e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Mark Mitchener' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)
1109: The England players are packing up and preparing to come home, TMS are preparing to do the same - and we're going to do likewise. Thanks to all of you who've stuck with us on the live text coverage today and for this Test, this series, this tour and indeed this year. You can continue the debate on 606. Join "The Bell Debate" - or any other debate - on 606
On behalf of all of us here at BBC Sport, can I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - we'll be out of hibernation at the beginning of February when England's next Test series begins in the West Indies. And remember, cricket is for life - not just for Christmas!
"I'm especially proud of the bowlers, but whenever we needed a good partnership from the batsmen we got one. We lost around 80 or 90 overs in this game which made it tough - we couldn't predict when the fog would come so we didn't know how many overs we'd have today. Gautam and Yuvi deserved to score centuries today, which is why we went for it" India captain Mahendra Dhoni (clutching the huge series trophy)
"We can learn a lot from this tour of India - we've enjoyed it here. We got ourselves in a position to win the first Test, but we missed out yesterday when it got away from us. I'm really proud to be captain of a bunch of lads who have jumped on a plane to come here and played with smiles on their faces. I must congratulate the Indian team as they've played some fantastic cricket" England captain Kevin Pietersen
"We're working well as a unit, particularly in the bowling department, I'm very happy with the way I'm bowling and Ishant and I are enjoying each other's success. He provides the extra pace and bounce, but it's good to bowl in tandem as I can keep my line and length" Man-of-the-series Zaheer Khan
1100: Man of the series is Zaheer Khan. Well done him, he bowled superbly. Meanwhile, his new-ball partner Ishant Sharma is pouring beer on anyone near him.
"It was a beautiful wicket to bat on - we should have won the series 2-0 but we have had a very good year and hopefully we can do well next year too" Man-of-the-match Gautam Gambhir
1058: Gautam Gambhir is man of the match - he was three runs away from a century in each innings.
1056: Ravi Shastri is introducing a large number of Indian dignitaries in the presentation party - we'll get man of the match soon.
"This innings sums up Bell's career in a nutshell. No pressure and the runs will come" Mark, Brighton, in the TMS inbox
"Mark, there is a lot of negative comment regarding boring Test cricket - has everybody forgotten Chennai and Perth so soon? Remember summer 2005? How enthralling every single day was? Even Twenty20 matches turn into damp squibs sometimes - remember the Stanford final? Hardly entertaining was it? Blame the administrators for scheduling a two-Test 'series', not the players" Arthur in London, in the TMS inbox
1049: We're just preparing for the presentations. Plenty of trophies on offer.
"Which book do we think KP is reading [see 1011]? 'How to Bake the Perfect Pie' or 'Sledging for Beginners'?" Carole in Maidenhead in the TMS inbox
"OK, not the most glorious year for the England team but we have to bear in mind, most of them are preparing for future series of Strictly Come Dancing" Mike Gatward in the TMS inbox
1039: And I can announce that BBC Sport and the ECB have announced a new four-year deal for the radio rights to broadcast ball-by-ball commentary on international cricket - so Test Match Special is guaranteed on the BBC up to and including 2013. REPORT: BBC renews radio cricket contract
1037: Both teams shake hands - even KP and Yuvraj, who share a bit of a laugh!
MATCH DRAWN - INDIA WIN SERIES 1-0
1035 - Eng 64-1 (28 overs) I don't believe it - Dhoni's going to bowl the last over! Yuvraj is keeping wicket, with only his short-leg shin pads on! Considering his entire Test bowling analysis is 1-0-13-0, should Bell be worried? The TV caption merely describes him as "right arm bowler", but he trots in at a gentle medium pace and gets a bit of inswing! Bell will be relieved to get off strike with a single. Imagine being trapped lbw by the Indian keeper... Dhoni goes round the wicket to the left-handed Strauss, who leaves his first couple before dabbing the ball into the covers. The last ball is left, the bails removed, that's a draw and India win the series.
1030 - Eng 63-1 (27 overs) Bell nudges Harbhajan off his legs and they trot through for a single. There's clearly some chat going on with Strauss, as Harbhajan calls up every fielder to within 20 yards of the bat, as if to say "I bet you can't get it off the square". Strauss does just that... albeit with an edge past slip for two! Just one over to go before they can call it off - go on Dhoni, I dare you to bowl it yourself...
"I agree with Simon (0916) in that England should at least have a go at getting the 400-odd required, we might as well lose the series 2-0 but at least go down in a blaze of glory attempting a run chase!" Andy in Tooting in the TMS inbox
1026 - Eng 60-1 (26 overs) Bell turns Mishra off his legs for a single. There really is nothing else to report. 12 balls left.
"RE: Giles in Warwickshire (0952) - The reason Colly secures his place with a ton is because often when times are tough and and you dismiss Colly as having no hope in hell, he then grinds out a hundred to keep/get England in the game. Bell has only ever scored centuries coming in at 250-1 on a flat track. I hold the opinion that when the pressure is on, Bell cracks" Will in the TMS inbox Join "The Bell Debate" - or any other debate - on 606
1023 - Eng 59-1 (25 overs) Just counting down the deliveries now... Strauss finally gets it off the square with a cover-driven four. 18 balls left.
