Surviving

Having dismissed loutish English culture, one positive side displayed at the test match is a joy of fancy dress. Hence, when at Morrisons in Piccadilly Gardens, I saw several of the group of about eight well-dressed spacemen who later appeared in the "party stand". Also there were groups of huntsmen, Marios (one female), lifeguards, jungle hunters, and ten men wearing hats featuring large hot dogs, accompanied by someone dressed as a jar of mustard.

As for the game, the morning session was glorious, as the England captain hit hard to increase his overnight score of 77 to a final score of 141. England put the game wholly out of reach of India by finishing on 669 (England's fifth highest score in 148 years of international cricket), a lead of 311. Cricket is unmatched for numbers... 

The start of the Indian innings was disastrous, and at lunch it felt possible that they might lose today. However, in the afternoon and evening, two Indian batsmen showed admirable resolution, and denied England further progress towards victory, but it was far from exciting...