England In India - October 2011/12

[ZoraxDoom]

KP standing out of his crease now that MSD has gone back. PK using the inswinger more. Good to see. He's bowled so well without reward. I'd like PK in the test side as long as possible tbh, we've seen in ODIs that he can bowl on flat decks with his cutters and slower balls, and he's quite accurate. A good holding bowler, let Zak and Ishant attack.

 

[teamindia]

Dhoni should have gone for it !!

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Oh dear.

That's just bad.

MSD was wrong footed, Dravid didn't expect he had to go for it.

That's a genuine chance gone begging. Trott survives.

 

[lewissaffin]

Absolute beauty of a delivery and the Indian slip corden have let Zaheer down there.

India's catching (those which they've gone for!) has been solid but their ground fielding has looked slow and sloppy today.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Replays show it should have been Dravid's catch. But it swerved and dipped late. Gavaskar has a point about the slip cordon standing up closer; they really should.

 

[lewissaffin]

Is it luck for the English batsmen or is it a lack of ruthlessness from The World's Number One Team™?

India have definitely had their chances today..

Zaheer Khan looks like he has done his leg in too..

 

[ZoraxDoom]

And there goes Zak :/

Not good. PK to complete the over. A bowler short now, India. I guess we'll see Bhajji and Ishant operate. Maybe PK gets an extended spell; or a few overs for Raina.

 

[lewissaffin]

Loving Test Match Special

Geoffrey Boycott: "You don't wish it on them, but you half hope it happens sometimes."
Blowers: "You're a cruel man, Geoffrey."

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

ooops I meant Broad. Yeah, most likely will bat at 4 but I saw the team sheet on cricinfo, said 3 for some reason.

Completely agree with what Holding said during lunch, have a two tier system, although I don't believe there should be 12 Test teams.

the two tier system is only ever mooted when the teams at the top are convenient.

if any of england, australia or india had a drop in form and fell out of the top tier you lose either crickets marquee series or you send off the biggest wealth generators off touring the least attractive teams.

oh and zaheer's done himself a mischief. series over for india.

 

[cricket_icon]

Not really, if the top teams drop, oh ell they have to build themselves AND themselves up again. It was barely 6 or 7 years ago that no one used to speak about India's audience power or wealth in the game, but as they have succeeded over the years, their fan bas, television rights and money in the game has improved, if they fail, it can all go south again. simple as.

Zaheer gone...India's only truly threatening "pace" and I use that word loosely, bowler is also gone. Trott once again looking settled.

 

[Varun]

Trott for the win! Looks in solid touch, and as I predicted (wished ) he's going to score a ton here.

Beastly swing from Praveen and Zaheer too.

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Oh just noticed Zaheer's gone.

 

[Haarithan]

India's only hope of managing 20 wickets against a strong English batting lineup looks done and dusted now with Zaheer off the field.

 

[lewissaffin]

I think it's far too early to write off this Indian attack. Obviously, the conditions have played into their hands but Trott and Pietersen are both battling away magnificently and this is a game of patience.

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Excuse the double post but they've come off for bad light and impending rain. Early tea will presumably be taken now..

 

[shravi]

Londoners, will it get any better today? The match started at 5:30am for me so I'll go back to sleep if there is close to no chance of another ball being bowled today.

 

[aditya123]

Just half a day gone and many people are still writing this Indian team off. Do that at your own peril. This is typically how we begin a series overseas. The Indian bowling in general gets a lot better after the first test of an overseas tour. Even today, we have been a bit unlucky with some really unplayable deliveries fro PK and Zak either not taking the edge or not carrying to slip.