1020 - Eng 55-1 (24 overs) Even the TV pictures are concentrating more on funny moments from the previous few days than the match, as a single off Mishra takes Bell to 21 and Strauss misses a sweep before he singles off the last ball.
"On the subject of carols - are the crowd singing The Twelve Days of Christmas as they were the other day - One Andrew Strauss, two Alastair Cooks etc. Someone's got to make up a song with the 'Colly & the Yuvi' but I'm too tired to find the words myself" Linda in Newbury in the TMS inbox [I've also heard the Barmy Army sing it with "12 Panesars, 11 Panesars, 10 Panesars etc... and a Monty Panesar" - MM]
1017 - Eng 53-1 (23 overs) Strauss thrusts his pad out at Harbhajan for the majority of a rapid maiden overas the game continues to peter out. Just five more overs need to be bowled before a draw can be agreed.
1014 - Eng 53-1 (22 overs) Gus Fraser on TMS wonders whether India are hurrying through to improve their over-rate and avoid a possible fine. ("Barbados used to have an over-rate bowler to get them up to the required rate after having four fast bowlers", he explains). Strauss nudges Mishra for a jogged single, Bell is looking for a red-inker (see earlier).
"Like countless other people, I presume, can I point out that sharks' teeth regrow on a monthly basis, thereby rendering Michael Sellers's analogy (0926) inadequate. Wish my teeth would do the same, what with all these Christmas Quality Streets" Iain, Southampton, in the TMS inbox [Other festive sweets are available - MM]
1011 - Eng 52-1 (21 overs) KP, next man in, is reading a book or something similar on his knee, not even watching the play as Harbhajan trots in to Strauss who bunts another single. Bell steers a three into the covers to take his score to 20 and help England past 50. Strauss rotates the strike again.
"The TMS team are discussing when this match can decently be called off. But what about the spectators - or those of us who get up in the dark two days before Christmas and crouch by the radio? Yes, it's frustrating that this exciting match is petering out to an anticlimactic draw. But for those of us starved of Test cricket, any session of play is worthwhile, no matter what the state of the match. You never know: we might get a swashbuckling cameo, a fabulous catch or a hat-trick. It's the action we remember the game for, just as much as the results. When so much play has already been lost to weather and lunch breaks, every session is valuable. I for one will feel cheated if they don't play this match out to the last ball of the last possible over" Mike Unwin in the TMS inbox
1007 - Eng 47-1 (20 overs) Both teams are hurrying through their overs here, while TMS scorer Bill Frindall is looking forward to a rail journey to the airport. After a single from Single-Strauss, Bell belts Mishra straight back past the stumps for four. A no-ball delays the completion of the over - has anyone else noticed that India's spinners seem to bowl more no-balls than most spinners?
"Re: Andy in Aberystwyth (0922) - maybe Ian Bell's role in the England team is that important that when he doesn't play well, England lose, and when he does play well, so do the team?" Mark, Gillingham, in the TMS inbox
1004 - Eng 41-1 (19 overs) A half-hearted appeal for a bat-pad catch against Bell, but not even Harbhajan looks convinced. Maiden over.
1001 - Eng 41-1 (18 overs) Strauss finally reaches double figures with, you've guessed it, a single off Mishra. Bell nudges another, two off the over.
"We three kings of India are Yujrav Singh, Dhoni, Tendulkar Good at keeping and at batting Stroking it wide and far" Paul in the TMS inbox
0959 - Eng 39-1 (17 overs) Bhajji goes round the wicket to the left-handed Strauss, who is getting his runs in singles now. Bell turns a single past short leg, even the Indian fielders are going through the motions here. Strauss nudges another one - 11 more overs until we can put this game out of its misery.
"I'm with Dom here (0901), hilarious England batting collapses have been a staple diet of fans for years, preferably just after hopes have been raised of an improbably glorious result. Come on England, where's your festive spirit?" Dave Knight in the TMS inbox
0955 - Eng 36-1 (16 overs) Mishra spins the ball from hand to hand, before Bell off-drives and runs a quick single to the gangly Sharma at mid-off. Strauss forces a single off his legs, while Aggers and Ravi on TMS are discussing the upcoming IPL auction.
"This is a poor advert for Test cricket. The game is already dying at the hands of the commercial, money-driven end of the sport and this match is doing nothing to help it. A fifth day should be all about playing to the wire, last chance heroes and thrilling ends. Not playing out a pointless draw for the entertainment of the 15 people that are still reading this. It's gutting me to see cricket being turned into a baseball (cheerleaders, 'just smack it' tactics and rich Americans). Does anyone else think that the Indian team are passing the time playing Test matches while they daydream about the IPL getting under way - payday!" Arron Sankey in the TMS inbox
0952 - Eng 34-1 (15 overs) Harbhajan sends down a rapid over to Bell, who reaches double figures with a single.
"This is only the fifth Test since Bell scored 199, Colly scores a ton & his place is now set in stone! Everyone seems to have a short memory" Giles in Warwickshire, via text on 81111 [Would that be Ashley Giles in Warwickshire by any chance? MM]
0949 - Eng 33-1 (14 overs) Mishra spins a no-ball to Bell (I very nearly typed a no-bell to Ball) which he can't force away. He keeps the strike with a single off the last ball.
