England v India: first men’s cricket Test, day two – live

Updates from Headingley, play from 11am BSTDay one report | Reaction | Email RobWhen you win the toss at Headingley – cliche klaxon – you’re supposed to look up (at the weather) rather than down at the pitch. England did neither: they looked backwards at the data, which told them the last six Tests in Leeds have been won by the team bowling first. A seventh really would be magnificent.Read Ali Martin’s day one reportThis being Headingley, so often a scene of the absurd and a ground where the last six Tests have been won by the side who bowled first, England will refuse to believe they are snookered. By the same token, inviting a team to bat first under clear skies and then having them ­dominate all three sessions was clearly suboptimal. The air was soupy, the outfield fast, and England failed to locate the Headingley length. Continue reading...

England v India: first men’s cricket Test, day two – live

When you win the toss at Headingley – cliche klaxon – you’re supposed to look up (at the weather) rather than down at the pitch. England did neither: they looked backwards at the data, which told them the last six Tests in Leeds have been won by the team bowling first. A seventh really would be magnificent.

Read Ali Martin’s day one report

This being Headingley, so often a scene of the absurd and a ground where the last six Tests have been won by the side who bowled first, England will refuse to believe they are snookered. By the same token, inviting a team to bat first under clear skies and then having them ­dominate all three sessions was clearly suboptimal. The air was soupy, the outfield fast, and England failed to locate the Headingley length.

Continue reading...