Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss got through a tricky 20-over spell at the end of day four to frustrate India's bid for victory in the third Test.

The openers provided dogged resistance in bowler-friendly conditions to end the day 56-0 without alarm, having been set 500 as an unlikely victory target.

India opted to bat again after cleaning up England's innings for 345, but were pedestrian in the pace of the innings.

Only Sourav Ganguly (57) hit out as they limped to 180-6dec, a lead of 499.

By Ben Dirs

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on day four at The Oval

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Ben Dirs' in the subject) or use 606

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ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS

1825 - Eng 56-0 Kumble drops short, Strauss paddles it away and it strikes Karthik on the top of the left thigh. Lizard-like reactions from Karthik, who still manages to stick out a hand before the ball hits the floor. And Strauss sees out the over. Good discipline from England and it looks like we'll get a full enough day's cricket tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with it, and I'll see you all tomorrow (unless someone terminates my contract between now and then).

1821 - Eng 56-0 One for Cook with an inside edge and Strauss collects one with a glide to deep square-leg. Rank long-hop from Tendulkar and Cook yanks it away for four.

"I think Carole's on the spot with the Freddie Mercury lookalike. Should someone let Shastri know? They both studied in Bombay, once upon a time. A new career in the offing, perhaps?"
Hari, Enfield, in the TMS inbox

"Will Mr Frindall be looking to score this evening? Sorry, but someone had to ask."
David Butcher in the TMS inbox

1817 - Eng 50-0 Strauss stays back to Kumble, cuts and the ball evades a rather pathetic attempted stop from Karthik at short third-man and runs away for four. Kumble gets one to fizz out of the bowler's footmarks, but Strauss gets the bottom of his bat on it. Tendulkar will have the last over of the day.

1813 - Eng 46-0 Cookey bags a couple with a trademark clip to leg and India look a bit flat at the moment.

"Am I wrong to think that Ravi Shastri looks like Freddy Mercury? (when Freddy was alive of course, not now) Saw him earlier on Sky. Sorry. That was probably a load of nonsense."
Carole, on the Cabernet Sauvignon in Maidenhead, in the TMS inbox

1809 - Eng 44-0 Strauss leaves a Kumble delivery and nearly loses his off-stump, the ball pitching and going straight on. The Middlesex man picks up a couple with a flip off his legs as Vaughan adopts his best Man at C&A pose up on the England balcony - his relaxed demeanour suggests some other poor soul is strapped up and waiting to go in as nightwatchman.

"Come on England, up the scoring rate. Get this total down below 420 and see if the Indians get a bout of the collywobbles overnight."
Harry, St Albans, in the TMS inbox

1805 - Eng 42-0 Singh mining the corridor of uncertainty outside off-stump and Cook having none of it. No great dramas for England so far and it's started to look pretty dank at The Oval.

"Lock up your daughters tonight, Bill Frindall is out on the town..."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

Test Match Special

1801 - Eng 42-0 Kumble spears one across Cook and the Essex man flips him past leg-slip for four. Two more for Cook with a clip to mid-on, but I'm not entirely sure he's picking the wily Kumble.

1757 - Eng 35-0 A change of bowling for India, left-armer Singh is going to have a go. He drags one down and Strauss manages to roll the wrists and smoke the ball through mid-wicket for four. We've got seven overs remaining and play can go on until 1838 BST.

1754 - Eng 31-0 Attractive stroke from Cook, pushing Santh to deep cover for a few. Kumble serves up a low full-bunger and Strauss whips him through mid-wicket for four. One more for Strauss, clipping Kumble to mid-on and nicking the strike.

1749 - Eng 23-0 Cook tucks Zaheer round the corner for one. Zaheer gets one to almost hoop round a corner, Dhoni just managing to drag the ball in and clutch it to his chest. Strauss's feet nailed to the crease and he's beaten by a ball that nibbles away off the seam. Strauss grins ruefully, Zaheer sends daggers his way.

1744 - Eng 22-0 Another maiden from Santh and up in the TMS box they're whispering quietly about an England win. Whoever sent that sponge in earlier, I think it was laced.

1740 - Eng 22-0 Zaheer maintaining a nagging line outside Cook's off-stump but he does serve up a gimme, Cook clipping his last delivery off his pads for a couple.

1735 - Eng 20-0 Santh plonks one in short and Strauss stands tall and laces him through cover-point for his first four of the innings. Strauss then plays all round one before being beaten by a ball that shapes towards the slip cordon. Alan in Hampshire has suggested I'm biassed towards England - Alan, of course I'm biassed towards England, I'm an Englishman writing for a website paid for by the British public. In the same way, when writing features on Ricky Hatton, I usually let it be known than I want him to win his next fight.