"I don't wish ill to either batsman, but it would be good fun if we could see Yuvraj bowl to Pietersen once more" Jonathan Agnew on TMS
0945: Here we go then - 15 more overs until a draw can be agreed, so one more hour of English cricket in 2008.
"(To the tune of O Little Town of Bethlehem):
"O little town of Mohali, how dull this game has turned. Dhoni chucked in his chance to win, it seems that's now been spurned But all is not yet over, stay tuned good folk today Our English chaps may well collapse, and throw it all away" Paul, Worcester, in the TMS inbox
"Alex (0849), you are part right. England will easily save the game and Bell will score a meaningless 50 odd in the process, thus prolonging his career" Dave, via text on 81111
"In response to Ryan (0858). It's not slating India for declaring late on. It's slating Inida for not giving themselves a chance of a win. England have been out of it all day. India could have made it more tricky for them instead of chasing the centuries" Rich in the TMS inbox
0937: Official ECB announcement: England will name their Test and ODI squads for the West Indies on Monday, 29 December at 1300 GMT. So there.
TEA INTERVAL
0926 - Eng 31-1 (13 overs) The spin from both ends continues as tea approaches, but Harbjajan pings one in which sails over Strauss's pads and over Dhoni for four byes! That's tea - we're likely to have 15 more overs after tea and a draw can then be agreed.
"Our bowling attack is about as sharp as the teeth of a 100-year old-shark (ie it ain't got any left). Anderson, Broad & Panesar are still treading water, Freddie has the heart of a lion and in spells is world class but he hasn't taken enough wickets especially since his return. Harmison is a limp biscuit. We are still as a team carrying too many players that don't have enough class. When it comes down to it we have one, maybe two world-class players and that's our lot. So we've done quite well to compete as well as we have" Michael Sellers, Malmo, in the TMS inbox
0922 - Eng 27-1 (12 overs) Leg-spinner Amit Mishra replaces Sharma, he has a loud lbw shout when a slider misses Bell's bat and hits his back pad, but Harper remains stony-faced. Hawk-Eye shows it hitting leg stump. Maiden.
"I wonder if all the speculation about Bell is down to England's recent lack of success. His average is decent. He fields well and even offers some bowling, though is never used. If England were beating all and sundry, his place wouldn't be in question. Just a thought" Andy in Aberystwyth, in the TMS inbox
0919 - Eng 27-1 (11 overs) Bell prods at Harbhajan but it falls well short of the man at short leg, but the Warwickshire man steers his first boundary of the match with an attractive cover-driven four, before keeping the strike with a single.
"Sat in my front room delaying going to work to see the England approach. Why don't they go for the win? OK - 40 overs at 10 an over is a bit drastic, but why not go out there and play a few shots, provide the crowd some entertainment and give some batting averages a boost? Otherwise its gonna be a drab show... England reaching 150-5" A fellow MM (an Indian in London who actually supports England) in the TMS inbox
0916 - Eng 22-1 (10 overs) It's still Sharma, and is that the end for Bell as Dhoni claims a legside catch? Umpire Harper shakes his head. Snickometer isn't conclusive. Bell guides a single off his legs to fine leg.
"After Strauss out for 20-something, KP to go for the target. Ticking along at eight an over, it looks like the target might unbelievably be reached, until at about 330-4, Bell gives Dhoni a lazy edge prompting the traditional England batting collapse. The final over starts with Monty and Fred facing 387-9..." Simon Lytton in the TMS inbox
"I would bet that Harbhajan has bowled more overs in Test cricket than anyone else this year" Vic Marks on TMS [Bearders reveals he was right - MM]
0911 - Eng 21-1 (9 overs) Simon Hughes on TMS recounts the dangers of eating crab curry in Nairobi (as he once did with Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting), while Harbhajan has four men around the bat for Bell, who tickles a single to fine leg.
"Reading about Anderson's nightwatchman work reminded me of when an 18-year-old rookie got drafted into his county team at short notice, and, determined to impress, offered to do nightwatchman duties if the need arose. The need did indeed arise, two overs to see out, and in he went. Unfortunately he was back in the pavilion shortly afterwards, out second ball, stumped, for six. Apparently he wasn't asked again" Mike, Ashford, Kent, in the TMS inbox
0907 - Eng 20-1 (8 overs) This could be a big innings for Ian Bell if the TMS lunchtime selection (none of the commentators wanted him in England's team for the first Ashes Test next summer) has anything to do with it. He's immediately off the mark by steering a single past point. It's then smiles all round as the ball flies out of Sharma's hand in the middle of his delivery stride, and he then sends down a no-ball. And if you want to have your say on the TMS Ashes XI, take a look at producer Adam Mountford's posting on the TMS Blog... TMS BLOG: Who'd make your Ashes starting XI?
0901 - WICKET - Cook c Laxman b Sharma 10 - Eng 18-1 (7.2 overs) A beautiful delivery from Sharma is half-prodded at by Cook and it pops straight to VVS Laxman at second slip.
