*Official* Third Test at Edgbaston

[Furball]

A four man pace attack only really makes sense if the WACA pitch frok the winter has somehow found itself in Birmingham.

 

[marc71178]

Looking forward to this one a lot, great to see test cricket back at Edgbaston after it's one year absence. Does anyone know when they send the tickets out?

Mine have arrived.

 

[Uppercut]

Dunno what you mean...

Seriously, I don't think there's any way Swann won't play if he's fit, but he's not been at his best for some time now.

I don't think his performance level has dropped too much, with the exception of the test just played. He's been up against pretty good players of spin and the pitches haven't suited him at all so he hasn't been as effective as usual. But he still tears it up when conditions suit, as Adelaide and Cardiff showed.

 

[Spark]

He was decent at Lord's on an entirely unhelpful wicket. Tight and questioning which is basically what England would have asked for.

 

[nsniks]

Harbhajan to miss 3rd test.

India in England 2011: Harbhajan Singh to miss Edgbaston Test | Cricket News | England v India 2011 | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[superkingdave]

Harbhajan to miss 3rd test.

India in England 2011: Harbhajan Singh to miss Edgbaston Test | Cricket News | England v India 2011 | ESPN Cricinfo

Interesting news, an enforced change that some on here would have liked to make anyway. Has implications on India's tail though and will they go 4 seamers or play Mishra?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So Mishra to play unless Sehwag is fit enough to take the spinners role with Raina/Yuvraj to keep the over rate up enough. Could play 4 seamers and 2 part time spinners and if Zaheer breaks down you still have 3 seamers anyway. Big gamble but to be honest India need to try something or they will just get mullered again.

 

[Howe_zat]

Pretty sure Gambhir will come back, there were rumours he was fit enough to play the second Test anyway.

 

[Xuhaib]

Dhoni blames the loss on cramped schedule - Rediff Sports

interestingly no mention of the million IPL games they played right after the WC,comes across as a pretty lame excuse since half the side missed the Windies series while the best performing batsman and bowler were present in both the series.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yeah Gambhir and Sehwag to open for sure.

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Rania/Yuvraj
Dhoni
PK
Zaheer
Ishant
Sreesanth/Mishra

 

[Cevno]

Atleast Mishra will be a attacking option unlike Harbhajan.

 

[centurymaker]

Atleast Mishra will be a attacking option unlike Harbhajan.

if he could somehow put on some muscle and bowl 5 kms quicker, he'd be much more threatening.

 

[Jarquis]

Didn't Mishra get absolutely belted by Somerset and bowl 15 no balls?
Fully expect him to take a bagful.. but India are reeling.

 

[Uppercut]

Well Dhoni evidently already thinks Raina and Yuvraj are better bowlers than Harbhajan so he doesn't really have anything to lose by trying out Mishra.

 

[Cevno]

The immediate plus of having a Leg Spinner in the team is that the tailenders play them worse than Off spinners.
India have had the England batting in trouble couple of times atleast in this series, and if Mishra could provide the breakthrough there it could be crucial as Harbhajan wasn't looking likely too.

Now only if ZAK and Sehwag are confirmed fit.

 

[Cevno]

Well Dhoni evidently already thinks Raina and Yuvraj are better bowlers than Harbhajan so he doesn't really have anything to lose by trying out Mishra.

Don't know whether Sehwag will bowl or not(Even if he plays) but he is better than both Raina and Yuvraj in tests.

Btw, how is the Edgbaston pitch usually?

 

[Howe_zat]

Btw, how is the Edgbaston pitch usually?

Has been a bit of a jack of all trades. Not as pace-friendly as Trent Bridge, not as batsman-friendly as Lord's, not as spin-friendly as Old Trafford. Past records may not offer much either as it's been redeveloped over the last year or so.

 

[Cevno]

Thanks. How's the bounce and Pace?

Raina is almost a complete write off on a quick,seaming and bouncy track. Will do better on a Lords type wicket though.

 

[wpdavid]

A repeat of this track would do nicely, not that we appreciated it at the time.

3rd Test: England v West Indies at Birmingham, Jul 6-8, 1995 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[smash84]

Dhoni blames the loss on cramped schedule - Rediff Sports

interestingly no mention of the million IPL games they played right after the WC,comes across as a pretty lame excuse since half the side missed the Windies series while the best performing batsman and bowler were present in both the series.

Dhoni should have come up with a better excuse. In fact should not have come up with any at all