"Even if you worked for the BBC up to age 68, that wouldn't be long enough to see 300 million Indian women cross their legs - hardly 1% of 300 million women, if that, wear skirts in India, which is significantly less than the 30 million who do in the UK."
Basu, Toronto, in the TMS inbox

1729 - Eng 16-0 Cook it is with the first boundary of the innings, carving Zaheer through backward-point for four. Zaheer tests Cook out with a bouncer and Cook swivels and gloves him over leg-slip for a couple. He wasn't in control of that.

1725 - Eng 10-0 Santh gets Strauss ducking with a bumper and that's another maiden over. Santh not making the England batsman play enough, they've been fairly comfortable so far.

"Given that India are 1-0 up in the series, shouldn't England be going all out for the win? They might as well lose 2-0 and records are there to be broken after all. Also, they'll probably lose whilst playing for the draw anyway. At least by attacking they might push the field back and make Dravid be a little more defensive at some point tomorrow."
Tange Floss in the TMS inbox

1721 - Eng 10-0 Zaheer spears one onto Strauss's legs and appeals for lbw, but there was wood on it and it was missing leg. Zaheer loses his line and gives up a rare wide. Two slips and a leg-slip in for Cook as Zaheer looks to crank up the pressure. Massive innings this for Strauss of course, he could be playing for his place.

1718 - Eng 8-0 Immaculate line and length from Santh and it would appear England are not going for the win.

1711 - Eng 8-0 Cook is off the mark with a thick edge for one to point. Bearders informs us this this is the first time in a series of more than two games that both teams have been unchanged. I think I'm going to kill myself. Tight stuff from Zaheer, just one from the over.

"Sanjay, my real concern is why Dravid didn't make England follow-on. England would have needed 319 just to make India bat again. If Rahul is worried about losing from that position, then I am presuming he will be taking a ferry home, as the slim chance of an airplane accident must be far too high for him."
Jonty Manuja in the TMS inbox

1706 - Eng 7-0 Santh shares the new ball with Zaheer and he struggles to find his line, sending down a big, hooping wide outside off-stump. Just one from the over.

1700 - Eng 6-0 Zaheer has first go with the ball for India and England's first run is a no-ball. Two leg-byes before Strauss scores the first runs off the bat with a clip to mid-wicket for a few. Six from the over, England ahead of the rate.

1657: England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook stride to the crease, and the hosts' victory charge (cough) is about to get under way...

INDIA SECOND INNINGS

1652: Yes Sanjay, Hussain telling Giles to bowl two feet outside leg was boring and a ruddy disgrace and almost every cricket correspondent in England told them so at the time. England need to score at almost five an over to win this and they will face 20 overs tonight.

"How can you blame India for this? I would rather India went for it with some agressive cricket then put England in, but they want to make sure they win the series. What about when Nasser got Ashley Giles bowling two foot outside leg stump when things weren't going England's way? Wasn't that boring/killing the game?"
Sanjay Patel in the TMS inbox

1648 - Ind 180-6 Laxman flicks a flighted Monty delivery to mid-wicket for one and Kumble plays a similar stroke for a single. Kumble gives Monty the charge and thumps him straight down the ground for four. Big effort from Jimmy Anderson, but he's unable to prevent the ball going for four. One more for Kumble, and Dravid waves his batsmen in...and not before time...England require 500 to win...

1644 - Ind 172-6 Kumble goes for some humpty but only succeeds in squirting the ball to mid-wicket for one. Laxman gives Tremlett the hammer, standing tall and fetching the ball from outside off-stump and through mid-wicket for four. 491 is the lead now.

1640 - Ind 164-6 India bat on. Give me strength, even Gower is apoplectic on Sky, and he wouldn't get apoplectic if you trashed his wine cellar. A classic lofted cover-drive for Laxman, marmalising Monty one bounce over the rope for four and he picks up one more with a nibble to leg.

"I'm sorry, but am i missing something here? India are 490-odd ahead and accumulating runs not actually needed at a rate which even Geoff Boycott would be slightly embarrassed about. Are they trying to drive fans away from the sport?"
Jonty, Isle of Man, in the TMS inbox

1635 - WICKET: Dhoni c Prior b Tremlett 36 (Ind 158-6)
Magnificent effort from Anderson, diving full-stretch to his right at mid-off, but the ball dribbles out of his hand on hitting the turf. Dhoni's little cameo is soon brought to an end, however, the wicket-keeper attempting to cut a Tremlett bumper and Prior snaffling the catch.

