Lol, there was never really any chance. History tells us that.
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Hat trick ball!
Fat lady clearing her throat now, but at least great credit should go to Butler and Stokes for the way they played.
The Bumās rush from Bumrah!
Rashid and Broad providing some late afternoon entertainment 
That last over from Ashwin was magic!
I donāt think Rashid got a bat on any of them.
Still, credit to the tail for taking it into a fifth day. Forecast is fine, so only delaying the inevitable, but you give away nothing in a test match.
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I thouroughly enjoyed watching it today, really gritty test cricket. India were excellent with the 2nd new ball after a fantastic partnership from Stokes and Buttler.
What we do with the top order for the next game though is anyoneās guess. We are really looking for a pair of openers. Cook is in miserable form and I donāt think Jennings has a look of permanence about him at all. Rory Burns? Hameed? Probably Cook will remainā¦
I know itās not traditionally done until the end of a series but unless he seriously turns in some top notch performances I think Cook needs to retire and make way for some new blood.
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Who is the new blood though?
Itās a valid question, and the sorts of matches being played in county cricket donāt exactly help foster a test match mentality.
I heard a whisper the other day, from someone who is quite well connected with the ECB, that if we won this Test, then Stokesā disciplinary hearing would have been this Thursday, and heād likely have received a 2 match ban. 
Be interesting if they do that now, or wait to see the result of the next Test
Hameed looked to be the right stuff but he got injured and then seemed to try and become a one day player and lost his way. Very telling interview here, where he seems to be reading from a script his sport psycologist gave him.
They will not change both openers, so I suspect only Jennings will go. Thereās just nobody knocking the door down to get in the side. Hameed has been in very poor form this season.
I think there will be some doubt over Bairstow with his injury, so Buttler as keeper which would mean bringing in another specialist batsman.
I reckon they need to find a number 3, move Root to 4 and Pope to 5. Ian Bell may be a short term fix.
Southampton pitch may well take spin, so with that in mind will we (can we?) play both spinners?
Moeen is in the runsā¦
He is, maybe he bats 5 and replaces Bairstow.
Or maybe Buttler stays at five and Moeen takes Bairstowās place?
Either way it works for me. In hindsight, think Jennings may just manage to survive, but only due to a lack of other options.
Yes, and we can pack the middle order with all rounders to get a result. Round and round in circles!
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Need two right handed openers, neither of the incumbent lefties can play Sharma.
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