Collectively we will never be able to overcome viciously turning wickets in India....they are tailored(with a massive assist from Mother Nature), for just the scenarios we and others constantly see. I'm not complaining, we have wickets that favour pace and seam of course.
This, in addition with the fact that most countries now deliberately 'make' a wicket that suits their own bowlers. If i remember correctly, the last tim ewer here, i think we beat them 4-0 ? Thats why i dont feel too down about this - to me, the real series is always against Oz and that is next winter.Think we should have a good team for their conditions.
I've been a bit disappointed with Cook this series, he's not played those marathon vigils we expect of him, and it's not as if he's facing a lethal new ball attack
I suspect he's mentally tired or distracted by his new baby back home
I've been a bit disappointed with Cook this series, he's not played those marathon vigils we expect of him, and it's not as if he's facing a lethal new ball attack
I suspect he's mentally tired or distracted by his new baby back home
It's his decision making as captain that worries me
How did we beat them in India last time? 2012/13? From what I recall there were big innings from cook and pietersen, and swann and panesar paired up well
How did we beat them in India last time? 2012/13? From what I recall there were big innings from cook and pietersen, and swann and panesar paired up well
How did we beat them in India last time? 2012/13? From what I recall there were big innings from cook and pietersen, and swann and panesar paired up well
How did we beat them in India last time? 2012/13? From what I recall there were big innings from cook and pietersen, and swann and panesar paired up well
Just answered your own question there mate
Yeah, but it surely took more than just that
Score lots of runs, two excellent spinners to take the wickets, it's not hard really and indeed it's what India have done to is this series
This scorecard from the 2nd Test shows this
Tons for Cook and KP, with Monty and Swann destroying their batting.
I read the other day that Ansari had 5 catches dropped off his bowling. That would have made his figures considerably better. Maybe we should have stuck with him a bit longer..
I read the other day that Ansari had 5 catches dropped off his bowling. That would have made his figures considerably better. Maybe we should have stuck with him a bit longer..
To be fair, 3 of those drops were by spectators in the lower tier
Collectively we will never be able to overcome viciously turning wickets in India....they are tailored(with a massive assist from Mother Nature), for just the scenarios we and others constantly see. I'm not complaining, we have wickets that favour pace and seam of course.
The fact is that we won there last time, as we had two top class spinners of our own, in Monty and Swanny.
This time we have very much 'brought a knife to a gunfight', and as hard as they try Moen and Rashid, are never going to be high class spinners, capable of either controlling or even winning a test match.
The balance of the squad is also all over the place, with four players now virtually unselectable - Batty, Finn, Balance and Duckett.
Very dissapointing, but I expect this group of players to be very competitive in Aus next year.
The tour schedule was a farce too, with no practice matches at all during the series. How are squad/dropped players meant to keep their eye in or try and recover form without any proper cricket?
I'm saying Ballance or Duckett are the answer, but once dropped they had no chance of getting time in the middle and staking a claim for a Test spot.
Outside of the sub-con, a batting line-up of Cook,Hameed,Jennings,Root,Bairstow,Stokes,Buttler,Ali,Woakes is going to be very strong.
I'd be tempted to give Rashid a go in for Buttler. Having Ali at 7 Woakes at 8 and Rashid at 9 doesn't weaken the batting much at all. And I feel Adil deserves all go on home soil. Back him for a couple of games atlloild see how it goes.
Sounds like Cook is preparing to step down as skipper? Let Root have the Windies tour then the summer to get settled into the job for the Ashes next winter?
Sounds like Cook is preparing to step down as skipper? Let Root have the Windies tour then the summer to get settled into the job for the Ashes next winter?
Sounds like Cook is preparing to step down as skipper? Let Root have the Windies tour then the summer to get settled into the job for the Ashes next winter?
The way that Smith is going, you could have Root and Warner as captains - do they have a punch-up for the toss?
Today's 'Times' (not of India lol) ... Anderson is accusing Kohli of being a 'flat track bully', only dangerous at home and he'll get sorted out during the next Indian tour of England in two years time ..
alas, it's doubtful if Jimmy will still be around to put his theory to the test .. although you never know .. he might well convert to off-spin to lengthen his international career ((:>)
Today's 'Times' (not of India lol) ... Anderson is accusing Kohli of being a 'flat track bully', only dangerous at home and he'll get sorted out during the next Indian tour of England in two years time ..
alas, it's doubtful if Jimmy will still be around to put his theory to the test .. although you never know .. he might well convert to off-spin to lengthen his international career ((:>)
Not sure about that , Jimmy is now 34, so 36 when India come back , Jimmy is a natural athlete, and doesnt have to work hard to keep in shape - i wouldnt mind betting that might be his swansong series.
I also sort of agree with him re Kohli, In England in 2014, his Test average was 13.4 - not quite the stats for a top batter. He doesnt know how to play the laterally moving ball - like a lot of overseas players nowadays.