1634 - Ind 157-5 Dhoni drives Monty through cover-point for one before Laxman goes for a lofted drive and outside edges to backward-point. Laxman flicks Monty to mid-wicket for a single before Dhoni mimics the shot for one of his own. Laxman is then nearly dismissed, coming down the track and chipping to long-off, where Anderson is just unable to get his fingers under the ball.

1627 - Ind 151-5 One for Laxman with a push into the off-side before Dhoni dabs Tremlett down to third-man for one and we have 27 overs left after this one. Laxman chips Tremlett into the covers for another single and I am losing the will to live. I'm actually quite angry about this - people have paid good money to watch what is supposed to be top-level international sport at its most competitive and all India are bothered about is making sure there isn't one scintilla of a chance that England can win the game. It's as if the Australian cricketing revolution never happened.

1624 - Ind 147-5 Laxman is deceived by the flight and Prior does well to take and whip off the bails. Bit of turn for Panesar, and Laxman ambles through for a single after getting a leading edge to point.

1620 - Ind 146-5 The beer isn't just talking, it's positively wretching and heaving at The Oval now as a Mexican wave ripples round the old ground. Three singles for India before Laxman tugs Tremlett round the corner for a couple.

"That's always nice, asking for someone to get fired. What I want more than anything is a Penguin bar, a Monty wicket and a pub showing the match in NYC...and Mr Orpin to get fired."
Pierre, Brooklyn, USA, in the TMS inbox

1616 - Ind 141-5 Dhoni misses out with an extravagant paddle-sweep before Monty gives one a tweak to get the ball past the face of Dhoni's lunge. But that's four for Dhoni, taking a big stride and yanking Panesar away to the backward square-leg fence. My, my, this Dhoni is a cheeky sausage! Quick as a flash, he regrips and reverse sweeps Panesar to the third-man boundary for four. Getting in a bit of practice for the seven one-dayers, no doubt, I'd wager he can be pretty handy at that form of the game.

1612 - Ind 133-5 Laxman steers Anderson to point for a single before Dhoni uses the angle to turn Anderson away for a couple behind square. One more for Dhoni, tickling Anderson to fine-leg.

1608 - Ind 129-5 Dhoni chips Monty to mid-on for one and Prior is spouting away behind the timbers like an elderly lady in a post office queue. For the youngsters among you, post offices are things we used to have in England where you'd buy stamps and jiffy bags and post letters and stuff. One more for Laxman with a clip to mid-wicket.

1604 - Ind 127-5 Laxman jabs Anderson square on the on-side before Dhoni brings up his 1000th Test run with a prod into the leg-side. Four to Laxman, gliding Anderson underneath Bell fielding at gully.

1600: Players have put away their tea and cakes and here come the England fielders - India have decided to bat on. Odd. Alan Orpin (see below), one has to hope that God doesn't call upon you when he finally decides to pay a visit to find out what we want put right with the world. Imagine the disappointment of the starving in Africa and the millions living in war-torn regions if they woke up to discover your one wish was to see me out of a job.

"More than I've ever hoped for anything in my entire life, I hope the BBC don't renew your contract next year. Sun cream in the eyes yesterday (ho ho), Indian women crossing their legs today...how old are you?"
Alan Orpin in the TMS inbox

1542 - Ind 121-5 Dhoni plays defensively into a gap on the off-side and Laxman puches one with a nurdle into the leg-side. That's tea, see you in 20.

1538 - Ind 119-5 Dhoni punches Anderson to mid-off for a single before Laxman helps a leg-side ball round the corner for one. Bit of milking going on here, three more singles, and India's decisions grow curiouser and curiouser. What's the point in nudging and nurdling at this stage? Call me a maverick, but why wouldn't you want to win a Test match if you've got the chance instead of draw it? What is this, 1985?

"I had the privilege of playing cricket with Dennis Waterman's brother, Ken, in Bahrain in 1989-90. Lovely chap, with some interesting stories about Rula Lenska."
Nick, France, in the TMS inbox

1535 - Ind 114-5 Dhoni skips down the track and chips Monty over mid-wicket for four. The purr goes up from the Indian faithful. But he's nearly gone two balls later, looking to clip Monty through mid-wicket, finding a leading edge and Cook not managing to drag the catch in at short-leg. Looked easy on the replay, but it was travelling at a fair lick.

