Emirates Old Trafford (second day of five): England, with four first-innings wickets in hand, are 85 runs ahead of India
Until torrential rain fell from sepulchral skies and reduced areas of the Emirates Old Trafford to a swamp, the cricket progressed if not quite at the rate as the madcap first day, then at a decent lick nonetheless. In the 36 overs that were possible, England turned a deficit of 39 into a lead of 85 for the loss of three more wickets. As on the first day, the cricket was never less than watchable on a pitch offering something for everyone.
What disgruntlement there was came from the inadequacy of the drainage system, which removed water from all but