*Official* Fourth Test at The Oval

[Uppercut]

Strauss chooses to bat.. strange.

 

[hazsa19]

Strauss wins the toss and bats. That seems like a rarity these days

 

[Uppercut]

Praveen injured, RP Singh in.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Must look like an absolute belter of a batting track then with weather around. Good to see Jimmy fit, shame about PK. India attack looks even weaker now if that is possible.

 

[Jayzamann]

KP, Bopara and Morgan head off to begin their best-of-seven Scrabble tournament for the day.

 

[Manee]

Hooray, more Sreesanth. Now, the series is 3-0 down so I'd expect him to probably get some wickets in the first innings before failing horrendously in the second, or is this to expect too much. I ask, why did the selectors pick Munaf in the squad if he wasn't to play if one gets injured and two others show horrendous form?

 

[centurymaker]

Hooray, more Sreesanth. Now, the series is 3-0 down so I'd expect him to probably get some wickets in the first innings before failing horrendously in the second, or is this to expect too much. I ask, why did the selectors pick Munaf in the squad if he wasn't to play if one gets injured and two others show horrendous form?

there wont be any 2nd innings

spot on.
"So, if you are an Indian fan and want to see them batting, you can come back on Day 3 and 4 to see them bat for two consecutive innings. I am an Indian fan and it pains." A lot of fans are in agony to find that PK is missing out. They reckon he has been one of India's better batsmen on tour. Ouch.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Hooray, more Sreesanth. Now, the series is 3-0 down so I'd expect him to probably get some wickets in the first innings before failing horrendously in the second, or is this to expect too much. I ask, why did the selectors pick Munaf in the squad if he wasn't to play if one gets injured and two others show horrendous form?

Bizarre, i'd have played him here instead of Sreesanth who looks very ordinary without the extra pace.

 

[Zinzan]

Strauss chooses to bat.. strange.

Is it really strange, I'd have thought it would be 60/40 to bat first even if it is overcast, doesn't the Oval pitch usually deteriorate quite a bit on days 4 & 5?

 

[centurymaker]

india can't take even 10 wickets now. praveen's a huge blow.

 

[Manee]

there wont be any 2nd innings

Of course, how silly of me.

 

[Manee]

Bizarre, i'd have played him here instead of Sreesanth who looks very ordinary without the extra pace.

In all honesty, the 'extra pace' was all hype. Sreesanth has never really bowled more than 140kph in Tests for a spell.

 

[Uppercut]

Is it really strange, I'd have thought it would be 60/40 to bat first even if it is overcast, doesn't the Oval pitch usually deteriorate quite a bit on days 4 & 5?

Mmm not sure. I tend to think of the Oval as an Australian-style pitch with good pace and bounce but not much movement, but with the occasional notable exception when the ground staff cook the books.

 

[Cevno]

FFS Sticking with Both Sreesanth and Raina!!

Though i guess Munaf wasn't a much better option than Sree. Praveen a big blow in a already depleted team.

 

[Manee]

What a ****ing piece of crap **** start from RP Singh.

 

[centurymaker]

are there never any proper sight-screens in england?
how b*** ****!!

noone should be allowed to sit there tbh

 

[Manee]

FFS Sticking with Both Sreesanth and Raina!!

Though i guess Munaf wasn't a much better option than Sree. Praveen a big blow in a already depleted team.

Munaf is a better option. It boggles the mind why he hasn't been picked.

 

[centurymaker]

india should've picked ohja, at least he's capable of kee;ping the runrate down.

put as much money as you want on england to score big because they will. safe bet.

 

[Jayzamann]

Paul: "Movement behind the bowler's arm? Why do the Stewards at the oval always let people move to their seats during the over - and what are people doing at the cricket, paying £50+ per ticket, and continually moving about?"

Seeing as this dude is sat at home posting, I'm assuming he isn't actually at the game. The way it goes downunder, at least, is that after the first few deliveries you start to make a beeline to the bar, keep your eye trained on the screens when waiting for frothy nectar and either stay for a chat or return to your seats for more chat, only stopping said chatting to applaud a shot or wicket. Rinse, repeat until 6pm.

Test cricket, <3

 

[Manee]

The people who select the squad and the people who select the playing XI need to both be sacked. This is abysmal that we have a guy opening the bowling bowling 125kph and not swinging or seaming the ball.