"Why don't England just go for it? I never understand why teams just let games like these peter out... yes it is (almost) impossible for them to win from here and realistically it is never going to happen. But wouldn't it be fun watching them try? They've already lost the series so where's the downside?" Dom Byrne in the TMS inbox
0858 - Eng 18-0 (7 overs) India turn to spin after just six overs, with Harbhajan Singh ready to give it a twirl (still in his traditional cable-knit sweater, of which I heartily approve). Strauss turns a single to fine leg, Cook shows an immaculate forward defensive straight out of the MCC coaching manual. Harbhajan strays with a no-ball, allowing Cook one final delivery to guide a single to fine leg. We're 21 overs away from the point when both teams can agree a draw if there is no prospect of a result.
"I see the England fans are slating India for declaring late on. I wonder if England will give sporting declarations to Oz if England are up in the Ashes series? No? Didn't think they would" Ryan Spencer in the TMS inbox
0853 - Eng 15-0 (6 overs) Strauss flicks Sharma off his legs and they run another two, then a single takes his score to nine.
"India can put nine men round the bat, Harbhajan and Yuvraj can spin away. England will have to defend for the rest of the day and that's when chances will come - lots of bat-pad, much appealing... I predict a win for India" David Pierrie, Lancashire, ready for home, via text on 81111
0849 - Eng 12-0 (5 overs) England reach double figures as Cook steers the bearded Zaheer off his toes for two. A single rotates the strike, then Strauss jabs a quick single to backward point.
"What chances on Bell scoring a super rapid double hundred, saving his international career and England winning the match? I think I have been playing too many computer games" Alex in the TMS inbox
0845 - Eng 8-0 (4 overs) Both sides are rather going through the motions here as Sharma slants in a maiden to Strauss. And if you're despairing at how the game is petering out into a draw, then I'm sure there are more of you out there who can send in some cricket-themed festive carols like we had earlier in the day [see 0558, 0540 and 0526]... keep 'em clean, folks!
"Without wanting to tempt fate, India have put personal achievements of a hundred before a shot at winning the Test and are hopefully going to achieve neither now. That's poor captaincy" Rich in the TMS inbox
0840 - Eng 8-0 (3 overs) Cook is off the mark with an on-driven four which is fielded beyond the boundary by a small ball boy who Aggers thinks is a Tendulkar lookalike. Another on-drive is half-stopped at mid-on and they run two.
"Reg [Dickason], the England security man, keeps camels as well as other animals at his place in Australia" Jonathan Agnew on TMS
0837 - Eng 2-0 (2 overs) While Ravi Shastri on TMS explains to Aggers how he broke several traffic laws driving to the Rose Bowl last summer, Ishant Sharma doubles England's score with a wild wide. Strauss shoulders arms at anything he doesn't have to play.
"What is the point? What is the ruddy point? Do India suppose that England are going to smash 400-odd in less than two sessions? Nine days of exciting, see-saw cricket in this series up until now and now this. I'm going out for a coffee" Mick, Tunbridge Wells, in the TMS inbox
0831 - Eng 1-0 (1 over) England open up with Andrew Strauss, who's on a pair but nudges Zaheer Khan off his pad for a single. Alastair Cook sees off the last ball.
"Why are all people angry about Bell? I guess he is the best technically correct right-hander in England right now. He may be having some bad form, but he is the best. If he plays in the Ashes next year, he is going to be the hero. He will score at least three hundreds in that series. If the selectors drop him, they are going to repent" Keralavarma Vijay Thampuran, Tripunithura, Cochin, in the TMS inbox
Keralavarma, I think to sum up "The Bell Debate" simply, opinion is divided. One side of the coin sees people like yourself point to how technically accomplished Bell is, point to his Test average of 41.50 and feel that at 26, he still has the potential to reach much greater heights. He is also, as this game has proved, an excellent fielder. The opposite viewpoint feels that while his average looks good, he has now played 44 Tests and 79 ODIs but has been stuck on a plateau and has a poor fifty-to-hundred conversion rate. He only has one century in 76 ODI innings, and has never scored a century for England except where another player in the same innings has already scored one. Hence the debate! Join The Bell Debate - or any other debate - on 606
0819: So, England will face a hypothetical target of 403, but realistically it'll be a draw, barring a collapse of monumental proportions. They'll have an hour to bat before tea is taken at 0925.
INDIA SECOND INNINGS (251-7 DECLARED) - ENGLAND ARE SET 403 TO WIN
0816 - WICKET- Gambhir c Bell b Swann 97 - Ind 251-7 (73 overs) Still Swann, but Gambhir's a bit tied down and nearly edges one onto his stumps. Then, he tries another cut shot and is spectacularly caught by the leaping Bell at backward point - and India declare! Finally!
"A quick question from a Notts fan - will we see our international bowling attack this year?" Nick Tiplady, via text on 81111 [And when will Sidebottom finally be fully fit? MM]
0814 - Ind 251-6 (72 overs) Gambhir's on 94 - will the Indian declaration rest on his reaching three figures? He cuts Monty down to Flintoff on the backward point boundary for two. The same shot then brings just a single - Gambhir up to 97.
"Boring Boring India. This is why people don't tune into Test cricket. With a delay this morning they should have declared and given everyone an exciting last day" Moley in the TMS inbox
0811 - Ind 248-6 (71 overs) Umpire Asad Rauf, clad in a large pair of shades, exchanges a joke with Monty before walking to square leg as Swann skips in to Harbhajan, who reverse-sweeps him off the middle of the bat for four!
