England In India - October 2011/12

[Themer]

Strauss fifty hopefully gets past his mental baggage against left handers. Sreesanth knocked around, don't rate him at all not even slightly.

Will be interesting to see how India go against this batting lineup, one of the strongest in the country and it'll also be a good test for Hildreth (admittedly he's been out of form this season) and Jos Buttler.

 

[Haarithan]

For some reason, Strauss plays beautifully against India! First the twin hundreds during the Chennai test in Nov 2008, followed by the ton in the WC, and now here!

 

[jacobfelix]

First day of the tour and rains have already made their appearance....

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

England board should have been sensible and they should have played this match where there is no rain.

 

[Themer]

England board should have been sensible and they should have played this match where there is no rain.

Cannot tell, due to past history of people on this site, if you're being funny or being an idiot. Hope its the former.

Terrible start from India to the tour, Sreesanth and Mishra both being hit around somewhat. Mishra's bowled 6 no balls as well which is slightly odd for a spinner and going at 5 an over.

Then again he isn't going to be in the first test anyway and these tour matches are the place for players to find form before the series starts proper. I hope India pick Sreesanth over Patel come the first test as I suspect he'll get bashed around and bowl loosely. Patel with a new ball wouldn't be so forgiving one would assume.

 

[lewissaffin]

329-2. Wow. Even though it is a batsman's paradise, Suppiah, Compton and Strauss all got plenty of runs and India look distinctly average.

 

[Aalay]

329-2. Wow. Even though it is a batsman's paradise, Suppiah, Compton and Strauss all got plenty of runs and India look distinctly average.

India is always average on their any first assignments in abroad tour. I would say they are not even average but they are horrible by looking at their ranking but after 1 or 2 matches, they come in with full flow and make the opposition look average.

 

[teamindia]

Anyone know how the wicket is? I am assuming flat but cannot find anything on cricinfo. The performance was a bit pathetic Then again we suck in the first match of the tour.

 

[Auwais]

329-2. Wow. Even though it is a batsman's paradise, Suppiah, Compton and Strauss all got plenty of runs and India look distinctly average.

Too early to draw any conclusions IMO.

 

[sifter132]

Strauss ,woefully out of runs, plays for some other county to get some form before the first test...as I see he gets a half century here...

whereas our Dhoni too short of runs in the recent series ( apart from the last test) is cooling his heels and asking Saha to play in this game ....seriously, Dhoni should have made use of this warm up game just before the test.

It's not just for his personal form, but to try and get the Indian team focussed on the job. India are notorious slow starters on tour and by resting Dhoni they are hardly helping. Dhoni should be playing and driving the team to try and change the bad habits India has developed from the first match of the tour. That might have signalled a change of intent.

 

[shravi]

Holy ████! What has Sreesanth been eating the last 2 months!? Rather, how much!?

Before World Cup:

Now:

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I wish we could have played the actual playing XI of the first match. But saying that Laxman,Dhoni, Harbhajan and Ishant rest which is not a bog risk. Good to see determined Dravid play this match. Hope the declare over night and we see a tough Indian batting. Don't know why, if Sehwag does not return I have high hopes on Mukund and feel he will do well this tour

 

[AkshayS]

Even though it's a practice game, the first game of the tour but that was an extremely pathetic bowling performance. I hope they will be back in rythm before first test but it looks unlikely.

 

[SaiSrini]

Although even I find it annoying that he had to miss the WI tour and is going to miss almost half of the England test series I don't quite blame him for choosing IPL, ffs he is not in army.

Yes, I too get annoyed, but realistically speaking, its his profession and he choose where the big bucks lie. Same with Gambhir! Guess the time has come for people to shed their patriotic tag that they attach with sport playing nations and treat the game as just something thats entertainment. This is not the army, and Sehwag is not obligated to the citizens of the country to play according to the likes.

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I wish we could have played the actual playing XI of the first match. But saying that Laxman,Dhoni, Harbhajan and Ishant rest which is not a bog risk. Good to see determined Dravid play this match. Hope the declare over night and we see a tough Indian batting. Don't know why, if Sehwag does not return I have high hopes on Mukund and feel he will do well this tour

For the sake of the team, I hope Mukund does well. I have hopes in the boy (not just because he's from my state). I wish even Pujara was here. I want Pujara too to cement a spot in the test side.

 

[Kabooka]

Holy ████! What has Sreesanth been eating the last 2 months!? Rather, how much!?

Before World Cup:

Now:

LOL...

BTW the winner of this series would pretty much be the, undisputed best test team in the world.

If India is ranked No.1 then the redcoats won the ashes. pretty much equal teams in my eyes.

Also the way India is getting sent on a leather hunt in the warmup match, I think im not gonna jibe my clients in UK about cricket anymore.

Note to self - Better to shut up than to eat the humble pie!

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He is in no way was obligated to play in the IPL by his contracts with the BCCI if thats what you're intimating.

Not to mention we got thrashed anyways. It would have been better had he taken rest.