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Day two of the final Test Match of an enthralling series between England and India finished in the balance on a drizzly day at The Oval where thousands remembered the late Graham Thorpe.
After bowling the visitors out this morning, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got England off to a flyer but the host’s innings was ultimately a short one, ending on 247 early in the evening session.
It left India an hour or so at the crease where they racked up a lead of 52 for the loss of two wickets, with captain Shubman Gill yet to walk out to bat. After a fascinating and drama-filled day in south London, Mail Sport delivers its latest edition of BUMBLE AT THE TEST.
A heartfelt celebration of Graham Thorpe
Brave as a lion and popular in the dressing room. The trademark was the headband and it was never for show.
Graham was the last lad that you’d think of who would wear one and it made me smile seeing the likes of Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and so many more, sporting the headband in memory of Thorpey.
It was ‘A Day For Thorpey’ at The Oval on Friday, with both sides and fans wearing a headband in his memory
Thorpe, a former England Test cricket batsman, took his own life in August 2024
Akash Deep’s send-off for Ben Duckett after his dismissal raised eyebrows in south London
An eyebrow-raising send off
Once the batsman is dismissed, that should be the end. Akash Deep should not have put his arm around Ben Duckett and KL Rahul did the right thing by pulling him away.
It’s the last thing you want as a batsman. That kind of reaction should only be saved after a momentous innings or a milestone.
When Fred Trueman took his 300th wicket, the batsman was Neil Hawke and he came up and shook Fred’s hand. They went on to become great pals!
Bumble and rural living
It is steam fair season in North Yorkshire. And there must be a connection between steam fairs and cricket because I keep getting recognised.
This weekend, we’ve got the Whitby Traction Engine Rally and Hebden Bridge Vintage Weekend.
Anyways think of the one and only Lancashire steeplejack, Fred Dibnah, covered in oil and soot. What a sight. August is the season for rural living and country fairs.
A Tongue-twister on Aussie soil?
As Sir Alastair Cook was saying on the radio, to play against Josh Tongue is an absolute nightmare because you can’t line him up.
He doesn’t know where he’s going so neither does the batsman! That means that he is unplayable.
If Tongue can keep it together with his pace, he will be a real handful. The Aussies will be thinking ‘This lad doesn’t know what he’s doing, so what chance have I?’
Josh Tongue was on form on his return to the England test side on Friday
As was Gus Atkinson, who returned from injury for his country at his home ground
Talk to someone, it helps
In praise of Test Match Special and Jonathan Agnew, who is still going strong and quite an outstanding broadcaster. Keep going old boy.
Well done to TMS for tackling mental health during the lunch break with some real thought-provoking discussion.
We have problems in cricket and the bottom line is that it is good to talk. I know countless cricketers who have suffered. Sadly, it is a real illness.
The greats impressed by Gus
A solid welcome back for Gus Atkinson, who was by far the pick of the England attack.
I remember seeing him live at an ILT20 game in the United Arab Emirates and don’t take my word on it. Ian Bishop, Simon Doull, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis all sat up and said “Who is this?”.
At that time, Atkinson was getting the odd game for Surrey. He is more than capable with the bat too so make no mistake, he is a massive asset for England.
Now that’s village!
To village cricket. The essence of rural areas. They don’t play in leagues. They just play against each other.
Now here’s a story from this week when Arncliffe played Kettlewell in North Yorkshire.
They had no stumps but found three in a derelict barn, so they put them in at one end and put a jacket down at the other end.
At the end of the over, they switched it around. That’s proper village cricket.