"Why on earth do they walk off for lunch after an hour's play having started two-and-a-half hours late? No wonder crowds for Test matches are dwindling when the paying customer is treated so badly" Andrew Sunter in the TMS inbox
0808 - Ind 244-6 (70 overs) KP inserts himself at silly point for new batsman Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan sweeps, Monty appeals for lbw (though it pitched outside leg) and they run a leg bye. Gambhir nurdles another single to reach 94, Bhajji tickles one to third man to keep the strike.
0804 - WICKET - Dhoni c & b Panesar 0 - Ind 241-6 (69.1 overs) A soft dismissal for Dhoni as he tries to work Monty to leg, but only succeeds in lifting it off the ground for Monty to dive forward and complete a smart return catch!
0803 - Ind 241-5 (69 overs) Gambhir lifts Swann back over his head for two, then comes down the track and gives himself room to smack a two past extra cover and reach 93. Swann strays down the leg side, and Gambhir tries to help it on its way but four leg byes are the result.
0800 - Ind 233-5 (68 overs) New batsman Mahendra Dhoni (in a cap) defends his first ball, surely that's over? Umpire Rauf isn't sure, but umpire Harper is.
0758 - WICKET - Yuvraj run out (Bell) 86 - Ind 233-5 (67.5 overs) As predicted by the TMS crew, Monty replaces Freddie. Yuvraj clips him for a single to leg to reach 86, Gambhir flicks another to the same area to reach 89. Yuvraj tries a gentle reverse sweep, but can't beat the man at short third man. An orthodox sweep sees him set off for a run, he's sent back by Gambhir and Bell's throw from short fine leg hits the stumps! KP at square leg pleads with square-leg umpire Daryl Harper to consult the third umpire - and Yuvraj is out! That will please his rival KP!
"I'm glad that Yuvraj has shown Pietersen who the real pie-chuckers are - the English bowlers" Vineet, Mumbai, India, in the TMS inbox
0754 - Ind 231-4 (67 overs) Swann is milked for three inoffensive singles, and when Yuvraj does attempt a savage square cut he can only steer the ball straight to Colly at short cover. The next ball skips through Colly's hands and they run one more.
"I think Pietersen has realised that having bowled at all the important times in the Test series, and during the batsmen's powerplays in the one-day series, there's no point in flogging Flintoff by keeping him on now the match is effectively dead" Former Somerset and England off-spinner Vic Marks on TMS
0751 - Ind 227-4 (66 overs) Yuvraj steers Fred for a single, while Simon Mann and Vic on TMS ponder whether Kevin Howells, back in the TMS radio studio in London, may be jet-lagged despite not having left the UK (having been up early for every day of the tour). I'm certainly on "Indian time" myself, having been up several hours before the lark for every day of this match. Gambhir jogs another single, and it looks like Monty's warming up.
0747 - Ind 225-4 (65 overs) Swann may be facing more fireworks here - but a couple of gentle singles are all that come from the over.
"All this has got my mouth watering for a possible Yuvraj and Pietersen christmas special. Might be worth a call to Andre Previn's agent, I'm sure he'd be game for a bit of slapstick pie-chucking" Toby in the TMS inbox ["No, Mr Previn, I am playing all the right shots. Just not necessarily in the right order!" MM]
0744 - Ind 223-4 (64 overs) Flintoff to continue, Yuvraj dabs a single (both batsmen now have 80) and Gambhir has to duck a bouncer before opening the face to steer a single to the Montster at third man. Yuvi pushes another singleton, then Gambhir nurdles a no-ball for two before pinching the strike with yet another single-off-the-last-ball.
0738: India are batting on - so we'll get some more entertainment from Yuvraj, but almost certainly a draw. And an hilarious suggestion from Roy in the TMS inbox for England's team in next year's Stanford game: "Pietersen's Pie Chuckers". Splendid.
0735: And the TMS team's vote to play in the first Ashes Test of next summer is: Strauss, Cook, Shah, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Prior, Broad, Anderson, Sidebottom, Panesar. 12th man: Harmison. Other votes received for Vaughan, Foster, Swann, Rashid, Simon Jones and Amjad Khan. None of the team voted for Ian Bell - so "The Bell Debate" is set to rage on!
LUNCH INTERVAL
0705: Don't forget to have a listen to TMS during the interval as they look forward to 2009. They want your predictions too!
0700 - Ind 216-4 (63 overs) Swann, recalled in place of Broad, bowls round the wicket to Gambhir who steers a single while non-striker Yuvraj practises/mimes a switch-hit! Is he planning another one in the eye for KP? Yuvraj does indeed aim a switch-hit (he's left-handed, so aiming a right-handed shot) but only succeeds in whacking the ball straight into the grille of keeper Prior's helmet! England physio Kirk Russell comes out for a look at Prior, who looks a bit groggy. ("The grille has saved him from a broken nose and a broken jaw", says Gus Fraser). After a long delay, Yuvi delicately jabs the next ball for a single. Gambhir does similar, then Yuvraj blocks as the pair realise this will be the last over before lunch (and a possible declaration). Yuvraj drives a single to long-off and they walk off for lunch - Yuvraj has 79 and Gambhir has 80. If they do declare, England would need 368 to win.