"I was lucky enough to be in Barbados many years ago when Mick Jagger was there with Jerry Hall and I had to teach her the rules of cricket. It was very nice, I can tell you..."
Sir Geoffrey Boycott on TMS

1529 - Ind 109-5 That's another maiden from Anderson who is toiling manfully for England, finding a groove just outside the batsmen's off-peg. The Sky director has reintroduced Totty Watch and picked up three absolute Indian corkers draped over the pavilion balcony. Tremendous stuff, absolutely tremendous, the sort of women you feel like applauding when you walk past them in the street.

1526 - Ind 109-5 One for Laxman with a twirl to point. I'm in a real kerfuffle, getting my thousands and millions mixed up (see below) - I meant to say "300 million Indian women"...for the love of KP, it was only supposed to be a throwaway comment!

1522 - Ind 108-5 Laxman shovels Anderson into the covers for a single and that's one for Dhoni, the Indian wicket-keeper standing tall and steering Anderson to backward-point.

"Geoffrey! I've missed you today...not missed you in that way, but, you know, 'missed you'..."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

Test Match Special

1518 - Ind 105-5 Pietersen trots from the field and is replaced by Surrey youngster Laurie Evans. Sketchy from Dhoni, leaning back and slicing Monty over the slips for four. Panesar slips in a quick one but Dhoni shows him the full face. Rusty Lee is back in today, and this time he's got his pretty lady with hime. I reckon he's what Grotbags must look like without her makeup on.

1514 - Ind 100-5 Colly strays onto Dhoni's pads and that's four leg-byes, the ball just evading the fielder at long-leg. That's India's ton. A strangled lbw appeal by Collingwood against Dhoni, but that was nowhere near.

1510 - Ind 96-5 Dhoni is off the mark with a push into the off-side for one.

"Keith Richards might need the support of Mick Jagger et al as Dennis Waterman's brother, Peter, was British welterweight champion a good few years back. That would make eight of us still interested in boxing, but I suppose that I don't count as I live in Abu Dhabi."
Jeff in the TMS inbox

1504 - Ind 95-5 Colly mining a line a few feet outside Laxman's off-stump before VVS plays a dismissive flick through mid-wicket for four. Margery Infield has just pointed out that the population of India is only one billion, so I should have said something like "300 million Indian women cross their legs". Apologies...

1500 - Ind 90-5 Dravid's 12 was the slowest in Test history, Bearders tells us. Laxman picks up a single off Monty and the dashing Dhoni smothers the rest of the over.

1458 - WICKET: Dravid c Strauss b Collingwood 12 (Ind 88-5)
Laxman reaches and eases Collingwood into the covers for one before Dravid's torturous innings is brought to an end, Colly getting one to wobble off the seam and Strauss taking another regulation catch at first slip. Dhoni marches into the fray and a billion Indian women cross their legs.

1453 - Ind 88-4 Dravid gets more than one for a stroke for the first time in more than two hours, four for little more than a defensive prod.

1451 - Ind 84-4 Dravid opens the face and picks up one more to point. James MacAonghus (see below): Dictionary.com: imperious 1. domineering in a haughty manner. I'm pretty sure that's what I meant.

"What is it with BBC Sports and the word imperious? In the past fortnight or so alone, Woods, Hamilton, Federer, Tendulkar (thrice), Ganguly, Dravid, Rasmussen and Myerscough have all been imperious. As Inigo Montoya says in The Princess Bride, 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means'."
James MacAonghus in the TMS inbox

1447 - Ind 83-4 Dravid is simply incontinent with runs all of a sudden, one more for the India skipper with a flick to leg. What are the rules on laughing at funerals? Is there an age of death after which it's OK to laugh? Or is laughing ruled out full-stop?

"Wow, even Keith Richards reads this! (see below) How's Mick?"
Mark, Tunbridge Wells, in the TMS inbox

1443 - Ind 82-4 One for Laxman before The Oval goes wild for a Dravid single, a glide to third-man. Bearders on TMS informs us that if he gets out now, he'll have made the slowest 6 in Test history...Someone's got a bendy Bully in the crowd and he's making him dance!

1439 - Ind 80-4 Laxman flicks Panesar into the gap on the leg-side for a couple before picking up one more with a nurdle to point. If Dravid gets out without scoring another run, it will be the slowest 5 in Test history. How's that for a juicy morsel?

"Do you really keep a record of each of the slowest scores made in Test cricket Bearders? Good Lord..."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

"We don't have a bandstand in Leigh-on-Sea, but you often find something resembling a hubbub down by the cockle sheds."
Paul Connolly in the TMS inbox

1432 - WICKET: Ganguly c Strauss b Collingwood 57 (Ind 76-4)
Ganguly has a swish outside off-peg and Strauss pouches his 50th catch in Test cricket. Smashing innings that from Ganguly, ended in slightly soft fashion. The imperious VVS Laxman is the next man in, and he'll have to score a few runs because his skipper is virtually shotless. He's off the mark with a leg glance for one.

