England in India

[SaiSrini]

I think India very nicely got the pscyhological edge at the end of the days play.When Pathan was going I am sure he scared the hell out of Flintoff and Co.

Agreed India didnt stood much of a chance but the guys really did well at the end . I think this would be a wake up call for the Indian team.

A fact :
"England played to thier full potential and still could not dismantle Indians who were well below thier par.So something for the English think tank to ponder over"

Yes Yes! You seem to speak the truth! The psychological edge has been got by the Indians with their daring tactics in the final session. Flintoff must surely be wary of the Indian batsmen next match and this will affect his thinking may be!

Raina and VRV left out, Munaf and Yuvi back in:
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/239633.html

I am hoping Laxamn is dropped, so our playing XI has Jaffer, Viru, Dravid, Sachin, Yuvi, Kaif, Dhoni, Pathan, Kumble, Munaf, Sreesanth. Mohali is expected to be a seaming wicket, so bowling first with three quicks is pretty tempting. Even if it is a dustbowl, Munaf can't do worse than Bhajji.

Bhajji is the person that has to be dropped for the Mohali test (sad he wont play it in front of his home crowd!). Munaf has to partner Sreesanth and Pathan and India should open the bowling with Pathan and Munaf with Sreesanth as one change! Should be an interesting test! Sad for Raina! Didnt do anything wrong. Neither did VRV!

Seaming wicket is fine as far as we're concerned. England's seamers are certainly better than India's and putting Plunkett in will reduce the workload on Freddie, Hoggy and Harmy.

@ Sai - can't see Chappell picking Ganguly at present

It might not be a seaming wicket though it will provide assistance to the seamers for most part of Day 1. But one thing for sure, the conditions are going to be more comfortable for England. I heard Mohali is not as hot as other cricketing centres and with the wicket providing assistance to the faster bowlers, England will feel more comfortable!

@ Barmyarmy - Thats the only blot that I find in Chappell's regimen so far! He has been excellent with the team but his handling of Ganguly has been poor!

 

[nightprowler10]

Do you really read and understand what I am trying to say? Ganguly's form is definitely good at the moment. and his experience is surpassed only by two players in the team - dravid and tendulkar (in the batting!). he is definitely muvch more better when compared to VVS Laxman or Virender Sehwag.

I have to agree with that varun guy. What exactly has Ganguly done lately that justifies him playing in the tests? At least Sehwag had that 240 against Pakistan. Experience alone is not justification enough.

 

[Kratz]

Can't wait for a great game of cricket at Mohali!
This should be the lineup for the Mohali test match.
Jaffer, Sehwag, Dravid, Sachin, Yuvraj, Kaif, Dhoni, Pathan, Kumble, Manuf and Sreesanth. 3 seamers and one spinner. Sehwag and Sachin can bowl few.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Jaffer, Sehwag, Dravid, Sachin, Yuvraj, Kaif, Dhoni, Pathan, Kumble, Manuf and Sreesanth.

My exact lineup
Great minds think alike ay?

 

[SaiSrini]

My exact lineup
Great minds think alike ay?

PERFECT line up! cant disagree with that at all....

 

[barmyarmy]

You're all dropping Laxman then after one bad innings in this series?

 

[JamesyJames3]

also his mom and dad will be at the second test.
oh yeah why people call him monty and not mudhsuden singh panesar

It's his grandparents who will be there. Not sure about his parents, they may be I guess.

But in the papers its about his grandparents as they have never seen him play cricket before.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

You're all dropping Laxman then after one bad innings in this series?

Well, he's the only one out of form from Sachin, Dravid, Yuvi and Kaif. And we need two specialist openers.
So, yea

 

[nightprowler10]

Well, he's the only one out of form from Sachin, Dravid, Yuvi and Kaif. And we need two specialist openers.
So, yea

Dravid has shown that he can open.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Dravid has shown that he can open.

We need two specialists. Its not an option. On a seaming wicket we can't afford to expose and lose Dravid early.

