Live Test Match Blogging / Andrew Hughes / 19 August 2011 /

Thursday was a non-event, but with Strauss and Cook at the crease, Friday promises plenty of runs and perhaps even the occasional wicket. Andrew Hughes will be on hand throughout the day to highlight the best of the betting opportunities.

STUMPS England 457-3
All over. Another day of total and complete domination from England. As the Indian players walk exhausted from the field, they can console themselves with the thought that there's only three more days of this series to go, or possibly two, depending on how well they bat. Thanks for being with me today, I'll be back at 10:30 tomorrow

WICKET Pietersen c and b Raina 175
Well I wasn't expecting that! Clever bowling from Raina too, held that one back. And now for reasons that aren't entirely clear, James Anderson is marching out as nightwatchman. I thought Morgan was a good player of spin, so why isn't he coming out to tuck into Raina and Mishra? Strange decision by England.

18:40 England 439-2
Two sixes from Bell brings him almost level with KP. The battle to see who will finish the day with the higher score is the only contest out there at the moment.

18:25 England 408-2
Thirteen overs to go on Day Two and India are already [100.0] in the match odds market. This is a team collectively thinking about the flight home. Or at least, some of them are, because most of them have a one-day series that lingers into chilly September to look forward to.

17:50 England 362-2
The England batsmen are having a quick drink whilst the Indian team have a quick prayer. Having witnessed far too many of these one-sided England innings, I can't decide whether it is 100% English brilliance, 100% Indian ineptitude or a combination of the two? Maybe you can help. Get in touch at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk and tell me what you think.

17:40 England 359-2
A long long time ago, probably yesterday morning, before the deluge of rain and runs, I said that RP Singh should have been in the squad in the first place. I would like to withdraw that comment. And if I was Munaf Patel, I'd be fuming about now.

17:20 England 335-2
Sreesanth has got himself all fired up, flinging the ball back at KP and then apologising. The market just isn't budging on the England win, it is still available at [3.3] which is remarkable. England could have passed 470 by the close tonight and there is still three days left to roll over this thoroughly dispirited Indian team

16:50 England 312-2
No problems after tea for Pietersen and Bell. England have swept to number one with this kind of dominant performance. They did it to Australia and now they are doing it to India. But can they stay at number one? And which teams will be their biggest challengers in the months to come? Let me know your thoughts at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

TEA England 296-2
A thoroughly demoralising extended afternoon session for the tourists, to add to all the others they've had to cope with this summer. Join me in 20 minutes to see how many England can pile on by the close

15:45 England 258-2
Just when India were getting themselves into the game, this has been another session of total dominance from England. There's still [3.35] on offer about an England win if you want to avail yourselves.

15:20 England 238-2
Bell and Pietersen continue to thrill the crowd at the Oval. That is perhaps the most exciting thing about this England team. They have Cook and Trott who dig in, but they also have two of the most talented strokeplayers in the modern game.

15:05 England 218-2
Drinks at the Oval with Bell and Pietersen both on 68. KP is looking good to finish as top England first innings batsman, recommended at [5.6] yesterday, now [2.02]

14:45 England 209-2
In the sapce of an hour, these two have turned a balanced contest decisively England's way with typically aggressive strokeplay. Great to watch, unless you are Indian. Yet still England are [3.45] in the match odds market, which is far too high. An awful lot of people are banking on the draw.

14:10 England 156-2
Some lovely strokes from Bell and Pietersen as England counter-attack in the way they always do when they're in a spot of trouble. I still think there's plenty of value in that price of [3.45] on an England win

13:45: England 126-2
Welcome back. The players are out and it promises to be an interesting two hours. Have your say on the action at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

LUNCH England 126-2
In contrast to Edgbaston, this has been a genuine contest and much better to watch. The game is about even at the moment but England's two quickest scorers have played themelves in so it could be an exciting afternoon session.

12:40: England 114-2
England's two best batsmen at the crease now and these two are involved in a three way tussle to finish as England's top series run getter with Alastair Cook. Ian Bell is only 60 odd runs behind KP and might be the value in the Top England Series Runscorer market at [8.0]

WICKET Strauss c Dhoni b Sreesanth 40
Poor shot from the England captain. India have managed to exert pressure and it finally tells as Strauss follows a widish one that he could barely reach. Now India are right back in the game. Enough to consider backing them at [16.0] ? Not quite. England bat deep and India have been in this position before and failed to cash in.

11:55 England 96-1
Sharma and Sreesanth are bowling well here, getting swing and bounce, which is also excellent news for Broad, Anderson and Bresnan.

11:25 England 76-1
Sharma is testing Strauss with some short stuff and why not. Plenty of bounce at the Oval. It would be good to see India put up a fight today, so we can have a bit of a contest. Or do you disagree England fans? Would you prefer another one-sided victory for that 4-0 whitewash? Have your say at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

WICKET Cook c Sehwag b Sharma 34
Alastair Cook is out! Much better bowling from Sharma this morning, he's hit a length straight away. Now can India get another? There does seem to be a hint of assistance from the pitch, though it may not last long in these warm conditions.

11:00 England 75-0
We're underway at the Oval. How many can these two accumulate this morning? They looked in no trouble whatsoever yesterday, but maybe the pitch will have been freshened up with all the dampness around.

10:50 England 75-0
Yesterday, there were some generous prices around on the England win. You can't get [3.5] anymore, but they are available at [3.1] this morning, which is still pretty good. Plenty of time for them to rack up a big score and bowl the Indians out twice.

10:40: England 75-0
Morning all. It's a lovely sunny day in South London and not a drop of rain in sight, which is great news for us, but probably not so great for the Indian team who yesterday played like men who are desperate for the whole thing to be over. I'll be here all day with the latest betting news from the Oval. Have your say on the day's action, the latest odds and just how terrible India have been this summer at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk

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