Today's 'Times' (not of India lol) ... Anderson is accusing Kohli of being a 'flat track bully', only dangerous at home and he'll get sorted out during the next Indian tour of England in two years time ..
alas, it's doubtful if Jimmy will still be around to put his theory to the test .. although you never know .. he might well convert to off-spin to lengthen his international career ((:>)
Not sure about that , Jimmy is now 34, so 36 when India come back , Jimmy is a natural athlete, and doesnt have to work hard to keep in shape - i wouldnt mind betting that might be his swansong series.
I also sort of agree with him re Kohli, In England in 2014, his Test average was 13.4 - not quite the stats for a top batter. He doesnt know how to play the laterally moving ball - like a lot of overseas players nowadays.
that was Anderson's point .. Kohli is a superb player of spin, though not too good in English conditions against pacey seamers
Sounds like Cook is preparing to step down as skipper? Let Root have the Windies tour then the summer to get settled into the job for the Ashes next winter?
The way that Smith is going, you could have Root and Warner as captains - do they have a punch-up for the toss?
Sounds like Cook is preparing to step down as skipper? Let Root have the Windies tour then the summer to get settled into the job for the Ashes next winter?
The way that Smith is going, you could have Root and Warner as captains - do they have a punch-up for the toss?
Today's 'Times' (not of India lol) ... Anderson is accusing Kohli of being a 'flat track bully', only dangerous at home and he'll get sorted out during the next Indian tour of England in two years time ..
alas, it's doubtful if Jimmy will still be around to put his theory to the test .. although you never know .. he might well convert to off-spin to lengthen his international career ((:>)
Not sure about that , Jimmy is now 34, so 36 when India come back , Jimmy is a natural athlete, and doesnt have to work hard to keep in shape - i wouldnt mind betting that might be his swansong series.
I also sort of agree with him re Kohli, In England in 2014, his Test average was 13.4 - not quite the stats for a top batter. He doesnt know how to play the laterally moving ball - like a lot of overseas players nowadays.
that was Anderson's point .. Kohli is a superb player of spin, though not too good in English conditions against pacey seamers
Kohli struggled last time in England
But he's almost certainly a better player now, so it's too early to assume he'll struggle again.
Can anyone tell me why the players of both sides are wearing black arm bands today? Thanks.
Cricketers from India and England teams in all likelihood will wear black armbands during the fifth Test in Chennai as a mark of respect for former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, who passed away last week.
“We have requested both England and India teams to wear black armbands as a mark of respect for the departed soul of our former CM. Because of this tragedy, the TNCA has decided against having any kind of function or felicitation during the match,” a senior TNCA official told PTI today.
The cyclone Vardah that lashed the city last Monday had caused considerable damage to the property at Chepauk Stadium but TNCA has worked on warfooting to get the ground ready on time for Test match.
Comments
If i remember correctly, the last tim ewer here, i think we beat them 4-0 ?
Thats why i dont feel too down about this - to me, the real series is always against Oz and that is next winter.Think we should have a good team for their conditions.
I suspect he's mentally tired or distracted by his new baby back home
http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/11/cricket-fans-get-some-very-controversial-messages-broadcast-during-match-6315777/
This scorecard from the 2nd Test shows this
Tons for Cook and KP, with Monty and Swann destroying their batting.
This time we have very much 'brought a knife to a gunfight', and as hard as they try Moen and Rashid, are never going to be high class spinners, capable of either controlling or even winning a test match.
The balance of the squad is also all over the place, with four players now virtually unselectable - Batty, Finn, Balance and Duckett.
Very dissapointing, but I expect this group of players to be very competitive in Aus next year.
I'm saying Ballance or Duckett are the answer, but once dropped they had no chance of getting time in the middle and staking a claim for a Test spot.
alas, it's doubtful if Jimmy will still be around to put his theory to the test .. although you never know .. he might well convert to off-spin to lengthen his international career ((:>)
I also sort of agree with him re Kohli, In England in 2014, his Test average was 13.4 - not quite the stats for a top batter. He doesnt know how to play the laterally moving ball - like a lot of overseas players nowadays.
But he's almost certainly a better player now, so it's too early to assume he'll struggle again.
A couple of bits of news, Anderson out of the 5th Test. Broad should be back anyway
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/38321574
And Ballance appointed Yorkshire Captain in all forms. I guess they (and he) don't expect any England call ups next summer
Dawson is set to make his Test debut. He might keep it fairly tight, but it's hard to imagine him terrorising the Indian batsmen
Thanks.
“We have requested both England and India teams to wear black armbands as a mark of respect for the departed soul of our former CM. Because of this tragedy, the TNCA has decided against having any kind of function or felicitation during the match,” a senior TNCA official told PTI today.
The cyclone Vardah that lashed the city last Monday had caused considerable damage to the property at Chepauk Stadium but TNCA has worked on warfooting to get the ground ready on time for Test match.