India in England/Ireland/Scotland

[Animator!]

I agree, it does however provide good lead up for both sides to the 20Twenty world cup. We in England are clearly at the largest advantage going into the series because those who will be playing for us have either been playing for England in this series or they have been playing in County Cricket for the summer rather than having to come from just training to a World CHampionship, ala Australia.

Although, I have to agree that for instance a 5 match series would have been better for both sides.

 

[SaiSrini]

Pheww... Coming back to PC only now. When the last minutes were going on, couldnt login to PC to share the tremendous excitement. Missed class becoz of the match (not important as its the first class of the semester).

Uthappa batted brilliantly. Reminded me of the Natwest final in 2002 when India won by a few wickets and in the final over. The celebrations were ecstatic and re-ignited fond memories (no shirt twirling from Saurav but from some fans though!). Sachin's innings was masterful today. His critics, go and take a bow. Sad though that Sachin might retire from ODI's soon (Source: Cricinfo).

I seriously believe that we have a very good chance to win this series now. Had our fielding been better, we should have pocketed this series by now. India's fielding looks to be making this series really interesting where it should have helped India wrap up a comprehensive series win. Come on Lords. Got to be an exciting final day!

One more game for the seniors before they're off for a well deserved rest.

 

[evertonfan]

It's bad news that it's now 3-3. Not for Indian fans obviously, but the ICC will now think that 7 ODI's always works when in fact, this is one of the rare times when it's down to the wire.

We never bowled well apart from a brief period when India tried their best to throw it away. They made a bit of a meal of it, but it was never going to be anything other than an Indian win after that opening partnership. Although it shouldn't have been Tendulkar for man of the match, either Uthappa or Shah it should have been.

Wright, Shah and Mascarenhas can hold their heads high. Pietersen however was disgraceful with his running today. Don't know what was up with him.

At bloody last these ODIs will be finished by Saturday/Sunday.

 

[Highlander999]

Going to be an exciting finish, the sponsors will be happy.

Shah will be chuffed to have got Dravid with such a crap ball. I personally feel Anderson was a bit unlucky but should have changed instead of bowling full, maybe a bit shorter, when being advanced to. India deservd the win in that match. haven't seen the highlights of England's innings because i was at school, but India batted well at the end

 

[Adarsh]

I think Prior was poor behind the stumps. There were a couple of balls toward the end which I think were gettable, which went for four.

 

[legspinner@fred]

I saw none that were gettable, maybe he didn't dive at them but he was never going to get to the ones that inside edged away.
On your TV screen , at an angle, they'll look gettable but he'd have to be superman.

 

[Eddie]

well rumour has it he won't be getting a central contract at the end of the month

and the squad is apparenty under constant renewal..

i like to see wright open with Mustard, both specialist 1-day openers..

sadly cook isn't ready for ODI opening yet, he just doesn't have the experience..hardly every plays 1-day cricket except when playing for england.

 

[legspinner@fred]

Obviously he won't get a central contract, no keeper has for a while.
Anyway, a thread is on that.

 

[Adarsh]

Prior's been poor. He had a bad test series and has an ODI average of about 22 I think.

 

[Eddie]

it funny how the two teams have trended in this series..

india..good starts , then fall away thru the innings..

england.. poor starts , lower order rescues them with some big hitting..

the story or two strong batting line-ups facing some pretty weak ODI bowling..

 

[legspinner@fred]

Prior's been poor. He had a bad test series and has an ODI average of about 22 I think.

But before that, he hit a hundred, a 50, a 40, a ODI 50, and became a pinch hitter.
He'll get better with a tour.

I think it's a time thing, if he get's a score his keeping will improve.

 

[Chimp132]

cook should play odis for a long time, hes young and will get better as he has shown with test cricket

couldnt collingwood have had 2 men at deep mid off and mid on, and a deep fine leg to stop india getting the victory ?

 

[Eddie]

would still like to see mustard get rewarded for his form this season..

almost 1000 runs @ 50 at faster than a run a ball opening the innings..

a major factor of why Durham are topping the pro-40 Div 1 league

 

[irottev]

Wow, looked like a fantastic finish. Will have to catch the second innings replay. Well dones India. i'm glad the final match isn't dead rubber

-Why was Yuvraj bowling the final over?

Good question, Dravid is probably the only one to ask. That has to be the dumbest piece of captaincy i've seen to be honest. Especially considering Yuvraj was bowling the same flat ball on leg stump every ball. India are going to need a proper death bowler. They totally blew the perfect start because of they lacked a bowler. Agarkar isn't consistant enough and can't find the blockhole at the death. He bowls length. I can kinda understand Dravid not wanting to use him. I would have though Ganguly would be a better bet. Or if he wanted to use Spin, Powar had an over left and it's his job. Yuvraj is a batsman. Not the team's death bowler.

And about Wright, I think he has good potential. England should keep him in their side. I think Shah has had a lucky start, but he'll come back down to earth once he has good bowling at him. He tries to do too much, it'll undo him in the future. If he just plays properly, he can hit boundaries. THe majority of his boundary shots were good shots, it's the little sweeps and paddles etc, for 1's and twos which are being too cute.

 

[manee]

Good question, Dravid is probably the only one to ask. That has to be the dumbest piece of captaincy i've seen to be honest. Especially considering Yuvraj was bowling the same flat ball on leg stump every ball. India are going to need a proper death bowler. They totally blew the perfect start because of they lacked a bowler. Agarkar isn't consistant enough and can't find the blockhole at the death. He bowls length. I can kinda understand Dravid not wanting to use him. I would have though Ganguly would be a better bet. Or if he wanted to use Spin, Powar had an over left and it's his job. Yuvraj is a batsman. Not the team's death bowler.

Dravid said that it was based on that noone could bowl at the death and he was 'trying something'. It is good he got that experiment out of the way and it did not cost India the match.