Jerusalem rings outas the players toddle out.
It’s sunny with a smattering of cloudsin south Birmingham. The pre-day pitch reort with Nasser Hussain and Stuart Broad highlights the lack of pace and bounce relative to Headingley. A few cracks are emerging and the greater heat could open them out a bit but the sluggish surface, Broad points out, gives batters time to react. “England shouldn’t be too worried,” he reckons.
Elsewhere, Steve Smithhas made a quick return to Australia’s side for the second Test against West Indies as the tourists try to sort their batting out, having (eventually) comfortably won a first Test that had been compellingly nip-and-tuck for a couple of days.
Some day one reading before play starts:
Ali Martin’s report:
Andy Bull on the ever-watchable Rishabh Pant:
And our food and drink correspondent Simon Burnton deep-dives into the Hollies Stand and more:
KK Nair’s been having a pre-session chinwagwith Sky on his return to the team: “It’s been amazing, what I’ve dreamed of, to finally be here and get this opportunity feels amazing,” he chirps. “I’ve always been prepared to bat wherever the team wants and I was told a couple of days ago I’d probably bat at three and was mentally well prepared for that. It’s a good chance to set up the game for the team. There are two different ways of playing [compared with at No 6] and as a batsman you have to be prepared to do both. I think we’re in a very good position, it’s about this morning’s session and continuing the partnership will be beneficial to us.”
As regards those late-order collapses, Nair says it’s “100% something that has to be discussed but not something we’re too worried about. It can happen and it’s our responsibility to stop it.”
Not cricket-related but some awful, tragic news:
Morning/afternoon everyone.Round we go again then. As at Headingley, Ben Stokes won the toss yesterday and inserted India, whose captain made a composed century while England’s most potent bowler was a 30-something stalwart and the day ended with the tourists seemingly having compiled a commanding score.
The first session today should tell us a good deal more about how commanding it really is, and whether India’s team selection – which appeared to be more aimed at not losing the last Test than winning this one – has paid off. It’s been a batter’s series so far and England’s top seven will be looking forward to having a go on a thus-far placid surface against an attack missing Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.
Anyway, the Edgbaston forecast is set fair – warm and dry but with the temperature not matching the horrors of earlier in the week – and the game could go in any direction. Let’s tuck in. Play starts at 11am BST.