Are England The Real Deal?

[PhoenixFire]

Trouble is the ATG India batting has Sehwag and Laxman who have both got averages in the 30's against England so we don't fear them and with Ghambir + the 6th bat who have never played in England before that means a lot depends on Tendulkar and Dravid who both have excellent records here (both average over 60) but are getting on in years.

Not so fearsome a line up now is it.

You don't fear Sehwag? No offence but what ****ing planet are you on? He's the most dangerous player in world cricket and could potentially take us to the cleaners..

 

[flibbertyjibber]

You don't fear Sehwag? No offence but what ****ing planet are you on? He's the most dangerous player in world cricket and could potentially take us to the cleaners..

It was tongue in cheek to all those Indian fans who are downplaying various members of our side. If people can't see that they are on a ****ing different planet or just totally gormless.

 

[centurymaker]

Trouble is the ATG India batting has Sehwag and Laxman who have both got averages in the 30's against England so we don't fear them and with Ghambir + the 6th bat who have never played in England before that means a lot depends on Tendulkar and Dravid who both have excellent records here (both average over 60) but are getting on in years.

Not so fearsome a line up now is it.

If Dilshan can score 193, then I can't see why Sehwag can't.

 

[centurymaker]

I'd take both too. Actually, if one were to pick a composite Anglo-Indian test XI who'd be in it?

I'd go for:

Sehwag
Cook*
Trott
Tendulkar
Laxman
Bell
Prior+
Swann
Zaheer
Tremlett
Anderson

No Pietersen or Dravid.

Looks about right.
I'd go for Dhoni though.

 

[Howe_zat]

I'd take both too. Actually, if one were to pick a composite Anglo-Indian test XI who'd be in it?

I'd go for:

Sehwag
Cook*
Trott
Tendulkar
Laxman
Bell
Prior+
Swann
Zaheer
Tremlett
Anderson

No Pietersen or Dravid.

Agreed. Only real debateable decision would be Dhoni v Prior, under the basis of both being good batsmen but Dhoni possesing a brain.

 

[Dissector]

I would definitely have Dhoni as the wicketkeeper/captain. Would perhaps have Gambhir over Cook too.

 

[Spark]

No way would I have Gambhir over Cook, I think only Tendulkar himself can make a case for being picked over Cook atm as a batsman. The guy is in ridiculous form. Last knocks are something like 103, 96, 110, 180-something and 80-something.

 

[MW1304]

If Dilshan can score 193, then I can't see why Sehwag can't.

*ahem*Tamim*ahem*

Seriously worried about Sehwag this tour. If Iqbal can do what he did to our attack, then Sehwag can do it x100.

 

[Howe_zat]

*ahem*Tamim*ahem*

Seriously worried about Sehwag this tour. If Iqbal can do what he did to our attack, then Sehwag can do it x100.

Would suggest that scoring back-to-back 10000s may be a touch beyond him.

 

[GIMH]

I think Dhoni and Prior are interchangeable. Both high-quality bats and decent glovemen.

After that, Brumby has nailed it. No argument that tries to exclude Cook from the side is based on any kind of logic.

 

[Dissector]

Sure he has been great in the last 7 months but he was pretty woeful last summer and franly this SL attack in English conditions is rubbish. I would like to see how he does against Zaheer on a seaming track or against the Saffies next time round. Over the last few years I think he and Gambhir have performed similarly.

 

[Howe_zat]

Sure he has been great in the last 7 months but he was pretty woeful last summer and franly this SL attack in English conditions is rubbish. I would like to see how he does against Zaheer on a seaming track or against the Saffies next time round. Over the last few years I think he and Gambhir have performed similarly.

It's amazing how people forget. At the Oval last year, a horribly out-of-nick Cook was batting in bowlers' conditions against probably the best attack in the world at that time. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't really that solid, but he went and scored a hundred anyway.

Same thing in Durban '09. He literally refused to score on the off side until he'd made three figures.

Cook probably would have dug out of Shawshank in 30 years with a plastic spoon.

Well all of a sudden he's been given a rock hammer, and look what happens.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I'd argue that Cook would be the choice for a series in England and Ghambir in India. Not a bad compromise.

Will be fascinating to see how Ghambir does against the moving ball and how he deals with the short stuff on this tour.

 

[vcs]

I'd take both too. Actually, if one were to pick a composite Anglo-Indian test XI who'd be in it?

I'd go for:

Sehwag
Cook*
Trott
Tendulkar
Laxman
Bell
Prior+
Swann
Zaheer
Tremlett
Anderson

No Pietersen or Dravid.

That's a worthy team. Would have Dhoni, can't blame Indian fans for being a bit biased in his case.

 

[Howe_zat]

Got a lot of respect for Dhoni. Seems to have a great habit of pulling through when his team needs it.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wouldn't have a problem if Dhoni was picked ahead of Prior in a combined team, both decent glovemen and destructive batsman. Not a lot to choose between them really.

 

[Jono]

Prior having an uglier mug tilts it in Dhoni's favour for me.

 

[benchmark00]

Dhoni definitely over Prior.

Prior still has huge technical deficiencies with the bat. Could drive a truck through that gate.

 

[Spark]

Got a lot of respect for Dhoni. Seems to have a great habit of pulling through when his team needs it.

Not in Tests (I'd pick him and make him captain though)

 

[Howe_zat]

Dhoni definitely over Prior.

Prior still has huge technical deficiencies with the bat. Could drive a truck through that gate.

True, but it's hard to get around his three centuries to Dhoni's none in the last year. Been much more prolific lately, which is why I'd have him in.