India in England/Ireland/Scotland

[evertonfan]

Oooooooo, you never bowl first at Edgbaston.

 

[Sureshot]

England off to a flier here. RP Singh's drop will be costly but at least India have the early wicket as Prior tries the pull shot just seven times too many.

Munaf Patel is really annoying me now, he is in the high 70s, how slow do you want to bowl?

Pace isn't that important, is it?

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Another start from Prior, he didn't look comfortable but fought through it and we laid a foundation. Spinners are on now combined 5 overs 1 for 11. It's a good pitch 280-300 is what we need imo.

 

[Skater]

England *honk* have *honk* had *honk* a *honk* couple *honk* of *honk* setbacks *honk* but *honk* they *honk* have *honk* started *honk* well *honk*.

 

[manee]

Pace isn't that important, is it?

It is, it is. A rule of thumb almost, is that you cannot be a pace bowler, under 80mph and be successful without superhuman accuracy and experience which Munaf Patel does not have (but people like Pollock and McGrath do). If you saw Munaf Patel in the 2nd Test in 2006 against England, you would see him bowling fast (85-90mph) and accurately, not only is it possible to bowl fast an accurate, but he can do it. Hopefully a wise person (TA Sekhar? BKV Prasad?) can tell him that noone wants him to bowl everyball at 100mph, but the average pace should be around 85mph to make the most of accuracy. On this slow pitch, batsman are adjusting to the movement he is getting off the pitch, at 85mph, that simply is not possible.

Back to the match, beautiful ball from Chawla but the credit is also due to Dhoni for the stumping and Powar for building pressure on Kevin Pietersen.

 

[Dalek]

Damn Pietersen fallen to the spin..

 

[evertonfan]

I think Kelv could do with a bit more net time. He's clearly flummoxed by these spinners.

 

[Dalek]

Were getting done every time by the spin bowlers. Bell and Colly have got to realy do something here more worried about Collingwood, but once again spinners delight. And wat a 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[manee]

I could be wrong here, but it seems that England are playing all too often in the 'nets' and their lack of exposure to County Cricket is costing them dear. Althoug Moores has helped things in this respect, England seem unable to face a bowler that they do not face much of from their own team. They struggle somewhat against left arm seamers, especially when they push it across and go around the wicket, because Sidebottom does not do this. They also struggle against leg and off spinners because England do not have any. However, when a right arm medium bowler comes on (Munaf), albeit bowling awfully, they play him comfortably because they have bowlers like Tremlett, Anderson, Broad and Flintoff who are all similar to him.

Just a thought...

 

[evertonfan]

Yeah I know. England players play nowhere near enough for their counties. But that debate is for another day.

 

[Dalek]

You are most probably correct here Manee. Well this is what i am thinking imo, Alister Cook needs to sort out his ODI career out, yes he played well in these but time and time again hes getting out through silly mistakes, If he went back to Essex he's got the pro40's to sort it out. Kevin Pietersen, yes one of the best players i have ever seen but hes getting out silly to the spinners, in the Test's hes amazing, but England arnt going to get better facing there own bowlers. We need more practice games, there should be some games were England Vs a County team etc.

Dimitri Mascheranas, dropped for Owais Shah. Yes Shah is a great ODI player, Dimitri could have won us the match the other day in my eyes he was the best player out there last game. Panesar was brought in for Flintoff, giving India a pyscological boost acording to Dhoni. I would have gone with Shah in for Freddie going with that bigger batting attack.

Great 6 again, this time Bell

 

[PhilD123]

Dimitri Mascheranas, dropped for Owais Shah.

Just to correct you. Mascarenhas picked up an injury in practice after the teams were announced this morning and so Shah came in for him.

We need at least 260 here I would say, we really need some work against the spinners. Time and time again they've tied us down. Prior needs to start converting his 30's into big scores too.

 

[Dalek]

Ahh Sky sports news cocked up again then. Yeh i would like to see some one else in as a wicket keeper batsmen, we have got some stunners in the counties

 

[angryangy]

Another good first innings position for England. Interesting to see what the lower-middle order does in this sort of situation.

 

[CortezTheKiller]

Maximum for Bell. Straight down the ground. Good use of his feet. 240-5 with 5 overs left. You'd want 280 as a minimum, really.

 

[m_vaughan]

281 is what they got. Good score imo.