England's tour of India - 2021

[SaiSrini]

Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane
Rishabh Pant
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ishant Sharma
Jasprit Bumrah

That's honestly a scary line-up. A few thoughts:
Rishabh has kept really well in this Test. He might not be as reliable as Saha, but it's still really good to see him improving because he could be in the Gilchrist/Prior/Dhoni bracket of counter-attacking keepers.
If both Jadeja and Ashwin are fit, then you can play Hardik as a luxury number seven whether or not he's fit to bowl more than a few overs. Imagine finally getting Pujara out after a long day of bowling, and Hardik walks out to join Rishabh in the middle. Brutal.
Could pick any one of about eight fast bowlers without really weakening the team.

If Hardik cant bowl or if he can bowl just a few overs, he's of no use in the test XI in any conditions. He messes the balance further. If you are playing on a rank turner, you get a third spinner (Kuldeep or Chahal or a leggie) and Jadeja/Ashwin are more than able bats. If its a flat track and even bounce, Siraj or Shami would easily get in (again Jadeja/Ashwin being good bats). If it swings, Bhuvi (Bhuvaneshwar) will get in and added bonus is Bhuvi can bat too.

In summary - if Hardik cant bowl and that too bowl really well enough, he cannot play test cricket. Period! Times have changed and the solidity of Jadeja/Ashwin's batting and the enormous bowling feeder line that is created, makes it really hard for Pandya to get in.

 

[RichieBGM]

There’s one imposter among us

What is this debate about CerealKiller? We know how brilliant Gilly was with the willow but his record with the gloves will surprise many.

 

[CerealKiller]

What is this debate about CerealKiller? We know how brilliant Gilly was with the willow but his record with the gloves will surprise many.

Well, @Aislabie named Gilly, Prior, and Dhoni as three great counterattacking keepers, and i thought Prior didn’t belong in that group, but he proved me wrong with... basic statistics. Shows you the wisdom of knowing your facts before opening your mouth

 

[RichieBGM]

Well, @Aislabie named Gilly, Prior, and Dhoni as three great counterattacking keepers, and i thought Prior didn’t belong in that group, but he proved me wrong with... basic statistics. Shows you the wisdom of knowing your facts before opening your mouth

Prior surprises me too. Where did you garner the stats. Be interested to see any others.. perhaps Brad Haddin. We talking Test or white ball?

Just in case any here downplay Gilly's Test keeping record. 416 dismissals.. 379 catch 37 stumped. By comparison Rod Marsh 355 dismissals and coincidently both played the same number of Tests.. 96.

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Infinite XPs coming your way

Rohit Sharma
Surya Kumar Yadav
Jayant Yadav
Karn Sharma
Umesh Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav
Ishant Sharma
Mohit Sharma

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Good morning. Who else is here for the Ben Foakes match-winning 200 not out?

 

[asprin]

Still Root is there and in rare form and if Stokes can reproduce his Headingley stunner.. who knows

Please, even I consider the total to be un-chasable - it's something that I would rarely say when India is playing. I'm that confident about the result.

Of course, if they do do it please don't quote me on that

And this post will no longer be a part of this thread....

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Good morning. Who else is here for the Ben Foakes match-winning 200 not out?

You mean all other Englishmen are shit

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Good morning. Who else is here for the Ben Foakes match-winning 200 not out?

Good morning.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Spoiler: Dan Lawrence watch

 

[Yash.]

Dom Sibley
Zak Crawley
Jonny Bairstow
Joe Root
Ollie Pope
Ben Stokes
Ben Foakes
Chris Woakes
Ollie Robinson
Olly Stone
Any of the spinners

How the hell can you have a meme team and not have Moeen in it?

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

How the hell can you have a meme team and not have Moeen in it?

He will coach it

 

[Yash.]

No Headingly Chennai heroics this time.

 

[Yash.]

And there goes Ollie...

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Had genuinely no idea Prior was that good
Because he doesn’t get talked about as a great keeper, honestly

Ask us Indian fans who Prior is!!! He is someone who has frustrated us a lot during 2011 Test series in England and 2012-13 series in India.