Archer was sharp, going through the top 2nd over. He was as good as I can remember him, I think his friend and ex landlord England bowling coach Tony Lewis is a lot to do with it. Jimmy was a bit disappointing, but he's never a let down as a run giver.
Thought the precocious Pant was very entertaining and got after Jack Leach in the sloggeroo style his age group plays all cricket in. They presume every pitch is for a few hours only and he will perhaps need skills he has yet to learn about in the five day game on a turning last innings. No doubt he will tell the world about it as he never seems to shut up over anything it seems. He'd have driven me deaf as a slip fielder! Eventually he over did his belief in himself it and sliced one to the deep - inevitable really.
England won't forget such excesses and I noticed many faults in his method. Perhaps once Joe has been told about them from Graham Thorpe he'll shut him down second time around, or let Stokes and Jimmy set the fields and how to bowl to them?
Dom Bess was excellent, what an attractive action he has, so correct and a 'find' for us. Poor Jack Leach recovered his savaging and will I believe still play an important roll, as should the recalcitrant 'golden armed' Root. He turned it square a couple of times today, whilst looking completely disinterested at the same time. A valuable asset and no push over part timer with the ball. With a run bank to go at like today, he must bowl a little more often out there I feel?
Incidentally his catch today was breathtaking. Shame he had to have the felonious 'equipment man' message delivered on the pitch from upstairs to get Archer on, but too late towards the end. Tactics are not his metier - unlike so many of the great forebears from his noble County, Hutton, Close, Illingworth etc.
If we can get them out for say another 100 or so, NOT invoke the follow on, score 200 fast but leave them to defend for five sessions with a minimum lead 400/450 ahead (time dependent) we should do it. They are good batsmen, look how well these two Sundar and Ashwin played at seven and eight. Both started off life as opening batsmen before developing their fine spinning skills. However patience overall is not their strong set I feel? A combination of their impetuosity and inexperience in strategy within this type of scenario may combine to their own undoing.
Pujara could be the problem, he does have patience and is a thinking man's batsman. Finally how well umpired too throughout, as both of England's puerile and wasted appeals against Sundar confirmed.
Fascinating match, played in good spirit amidst a graceful setting.