India in England/Ireland/Scotland

[BigCrickNan]

From what I read on cricinfo Nasser Hussein had a lot to complain about Sree's professionalism? Is he really bowling that badly? In his last over he had one bad ball from the live text I read.

He didn't practise properly, he lost his run up numerous times and fielded poorly.

 

[sohum]

Hope the poor bowling display from Sreesanth was just a one time thing. He looked really out of sorts. This test match is now set up perfectly from India's point of view. England will have to bat close to 90 overs just to get a lead, and would want to bat 60-70 more overs to get a sizable one. Batting 150-160 overs may turn out to be tough if the pitch cracks.

 

[Adarsh]

Haha. Just listened to David Lloyd on Cricinfo. Boycott was muttering through in the background talking to someone else, which was quite disturbing. Andrew Miller then concluded at the end," That's it from Cricinfo, with a guest appearance from Geoffrey Boycott !"

 

[prarara]

I like that cricinfo offers both sides of the perspective with both David Lloyd and Ravi Shastri.

Personally, I find Lloyd just a tad bit less biased, but it's only because Lloyd does talk a bit about the opposition whereas Shastri talks a bit more about the Indian side of things, both positive and negative.

After listening to Shastri, I'm a bit confused. Shastri says that Tendulkar used his feet and bat more when playing the spinner; people on the boards says that Tendulkar used his pads more. So which is it?

 

[Adarsh]

He didn't use the pads much, apart from his dismissal. That's what people here are talking about. He padded up a delivery that was 6 inches away from the offstump, whereas he'd have been better suited to just play it with the bat.

 

[PhilD123]

Perhaps I'm looking optimistically, and perhaps I'm stupid to do so, but...write England off at your peril! I think we can do this, we did something similar after our last summer batting display in the ill fated Oval test against Pakistan last year and I honestly believe that we can actually do this. It's going to be mighty tough, but if one batsman can stay at the crease and get a big hundred with help from others then we could in theory get to 500. It's looking a flat pitch and Kumble although dangerous, will not be deadly like a Warne or Muralitharan would be. Perhaps its time for Andrew Strauss to come to the party and for him and Alistair Cook to get a big partnership. A target of 200-220 for India would not be easy on Day 5, if Monty's spinning it.

I'm being hopeful, but I think it's the only way to be in our situation. Live the dream!

 

[AbBh]

^^If England do get 500 then it would take at least 4 sessions. Which means that this match would be heading for a draw.

If the pitch cracks then Kumble might do the job. But if it stays flat then India would be depending upon mistakes by English batsmen to get wickets.

 

[rabeta]

Perhaps I'm looking optimistically, and perhaps I'm stupid to do so, but...write England off at your peril! I think we can do this, we did something similar after our last summer batting display in the ill fated Oval test against Pakistan last year and I honestly believe that we can actually do this. It's going to be mighty tough, but if one batsman can stay at the crease and get a big hundred with help from others then we could in theory get to 500. It's looking a flat pitch and Kumble although dangerous, will not be deadly like a Warne or Muralitharan would be. Perhaps its time for Andrew Strauss to come to the party and for him and Alistair Cook to get a big partnership. A target of 200-220 for India would not be easy on Day 5, if Monty's spinning it.

I'm being hopeful, but I think it's the only way to be in our situation. Live the dream!

I had not thought of this before we started batting. The seamers looked poor and the pitch looks to have flattened out a little since day 1, the seamers do not look as threatening now. It is up to Kumble imo, but he has done it many a time. It is a big ask for England to get up to 500, a mammoth ask in fact. However, after a poor performance with the bat in the 1st Innings, they should all be up for the fight and willing to battle it out. Hopefully it will end up being closer than it is looking now. You're right, we need to be optimistic, especially after the disappointment of the 1st Test, we really do not want to have nothing other than a draw to play for in the last Test.

 

[evertonfan]

If it were any other team in England's situation then I would back them to get a draw. But this is England, we do things our own way; Which is generally the wrong one. It's a trait of English sport.

 

[Adarsh]

Lol. England have no chance of winning this one. Really, they don't; you've got to be kidding yourself if you think they will. If they bat the whole of tomorrow, they'll still only get a lead of about 60 by the end of the day. Another session to get to a lead of 200 (I'll seriously eat my hat if they get a lead of 200). Then, they'll have to bowl India out in two sessions. In fact, even if England get to 200, I'd back India to chase that in two sessions.

In conclusion, it's not going to happen. England's only hope is to play time.

 

[rabeta]

If it were any other team in England's situation then I would back them to get a draw. But this is England, we do things our own way; Which is generally the wrong one. It's a trait of English sport.

Matt the ever pessimist. Or are you?

Could we really save this Test? Is it really possible that England can pull off a miracle and avoid defeat in this test that we looked certain to be defeated in?

It all depends on KP. This the pinnacle for him. I don't think he's matured as a Test cricket yet, he's just a glorified ODI player in my opinion until he plays his first responsible big innings. His 158 at the The Oval, however remarkable and outrageuosly good it was, was irresponsible. Today he needs to prove that he's capable of playing huge marathon innings for England and even if he can't see England to safety, a 200 would put him in good stead for the rest of the series wouldn't it?

Thanks for reading,
Matt.

Your journal

 

[evertonfan]

That was during the Ashes when there was nothing you could do but put on a false act of optimism. This is against India, in a series that we should be winning comfortably but are playing poorly.

 

[rabeta]

That was during the Ashes when there was nothing you could do but put on a false act of optimism. This is against India, in a series that we should be winning comfortably but are playing poorly.

I hardly think we should win this series comfortably, India are a very good side. Even though we are a better Test team that them, debatably, they were always going to be stern opposition. I don't think we have actually played that badly, the first Test we deserved to win, and played very well in that match. We have bowled very well in both matches imo, our batting however, has not been as good as it should have been. Usually we can rely on our batting line-up, and our bowling is the problem. However, in the face of Indian's start studded batting we seem to be faltering. This is the batter's chance to make up for their poor performances and save this match, I have faith, albeit false

 

[m_vaughan]

India have this game pretty much wrapped up. Even in England do bat out tomorrow, a certain Mr.Kumble is going to strike for sure on the last day. I think England were taught a good lesson in this test match of how to make optimum use of the conditions.

 

[irottev]

India have this won IMO.

Tendulkar's LBW was a shocker. He had full right to be annoyed. Would have been a brilliant hundred. Was great to watch him.

Panesar was played well by the Tendulkar and Ganguly partnership, was good to watch that battle. Yet again though, he gets a few tail-enders and makes it look like he was Englands best bowler.