India in England Jun-Sept 2014

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

1st Day Review

Well, the much anticipated first test of this hectic 5 test match series began today at Trent Bridge. James Anderson is the highest wicket taker at this ground with 51 wickets and averages 18.03. India coming into this series must have horrors of 2011 season in their mind but the good news was only 3 out of the entire squad players were here before on that tour and those three are pretty tough characters, Dhoni Gambhir and Ishant.

Lot of people were saying before the match that the grounds are renovated and have lost serious money and pitches would be made that last all 5 days and cash flow is not lost. Also have heard experts saying that this series is much of a monetary importance then skills. Although it sounds harsh it is true. From ranking point of view last time India came here they were number 1 and England threw them off their position. England then became number 1 and lost the spot to South Africa in what was another marquee series. Number 1 Number 2 is all lost. On one side England after a winning 3-0 in Ashes 2013 at home went confidently to Australia for a follow up Ashes series in Australia. The tour marked complete overhaul of English cricket. There was a lot of dressing room politics and poor performances caused England 5-0 whitewash in the hands of Australia. It marked the end of Graeme Swann as their lead spinner who retired half way through the series, Jonathan Trott came back home from what is said Mental trauma or depression. Andy Flower the England coach that time was sacked and Ashley Giles was given the interim opportunity for T20WC 2014. Since that time Pietersen was sacked by not given a central contract and on and on and on. Meanwhile India did lose two overseas test again making the streak 10-0 in last 3 years but did pull out fight and magnificent performances. In the South African tour India should have the first test giving host 500+ runs to score and having host at 250/5 odd. Brilliant Faf not only denied win but also came very close to scoring it. In New Zealand the same thing happened where New Zealand although bowling out India for 200 odd runs in first innings were not able to hold up the strong advantage after having score 400+ runs in first innings as they were bowled by India for mere 105 runs. India needed 340 runs and came so close and lost the match by 40 odd runs.

Back to this match, yes it was perfectly judged that pitch would be semi-flat. You cannot call the pitch flat but it was semi flat. Lot of the pre series talk was about Kohli Pujara and the Indian bowling but no one except Kevin Pietersen spoke about Murali Vijay and how ironically the guy with most number of runs for England in this current unit is KP is a better judger of cricket and is sitting out of the team. Alastair cook although showed some proactive captaining and but Murali Vijay since the South Africa series has learned one precious thing and that is build up your innings even if it means leaving 100 odd deliveries. Shikhar Dhawan has always been a slow started on a series away from home and I have full faith in him he will learn from the mistake he made today. Cheteshwar Pujara looked like himself as usual today and that Ian Bell catch was amazing right effort to dismiss a good batsman. Coming on to Virat Kohli yes people have seen he gets frustrated if he does not middle first couple of deliveries and the same thing happened today. There is no doubting anything and there is nothing he needs to improve, I am sure he will be back with a bang and more MC BC CC . Ajinkya Rahane has been seen as the next Tendulkar since he had a terrific run in Ranjis and today I saw that. The straight drive the footwork, the follow through it gave me goosebumps and I really thought for once Tendulkar was playing although a bit slimmer Tendulkar Going in with 5 bowlers and 2 all rounders in those 5 it is a long Indian tail and Dhoni at 6 was always a worry but he has played well and it will be really important India carry forward the momentum and go in for 350+ score tomorrow. With Jadeja's spin and 3 medium fast bowler and 1 slow bowler I think we have enough fire power. Overall one less wicket and 20 more runs would have made it entire India's day but still happy with the performance. On England's side they really need a professional good spin bowler soon or else I do not see them performing well. India is not good enough to play Fast bowling as South Africa or Australia is and if it was them a 300 odd runs was on card today as Plunkett and Broad looked absolutely ridiculous and I pity for Anderson who has been such a true champ and has been consistent

 

[SpitfiresKent]

I can just see it now, India post 450+ and then we struggle to make 250 on an absolute road

I think Jadeja will be key if India are to win this Test match.

 

[War]

Well commentators on both sides are hammering this pitch for its lifelessness.

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Test pitch comes gift wrapped | Cricket News | Global | ESPN Cricinfo

Hard to argue with Dobell here. With ENG spin deficiency obvious, such pitches are going to make the 4-prong pace attack useless.

First the ECB drop KP, then as mentioned before the unusual system of how the ECB makes counties bid millions to be awarded test venues, thus making them prepare pitches & drainage system to ensure 5 day test (so that they can make back money), has finally come back to haunt ENG.

