England's tour of India - 2021

[Ed Smith]

I don't think we'd enforce the follow on if it's available. We don't want to bat last on a surface that is deteriorating.

It depends on when we can get the rest out but if we've got them out before lunch I can see us batting the middle session and trying to get as many as possible. They might even send out Buttler and Stokes to attack the new ball and play in T20 mode.

That definitely didn't work last time we tried it

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Stokes did alright

That definitely didn't work last time we tried it

 

[Crassus]

That definitely didn't work last time we tried it

When was that?

I can't see them sending out Sibley and Burns to see off the new ball.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Is it just me or does anyone else also feel that Kohli has become a bit timid with the bat for a year or so?

 

[Ed Smith]

When was that?

I can't see them sending out Sibley and Burns to see off the new ball.

Against the West Indies in the Summer just gone. Buttler lasted 4 balls

 

[Bevab]

Is it just me or does anyone else also feel that Kohli has become a bit timid with the bat for a year or so?

At the least, he seems less risk averse (pressure of responsibility getting to him?) and looks quite susceptible to spinners these days. That long stride forward of his forces him to essentially play only a particular range of shots and makes him fully commit to it. Looks glorious when it works out and his superb technique shines through but leaves him very vulnerable to the rather frequent dismissals versus spin these days.

Pant and Pujara is easily the most eye catching partnership for me in this Indian side these days, second to Gill and Pujara. There is something extremely satisfying about watching one end get locked down and be punished if you ever try something fancy with the ball while at the other end you're punished for trying to be conventional with fancy aggression.

Having said that, I'm extremely disappointed in a number of our players today. Gill and Kohli both threw away what could have been a very solid base to build on while Rahane and Rohit did not even try to build that, instead opting to take chances when they shouldn't have had to. Pant's innings today was the perfect example of someone who took well calculated risks when required knowing that it was unlikely he would be dismissed barring freak incidents and waited patiently against better deliveries, at least until his dismissal. I feel bad for Mayank, this is the sort of pitch where he would have absolutely thrived.

 

[Bevab]

Against the West Indies in the Summer just gone. Buttler lasted 4 balls

The problem was not in the idea but in the execution. Sending out an underfire keeper low on confidence at that juncture was not a particularly bright idea when you've got one of the best stroke makers in the world. While he keeps the scoreboard ticking, Stokes will smash the boundaries as and when required.

In all honesty, Buttler's biggest issue might be that people expect him to be one thing (a British Gilchrist) based on his LO playing style when he actually is not. Buttler's best performances in the whites have come when the team is under pressure and he has to grind and counter-attack to save the side. Can't recall much success of him coming in and playing a rocket fuel powered innings ever despite having multiple such platforms to do that in his career. A very Rohit Sharma like problem to have.

Buttler may arguably be one of the most misunderstood cricketers despite his huge success in ODIs, people expect him to be Gilchrist in tests based on that and a Russell/Dhoni hybrid in T20s because he is the middle order 'finisher'. In reality, he shines in T20s as one of the world's best when he is allowed to open and set the tempo with early boundaries followed by strike rotation and a big finish. The sooner England's support staff realise this (if they already haven't and are okay with him playing this way) the better.

 

[SaiSrini]

Wow, yet again we are pushed to the brink. Has been the case for the 3rd consecutive test in a row for India (SCG, Gabba and now Chepauk). This team has the resilience to wriggle out, but if the opposition can also do better to withstand the pressure longer and we could wilt.

Sundar batting well yet again, and Ashwin can more than bat. Still a chance that we can officially avoid the follow-on (I know it ain't happening coz England won't want to bat last). If India can avoid the follow-on officially (i.e. score another 120+ runs here), I think this test can easily head towards a draw. For England to have a chance, they need to knock us out for peanuts tomorrow morning and have a session or two of batting and put us in again by end of the day.

I dont see that happening as I am confident Sundar and Ashwin can frustrate England tomorrow. And we have Ishant left who can hold a bat, and Nadeem has a first class hundred on his name and so he too could hold a bat.

 

[RichieBGM]

Some rash execution from India's top batsmen has now put England in the drivers seat to win the first Test. The patience and discipline that defined the Indian's brilliant win in Australia went missing yesterday when Rohit, Rahane, specially and Pujara gifted the Poms their scalps. Rahane's brain fade after just losing his skipper will be the most worrying. He did same in Australia but it mattered not then.
Rohit showed why he has only played 30 or so Tests since a 2013 debut with a Roy/Finch like early exit, while Pant produced another swashbuckling contribution.
To be fair the Pom tweaker Dom Bess bowled with good accuracy and fully deserved the prized wicket of Virat Kohli..

 

[RichieBGM]

England were brilliant in the field. Some of those catches.. specially Root's off Rahane were top shelf.. Joe looked like Steve Smith for a moment.

Surely England will not enforce the follow on in case India makes them bat again. They certainly wont be keen to bat last on this wearing deck even if they are chasing a small target. India are masters at burying teams with their spin on last day Indian dust bowls.

 

[asprin]

Avoiding the follow-on looking a distant dream with 70+ to get and only 3 wickets left. Best case scenario is England leading with 250 runs, scoring 150+ in the second innings and setting 400+ target for India in 4 sessions. And then hope to God our batsmen apply themselves better than the 1st innings.

England checking all things on the list and have India by the scruff of the neck.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I think the overconfidence of Aussie win is on display here - England were not going to be pushed over especially after doing so well in Sri Lanka in similar conditions. They look really well prepared for this tour and have done well in all 3 aspects - their fielding especially has been top notch

Will take a mammoth effort from us to even draw this game now - the wicket is going to break from the looks of it

 

[RichieBGM]

This wicket is now starting to crumble but it certainly does not look like an Indian spitting cobra one. England is driving this game and only a draw is possible for the hosts.

Ash strikes first over.

 

[Ashutosh.]

Rohit, Rahane, specially and Pujara gifted the Poms their scalps.

Pujara was very unlucky.

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Against the West Indies in the Summer just gone. Buttler lasted 4 balls

He beat Burns there