"Re: red-inkers [0647], perhaps that explains Anderson's antics in the first innings? If so, not the right guy to be nightwatchman!" JMB on 606 Join the debate on 606
0652 - Ind 212-4 (62 overs) England's bowlers must feel like cannon fodder here. After singles off each of the first three deliveries, Gambhir takes a wild swing and gets a sliced four over the empty slip cordon, then they tip-and-run another quick two which is referred to the third umpire... who rules that Gambhir has safely made his ground at the striker's end. He then keeps the strike for the umpteenth time today.
0647- Ind 202-4 (61 overs) Broad fires it in wide, Yuvraj wafts and misses. He then hits a tennis-style forehand smash at an off-side bouncer which goes over long-on for six! He then clubs another half-volley for six over extra cover ("like a huge Phil Mickelson drive off the tee", says Simon Hughes on TMS). Will Broad be thinking about being hit for six sixes by Yuvi in last year's World Twenty20? He slashes at an even wider delivery and gets an edge down to third man for a single to bring up India's 200, and Gambhir steers another two to reach 70. (Yuvi has 75).
"Batsmen love 'red-inkers' (when they're not out at the end of an innings). Keith Brown at Middlesex was a red-inker - so were Alec Stewart, and Nasser Hussain" Angus Fraser on TMS Keith Brown's career statistics, on Cricinfo
0641 - Ind 187-4 (60 overs) Flintoff on for Jimmy - Gambhir dabs straight to Bell at backward point, this time he does throw at the stumps at the bowler's end (as the throw is being backed up), Gambhir would have been well short but the throw is wide. Yuvraj nudges a single to fine leg, where Broad's cap falls off as he does the fielding. Gambhir and Yuvraj keep plundering the singles, but four off the over is pretty tight now they're hitting out.
0637 - Ind 183-4 (59 overs) Gambhir aims a big blast off Broad, it's high over the head of Monty at mid-on. He didn't have any chance of getting back to catch it, but manages to restrict them to two. Broad is bowling well wide of off stump, but Gambhir walks fully across his stumps and thumps him through wide mid-on for four. A slower ball is dabbed for two through backward point, but a wild throw from Cook allows them an overthrow which has Broad and Prior fuming. That's the century stand. Yuvraj steers a single, but Gambhir nicks the strike once more.
"Good point Vijay [0607]. Although, if you think about it, only the fielding eleven, the batting two and the umpires need to change their feeding habits� the administrators can happily stuff their faces all day long. Food?... Or Cricket?! They've got their priorities all wrong!" Abhishek Mani, Gurgaon, India, in the TMS inbox
0631 - Ind 172-4 (58 overs) Gambhir changes his bat before striding down the pitch to bash Jimmy through extra cover for four. A single brings Yuvraj on strike, but the "pie-chucker" flicks a massive six off his legs through mid-wicket! He rotates the strikes again, then Gambhir tries to tip-and-run a single, hesitates and goes back... but rather than risk an overthrow, Ian Bell opts not to shy at the unguarded stumps. But he does pinch the strike again off the last ball.
0626 - Ind 159-4 (57 overs) Stuart Broad replaces Swann after that expensive over, but an exchange of singles sees Gambhir reach his ninth Test fifty from 174 balls.
0622 - Ind 157-4 (56 overs) A single takes Gambhir to 49, Yuvi nudges Jimmy for another. Another two byes are then run as keeper Matt Prior misses a wide one.
0618 - Ind 153-4 (55 overs) Yuvraj cover-drives, hard, but can't pierce the infield. He then fluently sweeps through mid-wicket (from a ball pitching well outside off stump) for the first four of the day. After a two through the covers, Swann then tosses one up which beats everyone and goes for four byes. A single brings up Yuvraj's fifth Test fifty off 57 balls, while Gambhir nicks the strike with another single - England's fielders may be having trouble seeing the ball here.
0614 - Ind 141-4 (54 overs) Vic Marks on TMS wonders whether KP's decision to use Swann rather than Panesar shows the spinner's position may be up for grabs, although Aggers points out that an off-break bowler is traditionally more useful against two left-handers. Yuvraj straight-drives Jimmy for a single, he now has 43.
"It's unfortunate but five-dayers do not seem to bring the punters in like the one-dayers. I saw the first two days of this match and there seemed to be as many people in as there would have been for an overcast early April weekday game at Trent Bridge. The crowd grew a bit when it was Tendulkar's turn to bat, but unfortunately the limited overs stuff makes money, and that's what carries weight in today's game. Cricket, in a much smaller way of course, is going the same way as football, with schedules dictated by money and television" Andrew Devine in the TMS inbox
0610 - Ind 140-4 (53 overs) Monty is back on the fence at long-on as Swann bowls to a 6-3 off-side field to Yuvraj, who steers a single to deep backward square leg. The field comes in a little for Gambhir, who is more watchful.
0607 - Ind 139-4 (52 overs) Aggers reveals he'll be flying from Chandigarh to Dubai with the England players this evening, as James Anderson opens up from the other end. Yuvraj steers a single, Gambhir swishes and misses at a couple of wide ones. With a 7-2 off-side field, Jimmy is bowling well wide of off stump. Gambhir eventually slices a two to third man where a smart stop by Monty Panesar prevents the boundary.
