BUMBLE ON THE TEST: Who's running this game, the umpires or India?

BUMBLE ON THE TEST: Who’s running this game, the umpires or India? One shower and they refuse to bat! But England’s top order needs attention as apparently Dom Sibley ‘isn’t even the best opener at Warwickshire’

  • England closed the second day of the first Test against India on 25 for no loss
  • The umpires need to get a firmer grip on the game after India’s refusal to bat 
  • England’s Dominic Sibley is apparently not even the best opener at Warwickshire

Rain stopped play early on a see-sawing day at Trent Bridge as England’s openers closed on 25-0 on day two of the first Test against India. 

Ollie Robinson bagged his maiden five-wicket haul for England, and together with James Anderson’s four scalps ended India’s first innings for 278, but not before some late fireworks from the visitor’s tail-end, which put on 73 for the last four wickets. 

Sportsmail‘s DAVID LLOYD offers his thoughts and insights on what was a better day’s Test cricket for England thanks to the superb performances of two bowlers.

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England openers Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley steered the team to 25-0 on the second day

Get tough umpires! 

Who is running this game? The umpires or the players? We had a squally shower come over Trent Bridge that clearly wasn’t going to last long but India refused to bat. Michael Gough was just letting them walk off until Jimmy Anderson intervened and they carried on. It’s not his job! The umpires need to be much, much firmer.

Towel of anguish 

Another delay when, after 55 overs of the India innings, the game just completely stopped. Two 12thmen ran on the field with towels and there were a good two or three minutes before anything happened. My solution would be for the fielding captain to show how farcical it all is by saying ‘ok, we’ll all have a drink.’ Then people who have paid a hundred quid to be here can watch the grass grow.

James Anderson had to intervene to stop India refusing to bat because of a light rain shower

Is Yates the answer?

There will be a debate about England’s top order and we’ve been looking at what’s around the county circuit. One distinguished person in cricket told me Dom Sibley is not even the best opener at Warwickshire. Step forward Rob Yates. And closer to the team Haseeb Hameed is emerging from the most almighty doldrums. He will get his chance again.

London calling 

I’ve seen a lot of criticism of the Royal London 50-over Cup being overshadowed by the Hundred but I see it as a fabulous opportunity for young players to get into county first teams and show what they can do. It’s got to be better than playing second XI and club games. And there’s a chance of a showpiece final at the end of it too.

Sorry Cloughie! 

It really is terrific working with Dinesh Karthik who’s an absolute legend in India and is fast becoming one here. I’ve got the job of driving him to the ground each morning so I’ve been educating him in the sounds of the Rolling Stones and Jerry Lee Lewis. We drove past Notts County and he said ‘I know there are two football teams here. The other one is Nottingham Foresters.’ Cloughie will be spinning in his grave.

Dom Sibley is not even the best opener at Warwickshire, says a distinguished person in cricket

Ward’s new Waze 

Mind you what a palaver it is making our way the short distance from Nottingham city centre to Trent Bridge each morning because of the roadworks just off Maid Marian Way. It’s completely foxed my SatNav so Sir Ian Ward recommended I use an app called Waze. Now a nice American lady tells me where to go.

Swinging party vibes 

That was old-school tail-end batting from India. Most players can at least bat a bit these days but here we had three guys in Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj having a bit of fun and not really having a clue what they were doing. There was more swinging than a 60s suburban party! Unbelievably frustrating for England as the lead grew.. 




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