1428 - Ind 76-3 Strangled lbw appeal from Monty against Ganguly - the batsman was playing no shot, but there was a big stride in. Ganguly works Panesar to leg for one. Whoa, whoa, whoa - Keith Richards (see below), have a day off man, Dennis Waterman a minor celebrity? That man was the star of two of the most influential shows in British TV history, namely Minder and The Sweeney, and had a smash hit with I Could Be So Good for You. You'll be calling Bella Emberg a minor celebrity next.

"Who the helll cares about a minor celebrity's teeth anyway?"
Keith Richards, Cambridge, in the TMS inbox

1425 - Ind 75-3 Ganguly picks up two more with a push into the off-side before whipping Collingwood to mid-wicket for a single. Dravid has faced 72 balls for his 5 not out - remarkable.

1422 - Ind 72-3 Ganguly paddles Monty round the corner to third-man, where Anderson mis-fields and allows two. Ganguly turns Monty away for one more and we've got some really gloomy cloud cover at The Oval now.

"Don't suppose you colleague Mr Fordyce is in the office. If so, could you give him a clip round the ear for me. I was in the same wave as him in last weekend's London Triathlon and got given a sound kicking (literally) during the swim for which I hold him entirely responsible. I know it was him, I saw him clearly though the green water, black wetsuit and orange swim cap..."
Paul, Leeds, in the TMS inbox

1418 - Ind 69-3 Ganguly is in imperious form, opening the face and gliding Colly through backward-point for four. And that's Ganguly's 29th Test fifty, courtesy of a very unrepresentative inside edge for one. Good knock that, full of flowing strokes through the off-side.

1414 - Ind 64-3 Nice flight from Monty, Dravid misreads it and is struck on the foot. A strangled lbw appeal, but there was nothing in it. Six dot balls from Monty. Oh, that's peche de la peche, my first sip of my first cup of tea since my tooth infection...

1412 - Ind 64-3 Short and wide from Colly and Ganguly fills his boots, slapping the ball through point for four. Tremmers is going to be given a break and it's time for Panesar. A couple of kids in the crowd wearing cardboard beards and what appear to be berets. Che Guevara? Citizen Smith? No idea. 1406 - Ind 59-3 Tremlett over-pitches and is eased through the covers for three by Ganguly. The former India skipper has done the present leader proud here to help dig his side out of an 11-3 sized hole.

"Chatting to colleagues about Dennis Waterman's teeth?? If that's the level of conversation, I don't fancy sharing wine and nibbles at your house much. As Blackadder put it, 'The winter nights must just fly by'."
Jon Davies in the TMS inbox

1401 - Ind 54-3 Ganguly whips Colly to deep backward square-leg for one but otherwise that's a Johnny-on-the-spot over from the Durham grafter. Graham Gooch is chatting about all sorts on his blog today, including Tremlett and India's decision to follow-on. Have a look below. He calls India's decision to bat again a "strange and slightly negative decision". Essex men sticking together, big up yourself Goochy...

Graham Gooch on day four

1359 - Ind 53-3 Three singles from Tremlett's over and we're going to see some of Collingwood's dibbly-dobblies.

1352 - Ind 50-3 This is nagging bowling from Anderson and it seems Dravid and Ganguly have decided to simply see him off - another maiden. Carole (see below), I never voluntarily put anything between the gap in my teeth, although my mates sometimes get me to lodge coins in there. To be honest, it can only accomodate a 1p. I do, however, do that thing where I throw cigarettes into my mouth and light it in one motion and I also still do that thing at the cinema of pretending to yawn as an excuse for putting my arm round a date - mark my words, never fails to get a giggle. I stop short of cutting a hole in the bottom of the popcorn tub.

"Sarah from Canterbury: what about auctioning your spare ticket to make a nice sweet profit? In fact, buying two tickets for every Kent match then advertising the spare one on here could be a nice little earner."
Dave, Cumbria, in the TMS inbox

1348 - Ind 50-3 Ganguly is feasting on that gap between gully and point and he guides Tremlett through said area for another exquisitely-timed four. Two more for Ganguly to deep mid-wicket and that's the Indian fifty.