All these years this was happening, it was never an issue but clearly now it is. So if ENG never get a seaming wicket in any of the 5 test because of this, it would one of the most amazing examples of self sabotage in cricket history.

 

[SaiSrini]

So KP's analysis of vijay has come true....certainly eng team are better without his inputs

Dhoni keeping his word so far on attacking

I still wont give too much weight to KP's words about Vijay. Remember, this pitch is being criticised for its slowness and benign nature. Vijay is still good on such types of pitches. Remember he has three test centuries (before this innings) in India. Nobody questioned his talent in such conditions.

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I can just see it now, India post 450+ and then we struggle to make 250 on an absolute road

I think Jadeja will be key if India are to win this Test match.

I would be happy if we reach 350+. England would be fresh on the 2nd day morning and if they get Vijay and/or Dhoni early, they could run into the rest. Jadeja and Binny are playing first time in England, and Binny is debuting. And both of them are bits and pieces cricketers, not the best at either of the skills (with bat or ball).

Vijay and Dhoni need to bat as much of the first session on Day 2. If they do that, India would have a fantastic chance of reaching 450+.

 

[PokerAce]

While I am loving India's batting so far, I also fear that if India can do this to the England bowling, then the much weaker Indian Bowling is up for a further walloping. However something tells me, that this will not happen.

First of all batting second after a 400+ 450+ total is not the same thing (long way to go, I know), is not the same thing and it brings a pressure of its own. Plus England don't have the tools, to exploit the pitch, a spinner and India have in Jadeja a fairly competent spinner and that could be crucial.

 

[cricket_icon]

We simply don't have anyone at the moment is who is either good enough or in sufficiently good form to stick in there as a specialist spinner.

I agree, there doesn't seem to be anyone of particular note BUT and no offence to Ali but surely there is someone better than him? Adil Rashid has had a come back of sorts and there's Kerrigan who has a good county record and bowled ok recently.

Btw I am in no way advocating dropping Ali, he is a class batsman.

Getting to 300 will be a big milestone for us, since we never crossed that mark last time

I think it will happen this time round.

While I am loving India's batting so far, I also fear that if India can do this to the England bowling, then the much weaker Indian Bowling is up for a further walloping. However something tells me, that this will not happen.

First of all batting second after a 400+ 450+ total is not the same thing (long way to go, I know), is not the same thing and it brings a pressure of its own. Plus England don't have the tools, to exploit the pitch, a spinner and India have in Jadeja a fairly competent spinner and that could be crucial.

You used the keyword, Jadeja is competent but that's all, if the england batsmen falter on this pitch, it's down to their own weaknesses and incompetency rather than India's superiority with the ball.

 

[PokerAce]

You used the keyword, Jadeja is competent but that's all, if the england batsmen falter on this pitch, it's down to their own weaknesses and incompetency rather than India's superiority with the ball.

Ah but that was the point, on this dry and slow pitch, especially in the 4th innings, a 'competent' spinner may be enough.

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Dhoni really has to stop the reverse sweep, nonsense, would be a waste of a wicket if he get it wrong and just upper edges it to the keeper. Has not played it convincingly even once since last evening.

 

[aditya123]

We need to find a way to eek out a score close to 475 from somewhere. It is the only way we can put pressure on England with our fragile bowling. Shami with the old ball will be the key for India along with Jadeja holding an end up. I do not see Ishant troubling even the likes of Anderson on the track.

 

[Aalay]

Decent session for India. Murli Vijay was unlucky with that decision but he played well. Jadeja has started in typical fashion. We need 400 to stay in the game and 500 to win this game.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

very impressed with Vijay, as I feel more than the others he's a bad run of form away from being dropped forever, but he's scoring essential runs often enough to keep himself an automatic choice.

will be interesting to see england respond to a good score, they should reply in kind for a safe draw but morale is so low these days you just wonder if they'll collapse a bit.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Double blow for India. 400 a must now.

 

[Aalay]

What a waste again. Absolutely no need of it and just gifting them wickets.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Binny dismissed as well. Nothing shot, tbh. I expected far more from Binny. A sub-350 score a genuine possibility now.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

india's tail very brittle again, it's been their downfall on a lot of away series.

if england are at 200/5 you know there's still a chance they could post 400.

 

[shravi]

india's tail very brittle again, it's been their downfall on a lot of away series.

if england are at 200/5 you know there's still a chance they could post 400.

this isn't bad from shami and bhuvi, to be fair. hopefully they can get us to 400. at this stage, i don't feel that will be enough, but considering the post-lunch collapse, this is a decent comeback.