*Official* - Road to India in England 2011

[hang on]

It's purely based on how I actually see them as bowlers than merit really. I know Zaheer and Jimmy are statistically right up there with the very best right now, but I can't rate them when I watch them play.

If it doesn't swing they're both so meh IMO.

the thing is that they can get reverse swing too. and so this means that they get swing for a decent chunk of the innings.

 

[Spark]

they should definitely have got a significant lead in the second test. and also the first test, actually, since they were sitting pretty at one stage with only 4 or 5 wickets down for something like 350 but then collapsed with johnson mysteriously finding his johnson.

AWTA. Remember commenting on what a neat surprise and, frankly, what a total gift it was that we had a 23 run lead when India were 4 down and 75 behind with Tendulkar not looking like getting out any time that week (his mode of dismissal was particularly amusing though).

A gift we proceeded to squander magnificently with yet another truly **** batting display and associated collapse.

 

[smash84]

Quality post, agreed with basically all of it if I had to put my chips on the table somewhere. Although I would suggest the English seam bowling is further above the Indian, and likewise the Indian middle order is further above the English, than you state.

This

 

[hang on]

thanks, spark.

 

[vcs]

It's purely based on how I actually see them as bowlers than merit really. I know Zaheer and Jimmy are statistically right up there with the very best right now, but I can't rate them when I watch them play.

If it doesn't swing they're both so meh IMO.

If you could put together the threat Jimmy offers with the new ball, and Zaheer's ability with the older one, you'd have one hell of a bowler IMO. Still would take Zaheer overall due to the fact that he has worked out how to bowl on these tracks. Did a great job in this recent WC.

 

[Spark]

Anderson's reversing spell in Sydney was outstanding tbf. Zaheer has the pedigree though with the old ball and is probably the better bowler since he does his hard yards in much less conducive conditions as you say.

 

[vcs]

Maybe we also have to take into account the ball that will be used there.. I think England use the Duke ball, Australia have the Kookaburra and India use the SG ball with a more pronounced seam right? Need to see how the Indian bowlers adapt to that change.

 

[Shri]

India to win one game comfortably and another from an impossible situation with Laxman tonning up, in this series. 2-0 or 2-1 our way is my guess with both teams looking even at the end of the series.

 

[hang on]

Anderson's reversing spell in Sydney was outstanding tbf. Zaheer has the pedigree though with the old ball and is probably the better bowler since he does his hard yards in much less conducive conditions as you say.

he seems to specialize against lefties and hence could prove to be lethal for the english openers. certainly has the wood on biff.

 

[Spark]

Strauss may be worried. Fine player and in form but is questionable against high quality left armers (who aren't Mitch Johnson)

 

[Blaze 18]

Er what? I realize and empathize with your frustration in the context of this debate but it's equally one-eyed to use one example of an unfair decision against a tail-ender without acknowledging that our 50-averaging opener was unfairly given out.

Not to mention Ishant Sharma being given out wrongly. It's absurd that people tend to focus on Ojha's decision that India got in their favour, whilst ignoring the shockers Gautham Gambhir and Ishant Sharma got.

I don't agree with Bun in the slightest FTR. People who think India (or anyone) will dominate the current English side in England are kidding themselves, really. Neither team will dominate.

 

[Spark]

Not to mention Ishant Sharma being given out wrongly. It's absurd that people tend to focus on Ojha's decision that India got in their favour, whilst ignoring the shockers Gautham Gambhir and Ishant Sharma got.

I don't agree with Bun in the slightest FTR. People who think India (or anyone) will dominate the current English side in England are kidding themselves, really. Neither team will dominate.

Fair enough but it was not meant to be a whinge about a bad call, merely a demonstration of how thin the line between a win and a loss was in that test.

 

[Bun]

Test rankings

India - 1 - 128 points
England - 3 - 115 points

Batting rankings

1. Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
4. Trott - Eng
5. Cook - Eng
6. Sehwag - Ind
9. Laxman - Ind
16. Gambhir - Ind


Bowlers

2. Swann
3. Anderson
5. Zaheer
7. Harbhajan

Interesting.....

 

[Bun]

Man vs Man imho

Strauss < Sehwag
Cook => Gambhir

Trott > Dravid

Sachin Tendulkar >>>> KP

Laxman >>> Bell

6th Indian bat vs 6th Eng bat (????)
Although Pujara > Morgan

Dhoni = Prior

Harby <=Swann (will be negated though due to Ind ability to play spin)

Zak = Anderson

Ishant = Broad

Sreesanth > Tremlett

 

[superkingdave]

India have 3 top ten batsmen and 2 top ten bowlers
England have 2 top ten batsmen and 3 top ten bowlers

 

[shankar]

Fair enough but it was not meant to be a whinge about a bad call, merely a demonstration of how thin the line between a win and a loss was in that test.

It was pretty close but Laxman not being able to bat in the first innings also needs to be remembered.

 

[Teja.]

Disagree with Bun's ratings. IMO,

Broad>>>>>Ishant

Tremlett>>Sreesanth

Gambhir>Cook

 

[Jono]

Man to man ratings rarely gives a proper reflection anyway.

 

[Bun]

Disagree with Bun's ratings. IMO,

Broad>>>>>Ishant

Tremlett>>Sreesanth

Gambhir>Cook

DWTA,

Broad is comparable to Ishant. Not so better than him imho.

Tremlett being '>>>>>' than Sreesanth is not true. He is not even played a full series.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Tremlett's a far better test bowler than Sreesanth. More accurate plus steeper bounce. There's really no argument. Tremlett outbowled him hands down 4 years ago and is much improved since. Sree's at best plateaued

I doubt many would take Sharma over Broad either.