England in India

[JamesyJames3]

First test in India ? They played two spinners.

Yes and look how well that went. Please tell me you don't call Blackwell a spinner? He is a batsmen who can bow "a bit".

 

[Englishandproud]

We won't be happy, but at least we won't be constantly complaining about it. Forgive me for saying so, but the impression that England always give when they go overseas is that they always complain about:

1. Pitches.
2. Weather.
3. Lack of form/fitness.
4. Facilities.
5. Grounds.
6. Food.
7. Hotels.
8. Travel.
9. Umpires (whether nuetral or otherwise)
10. Anything else which comes to mind.

This is an attitude I've not seen in any other side in the world except England. Forgive me for the frankness with which I speak, but I haven't heard any other side over the years complain so much about the subcontinent as England have.

Their commentators are also always prepared to make excuses rather than credit the opposition. Especially Ian Botham.

I agree that they have some genuine complaints this time regarding their playing 11 and fitness etc. etc. but their past attitudes have always left everybody else feel that they are just complaining again as usual.

Not that they are, but that's the impression we all get.

Not stricctly true as both Botham were bigging up India in the last test match for their facilties, Grounds and Hotels and how the traveling team is made to feel very welcome.
I think you have got oyur blinkers on mate, doesnt every team at soem point moan about something.

 

[harishankar]

I don't think it's unique to England and I also think that, despite that, the members on this forum have been giving credit to India where due.

Oh no, I have no complaints about English members on this forum. Just about the mainstream media in England and also some of the English commentators.

However, the new breed of reporters and commentators, especially Nasser Hussein seems to be pretty balanced in his commentary. Ian Botham is generally heavily biased.

The present English side is also much tougher than previous ones, although many of their players are out due to injury or personal reasons.

 

[Sureshot]

Your not alone on hating the English media Harish, most people hate them.

JJ3, Can blackwell really bow though?

 

[harishankar]

Not stricctly true as both Botham were bigging up India in the last test match for their facilties, Grounds and Hotels and how the traveling team is made to feel very welcome.
I think you have got oyur blinkers on mate, doesnt every team at soem point moan about something.

Ian Botham is never wholehearted in appreciation. I can notice the difference when somebody like Nasser Hussein or Geoffrey Boycott talks about other team performances and when Ian Botham does.

However, I haven't my blinkers on. I merely made a general observation on English teams over the years.

If you read my post carefully I made it clear that I felt that this time they were not as bad as previous tours... In fact we can all see that this new breed of players are also tougher and more willing to take the physical strain of playing in the heat and humidity.

Also I think that Australia are big complainers too about the subcontinent, but their target seems to be Sri Lanka and Murali in particular

 

[Englishandproud]

Yes and look how well that went. Please tell me you don't call Blackwell a spinner? He is a batsmen who can bow "a bit".

We wasnt on about how well it went in the first test we were commenting on the fact that england are likely to play two spinners, in Udal and Panesar due to it being a spinners pitch.
Suppose you are right about Blackwell, but is still classed as a spinner.

 

[Sureshot]

Blackwell fits into our ODI team quite well, need to improve his fielding though, but then Giles ODI fielding is poor too.

 

[harishankar]

We wasnt on about how well it went in the first test we were commenting on the fact that england are likely to play two spinners, in Udal and Panesar due to it being a spinners pitch.

If they have an option, they should play just the one spinner, I feel, even in spinner friendly conditions. You don't expect opposition spinners to pick up a majority of the 20 wickets in a Test match in India. It's pretty rare to have two spinners doing much damage.

For England pick Panesar only. I'd even have India playing just one spinner, dropping Harbhajan for this game and retaining Kumble with three seamers. Maybe Sehwag or Tendulkar can bowl a few overs inbetween to give the quickies a break.

My bowling line up for India would be:

Pathan
Kumble
Sreesanth
Munaf Patel

If at all we need an extra spinner and drop a batsman, we should bring in either Piyush Chawla or give Powar a chance. His off spinners are pretty decent.

 

[Englishandproud]

If they have an option, they should play just the one spinner, I feel, even in spinner friendly conditions. You don't expect opposition spinners to pick up a majority of the 20 wickets in a Test match in India. It's pretty rare to have two spinners doing much damage.

For England pick Panesar only. I'd even have India playing just one spinner, dropping Harbhajan for this game and retaining Kumble with three seamers. Maybe Sehwag or Tendulkar can bowl a few overs inbetween to give the quickies a break.

Except when India played Australia on this pitch, and the match was over in 2 1/2 days.

 

[harishankar]

Except when India played Australia on this pitch, and the match was over in 2 1/2 days.

I don't remember whether Australia fielded two spinners on that pitch. Nonetheless, I don't understand your point on the match length. Could you elaborate?

 

[SaiSrini]

If they have an option, they should play just the one spinner, I feel, even in spinner friendly conditions. You don't expect opposition spinners to pick up a majority of the 20 wickets in a Test match in India. It's pretty rare to have two spinners doing much damage.

For England pick Panesar only. I'd even have India playing just one spinner, dropping Harbhajan for this game and retaining Kumble with three seamers. Maybe Sehwag or Tendulkar can bowl a few overs inbetween to give the quickies a break.

My bowling line up for India would be:

Pathan
Kumble
Sreesanth
Munaf Patel

If at all we need an extra spinner and drop a batsman, we should bring in either Piyush Chawla or give Powar a chance. His off spinners are pretty decent.

I would give Harbhajan a final chance. If he flops here, he will have it tough in the coming season! I wish we go with 5 bowlers including Harbhajan and have three fast bowlers. Would be a great sight seeing two quick bowlers Sreesanth and Munaf with Pathan. It wont be too long before Pathan is relegated to one change bowling option! His pace is best suited for one change!

I don't remember whether Australia fielded two spinners on that pitch. Nonetheless, I don't understand your point on the match length. Could you elaborate?

Australia didnt field a single specialist spinner in that match? Michael Clarke was the only spinner from Australia that bowled in that match! I think Hauritz is a fast bowler rite?

 

[MUFC1987]

I think Hauritz is a fast bowler rite?

No he *tries* to be an Off-spinner.

 

[hondeyho]

Why are we talking about an Aussie in the England in India forum?

My bowling line up for India would be:

Pathan
Kumble
Sreesanth
Munaf Patel

I still think that Harbhajan should be given a chance - he is a world class spinner who is just having a bad spell at the moment. Munaf is inexperienced in terms of International Cricket and although he had a good Debut Test - the pitch conditions suited him, and his wickets were mainly c&b.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Manly c&b? you seriously expect that this fluke means that he will be getting c&bs for the rest of career? C'mon! He took 7 wickets, only 2 c&b. That is hardly 'mainly'. He also has 2 caught behinds and 2 bowleds, how come those aren't mainly?

 

[hondeyho]

I'm all for England here you wouldn't expect me not to over-exaggerate!