"Just what I was going to say, Abhishek [0545]. Maybe the lunch is really for the administrators rather than the players. Little care do they have for fans staying awake or waking up at 5.30am when on holiday in Cumbria!" Vijay, via text on 81111
0602 - Ind 136-4 (51 overs) Graeme Swann (bowling in sunglasses despite the haze) takes the first over of the day with his right-arm off-spin, and Gambhir gets India going with a single to deep point. Yuvraj reaches 40 with a quick one through cover point.
"I don't think we'll see England rushing through their overs here" BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS
0558: Right, here we go. Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir ready to resume their partnership, might they have a bit of a dart? Please?
"If we get all the scheduled overs in today, which is unlikely, we'll have lost 84 over the course of the match" TMS scorer Bill Frindall
"(To the tune of Tannenbaum, aka O Christmas Tree):
'O silly us, O stupid us, we sit & stare at our blank screens No cricket Test to calm our brows, can we survive another hour? We stare & wait in foreign lands, or maybe round the homestead fires But cricket Tests our blood arouse, so please TMS sate our desires.
O silly us, O stupid us, why do we stay when there's no play? O come out sun & lift the fog, so our dear lads can have a slog We may not like the end result, but just for now this is our cult So start the match & let us pray, we need not cry at end of play!" Grahame Bush in the Dominican Republic, in the TMS inbox
0545: TMS are up and running again - hooray. Aggers informs us that we will play from 0600-0700 GMT, then lunch, second session 0740-0925, then tea, with the final session 0945-1100 (although if there's no result possible in the opinion of the umpires & captains, we can finish up to 15 overs early).
"Just a thought� in such situations where a day's play is cut down due to fog/rain, would it make sense to have just two sessions? Brunch, play until tea (maybe more substantial than just cucumber sandwiches), then play till close... with all the changes the ICC is making (free hits, powerplays etc), this is something they could consider� merry Xmas to all!" Abhishek Mani, from Gurgaon, India, in the TMS inbox
0540: Still a few problems with the scorecard from Napier - but I can tell you the Black Caps are 216-5 chasing 312 to win. Ross Taylor has gone for 46, but Big Jesse's got his fifty - he's 55 not out and they need 96 from 12 overs.
"It is 9.15pm here in snowy Vancouver, it appears that there will be only about four hours of cricket if that. Why not call it a draw and head for the airport? After all, India are not going to declare and give England a chance. So call it, I say" Brian Seward in the TMS inbox
"Best I can do is... (to the tune of Fairy Tale of New York):
'The boys of the TMS choir tried to sing the fog away, And KP switched his hits for Christmas Day' Chris in the TMS inbox
0526: We have some news - play will start at 0600 GMT. We'll have an hour's play, then lunch at 0700.
"Just to let you know it's a sticky 28 degrees here at Salamander Bay, NSW. I'm still having a little giggle about the Aussies losing to SA on Sunday. Let's hope Ricky has his head in his hands again all next summer. Christmas wishes" Derek Bailey, Australia, in the TMS inbox [Punter also has a habit of spitting on his hands while fielding - MM]
"I think both teams should call it quits, and have an impromptu Christmas party in the dressing rooms. Someone should also hang mistletoe above Yuvraj and KP! Festive cheers to BBC and its readers!" Arun, from Almost-Summeresque-Kerala, India, in the TMS inbox[And to you, Arun! MM]
"There's been a significant lifting of fog - we expect the umpires to have a look soon" TMS producer Adam Mountford e-mails me the latest weather news from Mohali
"As it was the first tune that popped into my head, and in honour of your request, here's a 'carol' to the tune of Shakin Stevens' Merry Christmas Everyone (I'll get my coat):
'Fog is forming, all around us No-one's playing, having fun KP wonders, if Yuvraj's pies were mince ones, Would Gatting eat them, every one?" Nick, a slow day in Sydney , in the TMS inbox
0500: Still fog-bound in Mohali I'm afraid. But I can alert you that when we do get under way, make sure you listen to TMS at lunchtime as having looked back on 2008 in yesterday's lunch interval, they will be "delving into Old Aggers' Almanac" (as producer Adam Mountford puts it) andlooking ahead to 2009 - with the World Twenty20, the Ashes, more IPL and more fun with Sir Allen Stanford to look forward to. And if you haven't already seen it, you can check out Adam's "Team of 2008" on the TMS Blog. TMS Blog: Adam Mountford's Team of 2008
"Greetings from Sydney, Mark� on the subject of sweaty palms, I'd rather see sweat on Monty's brow than on his palms because there seems to be precious little sweat or toil from the Montster in recent days. The Aussies have dropped Krezja just one Test after he took 12 Indian wickets - I would suggest that on that basis, Monty's tenure with KP's team should be over. Against the West Indies, Rashid should be worth a go in support of Swann. The Windies are clueless against spin (Patel took five for the Kiwis in the current Test) so it is the perfect place to blood Rashid" Peter in the TMS inbox REPORT: Australia drop spin bowler Krejza
0437: Thanks for those of you who pointed out that our NZ-WI scorecard had frozen - the technical team are on the case, it gradually seems to be catching up but I can tell you that the Kiwis are 162-3 and need another 150 from 24 overs. Big Jesse is playing the supporting role as Ross Taylor has just hit Chris Gayle out of the attack with two huge sixes into the grandstand!
