107th
over: England 325-6 (Root 177, Bess 26) Root takes a single to backward square then Bess edges to a similar area; he fancies two but is advised thereâll be no such thing by his frankly malingering captain.
âI am beyond baffled about all the talk regarding Bairstow in the last week,â says David Reynolds. âBetween his last test century, which was in Sri Lanka, and the start of this series, he averaged 18.4 in 20 test innings, with a highest score of 52 and numerous gormless dismissals (including many costly ones in the Ashes). Then he gets 47, 35 not out, and 28 in this series, and heâs being talked about in the press as undroppable? This is absurd.â
28th over: England 97-2 (Bairstow 23, Root 67) This is a stunning innings from Joe Root. He hits Embuldeniya for three boundaries in four balls - sweep, reverse sweep, cut - and has now raced to 67 from 76 balls. When he came to the crease, England were five for two in the eighth over.
âHi Rob,â says Charles Sheldrick. âNot sure I get the three reviews to counter potential bias from non-neutral umpires. surely if they are not neutral then they will be biased towards one side or the other, so why to both sides get an extra review? Surely the side thought to be favoured will not need it? Or, as seems likely to me, are the powers that be worried that the general standard of umpires is lower but are too scared to admit it?â
âBeing clear how I wanted to play, having a clear method for each individual bowler.â
Has he changed anything since last year? âYes, quite a few things. Tried to get more rhythm into my batting, find triggers, things I can do when the bowlerâs running in that might give me a bit of rhythm. And just trying to clear my mind of everything other than that next ball.â
Whoâs he been working with? âActually spent a lot of time with myself,â he says, looking mildly sheepish. So have we all, Joe. âThatâs been the advantage of [Covid], so much time to look back at things, watch cricket around the world â some of the best players, Kane [Williamson] at the minute, playing unbelievably well, watching how he plays and goes about things. Youâve got to learn off your peers and advance your game.â