India tour of England Aug-Sept 2021

[wasteyouryouth]

Important Test coming up. I think England should do well with the following lineup:

Haseeb
Burns
Malan
Root
Bairstow
O.Pope (is he fit?)
Butler
Moin
S.Curran
S.Mahmood (he could end up with a great debut)
J.Anderson

Harsh on O.Robinson but it's probably because I'm a little biased towards S.Curran. If O.Pope isn't match fit then he would slot right in.

Coming to India, it's gonna be really interesting as Shardul will back in the reckoning and Ashwin will be gunning for a place too. From what I've read, it's gonna help seamers a lot more than spinners, so I'll be surprised if India opt for two spinners. I would like to play the following:

Rohit
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Ashwin
S.Thakur
M.Shami
J.Bumrah
M.Siraj

Nothing against Ishant and Jadeja - just feel Ashwin might come in handy on the 4th and 5th day (if the Test goes on till then lol) and Shardul will thrive in the conditions with the added bonus of being able to hold the bat.

But I feel India will remain unchanged and that is fair too.

If England go with that line up we go in with two bowlers, including one debutant. Good luck Jimmy.

 

[asprin]

If England go with that line up we go in with two bowlers, including one debutant. Good luck Jimmy.

I did not see that , yeh good luck Anderson

 

[Aislabie]

Haseeb
Burns
Malan
Root
Bairstow
Pope
Butler
Moin
Curran
Mahmood
Anderson

I see why you might want that as an Indian fan.

As a relative neutral, I'd suggest:

1. Rory Burns
2. cardboard cutout of Alastair Cook
3. Dawid Malan
4. Joe Root
5. Ollie Pope (if fit)
6. Jonny Bairstow
7. Moeen Ali
8. Craig Overton
9. Ollie Robinson
10. Saqib Mahmood
11. Jimmy Anderson

I'd even be tempted to open with Malan and bat Lawrence at three because Hameed looked so dreadfully out of his depth in his comeback Test - but he'll be given another go because of the paucity of options

 

[asprin]

I see why you might want that as an Indian fan.

lol, hard to believe I know, but I seriously didn't realize the I had weakened the bowline lineup by that margin. I guess S.Curran will have to make way for O.Robinson then. But would Butler be really dropped for Overton?

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I see why you might want that as an Indian fan.

As a relative neutral, I'd suggest:

1. Rory Burns
2. cardboard cutout of Alastair Cook
3. Dawid Malan
4. Joe Root
5. Ollie Pope (if fit)
6. Jonny Bairstow
7. Moeen Ali
8. Craig Overton
9. Ollie Robinson
10. Saqib Mahmood
11. Jimmy Anderson

I'd even be tempted to open with Malan and bat Lawrence at three because Hameed looked so dreadfully out of his depth in his comeback Test - but he'll be given another go because of the paucity of options

You really need to face up to reality that the only way Buttler will be dropped is when he chooses to take a break.

 

[Ed Smith]

Important Test coming up. I think England should do well with the following lineup:

Haseeb
Burns
Malan
Root
Bairstow
O.Pope (is he fit?)
Butler
Moin
S.Curran
S.Mahmood (he could end up with a great debut)
J.Anderson

Harsh on O.Robinson but it's probably because I'm a little biased towards S.Curran. If O.Pope isn't match fit then he would slot right in.

Coming to India, it's gonna be really interesting as Shardul will back in the reckoning and Ashwin will be gunning for a place too. From what I've read, it's gonna help seamers a lot more than spinners, so I'll be surprised if India opt for two spinners. I would like to play the following:

Rohit
Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Ashwin
S.Thakur
M.Shami
J.Bumrah
M.Siraj

Nothing against Ishant and Jadeja - just feel Ashwin might come in handy on the 4th and 5th day (if the Test goes on till then lol) and Shardul will thrive in the conditions with the added bonus of being able to hold the bat.

But I feel India will remain unchanged and that is fair too.

I'd agree with that England line up, but I'd put Robbinson in for Curran

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I see why you might want that as an Indian fan.

