Sundar to drive and the ball to dart through. He doesn\u2019t take the bait.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n 71st over: India 190-3 (Gill 89, Washington 2) <\/strong>No Pant, but a chance for Washington Sundar to sew his shadow to Old Trafford. Stokes continues to bowl magic beans, but grimaces in pain again at the end of the over that broke the partnership and the end of a wonderful innings by Rahul.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.55 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! Rahul lbw Stokes 90 (India 188-3)<\/p>\n Rahul is walking before the umpire has even raised his finger. Stokes with more magic, a nasty, brutish ball that keeps low, jags in and traps Rahul like an American CEO in the spotlight.<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of India\u2019s KL Rahul. Photograph: Lee Smith\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.25 EDT<\/p>\n 70th over: India 188-2 (Rahul 90, Gill 89) <\/strong>An appeal for caught behind against Rahul \u2013 Dawson wants it, Root agrees, Smith looks unsure. Stokes goes for it, but the hunch was wrong \u2013 the noise was from a brush of the pad. That\u2019s England\u2019s final review burned. In this match \u2013 ten reviews have been taken but only one overturned. Advantage (and congratulations) umpires.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.29 EDT<\/p>\n 69th over: India 183-2 (Rahul 89, Gill 85) <\/strong>Stokes has one more \u2013 wisely or not, I wouldn\u2019t dare say. This time he seems to be clutching at his right hamstring as he bowls, and massaging his right shoulder as he walks back to his mark. Still causing all sorts of problems though, until the last, when Gill nudges him behind for the first boundary of the day.<\/p>\n Hello Dan! \u201cLess a hunch than a dream maybe, because I could happily watch Gill and KL driving in the arc all day long, so I\u2019ll go for a draw at the expense of my allegiance.\u201d<\/p>\n Agreed, they are fabulous to watch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.29 EDT<\/p>\n 68th over: India 180-2 (Rahul 89, Gill 85) <\/strong>Another careful, probing, twisting over from Dawson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 66th over: India 180-2 (Rahul 89, Gill 82) <\/strong>Ooooof! A drop! It would have been an amazing catch \u2013 Ollie Pope at cover leaps, seemingly six foot off the ground, gets two hands to a rich Gill drive, but parries it to the ground. Stokes, tips his head to the sky. And at the end of his over massages, massages his shoulder.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 66th over: India 179-2 (Rahul 89, Gill 81) <\/strong>Rahul patiently plays through a Dawson over.<\/p>\n \u201dIs it a bit (or lot) of schadenfreude that SKY have Ponting on their team and keep asking him about 2005 Ashes?\u201d asks Anand.<\/p>\n \u201cI know this because, come every world cup, Kapil catching Viv in \u201883 runs non- stop and the Great Viv is asked about that one shot!\u201d<\/p>\n Ha! I guess he knows what he has coming! But also, Old Trafford was, he says, his greatest innings. So bitter-sweet I suppose.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65th over: India 177-2 (Rahul 87, Gill 81) <\/strong>In he runs from the Jimmy Anderson end \u2013 looking outrageously fit and bowling up at 86mph. He\u2019s following through a long way, points out my companion on the sofa, so he\u2019s being careful. And there, with a two, Gill goes past 700 runs for the series, averaging a perfectly formed 100.00. Then a huge lbw shout against Gill, looks tasty, jags back quickly, keeping horribly low – but going down leg. Immediately, Stokes is a threat.<\/p>\n Ben Stokes gets ready to bowl again. Photograph: Lee Smith\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.20 EDT<\/p>\n 64th over: India 175-2 (Rahul 87, Gill 79) <\/strong>With a puff of dust, Gill pushes Dawson away into the leg side. We get a close view of the crease, dotted like day old stubble. Just a single from the over, and then ginger haired man with a mullet hands his jumper and his cap to the umpire\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As the players skip out,<\/strong> there\u2019s a decent enough crowd but still spaces if you\u2019ve got a spare day and \u00a326 in your pocket (\u00a36 for juniors).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.09 EDT<\/p>\n As the punters<\/strong> settle into their seats, climb the skeleton steps to the party stand, what is your OBO hunch? I love these final days.<\/p>\n \u201cThe anticipation is such a buzz,\u201d writes Dean Kinsella, \u201cI love the photo of OT in the sunshine but the sky looks like some kind of AI intervention. Perhaps AI is what it might take to separate the two fine batters at the crease.\u201d<\/p>\n An AI Ben Stokes is a terrifying prospect.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Last question: \u201cwho is going to be England\u2019s<\/strong> principal spinner for the the first Test of the Ashes\u201d? asks Athers. Shoaib Bashir, says Ali.<\/p>\n Can Liam Dawson change that narrative today?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.03 EDT<\/p>\n Hello there,<\/strong> Andrew Goudie.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s the 20th anniversary of that Ashes series, but I\u2019ve had enough of Sky telling me how popular cricket was with everyone back in 2005. I wonder why people didn\u2019t watch so much live cricket on TV after that?\u201d<\/p>\n ouch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Enjoying watching<\/strong> our Ali Martin discussing the papers on Sky in a maroon carpeted conference room at OT. Very interesting on Stokes and his captaincy \u2013 no croissants though, like there used to be on Cricket<\/a> writers on TV.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cGood morning Tanya,\u201d<\/strong> Lovely to hear from you Ram!<\/p>\n \u201cWe are on the way to OT. Quite a murky morning . Don\u2019t think there\u2019s any mercy or miracle in store for India. Could be a walk in the park for the bowlers. However India anything better than\/= 3-1 scoreline is a better result for this inexperienced\/injury prone India.\u201d<\/p>\n Hope you have a lovely time. And I reckon it might be closer than you think, this Old Trafford pitch has been a tricky old beast for bowlers in the Championship. And there is rain possible at lunchtime\u2026plus I do think that Rahul and Gill could bat on and on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sky play through some<\/strong> highlights of Gill\u2019s innings yesterday \u2013 he strikes the ball like beams of sunshine on a lake.<\/p>\n The latest pitch report:<\/strong> \u201cIt looks like day one,\u201d says Mel, \u201cif a little bit lighter and with general wear and tear. The pitch will get a little slower. Ravi says Dawson has to occasionally bowl slower and wider, and then hope to get the Indian left handers in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ben Stokes bowls!<\/p>\n News!<\/strong> Ben Stokes has been spotted bowling this morning in his maroon warm-up top: \u201dgentle, but moving more freely than yesterday\u201d in the words of Ian Ward.<\/p>\n And a lovely piece on England\u2019s captain fantastic by Taha:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Something to mull over\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n No team, including England, has managed to bat 100 overs in the 3rd innings at Old Trafford in the last 23 years…<\/p>\n \u2014 Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek) July 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
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