"Re the hatchback gap in your teeth, are you able to wedge a smoking tab in there to amuse and amaze the laydees?"
Carole, Maidenhead, in the TMS inbox

1342 - Ind 43-3 That's a peach of a delivery from Anderson and Dravid should have been out, but dear old Umpire Howell decides it was missing leg. Stuart Broad has taken five wickets to add to his unbeaten 90-odd to lead Leicestershire to victory over Derbyshire. Thst's the form of a Test number eight...Aaah, yes, Punchlines, the set of which was Kenny Lynch's second home. Good old Lynchy is an old friend of my dad. A friend of mine bumped into Lynchy at the races last year, got chatting about Donny Dirs and spent the rest of the day getting rubbered on Chianti and belting out Up On The Roof, one of Lynchy's two top-10 hits. My friend remembers the day fondly, it was one of Kenny's lowest points.

"In days of yore, ageing celebs could be found on Lenny Bennett's Punchlines, Celebrity Squares or Blankety Blank - now all they have to look forward to is the talking heads shows as previously mentioned."
Richard, Howden, in the TMS inbox

1339 - Ind 43-3 Four more for Ganguly, but he wasn't really in control of that, the ball skewing between second slip and gully. Sketchy again from Ganguly, the ball bouncing just in front of Pietersen at backward-point, looping over his shoulder and running away for four.

"...nothing like rubbing a Moose through your barnet in the morning."
Jon, Lyon, in the TMS inbox

1336 - Ind 35-3 Dravid is struggling to find any fluidity and a whip-cracked drive is fielded well by Panesar in the covers.

1332 - Ind 35-3 The rain has ceased at The Oval and players are back out after lunch. I was chatting to a couple of colleagues during the break about Dennis Waterman's new teeth. Anyone seen them? He looks like a seedy vicar. There's a lot to be said for imperfect teeth, although I have to admit you could drive a small hatchback through the front of mine. Ganguly, with the elegance of an ambassador's ball, times Tremlett through the covers for four.

"You best watch out that the RSPCA don't get on to you Ben, given the accusation of using animals as hair products. What sort of person would beautify themselves with a mouse?"
Stuart in the TMS inbox

"I believe old celebrities go to cruise ships, there to wait forever for a guest spot as a talking head on 'I Loved the 100 Best Musical Bits from Films in the 1970s', or some similar programme presented by Jimmy Carr, bless him."
Stuart, Bath, in the TMS inbox

"Perhaps Andy (see below) could explain why India were right to bat again, considering they are now 31-3?"
Marcus Wood in the TMS inbox

1250: The venerable Urban Dictionary has come up trumps with regard the term 'Gel Head' (see below): "A person who puts any type of gel or mouse in their hair. These people can be found usually wearing abercrombie or american eagle. They drive rice rockets. They are bred in the northern United States with a high concentration in New Jersey. In general these people suck. Also called gdi's by fraternity members." Tim Rollinson (see below), that is bang out of order, you shall be hearing from my lawyers.

1243 - Ind 35-3 Swiss timing from Ganguly, leaning on a Tremlett delivery and watching the ball race through the covers for four. But the rain comes in, and that's taken everyone by surprise. Dravid and Ganguly look a little bemused before getting on their toes and making for the pavilion. On come the covers and it looks like we're having an early lunch.

1239 - Ind 31-3 Perfect placement from Ganguly, easing Anderson between the fielders at gully and backward-point and the ball galloping away for four. One more for Ganguly with a push into the covers. Dravid fences at one outside off-stump and misses. Nervy start from the India skipper.

1235 - Ind 26-3 Dravid opens the face, shuffles down the pitch and is just beats Collingwood's throw from gully. A maiden over from Tremlett. Looks a little dark at The Oval, but Surrey legend Graham Thorpe on TMS reckons the clouds are "too high" for rain. Not sure Wincy Willis will be losing any sleep. Is Wincy Wilis dead? Where do old celebrities go? Not sure I like Umpire Howell's moustache, he looks like he's just drunk a particularly frothy Cappucino.

Test Match Special

1231 - Ind 26-3 Ganguly whips Anderson to the long-leg boundary before unfurling a dreamy cover-drive for four. Elegance personified, Ganguly...

"'Thank goodness we got 664 in the first innings,' says the India journalist next to me. The words Headingley 1981 are muttered by someone in the crowd to my left. The match has suddenly got interesting..."
Alistair Watkins, BBC Sport at The Oval

1225 - Ind 18-3 Just one from Tremlett's over, a no-ball. Nick, Swansea has nudged me to say, "I noticed that your esteemed colleague Tom Fordyce came first in his age group category at last weekend's London Triathlon. Congratulations!" Yes, well done Tommy Boy, that's some effort, especially at the age of 46.

