***Official England in India***

[Richard]

Bell has so far opened the batting in ODIs against ODI-standard teams 19 times. He was not-out chasing a nothing score on 1 of these occasions. On the other 18, he's been out for between 20 and 50 11 times.

11 out of 18. That's one hell of a lot. 4 of those 11 were scores of 46. Evidently being within a boundary of a half-century does him in.

 

[Richard]

Some turn for Harbhajan, interesting stuff. Both he and Swann should really relish this, I hope they can both bowl well.

 

[TT Boy]

Wheels have come off here and Fred looks clueless against Harbhajan.

 

[IndGunner]

Wheels have come off here and Fred looks clueless against Harbhajan.

Well then thats what Yuvraj is for

 

[Richard]

Back after that downtime, terrible batting from Pietersen. You've got 10 overs of part-time spinners and 2 seamers (Patel and Sharma) bowling poorly. Let Harbhajan Singh bowl. The pitch is turning, if he gets 10-33-0 that's fine, he's a quality bowler. That shot was such wastage.

And Yuvraj is looking very moderate indeed, Dhoni needs to get Sehwag on ASAP for mine. I can understand him not wanting to bring back a seamer until the Powerplay, the spinners need to bowl as much as possible in non-Powerplay stuff. But Yuvraj isn't good enough.

Excellent from Harbhajan.

 

[Richard]

Bloody hell Yuvraj is poor, why on Earth is he bowling? It's one thing to not have much variation, quite another to not even turn the ball on a pitch that offers a bit.

Sehwag would at least turn the ball, surely.

 

[gettingbetter]

Bopara taking first strike, interesting. Wonder how often if ever he's opened the batting before in any serious cricket.

I think he used to open with Cook in the under 19 World Cup.

Not sure if it is a good career move if Bopara tons up today. We all know how attached England are to one performance.

 

[superkingdave]

cant see Bopara tonning up tbh, be out soon...England to make 188ao

 

[Precambrian]

Bloody hell Yuvraj is poor, why on Earth is he bowling? It's one thing to not have much variation, quite another to not even turn the ball on a pitch that offers a bit.

Sehwag would at least turn the ball, surely.

Because only in the last game he took a 4 for 28. Including Fred and Kevin.

 

[Richard]

I think he used to open with Cook in the under 19 World Cup.

Indeed he did, that was the smack orthdox WC as well.

Not sure he's ever done it anywhere else though. Certainly never has for Essex that I've seen.

 

[Richard]

Because only in the last game he took a 4 for 28. Including Fred and Kevin.

Yeah, with straight balls that they missed.

 

[Richard]

Haha, say that and he turns one for the first time this game and that's Bopara stumped as well.

 

[gettingbetter]

cant see Bopara tonning up tbh, be out soon...England to make 188ao

I hope he does and he doesn't. If he does, he has pencilled himself in to open for a few more games/series. Even though he retains himself in the side (I think he should), he is batting out of position.

 

[IndGunner]

Haha, say that and he turns one for the first time this game and that's Bopara stumped as well.

Thats just ironic. eh.

 

[Richard]

I hope he does and he doesn't. If he does, he has pencilled himself in to open for a few more games/series. Even though he retains himself in the side (I think he should), he is batting out of position.

Don't worry, he hasn't.

 

[gettingbetter]

I say that and Bopara gets out. Highest score from an English opener probably since Cook (or was it Bell) tonned up against India in 2007. I know both tonned in that game.

 

[TT Boy]

Done like a kipper, fair nut from UV.

 

[Precambrian]

Haha, say that and he turns one for the first time this game and that's Bopara stumped as well.

Turning balls are his strike surprise deliveries.

 

[Richard]

I say that and Bopara gets out. Highest score from an English opener probably since Cook (or was it Bell) tonned up against India in 2007. I know both tonned in that game.

Yeah Cook was the opener, it was Bell at three.

Philip Mustard made 70 or 80-odd in NZ though.

Harbhajan should bowl straight through here and could concede less than 30 easily.

 

[wpdavid]

Don't worry, he hasn't.

Well, he probably has pencilled himself in the side as a opener for a while yet. Damned annoying that he got out though, and you can see us folding form something ridiculous here.

Looking at cricinfo, sounded like a great delivery from Yuvraj though.