Reflections on Fourth Day of Second Test

England are 74 runs ahead with only five second innings wickets remaining. Their situation is desperate, but not hopeless.

India secured what could prove to be a match winning first innings lead of 38, as their tail-enders batted defiantly against the second new ball.

Cricket is a game played in the mind as well as on the pitch and England's mental weakness against spin was exposed again. Had Dravid bowled Kumble from the pavilion end from the start, the match would probably be effectively over. Although the occasional ball did misbehave, the English batsmen got themselves out to shots they would prefer to forget.

Cook nicked the ball to the keeper, playing a needless defensive shot to a wide delivery. Strauss's tortuous innings of 13 off 64 deliveries was ended when, for the second time in his test career, he swept the ball onto to his boot and into the arms of the wicket-keeper. Pietersen was unlucky to be given out caught off the forearm but he had looked far from assured; he had twice chipped the ball to within a few feet of a fielder before his dismissal. Collingwood and Bell were both caught behind playing what appeared to be attempts to steer the ball down to third man, but only they will know for sure.

In recent times England have under achieved when batting under pressure in their second innings and much now depends on Jones and Flintoff. An England total of 200 could set up an enthralling last day's play, but with Plunkett, Harmison and Panesar all on a pair it seems unlikely that England will be able to set a challenging target.