BUMBLE ON THE TEST: Rusty Moeen Ali will go back to square one if he returns home to rest after 18 months out of the game... and suggestions that England provide pitches to suit their bowlers in 'Pitchgate' debate are NONSENSE!
- England closed day three on 53-3 after being set 482 to win by India
- Ravichandran Ashwin can be classed as a true all-rounder in home conditions
- Moeen Ali spins the ball more than Dom Bess but could return home to rest
- Ben Foakes is an artist and gave an exhibition of pure wicketkeeping skills
- It is completely untrue that England provide pitches to suit their bowlers
England face defeat in the second Test after India consolidated their advantage on the third day in Chennai.
Ravichandran Ashwin scored his fifth Test match century for the hosts before removing Rory Burns as England closed on 53-3 after being set 482 to win.
Sportsmail's David 'Bumble' Lloyd has his say on the Indian all-rounder, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes and Channel Four's latest guest.
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Ashwin a true all-rounder in home conditions
There's no doubt Ravi Ashwin is a highly effective player for India and can be classed as a genuine all-rounder – at home.
His runs were more than useful but it's with the ball he's most effective. Not so much away from home, though.
He's got nigh on 400 Test wickets and in Asia he takes them at 22 apiece. But away from there it rises to 31.
Moeen heading back to square one
What a shame Moeen Ali has been out of Test cricket for 18 months.
He's yet another player this winter who has walked straight back into a Test match and he was obviously rusty in the first innings.
Second time he was better and he spins the ball more than Dom Bess but if he goes home again now to rest, as suggested, he will be back to square one….
Foakes the artist behind the stumps
Ben Foakes did exactly what we all thought he would do and gave an exhibition of pure wicketkeeping skills.
He's a true technician and artist. But it's swings and roundabouts. He stood up to the stumps to Stuart Broad and put a thick edge off Ashwin down.
I like to see my keeper standing up but Jos Buttler would have been back and would have caught that.
'Pitchgate' nonsense!
More on 'Pitchgate'. I've read some nonsense about England providing pitches to suit their bowlers. It just doesn't happen.
It couldn't be further from the truth. I said about counties wanting Tests to go at least four days and there are practical reasons why home needs are not taken into account too.
Swing has got nothing to do with the pitch.
Covid-19 jab outside my garden shed
I was called up by the NHS to do a video promoting Covid vaccinations and was happy to oblige outside my garden shed.
I've had my jab now and can't see why anybody wouldn't. Get on with the jab! We could set these videos to music too.
How about 'Jabbing' by Bob Marley, 'Jabbing all over the world' by Status Quo and 'Jab me up' by the Stones!
Focus the lens on play
The Star Sports director clearly loves his new gizmo the drone to give us all these aerial shots.
Plenty of footage of wives and dignitaries in the Chennai crowd too. I'd rather he concentrate his cameras on the game and DRS.
I can't believe there was only one shot of that stumping on the first day for the TV umpire to work with….
Jonny will get the kids watching
My pal the doctor has been on to me again. Now he says 'that's the way for Channel 4 to get the kids watching on a Sunday morning.
Shove Henry Blofeld on. An 80-year-old bloke in a cravat as the tea time guest. He probably had a glass of red wine on the go too.'
It was much better on Monday Doc – they had Jonny Bairstow on. That's more like it…
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