India in England/Ireland/Scotland

[sohum]

If we can bat better than India I think a 3-0 victory could happen, as our bowling ranks are far stronger and more varied in terms of the pace bowlers at least with Harmison who can hit 90mph, Hoggard, Sidebottom and Plunkett who can swing the ball with an element of control, whereas India have a similar attack all around 80mph doing the same sort of thing.

Let's see: RP Singh is left-arm and swings it into the right-hander.
Zaheer Khan is left-arm and swings it away from the right-hander.
Sreesanth is right arm and swings it away from the right-hander.
Munaf is right arm and doesn't swing it terribly, but has good accuracy.

I think you are unfair claiming that India have a similar attack, just given that we even have a mix of left-armers and right-armers. Also, given the fact that Harmison has not been on his game for eons now, I think we could be slightly optimistic. Also, Harmy should make a call to Brett Lee, who when bowling at 90+ mph, hit a double century (in runs conceded).

I could see Sidebottom's swing troubling us a bit, but given that he swings it into our batsmen and ALL our batsmen are good off their pads, his bowling style could be negated. Plunkett I have not seen too much of and Hoggard's swing will always be dangerous.

 

[manee]

If we can bat better than India I think a 3-0 victory could happen, as our bowling ranks are far stronger and more varied in terms of the pace bowlers at least with Harmison who can hit 90mph, Hoggard, Sidebottom and Plunkett who can swing the ball with an element of control, whereas India have a similar attack all around 80mph doing the same sort of thing.

Not at all. As Sohum pointed out, they are different types of bowlers, bowling with different hands swinging it in different directions.

They are different paces, quite subtly though given:

Khan: 78mph-84mph
RP Singh: 83mph-87mph
VRV Singh: Can reach 90mph in short spells (wont get picked though)
Sreesanth: Anywhere from 80-90mph depending on form.
Munaf: Dont get me started.

 

[evertonfan]

That won't happen. For one, can you really see all of the tests being free of the odd three day spell of rain? Secondly, I think India can win the series with their strong batting line up.

Man for man, England are a better team than India. Hence, 3-0. Rain will be the only thing preventing the whitewash.

I don't like to sound arrogant, but we are the better team than India, we are strong at home and India are weak away.

 

[w3lshrugby]

I can see this series going either way, depending on how the bowlers perform - however, having said that, perhaps the surprise of where Harmison/Plunkett land the ball could win it for England (and Wales)

Prediction: Eng 2 - 1 Ind
ODI's: Eng 0 - 6 Ind

 

[Gunner786]

Man for man, England are a better team than India. Hence, 3-0. Rain will be the only thing preventing the whitewash.

I don't like to sound arrogant, but we are the better team than India, we are strong at home and India are weak away.

so which england players are you comparing with kumble,dravid,tendulkar,laxman?

any of these players on their own are better than the whole england team

 

[evertonfan]

so which england players are you comparing with kumble,dravid,tendulkar,laxman?

any of these players on their own are better than the whole england team

Kumble - No one
Dravid - Pietersen
Tendulkar - Pietersen
Laxman - Pietersen

And no, Dravid/Tendulkar/Laxman/Kumble on his own couldn't beat 11 men. Imagine all the gaps in the field. Plus, a lack of wicket-keeper when bowling would cause endless problems.

 

[Cricketman]

Kumble - No one
Dravid - Pietersen
Tendulkar - Pietersen
Laxman - Pietersen

And no, Dravid/Tendulkar/Laxman/Kumble on his own couldn't beat 11 men. Imagine all the gaps in the field. Plus, a lack of wicket-keeper when bowling would cause endless problems.

at least we don't have a one-man batting line up in ODI's. :

@ the second statement, hehhe

Anyways, we'll see. I think we can knick off either one of tests or ODI's. We look strong in tests but England's ODI is always a worry. They're at home and they're awesome at home, so they have the advantage.
Lets see.

 

[SaiSrini]

evertonfan, wow... you said that??? cant believe it...

england should be really happy if they win the test series against india. i personally believe india are an equally good test team as england (lets leave who's better to the one who wins the series).

In the ODI's, this time i cant see another natwest trophy final classic. this time, india can really beat england comprehensively if they play their natural game. Also 2nd half of the summer known for good batting conditions and the encouragement that india have done very well in the past in england should help them.

Kevin Pietersen will be a big hurdle, but I think Zaheer and Sreesanth will be up to him for a good battle. After South Africa, I have lot of hope in Sreesanth for the test matches. Hope he is fit by that time.

 

[ZexyZahid]

When you look to the players individually India is a better team. But England somehow plays better in their country then outside, so it will a good challenge. And India should win this ODI series.

 

[sohum]

Man for man, England are a better team than India.

The only problem with this statement is he first three words and the first punctuation mark. If we both have our fittest teams on the park, I would say we are matched even man-to-man. However, there is no arguing that England will be the better team, especially given they are playing at home.

 

[manee]

If I were a betting man, I would have my money on an England test win just because of how good England are at home. Their bowlers swing it and batsman are used to swinging conditions and play accordingly.

India are used to belters but with the experience of Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar, maybe they can adapt to the conditions. I think to win, India will need the pace bowlers in full flow, that means all at 85mph (or so, nothing under 78mph Munaf!) pitching it up and swinging it looking for the edge.

Man for man, England are a better team than India.

Lets do a man for man comparison then.

Batting

Jaffer Vs Strauss --> Strauss
Karthik Vs Cook --> Cook
Dravid Vs Vaughan --> Dravid
Tendulkar Vs KP --> KP
Ganguly Vs Collingwood --> Ganguly on current form
VVS Laxman Vs Bell --> Bell better in English conditions
Dhoni Vs Prior --> Prior

5-2 to England

Keeping

Dhoni Vs Prior --> Prior

6-2 to England

Fielding

India Vs England --> England

7-2 to England

Bowling

Zaheer Khan Vs Hoggard --> Hmm...guess it'd be Hoggard
Sreesanth Vs Plunkett --> Sreesanth
Munaf Patel Vs Harmison --> Harmison, but Munaf when bowling quick, which doesn't look like happening.
Kumble Vs Monty --> Kumble

9-4 to England

Guess you were right

 

[rabeta]

This will be a good Test series, but I am fairly confident England will win it 2-0. I think the Indian batsmen will struggle with the movement, and fail to get into line when playing their shots. Plunkett and Hoggard could be very useful in this series, as well as Harmision if he gets it right, which is unlikely . The one-day series, well I can't be bothered with one dayers at the moment, there is nothing like test cricket.

I am looking forward to watching Sreesanth though, I rate him very highly, and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate the form he showed in SA. I would like to see Patel bowl with a bit of pace as well .

 

[manee]

I would like to see Patel bowl with a bit of pace as well

Yes but Chappell really drilled line and length into him to the point that it is the only English words he knows. He did so well against England in India bowling quick (10 wickets in 2 matches at 21), but now he just jogs to the crease, it is a disgrace.

 

[angryangy]

am i the only one dreading this? personally i hate odis and there completely overdone. id much rather them add a test match and chop off 2 odis. come on we had a world cup this year surely that was a allocation of most the odis.

I don't hate ODIs but I agree somewhat. With England's weather a fourth match could be the difference between an awful series and a brilliant series.

 

[sohum]

I am looking forward to watching Sreesanth though, I rate him very highly, and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate the form he showed in SA. I would like to see Patel bowl with a bit of pace as well .

I wouldn't be too optimistic as both are currently out injured. Injured has become synonymous with 'Indian pace bowler' these days.