England in India - Oct to Jan 2012/13

[Owzat]

Think you have to judge team selection after 3 or 4 days. Looking seam friendly now but could be a bunsen by day 4.

England need to battle it out. Shame they didn't drop Bell, not a surprise though. Could make for an interesting battle, maybe Bell flop 1st innings then save the day in the 2nd innings and guarantee his place in the side for another four years..............

This is about the most interesting scenario for the final Test, England batting first and battling. Could be a landmark series victory for England, this is only England's 14th tour of England believe it or not, England haven't won in India since 84/85 and this is only the third time they've won two Tests in a series in India. If England win 3-1 it will equal their biggest victory margin, all other much celebrated triumphs in recent years will pale by comparison - except maybe winning down under, but this surely would trump that in terms of difficult conditions etc? (the aussies weren't exactly in their pomp either)

 

[playkid12]

Think you have to judge team selection after 3 or 4 days. Looking seam friendly now but could be a bunsen by day 4.

I wholeheartedly disagree. Having four spinners in a team that has spinning part timers like Sehwag is just overkill, especially when it's at the expense of a seamer. Balance is key, and it's unheard of to choose 4 spinners and 1 seamer in modern cricket as your attack. 3 spinners and 2 seamers could've done the job. If Dhoni really wanted a 4th option, Sehwag is on the team. Tendulkar can also spin.

It's just poor cricket. An astounding amount of stupidity is required to choose this many spinners on a side. Down with Dhoni's captaincy for tests!!

 

[deepuparayil]

Lol.... why did Dhoni selected two more part time spinners to the team... Captain Dhoni ftw!!

 

[barmyarmy]

If you think England are weaker against spin than the seam and the pitch will turn then it just about makes sense. Clearly there looks to be enough in the pitch for quicks to suggest they should have gone with two.

 

[aditya123]

I don`t think Dhoni has any regard for logic and logical decisions. Not even Bangladesh would pick a side like this, totally lopsided. He justs wants an excuse when he loses the test after picking this sort of a side. He could now plan his post-defeat press conference saying "We were unfortunate to have lost the toss after picking 4 spinners in the side".

I thought we had touched a low, now after seeing this selection I will safely say that it does`nt get any worse that this. I want England to thrash us in this game and Jadeja to get a king pair. I`m that frustrated with this selection.

Ajinkya Rahane is a class batsman and what we get is the Rajkot flat track bully getting into the side ahead of Rahane who was the first choice middle order batsman. The less said about Chawla the better, he is already being outbowled by Crappy Jadeja. Shambles. I really pray for England to score 500 plus here.

 

[playkid12]

If you think England are weaker against spin than the seam and the pitch will turn then it just about makes sense. Clearly there looks to be enough in the pitch for quicks to suggest they should have gone with two.

If that's the reason behind Dhoni's selection, then he's a one trick pony as far as captaincy is concerned for this match. It still doesn't make sense because you don't need 4 spinners in that case either. Spinners don't get tired like fast bowlers, and can bowl a lot of overs. Choosing 3 spinners on a team that has two part timers (Sehwag + Tendulkar), along with 2 seamers would be a much more balanced attack. His thinking is one dimensional and he's put all of his eggs into one basket.

 

[barmyarmy]

Well India on top anyway...

 

[cerande]

Give Bell a target of 50 ,and his fluency will return.Gone for 1 off 28 deliveries.

 

[Owzat]

Give Bell a target of 50 ,and his fluency will return.Gone for 1 off 28 deliveries.

Before this innings he averaged 19.58 in India, one fifty in now 15 innings. In England he averages 57.83 against them.

Silly decision to bring him back, should have seen enough (or little to be more accurate) in the 1st Test to know it was a gamble. Then again Patel as a Test player, what he was after quite publically if I recall, with 15.57 and 64.25 is a travesty. In theory a suitable player, in practice another county player who was never going to make it.

Might be lucky to get near 300 from here, lot resting on KP, Prior and the supporting cast.

 

[Sedition]

Good to see Jadeja finally getting his chance. Making it count too with the big wicket of Trott, can't wait to see what he does with bat in hand.

Quite laughable all this hate being thrown at one's own team, while having the better part of the first two sessions no less. Obviously there'll be a complete turn around from the fans if India get themselves into a winning position, but hey, if the preemptive hate helps make you feel better about losing to England on home soil then carry on I guess.

 

[Gaurav_7]

Quite laughable all this hate being thrown at one's own team, while having the better part of the first two sessions no less. Obviously there'll be a complete turn around from the fans if India get themselves into a winning position, but hey, if the preemptive hate helps make you feel better about losing to England on home soil then carry on I guess.

It's not the hate. For me, it's poor selection. Jadeja deserves his chance alright but not ahead of Rahane for me. We are playing 3 spinners + Jadeja and only 1 pacer which is rather illogical.

 

[Sedition]

Yeah, but you're one of the only ones simply criticising selections and not hoping India gets thrashed and Dhoni dies in a grease fire or something. Fair enough not agreeing with selections, but how about people actually support their team and debutants?

Jadejaaaa

 

[Gaurav_7]

Yeah, but you're one of the only ones simply criticising selections and not hoping India gets thrashed and Dhoni dies in a grease fire or something. Fair enough not agreeing with selections, but how about people actually support their team and debutants?

Oh you mean those sort of people. Well, then it's alright. I can't understand why some people hate Dhoni to the core. Whatever happens, blame Dhoni!

 

[Sedition]

Sidenote about Jadeja.. I remember him lighting it up in a few ODIs awhile back, then he inexplicably cut his hair and it was all downhill from there. Good to see him sporting the ifro again, certainly not a coincidence that he's been racking up triples and taking wickets rcently.

 

[deepuparayil]

Pietersen is out already and now Dhoni needs to give the ball to Aswin.... Dhoni's not that good at managing the bowlers, I think..