India in England Jun-Sept 2014

[Anku31]

Don't know why they are playing a 18-a-side match (11 bowling 11 batting).India should have opted for a proper FC match and should have tested a combination for upcoming tests.Happy to have a 5-test series after more than a decade but sad for tour games being non-FC and a bit of non-serious perhaps.Miss those days when touring teams would play 2-3 proper 4-day FC games against county sides,followed by a 5 Test series.

 

[abhi_jacko]

That's true. Not too long ago, the touring teams had to face off against the best of the FC teams who tried their best to dent the tourists' confidence. Now its the exact opposite. The opposition is poor, and more often than not, even the conditions are tampered to not resemble what the touring team will actually face in the main series.

I guess the idea is to not give the tourists proper practice so they go in unprepared.

 

[Anku31]

That's true. Not too long ago, the touring teams had to face off against the best of the FC teams who tried their best to dent the tourists' confidence. Now its the exact opposite. The opposition is poor, and more often than not, even the conditions are tampered to not resemble what the touring team will actually face in the main series.

I guess the idea is to not give the tourists proper practice so they go in unprepared.

Yes absolutely.Currently they are playing against a potentially Leicestershire 'A' team which doesn't seem to have any good quality pace bowlers except Anthony Ireland.Other bowlers are unknown names never heard of who perhaps haven't even made their FC debuts yet.I don't know what purpose does it serve.It should have been a proper 4-day FC match against a full-strength county XI.

 

[Ohm]

God! Dhawan was retired hurt... I don't want to see the replay 2011 now.

 

[Anku31]

God! Dhawan was retired hurt... I don't want to see the replay 2011 now.

Nothing specified in the cricinfo commentary.Considering others (Gambhir,Pujara) are "retired out",I hope "retired hurt" Dhawan doesn't mean a big injury on the first match day of the tour.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

First of all, I am not an India(or Dhoni or Kohli) fanboy, but I find this talk of India having no chance ridiculous. Agreed, India have been battered in previous 5-6 overseas tours, but we also need to keep in mind England are in the worst possible condition. Their best batsman has been fired, two of the most important players are in poor form, their coach is off to an embarrassing comeback and they have been battered by Sri Lanka, of all teams(no offence to the Sri Lankan fans here). So atm, India just have the upper hand, but all of us know what a series against India can do for out-of-form players.

 

[abhi_jacko]

LOL there is no way India have the upper hand.

Maybe batting wise the teams are matched. But the English side still has the most crucial ingredient for winning a test match/series - bowlers who can take 20 wickets consistently. India on the other hand has an inexperienced attack on one side, and mediocre legends like Ishant on the other. So apprehension on part of the Indian fans is totally valid

 

[Anku31]

333/4 (with 2 retired outs) at stumps,Day 1.Excellent on a tour game against a county side.Not bad against a 2nd XI weak county team.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

LOL there is no way India have the upper hand.

Maybe batting wise the teams are matched. But the English side still has the most crucial ingredient for winning a test match/series - bowlers who can take 20 wickets consistently. India on the other hand has an inexperienced attack on one side, and mediocre legends like Ishant on the other. So apprehension on part of the Indian fans is totally valid

Batting wise, India is better than England imho, not because India has 7 world-class batsmen, but because England are in poor form. England is better in the bowling department, but the lack of a proper spinner might hurt them. And I expect Bhuvi to take up the role PK played in the 2011 tour. I am not saying that India will win this series, all I am saying is that India wont get steamrolled/whitewashed by England.

 

[used2bcool]

Our bowling just doesn't appear to have any teeth. If I'm England, I'd be looking to produce flattish pitches where only my bowlers have a chance to take 20 wickets (I just don't see India nicking 20 unless England have a massive meltdown or they prepare a super-juicy pitch where no one reaches 200). That way, the best India can do is knock out a couple of draws, but when the English bowling does fire (five tests is a long time to go without firing at all), they'll be in the best position to win a match.

 

[Aalay]

I read the report on the BCCI website and it says India have declared. I think it is a bit early to declare. I wanted Dhoni, Jadeja and Binny all to have a decent batting out there. They could have batted till at least lunch tomorrow. Now let's see how our bowlers perform tomorrow.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I think it makes good sense to declare overnight. Now the bowlers can start the day tomorrow, and get use of the morning conditions

The rest of the batting can be tested in the second innings, or in the next warmup

 

[SaiSrini]

I read the report on the BCCI website and it says India have declared. I think it is a bit early to declare. I wanted Dhoni, Jadeja and Binny all to have a decent batting out there. They could have batted till at least lunch tomorrow. Now let's see how our bowlers perform tomorrow.

Cricinfo says there was a rule that the team batting should declare at the end of the day.

Yet, it was the Indians who caused more pain for a half-strength Leicestershire side, with three of their batsmen recording elegant and effortless half-centuries. Only two batsmen were officially out as three players opted to retire before the visitors, as per the rules, declared at the end of the day

Leicestershire v Indians, Leicester, 1st day Report : Top order leads Indians' solid effort | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

I think it was good batting practice for the batsmen in the conditions. Gambhir has made a case here to be included in the XI for the first test, and so has Dhawan. Vijay is the guy who must be under pressure. Let's hope Dhawan's injury is not serious. Dhawan improved his overseas game with exposure, when he cracked that hundred and 90+ in NZ. Very important that the bowlers find rhythm tomorrow.

I have a feeling England might dish out flat pitches to test our bowlers. It might play into our batsmen's hands, but flat pitch is where India is at its most vulnerable.

 

[SpitfiresKent]

Yeah I wouldn't read too much into this warm up match. It reminds me of when England played weaken sides in their preparation for the Ashes series down under.

I think India have a very good chance of winning this series because as many have said we're currently going through a bad patch and India have some quality batsman. Apart from Kumar though I can't see where your wickets are going to come from though (unless we gift them to you )

 

[Lebanna]

Yeah I wouldn't read too much into this warm up match. It reminds me of when England played weaken sides in their preparation for the Ashes series down under.

I think India have a very good chance of winning this series because as many have said we're currently going through a bad patch and India have some quality batsman. Apart from Kumar though I can't see where your wickets are going to come from though (unless we gift them to you )

In the context of the Warm-Up match, its worth noting that a) Leicestershire 1st XI haven't won a FC match since 2012 and b) this is their 2nd XI.

Agree with you Spitfires, India only need to take about 10-12 wickets, we are highly likely to gift them several along the way to help them to 20.