***Official England in India***

[Richard]

Can be slowed down as his placement isn't too good seems to waste a lot of really good timed shots by hitting them straight at the fielders.

(One of the) classic mark(s) of a good Test player who can't convert to ODIs. Vaughan, Slater, Jayawardene, Younis Khan, etc.

Bell's a bit better than the above mind, but only a bit.

 

[Precambrian]

All very easy to say. Hitting the ball around against accurate bowling when new to the crease is not far nigh impossible.

Fact is Zaheer and Munaf have bowled far better than England did early on, not only getting a bit of movement but also hitting the right lengths.

Had England thrown the bat they'd probably be 50-5 or so now.

That's 34-3 now anyway.

Haha, your last 2 lines contradict.

At a loss to understand English tactic. If they are waiting to be served half-volleys, they are not going to get them.

 

[Richard]

If SS sees that, you are sooo dead.

Seriously though, Patel's action is more McGrath-esque than anyone I've seen.

That Aavishkar Salvi chap didn't stick around long enough for me to see him.

 

[Richard]

Haha, your last 2 lines contradict.

The last was an addition as the wicket fell.

At a loss to understand English tactic. If they are waiting to be served half-volleys, they are not going to get them.

Basically, the game was lost before they went to bat. Their only hope was to spend a few overs getting set then throw the bat. The bowling was good enough to stop that happening, so the hope was next to none.

Flintoff lbw to one pitching outside leg.

 

[chalky]

Way outside leg stump Academic to the result anyway

 

[Precambrian]

(One of the) classic mark(s) of a good Test player who can't convert to ODIs. Vaughan, Slater, Jayawardene, Younis Khan, etc.

Bell's a bit better than the above mind, but only a bit.

Younis Khan?

Zaheer gets Flintoff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 98 certainly under duress here.

Dammit, that pitched outside leg, you stupid umpire..... (Thank god he's not Indian, otherwise lots of post-colonial things would have arisen).

My fav 2 gone No point in watching the match now.

 

[Prince EWS]

All very easy to say. Hitting the ball around against accurate bowling when new to the crease is not far nigh impossible.

Fact is Zaheer and Munaf have bowled far better than England did early on, not only getting a bit of movement but also hitting the right lengths.

Had England thrown the bat they'd probably be 50-5 or so now.

That's 34-3 now anyway.

Yeah, even if England get absolutely rolled for 90 odd, I don't think you can be too critical of the batsmen. Chasing 387 with a batting lineup completely unaccustomed to the pitches is always going to be nigh on impossible - when you compound that by losing early wickets, it's all over.

Whatever the English batsmen do from here on, the game was decided by a combination of England's terrible bowling and Yuvraj's awesome hitting. The pitch is flat but it is by no means a pitch that should see 387 scored in 50 overs.

 

[Richard]

Younis Khan?

Yeah Younis Khan's a terrible ODI batsman, though his last 7 or 8 innings' have been stupendously good.

Been dreadful for most of his career though.

 

[sirdj]

Was it Saheba or Tiffin??

 

[Prince EWS]

Seriously though, Patel's action is more McGrath-esque than anyone I've seen.

Yeah, I'd agree with that, but he's a long way from deserving the nickname. Especially in SS's eyes.

 

[Richard]

Was it Saheba or Tiffin??

Tiffin. Not the 1st (or the 50th) time he's given a poor decision in international cricket. He's just not a very good Umpire and I can't believe there aren't better out there.

RPS on.

 

[Precambrian]

Yeah Younis Khan's a terrible ODI batsman, though his last 7 or 8 innings' have been stupendously good.

Been dreadful for most of his career though.

What if he is a late bloomer in ODIs? Tendulkar made his 1st 100 only in his 78th match.

 

[chalky]

The commentators are saying the pitch is slowing down as expected suggests it was a strange decision by Pietersen to bowl 1st - I missed the start of game so don't know if there was a good reason for it.

 

[Precambrian]

Yeah, I'd agree with that, but he's a long way from deserving the nickname. Especially in SS's eyes.

He's done atleast half the work. The batting part and the bowling action part.

 

[Richard]

What if he is a late bloomer in ODIs? Tendulkar made his 1st 100 only in his 78th match.

He'd have been about 19 then though, Tendulkar was just rather too young when first picked.

Younis is 30 now.

Well, apparently he is anyway - you never know for sure with Pakistanis.

 

[Precambrian]

The commentators are saying the pitch is slowing down as expected suggests it was a strange decision by Pietersen to bowl 1st - I missed the start of game so don't know if there was a good reason for it.

The ball was swinging atleast in the first 5 overs. Even I'd be captain I'd have gone for it. Looked a fair punt then.

 

[Richard]

The commentators are saying the pitch is slowing down as expected suggests it was a strange decision by Pietersen to bowl 1st - I missed the start of game so don't know if there was a good reason for it.

Oh hell yeah there was, it started at 9AM, both captains said they'd have fielded first, as the ball was expected to do a fair bit.

Not sure whether the pitch actually is slowing down or the bowling's just better (if there's any of the former the latter certainly outdoes it) but I don't think it could really have been predicted.

 

[Jono]

Good stuff India Just going to help the confidence boost post-Border-Gavaskar win

 

[Richard]

He's done atleast half the work. The batting part and the bowling action part.

I seem to recall Munaf hitting a six on Test debut.

Munaf >>> McGrath as a batsman.

 

[Richard]

Borger-Gavaskar