*Official* - Road to India in England 2011

[Shri]

SS is actually optimistic about our chances?

And we tend to lose when he is interested in cricket.

 

[vcs]

People are definitiely overrating the Indian batting in English conditions

Obviously, Tendy is one of the greatest players ever and VVS is class but I wouldnt be so sure that Gambhir, Sehwag (has looked largely terrible since the Aussies started targetting him with the short ball and others started following suit), Dravid (years past his best) and random no. 6 will do all that well

He did very well against NZ (and even though they might be relatively weaker opponents, they played very well in that series) and in SA it wasn't the short ball that troubled him, just going for too many daft shots too soon was his undoing.

 

[Daemon]

I can already see Anderson pitching up a perfect away swinger and Sehwag moving his left foot 10cm and smashing it to the boundary. I'm worried about Dravid, Dhoni and the new no.6 batsmen more than the other three. Hope they come good.

 

[Jono]

And we tend to lose when he is interested in cricket.

So true

 

[Borges]

Don't think targetting Sehwag with short pitched bowling is a brilliant idea. England should know that; Flintoff, Harmison and co did just that and first cemented his place as an opener, did that again and lost a test match that they should have at least drawn.

Bowl anything to Sehwag - short pitched, full length, long hops outside the off stump - bowlers can always fancy their chances again him. He can get out to the short ball, just as easily as he can get out to any other ball. Bowling short to him isn't even a good defensive tactic IMHO; a full length backed up with movement is by far the best option.

 

[Spark]

Hmmm... ever since Mitch made the "we're going to bomb him with short pitched stuff" statements, every time we've played him we've banged it in short of a length. And since then he doesn't even have a fifty vs. us (small sample size, granted). Most (or all?) of those dismissals have been to balls short of a length.

 

[GotSpin]

LOL @ Got Spin trying as hard as possible to let us know he's a hardcore test fan.

Good stuff man.

Nah it's more of a criticism against the IPL actually.

Besides, I haven't complained about anything in a while

 

[Jono]

Reckon 20 of your last 30 posts have been bitching about T20, not just IPL for the record.

Anyway, that's fine, you don't like T20. Perfectly valid view. I don't think it's brilliant either, I just find it okay.

But **** me we get your point already.

 

[Bun]

You're wrong. IPL is great. Should take more time up on the calendar so I can watch 20/20 through illegal streams because they don't show it on TV here.

Why so bitter?

 

[GotSpin]

Reckon 20 of your last 30 posts have been bitching about T20, not just IPL for the record.

Anyway, that's fine, you don't like T20. Perfectly valid view. I don't think it's brilliant either, I just find it okay.

But **** me we get your point already.

Yeah I meant 20/20 overall tbh

I'm flattered that you've read my last thirty posts though

 

[Bun]

Nah it's more of a criticism against the IPL actually.

Besides, I haven't complained about anything in a while

go to utube n bitch there then instead of derailing unrelated thrds. ****

 

[Jono]

Wtf Bun? Calm down.

 

[GotSpin]

How was this unrelated? Before it was mentioned that Sehwag might miss the series because he's having an operation after the IPL is finished

 

[vcs]

Hmmm... ever since Mitch made the "we're going to bomb him with short pitched stuff" statements, every time we've played him we've banged it in short of a length. And since then he doesn't even have a fifty vs. us (small sample size, granted). Most (or all?) of those dismissals have been to balls short of a length.

Yeah, Hilfenhaus executed it very well to him (and Watson in the WC). Still, small sample size as you say.

 

[Bun]

yeah inability to play the shorter stuff seems to be a weak allegation against someome who avgs nearly 60 in australia. He has had his troubles of late against them but as some said tis a small sample

 

[Teja.]

The problem is not his inability to play the short ball, The problem is his burning need to try to to hit every short ball - regardless of pitch and it being well-directed - out of the park.

 

[Spark]

Yeah, Hilfenhaus executed it very well to him (and Watson in the WC). Still, small sample size as you say.

Mm. I don't really think it's so much to do with any weakness against the short ball - his record in Eng/Aus would suggest otherwise - it's more to do with the fact that for once, our bowlers actually had a good, solid plan and executed it. And what Teja mentioned, his shot "selection" (if "hit it for four!" counts as selection) is not the greatest against the short stuff.

 

[Jono]

yeah inability to play the shorter stuff seems to be a weak allegation against someome who avgs nearly 60 in australia. He has had his troubles of late against them but as some said tis a small sample

Haha to be fair you were suggesting the same allegations against Kallis after two IPL matches.

 

[Blaze 18]

Tag it onto the end of the Swann bet and you have a deal?

Deal.

 

[Cevno]

I can already see Anderson pitching up a perfect away swinger and Sehwag moving his left foot 10cm and smashing it to the boundary. I'm worried about Dravid, Dhoni and the new no.6 batsmen more than the other three. Hope they come good.

If Dravid is going to come good somewhere ,it has to be England.

Has a very good record there.

And presuming the NO.6 will be Pujara ,i think he will be fine. Did Pretty well with India A there last year.
And Dhoni did very well there last time round and saved our asses .Also did decently well in SA.