Is Sarah from Canterbury single? A lady that likes cricket, give me the ticket!"
Tim, Billericay, in the TMS inbox

1221 - Ind 17-3 Anderson conceded his first run of the innings, Ganguly leaning across his stumps and whipping the Lancashire paceman to leg for a single. Dravid plays a false drive before tucking off his pads for one. Tow more for Ganguly with an ease into the covers and that's a calming over for the visitors. Some dark cloud billowing in from the west...

1218 - Ind 13-3 Dravid turns Tremlett to mid-wicket for one and Ganguly is off the mark with a tuck to leg for one. There's Ryan Sidebottom biting his nails on the balcony. There is something splendidly ruddy and earthy about the Notts seamer, he looks like he should be scrumping apples somewhere in Devon.

1211 - WICKET: Tendulkar b Anderson 1 (Ind 11-3)
Fine delivery from Anderson, getting the ball to jag away from the probing Tendulkar. And that's three down! Tendulkar goes for the drive, plays on and his stumps get splattered. Joy for England, a sad final Test stroke on English soil from Tendulkar. Everyone on their feet as Tendulkar leaves the field, what memories the wee man has given us. Ganguly is the new batter and he fences nervously at his first delivery.

1205 - Ind 11-2 The odds for an England win have plummetted to 20-1 after those two wickets. Dennis Lillee can expect a call from Rodney Marsh any minute. Jaffa from Tremlett, beating the edge of Tendulkar's bat. Sachin dabs the ball down and scampers one to nick the strike. A mate's Irish mum said to me the other night, "if you ever have babies, you want them to be ugly, only that way will they end up being handsome." I like the sentiment, but it's a sad outlook for all those people with the cute little bairn they wanted.

1202 - Ind 10-2 Er...yes, Andy, I do. Why would you give yourself two fewer sessions in which to bowl England out, especially when rain is forecast? Good, disciplined bowling from Anderson, bang on the money and at good pace, and Dravid is content just to cover up.

"Er...do you really need tens of thousands of us to explain why India are batting again???"
Andy, Norwich, in the TMS inbox

1153 - WICKET: Karthik c Collingwood b Tremlett 8 (Ind 10-1)
I've just been accused of being a 'gel head'. Anyone? And England have another! Crackerjack delivery from Tremlett, the ball squaring Karthik up and Collingwood taking a sharp catch at second slip. Tendulkar makes his way down the pavilion steps and the crowd rises to its feet - one more chance to see the Little Master in action.

"Can't we read the match report without all the trite comments, some of it unpleasant? Why does everything have to be stoked up with silliness when the basic report about cricket is what we want to read? (Sigh) Does this have anything to do with the 'Gel Head' attitudes that are thought to be afoot in the BBC?"
Tim Rollinson in the TMS inbox

"More laughs and guffaws than in the entire Simpsons movie echo around The Oval as Howler Howell strikes again."
Alistair Watkins, BBC Sport at The Oval

1148 - WICKET: Jaffer lbw b Anderson 0 (Ind 10-1)
Anderson gets one to nip back and rap Jaffer on the pads and Umpire Howell decides that's out - another howler from Howell, I'm afraid. It took the portly South African a full three seconds to raise the finger but it seems 'height' wasn't on his checklist. Still, I get to use my little duck graphic, which always gives me a little lift on days like these.

"Erm, if anyone fancies the Kent v Durham game later as an alternative to the depressing spectacle that is this England performance, my companion has blown me out and I have a spare ticket..."
Sarah, Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

1145 - Ind 10-0 A slight hubbub at The Oval, the sort you'd get around a bandstand on a Sunday afternoon in Leigh-on-Sea. Snorter from Tremlett, getting the ball past Jaffer's spar, before Prior is at fault again, parrying a leg-side delivery away for one. Karthik scores the first four of the day, chasing a wide one and upper-cutting to the third-man fence. Absolute belter of a drive from Karthik, genuflecting and easing Tremlett through the covers for four.

1138 - Ind 0-0 Right, we're off again. Anderson to have first go with the ball and there is no Sidebottom on the field, he's got his feet up with a side strain. A maiden over to start. I've got to be honest, I find Clint Eastwood to be a pretty workmanlike director. I thought Million Dollar Baby was one of the most overrated films ever, and I'm one of about seven people still interested in boxing in Britain.

"Pedant kicks off the morning...Letters From Iwo Jima won only one Oscar - best sound editing - was only nominated for three others. Count yourself lucky. My wife made me sit through 80's 'black comedy' Heathers with Christian Slater - would give anything for a decent slice of war action." Richard, Howden, with gloom on his mind, in the TMS inbox

1126 - WICKET: Panesar lbw b Kumble 9 (Eng 345 all out)
England's first innings is wrapped up, Monty padding up to Kumble and Umpire Howell judging him leg before. No real arguments there. The question is, what will Dravid do now? The answer is, he has decided to bat again. Don't understand that at all. Back in a minute.

