Why you can't take your eyes of Ravindra Jadeja, the major issue officials must tackle and Harry Brook gamble backfires: BUMBLE AT THE TEST

Daily Mail​

a day ago

England endured a chastening second day of the second Test against India at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Beginning the morning on 310-5, India racked up a mammoth 587 all out, with Shubman Gill's chanceless 269 helping to revitalise his team.
England struggled to look threatening on a docile pitch, but they then suffered a huge blow when they lost three early wickets in reply.
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope both fell in meek fashion for ducks, while Zak Crawley made just 17.
Harry Brook and Joe Root led England to the close, but not without alarm, and England face a tough task if they are to preserve their series lead heading into next week's third Test.
Mail Sport's David Lloyd - AKA Bumble - has his say on all the big talking points after day two at Edgbaston.
This isn't just cricket - it's big business
With a Wednesday start, Warwickshire would love some weekend action to maximise revenue so it was no surprise to see an Edgbaston pitch designed to take us deep.
Not a blade of grass to be seen, it started as a batters' paradise and Shubman Gill was not in the mood to miss out.
He will be delighted with his career-best 269 and the hosts will be pleased with the situation too. Not only is it a cricket match. It is big business.
Don't take your eyes off Jadeja
I was so interested watching the histrionics of Ravindra Jadeja, the experienced street fighter of this India team, during the morning session.
He's going to be bowling last on this pitch, and he obviously wants something to aim at, so nearly every other delivery in his innings of 89, he was down the pitch, banging it with his bat, scratching about with his feet.
This is a very dry pitch, and it will spin big time later in the game. Well done, Ravi. I'd have done the same.
Break time is no joke
Only 15 minutes into the second morning, Jadeja stopped the game, had a drink and took a couple of pills, after being struck on the hand. After 40 minutes, he took another break. The umpires appear powerless. No wonder we keep losing overs.
Surely, the officials should exercise their authority or have a directive from the ICC that any injury be treated off the field while a new batter comes out.
Keep the game moving. Get on with it. My mates in the Eric Hollies haven't paid £85 to watch the grass grow.
My go to spot in Birmingham
I always like my visits to Birmingham, a bit of a raw place, and I have a standby, backstreet pub that I pop into with my old mucker: the ever enthusiastic Guinness imbiber Ian Ward.
It's got plenty of hand pumps and Wednesday's ale of choice for me was Oregon, a Weetwood Brewery American Pale. Very quaffable it was too as we chewed the fat over the day's play.
Walk on the wildside
I'm a great fan of county cricket and earlier this week my wife Vipers and I enjoyed two days down at Queen's Park, Chesterfield, one of the great festival grounds.
This was in direct contrast to Blackpool, which is in another park, Stanley Park, and doesn't allow dogs because of a health and safety issue.
This puzzled me because it's next door to Blackpool Zoo, where there's lions and tigers roaming freely. If one of them gets out, it's curtains. Dogs will be the least of their worries.
Brook gamble backfires
At precisely 2.40pm, Ben Stokes had a cunning plan, bringing on Sir Reginald Dobbington-Dobsworth of Cholmondeley Bishop Serenaders CC, who had obviously won the lunchtime raffle to have a bowl at Shubman Gill.
It turned out to be the nom de plume of Harry Brook, bowling right-arm optimistic - a collection of speculative deliveries regularly driven for four.
The experiment ended when Sir Reggie was invited to put his sweater back on and retire to fine leg following a spell of 5-0-31-0.