don’t forget it’s hard to be the home side when you’re playing against the darlings of test cricket, the team that everyone else is rooting for. those are test series where you always seem to pick up the most injuries or distractions away from the wicket.
England Tour of India
- Thread starter TheGame
- Start date
Why's Atherton doing the sky podcast from India but not on comms? Is there another station he's commentating for?
He's out there for a newspaper as the chief reporter.
Bharat and Patidar scored centuries for India A against the Lions in their first test then Paddikal and Khan did so in the second. Couldn't really see any of the Indian bowlers having dominant performances and standing out including Sundar so will be surprised if he comes in. They have Ashwin and Axar so they already bat quite deep anyway.
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No Rahul, Jadeja, Kohli and Shami for the 2nd test is a bit mad. A lot’s happened in this series already!
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Going from Leach to Bashir given the latter’s inexperience could be a bigger loss than any missing players for India.
It would mean asking a lot of Root if Leach is out, and I feel that in that instance England would need to bring in Anderson just for his ability to control run rates more than anything.
If Leach is out. I'd opt for:
Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Bairstow
Stokes (c)
Foakes (wk)
Ahmed
Hartley
Bashir
Anderson
I'm not convinced we need three spinners + Root (so four) - but the fact playing Ahmed and Hartley doesn't weaken the batting is a good argument for it.
It was interesting to see how more naturally adapt our spinners were in the tail than others. It's not a terrible argument to include them to be honest. We would not have won the opening test without Ahmed or Hartley's runs, let alone wickets.
The reason I'd opt for the above is, given the experience between the three newbies, I think it's a big ask for them to hold down ends/control run-rates when India are in a position to score. We saw what can easily happen with Hartley in the first innings regardless of talent, it would be pretty painful if our main spinner(s) were having to sift through that/would put a lot of pressure on Root.
Apparently early signs are that the pitch isn't a big turner from the beginning like the last one however it will turn. I think they will wait until they get a better reading of it.
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When was the last time Stokes was a genuine all-rounder?
Been a good while now, if we don't see him bowling again by this summer I doubt he'll bother again.
Been a good while now, if we don't see him bowling again by this summer I doubt he'll bother again.
This is the sensible selection. Anderson has done well in India in the last tour or two, not only the control but he has enough guile to get wickets with variations like cutters, slower balls, just out-thinking batsmen, or extracting some swing when others can't.
Root may well end up bowling more than Ahmed and Bashir, so there's an argument to select another seamer instead of Ahmed or Bashir but if the wickets are turning I don't see the point in picking a quick bowler who will end get half a dozen or so overs each innings and bat at #10. If there was a seam bowling all rounder in the squad I'd be tempted to play them but we don't have one.
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He’s just like me!
aye. though the clips of young boys you pass around on whatsapp are a might more risqué.
Pope has underachieved in his test career so far considering his talent. He should be averaging at least 40. It was great to see that clutch version of him in the test arena, performing under pressure and scoring the bulk of the runs.
It was a fantastic win but not having Leach is potentially a huge blow for England looking forwards. I've not seen Bashir bowl in CC but it's a huge ask to step in against India with a handful of first class appearance. They probably envisaged him just carrying the drinks and playing in a dead rubber, but this is really throwing him in at the deep end.
Of course, India have their own injury problems, but they do have strength in depth that England don't have.
As pretty much expected - Anderson and Bashir in for Wood and Leach.
Good to have a seamer that can hold an end and bowl longer spells.
Good to have a seamer that can hold an end and bowl longer spells.
On another note, Matthew Potts has been bowling well during the Lions series against India A, he's got another 4 wickets today. Hopefully he can stay fit for the summer matches.
Yep, get the feeling Bairstow needs to start scoring some runs as if Brook returns, he will likely replace him the line up.
I'd have plenty of money on Pope dropping out for Brooks before last week!
Think England will win this series quite easily.
i’m a bit concerned that brook’s got the trotts.
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I was thinking this as Foakes was digging in during that second innings, but looking at his recent scores, a lot of that poor form was happening in the shorter formats. The back end of the ashes is probably saving him at the moment.
Bairstow looked in great nick in the first innings in particular. Don't think a good score is far off.
Hope so, I didn’t see him bat in either innings.
Bairstow got completely done by two really good balls in both innings.
The England bowling attack has 188 tests caps between them, so at least it’s an experienced attack…
Despite all the players missing this is still an India side full of talent. They’re still a formidable side and my head tells me they should win the next test comfortably. Yet, this is not a normal England side. Some of the performances & results have been unbelievable. You just can’t write England off at the moment because they can produce something magical in any test in any conditions against any side as the past two years have proven.
Despite all the players missing this is still an India side full of talent. They’re still a formidable side and my head tells me they should win the next test comfortably. Yet, this is not a normal England side. Some of the performances & results have been unbelievable. You just can’t write England off at the moment because they can produce something magical in any test in any conditions against any side as the past two years have proven.
Is Leach back for later tests?
Surprised India haven't picked that lad who averages like 80.
Also quite glad Washington Sundar isn't playing. I don't really know how good he is, but he averaged something like 80 with the bat and 10 with the ball last time he played England. Having Axar at 6 is a lot less intimidating that having him come in at 9.
Edit: checked and he didn't get many wickets. Not sure why I misremembered thay
Also quite glad Washington Sundar isn't playing. I don't really know how good he is, but he averaged something like 80 with the bat and 10 with the ball last time he played England. Having Axar at 6 is a lot less intimidating that having him come in at 9.
Edit: checked and he didn't get many wickets. Not sure why I misremembered thay
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After watching the first hour I have decided 750 is par on this deck.
Damn, already into the tail
Very tidy start from Bashir and an amazing first test wicket.