1124 - Eng 345-9 Tremlett picks up two with a nurdle to leg before easing Singh through mid-off for three more. That's his highest Test score. One more leg-bye to the total and we now have 49 extras. This partnership is now 40, and becoming a little bit of an irritant for Indian skipper Dravid.

"Thank God for the cricket - the thought of a backs to the wall grind from England is the only thing stopping me obsessing about my fantasy football team. Why did I not include more Man city players? Sven's a genius. Who knew?"
Henry, Lymington, in the TMS inbox

1120 - Eng 339-9 Karthik is unable to snaffle a very sharp chance at sill mid-off before Panesar picks up four with an outside edge. That would have been absolutely plumb lbw, but it was a no-ball from Kumble.

1116 - Eng 334-9 There's chairman of selectors David Graveney on the England balcony and he looks like he's had a heavy night on the terps - head in hands and the redness turned up to 11. That's another maiden over from Singh.

1113 - Eng 334-9 Tremlett looks like a handy bat, and he picks up one with an easy turn to mid-wicket. Panesar plays an uppish drive before almost losing his off-stump to a magnificent googly from Kumble. Kumble's gone googly ga-ga - two more have Monty groping about like someone trying to find the toilet in a bed and breakfast, but he manages to see out the over.

1110 - Eng 333-9 Singh drifts on to Monty's pads and is tickled to the long-leg fence. Monty follows up with a rock-solid defensive stroke which elicits more exaggerated applause from the crowd. Another over survived.

"We're hardly likely to be picnicking or sunbathing here, it's pouring with rain at the moment - it'll be with you soon no doubt."
Alan, Hampshire, in the TMS inbox

1107 - Eng 329-9 Panesar is off the mark with a gentle push to mid-on and the Oval crowd goes wild. Monty gives Tremlett a little smile, as if to say, "this is all a little bit embarrassing, isn't it?" Tremlett works Kumble round the corner for one and Monty nicks the strike with a nurdled single.

1100 - Eng 326-9 Players are out and it's Singh to have first go with the ball. Bit of weather about in the South East and a shower or two has been predicted at The Oval. That's a maiden to start off with.

1055: Right folks, you know the ropes. The Sunday of a Test is when we all stick together - a small band of diehards firing off emails from offices and living rooms while everyone else is out picnicking, sunbathing or skipping through corn fields. I saw that Clint Eastwood film last night, Letters from Iwo Jima - how on earth did it win four Oscars?

"Dear Ben, the office oiks and I have been discussing life after international cricket for our current crop of 'stars' and the topic of celebrity endorsements raised its ugly head. Ian 'Baby' Bell could endorse small wax covered cheese, KP could endorse peanuts, Monty could endorse medicine for upset stomachs (along the lines of 'are you suffering from Montezuma's revenge?') and Matt Prior could endorse non-stick frying pans. Any other possible endorsements for past and present players?"
Jon, Lugano, in the TMS inbox

"The smell of suntan lotion is very strong even though it's not as hot as previous days - clearly, you need something to cover up the smell of a bad defeat."
Alistair Watkins, BBC Sport on TMS

1046: India still have to get rid of Panesar or Tremlett in England's first innings, and the latter was playing rather well last night. Contradicting my words below, it's actually overcast at The Oval. The suspicion is that India will bat again, which I simply don't understand. KP says India have got "a couple of options" - come on big man, wakey wakey. What's the point in India batting again? Just don't get it - why would you do anything to increase England's chances of a draw? Unless the visitors have humiliation on their minds...

1040: Morning all and we've got sun at The Oval. Good news for the vast majority of Londoners, bad news for the 11 blokes sat in the England dressing room. Amusing news from Tim Heffer who was at The Oval yesterday:

"The cricket was slow, so the crowd started to provide their own entertainment. But bouncing balls were confiscated, newspapers were expediently taken away to prevent the Headingley-style shredded showers. And the Mexican waves had no power. But, there was a great moment when we all started making pint pot snakes. As soon as the stewards saw one being built, they closed in. The game was to pass it down the rows and aisles away from them as they approached for as long as possible. A steward was just about to intercept once huge snake when he was stopped by the guy sitting at the end of the aisle, who stood up and made a stop sign with his hand. He was dressed as Darth Vader! Yep, the steward just walked off."