My alarm is going to go off at 3.45am again for the next 5 days, which given the weather forecast over for the UK over the weekend will make this an even taller order, but fear not I will prevail. After plenty of yawning and lots of hot drinks to warm me up as the snow falls, after a hushed rendition of Jerusalem, I’ll be ready to go for the 2nd India England test match in Chennai.
Another plea for you to watch the cricket on Channel 4, I can’t stress enough how important it’s going to be to have it on the TV in the UK, so do me a favour yeah? Just stick it on, mute it if you don’t want to watch it, potter about in your dressing gown but just put it on. The figures were really good for the first game and it needs to continue, though I think the next test match being a day night affair will help viewing figures with its 9am UK start time.
The thing that makes this test all the better is the fact there will be fans in the ground, up to 50% capacity, which will be fantastic, fans in ground are so missed by players and by fans alike. There is nothing like the real cheer when a wicket falls or somebody goes to their hundred. Just think how enhanced Joe Root’s double ton would have been with a crowd, or the over James Anderson bowled in India’s second innings in the pervious game, spine tingling stuff, I can’t wait to see and hear fans back in a stadium. Even more reason to watch it right? A proper atmosphere, proper reactions and an intense place for any player to ply their trade.
England have made 4 changes to their squad, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dom Bess and Jos Buttler all miss this test. So with the likely inclusion of Moeen Ali making for a tough decision as to England’s batting line up. Does Ali bat at 3 or 6? Do they bulk up the top order with experience or do they bluster the lower order? Do they go with Oli Stone or Chris Woakes? If Woakes plays I think we’ll see Ali at 6, but if stone plays Ali at 3 feel like the move they’ll make. What Joe Root says at the toss will be interesting.
India look to be making changes too, a test debut looks set to be handed to left arm spinner Axar Patel, all reports are that India have produced a turning pitch, if the wicket does turn early Ravichandran Ashwin will need some help after the new ball shine is gone.
Either way it’s going to be a cracker so buckle up and enjoy, with the snow and bad weather expected what else have you got to do?
Cheers. The fat man
Fat Lad Sports 