"As for other sports that work on a best of two, the Champions League football knock-out round works on a best of two legs (home and away), but I can see what the problem here is, the series is just not set up right, and the whole thing just seems a bit haphazard and rushed to me. PS I have pulled an all-nighter for this, just finished watching WWE Raw, and now onto the cricket!" Adam Bateman, Nantwich, Cheshire, in the TMS inbox
"Bizarre comment [from Angus Fraser at 0332] that we can get reverse swing if Monty doesn't get his sweaty hands on the ball. If that really came from a couple of England players they may want to look at their batting performances before casting that 'why did we lose' stone. Does this mean that the great Pakistan team that included both Wasim Akram and Imran Khan at the turn of the nineties all had perfectly dry palms?" Marc Jones in Hong Kong, in the TMS inbox
0431: Still no news of any kind of a resumption in Mohali. I guess that on the one hand, clearly there are weather problems in staging a Test in the north of India at this time of year - but on the other hand, they've done well to stage it at all when you consider they only had about a fortnight's notice that the game would be played here at all.
"India always play negative cricket when they go one up in a series, remember last year against Pakistan where in the last two Tests they batted slowly for two days in their first innings to make sure they wouldn't lose, which is similar to this series and the Aussie one last month" Graeme Mitchell in the TMS inbox
"Please can we talk about (complain about) the fact there is only two Tests against one of the best sides in the world. I need something to distract me from work" Angus, Singapore [The line I keep hearing is that India were up for a three-Test series, but the ECB insisted that the players should be home by Christmas. But that doesn't understand why they needed to schedule as many as seven ODIs, apart from the usual "money talks" answer - MM]
"It's easy to forget, when supporting England, that India are a very good team at the moment. They just dominated Australia in all areas of the ga me, so England haven't done too badly so far" Anonymous, via text on 81111
0413: If you're just joining us, I'm afraid it's bad news from Mohali - yet again, fog has delayed the start, TMS have gone off air and although we'll get some play eventually, it doesn't look like it'll be any time soon.
So, while we're waiting, in keeping with the general festive "last day of term" feel to today, I'd also like to evoke the spirit of last year's third Test between England and Sri Lanka in Galle. When I was on live text duties on day two, it became a frenzy of cricket-themed Christmas carols. So many were sent in, that Simon Hughes even tried singing one on TMS! So I'll start the ball rolling with my favourite such carol from that day last year, courtesy of Carole in Maidenhead:
"On the subject of 'curiously negative' - when the powers that be agree to a two-match series, what do people expect if a team wins the first match? Play for a draw and you win the series... does anyone else find this a strange arrangement? Can anyone think of other sports that work on a 'best of two' basis?" Chris, Melbourne, in the TMS inbox
0350: With no immediate prospect of play, TMS have gone off air for a while. But we're going to stick with it here on the live text - so if you're insomniac, pulling an all-nighter to finish an end-of-term essay or are just in a time zone where it's not the middle of the night, we're going to keep talking cricket here, and your company is very welcome. Do e-mail us at tms@bbc.co.uk (with "For Mark Mitchener" in the subject line), text 81111 or use 606. Join the debate on 606
"Mark, it is minus eight outside with a very stiff wind! We are vicariously experiencing warmer climes and cricket matches through your text. Keep up the good work and let us know the temperature in Mohali. Please let there be no fog! Time to put another log on the fire here and get a cup of tea" Joe, Philadelphia, USA, in the TMS inbox [If anything, the fog looks worse than yesterday - MM]
"I was talking to a couple of the England players last night, and they were wondering whether the key to getting reverse swing was keeping Monty Panesar off, as he has quite sweaty palms and you need to keep one side of the ball dry for it to reverse" Former Middlesex and England seamer Angus Fraser on TMS
0332: Elsewhere in the world of cricket, it's nearly time for tea on the last day in Napier, where New Zealand are 97-3 chasing 312 to beat West Indies. The towering left-arm spinner Sulieman "Big" Benn is bowling to the burly Jesse Ryder, so anything may happen. Live scorecard: New Zealand v West Indies
TMS Close of Play - Second Test, day four
0324: Rather predictably, the Pietersen-Yuvraj "spat" continued in yesterday's post-match press conference - apparently Yuvraj announced himself to the assembled media by saying "The pie-chucker is coming in!", and made light of KP's description of his "left-arm filth" bowling.
So while we're waiting, do take a look at TMS's "Close of Play" video report from yesterday, which features reaction from Yuvi and Stuart Broad, as well as Simon Mann and Vic Marks' verdict on day four. Yuvraj laughs off Pietersen jibes
0322: TMS is up and running - but Aggers reveals that despite the fact it's sunny at their hotel, the fog has descended over the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium and yet again, we're not going to start on time. Bad times.
0310: Morning, everyone. And it's the last time I'll be saying that in 2008 - as it's the last day of England's final Test of the year. The match situation from Mohali is that India are 134-4 in their second innings - and with a lead of 151 on first innings, that makes them "net" 285-4.
But with time running out, the draw is still the most likely result - take a look at Jonathan Agnew's column from yesterday, as he felt India were "curiously negative" when they could have pressed on to try to set up a declaration. Jonathan Agnew column: BBC correspondent's verdict on day four
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