England v India Second Test, Day Five Report Card

Featuring the morality of draws and ignoring the script

The Morality of Draws
Grade: B

The fifth day began with covers on the pitch, and rain belting down, reminding us all that there are few things funnier than a cricket side well on top batting on for far too long and then being undone by rain.

On the other hand, might this rain also cost England yet another magnificent victory concocted from nothing but table scraps and bloody-minded disregard for history?

The Sky Sports coverage took the opportunity to have a rain delay thinkfest. Their number one topic? A lengthy discussion about the morality of draws, in which they reassured viewers that, despite the propaganda of the Bazball party (in both senses of the latter word), a draw can, in fact, be a perfectly good and lovely and thrilling result.

It is, of course, insane that this is even a topic worthy of discussion but that is what Bazball has reduced everybody to. I hope Ben and the boys are pleased with themselves.

Ignoring The Script
Grade: D-

Alas, before Mike Atherton could trick any of his round table into properly praising his own eleven-hour, and (eleventh-hour!) draw-securing heroics against South Africa in 1995, the rain had stopped, the grounds mopped up, covers removed and players were back on the field.