 

[newzolt]

This match has definitely given some moral victory to the England team.Before the match they were hit with all sorts of things,everyone had written them off,yet such a performance!they need to be complimented for this.Even their debutants, Monty and Cook performed well.Collingwood previously considered a one day specialist proved his worth in the longer version of the game.
Indians on the other hand bounced back remarkably towards the end of the match.Eventhough do not have an impressive pace attack as compared to the visitors the bowlers have to learn a lot.Wonder what Zaheer,Munaf and VRV are doing in the reserves?In the batting department Jaffer,Kaif and Dravid stood out.Selectors will have to rethink Laxmans position in the team keeping in view his form and physical fitness of Yuvraj Singh.
It was rather astonishing hearing Srinath comment that if Yuvraj has to come than Kaif should go as Laxman is a world class batsman.I suppose Ganguly too is a world class batsman and everyone should have the same yardstick.

 

[m_vaughan]

Yes Yes! You seem to speak the truth! The psychological edge has been got by the Indians with their daring tactics in the final session. Flintoff must surely be wary of the Indian batsmen next match and this will affect his thinking may be!

England scored more runs, lost fewer wickets and picked more wickets than the home side. Also it was England who declared with seven wickets in hand, to try and get a result.

The way in which Dravid and Gambhir were batting in the morning clearly showed that India were playing for the draw. It was only after that became almost certain did they go for the flashy shots in that final session.

England have the edge imo.

 

[newzolt]

Can England bowl out India twice?I think it will be tough for them.
With Munaf in the side Indians will definitely get a boost in the pace department.Leaving out Harbhajan on home ground,Yuvi for Laxman.. well.....i am lucky not to be in the team managament !

 

[icyman]

I expected Harbhajan to be out .I think Chawla will bowl in Mohali

 

[SaiSrini]

You're all dropping Laxman then after one bad innings in this series?

Yuvraj is more special and Kaif is more in form than Laxman!

Dravid has shown that he can open.

I am sure Dravid not going to make the mistake of opening again after what happened in Karachi. he is better at one down. He has batted very well this test match with 40 and 71. let him continue at one down. Jaffer is batting really well at the opening slot and cant be dropped. they surely wont drop some one like sehwag becoz they are willing to wait for his rare and occasional match winning knock (god knows when it will come ).

so laxman has to face the music in my opinion! but i wont be surprised if kaif is dropped next game. dravid was the one who fought for laxman when the selectors wanted to drop him for the test series against pakistan! so i think dravid will be inclined towards laxman. also becoz they have shared some historic partnerships!

This match has definitely given some moral victory to the England team.Before the match they were hit with all sorts of things,everyone had written them off,yet such a performance!they need to be complimented for this.Even their debutants, Monty and Cook performed well.Collingwood previously considered a one day specialist proved his worth in the longer version of the game.
Indians on the other hand bounced back remarkably towards the end of the match.Eventhough do not have an impressive pace attack as compared to the visitors the bowlers have to learn a lot.Wonder what Zaheer,Munaf and VRV are doing in the reserves?In the batting department Jaffer,Kaif and Dravid stood out.Selectors will have to rethink Laxmans position in the team keeping in view his form and physical fitness of Yuvraj Singh.
It was rather astonishing hearing Srinath comment that if Yuvraj has to come than Kaif should go as Laxman is a world class batsman.I suppose Ganguly too is a world class batsman and everyone should have the same yardstick.

may be laxman is from the same south zone that srinath hails from!

England scored more runs, lost fewer wickets and picked more wickets than the home side. Also it was England who declared with seven wickets in hand, to try and get a result.

The way in which Dravid and Gambhir were batting in the morning clearly showed that India were playing for the draw. It was only after that became almost certain did they go for the flashy shots in that final session.

England have the edge imo.

getting 9 wickets in a session is not impossible. and with most of indian batsmen being flashy strokemakers, losing 9 wickets in a session wouldnt have been ruled out. so a draw was more of a possibility but not 100% certain when india started that carnage in the final session!

Can England bowl out India twice?I think it will be tough for them.
With Munaf in the side Indians will definitely get a boost in the pace department.Leaving out Harbhajan on home ground,Yuvi for Laxman.. well.....i am lucky not to be in the team managament !

This "home ground" business shouldnt be taken into factor. its more on who has to be in the team, not becoz its his home ground, etc.

yuvraj will play in his home ground mohali.... munaf should replace bhajji.