As a relative neutral, I'd suggest:

1. Rory Burns
2. cardboard cutout of Alastair Cook
3. Dawid Malan
4. Joe Root
5. Ollie Pope (if fit)
6. Jonny Bairstow
7. Moeen Ali
8. Craig Overton
9. Ollie Robinson
10. Saqib Mahmood
11. Jimmy Anderson

I'd even be tempted to open with Malan and bat Lawrence at three because Hameed looked so dreadfully out of his depth in his comeback Test - but he'll be given another go because of the paucity of options

1. Haseeb Hameed
2. Rory Burns
3. Dawid Malan
4. Joe Root
5. Jonny Bairstow
6. Jos Butler
7. Moeen Ali
8. Sam Curran
9. Ollie Robinson
10. Saqib Mahmood
11. James Anderson

Sibley is out so Hameed moves up the order and Malan comes in at 3. A forced change in the form of Saqib Mahmood in place of the injured Mark Wood. This looks to be lot more realistic.

 

[blockerdave]

I see why you might want that as an Indian fan.

As a relative neutral, I'd suggest:

1. Rory Burns
2. cardboard cutout of Alastair Cook
3. Dawid Malan
4. Joe Root
5. Ollie Pope (if fit)
6. Jonny Bairstow
7. Moeen Ali
8. Craig Overton
9. Ollie Robinson
10. Saqib Mahmood
11. Jimmy Anderson

I'd even be tempted to open with Malan and bat Lawrence at three because Hameed looked so dreadfully out of his depth in his comeback Test - but he'll be given another go because of the paucity of options

you suggest Dan Lawrence on the grounds that SOMEONE ELSE looks out of their depth?

That's like putting on a mini-skirt because the hot-pants are showing too much leg.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Finally the break is almost over. Bring on the next test. India will definitely go in unchanged unless there is an injury concern or the pitch is spin friendly in which case Ashwin will come in. The only question is, if Ashwin comes in, will it be for Jadeja whose batting has been really good? Ishant Sharma? Shami? I am sure no one is dropping Bumrah and Siraj.

 

[Aislabie]

You really need to face up to reality that the only way Buttler will be dropped is when he chooses to take a break.

On the one hand, yes - but on the other, he's quite explicitly said he needs a break. As his employer I'd take that on board, but this is the ECB so you're entirely right

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Caught the fourth innings of the last test while eating my tea. What a match that was.

 

[Aislabie]

you suggest Dan Lawrence on the grounds that SOMEONE ELSE looks out of their depth?

That's like putting on a mini-skirt because the hot-pants are showing too much leg.

Compared to Haseeb Hameed's comeback in which he essentially scored nine for three, I would say it's more akin to making sure that your drunk friend at least still has some pants on as they stagger home

 

[LiveLoveABD]

People are going on and on about England's batting but if you are to ask me, their entire team is in tatters. Their batting is dependent on one bloke and their bowling on one bloke. I think their support cast has enormous potential with the bat and if the openers can be of any worth, those middle/lower middle order lot can decimate and plunder the test match in a session's play.

I personally feel England are really lacking any sort of control with the ball. Anderson is threatening to pick wickets every over but when the overheads don't support the cause, he basically ensures that the tap doesn't open. He's keeping things accurate and in control which is basically a captain's dream. Almost all other England bowlers need overheads and even then they can produce the magic ball but lack consistency and patience. India won the second test in the first innings with the ball when there was no help or the least help for the bowlers but they kept themselves in the match and never 'opened the tap.'

The biggest thing I feel England is missing is Ben Stokes. I don't care what his average with bat or ball is and all that nonsense but he is a big moment cricketer. I think he seizes moments in games of cricket when things are in balance or England is under the hammer and generally someone takes the baton and runs with it. In my opinion, he's the best cricketer of his generation and the absolute definition of a match winner. No end of statistics can quantify his value and the worth he brings. Almost all the 50-50 moments so far have been won by India. They also have a bloke of the same qualities and the worrying thing for England is that he's yet to fire.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

The biggest thing I feel England is missing is Ben Stokes

Finally someone is actually talking in this thread!!!!! It was the exact thing that I was thinking but no one seemed to bring that up.

They also have a bloke of the same qualities and the worrying thing for England is that he's yet to fire.

Totally agreed!!!! England never seem to have valued him as much and that is why he isn't firing.

 

[AliB]

But I feel India will remain unchanged and that is fair too.

Curious to know, if that happens, after what duration will that happen?