🏏West Indies vs India, 2nd Test: Queen's Park Oval -- Thread #2🏏 - Page 5

Originally posted by: SoniRita

Aby Mathew: "Are India playing a version of Bazball in preparation for England in 2024?" --- That will be some planning, yeah

Siddhesh: "@Aby: Australia have shown that you can still play your version of cricket and beat England"

11:39 Local Time, 15:39 GMT, 21:09 IST: And the rain comes down. And it's coming down heavily too. Out of nowhere as the covers come on. The hessian first and then the big yellow covers. The players scurry off. As a result, lunch taken early. India have a firm grip on this game. It all started in the morning when they took the last 5 wickets in 7.4 overs. The second new-ball proved deadly as Mukesh struck first and then Siraj took his 2nd Test fifer as he cleaned up the last 4 wickets. West Indies had no answers to Siraj's scrambled-seam and a hint of inswing to the right-handers. The innings ended quite quickly with India leading by 183. And then they came out and helped by 2 drops from West Indies of Rohit, raced to a quickfire opening stand of 98 before Rohit was dismissed. Just one ball later the heavens opened up and forced an early lunch.

This already looks like a passing shower. Blue skies in the background and sun out even as the covers are firmly placed. We should restart immediately after lunch. Back for the next session in 35 minutes...

Avi: "Despite being an Indian, I can't see Windies performing like this!!"

Highest opening-partnership aggregates for India in a series

537 - Sunil Gavaskar & Chetan Chauhan vs AUS, 1979/80 (home)

477 - Virender Sehwag & Gautam Gambhir vs PAK, 2005 (home)

466 - Rohit Sharma & Yashasvi Jaiswal vs WI, 2023 (away)

459 - Virender Sehwag & Akash Chopra vs AUS, 2003-04 (away)

457 - Virender Sehwag & Rahul Dravid vs PAK, 2006 (away)

"What shall we call it ? Ro-ball or Yash-ball?" --- Might be Too-Early-A-Ball, Sk Aminuddin

Highest opening partnership run-rates in Tests (min. 50 runs)

10 - Marcus Trescothick & Michael Vaiughan (ENG) vs SL, Old Trafford, 2002

8.28 - Rohit Sharma & Yashasvi Jaiswal (IND) vs WI, Port of Spain, 2023

8.19 - David Warner & Usman Khawaja (AUS) vs PAK, Sydney, 2017

8.11 - Mohammad Hafeez & Ahmad Shehzad (PAK) vs SL, Galle, 2015

7.82 - Virender Sehwag & Gautam Gambhir (IND) vs SA, Kolkata, 2010

*where data available

11.42am And here comes the rain. It looks pretty heavy at the moment, as the players rush back. The lunch break is officially 20 minutes away, but the broadcast commentators announce that it is lunch now already. Anyway, India are ahead by 281, having bashed their way to 98 in only 12 overs. Siraj bagged a five-for earlier this morning to leave West Indies a massive 183 behind, and from there on, it was always going to be pushed by India. Join us in about 35 minutes for the afternoon session.

Arun: "When a wicket is a taken, it offends the rains Gods at the Queen's Park Oval"

11.48am Okay, we have a little update: there is a bit of brightness around, even as one of the umpires holds an umbrella over his head. The rain is possibly relenting.