*Official* Fourth Test at The Oval

[flibbertyjibber]

Shame Swann's been found out in this series, isn't it?

Yeah, thought Indians could play spin?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Dhoni's inning will be interesting, will he slog that has given him the only two successful innings this series or will he be more circumspect. I say this because it will be almost madness to slog, but if he doesn't slog around, he gets in his shell and eventually gets out anyway.

That lost shot of the day might be a pointer. Slog-swept heave for four. Hmm.

IMHO he should play for the chap at the other end tho. As unlikely as saving the follow on seems, the rain might yet play a part and Rahul,as has been shown amply before, can play substantial innings.

 

[smash84]

Dravid WAG....the only sensible Indian batsman.........

Swann doing well here........it takes a special effort to do well against the indian line-up if you are a spinner and he has finally started to deliver

 

[smash84]

just looked at the scorecard and didn't expect this. The pitch looked decent to bat on didn't it? I hope England grab 15 wickets tomorrow and wrap up the series. This is getting painful to watch

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So much for the thought that India may bat well on this pitch as it is a belter. Looks totally different now to when we were batting. The difference in the sides is amazing considering the hype before the series.

 

[Riggins]

Do you think Ian Bell premeditates the lappy-sweepy shot he plays??


Edit - Just watching the highlights on channel 4, that ball that Stuart Braod bowled to Strauss. WTF!!!

 

[grecian]

Still, at least India have a strong tail......

 

[Howe_zat]

Do you think Ian Bell premeditates the lappy-sweepy shot he plays??


Edit - Just watching the highlights on channel 4, that ball that Stuart Braod bowled to Strauss. WTF!!!

Yeah, plays it all the time. Far from one of my favourite shots, a spinner can often see it coming, spears one in and he gets an lbw shout. I believe it's the shot from the infamous non-dismissal at the WC, that led to the 2.5m rule change.

 

[Jacknife]

Do you think Ian Bell premeditates the lappy-sweepy shot he plays??


Edit - Just watching the highlights on channel 4, that ball that Stuart Braod bowled to Strauss. WTF!!!

Yes, today broad was getting the ball to swing a huge amount after the ball pitched, he really did bowl some absolute jaffas today.

 

[Howe_zat]

Anyway, not sure why so many of us are assuming England victory from here. They've still got to take 15 wickets in 6, or more likely 5, sessions. I'd say that's about a one in three chance of a draw.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Anyway, not sure why so many of us are assuming England victory from here. They've still got to take 15 wickets in 6, or more likely 5, sessions. I'd say that's about a one in three chance of a draw.

The way India are showing such a lack of fight it may be all over by close tomorrow if we get a full day in. They don't want to be there as they know they are just getting hammered. It has been gutless by them since Broad's hat trick at TB knocked the stuffing out of them.

 

[AlwaysProteas]

On a lighter note, can't believe that Sreesanth stare with hands folded is not in Cricinfo's gallery. Anyone got a snapshot of that. Apart from his bat swirling against Andre Nel, this has got to be the most hillarious **** I've witnessed. Him just looking like a dissapointed headmaster in the middle of the pitch staring at the batsman.

 

[Howe_zat]

On a lighter note, can't believe that Sreesanth stare with hands folded is not in Cricinfo's gallery. Anyone got a snapshot of that. Apart from his bat swirling against Andre Nel, this has got to be the most hillarious **** I've witnessed. Him just looking like a dissapointed headmaster in the middle of the pitch staring at the batsman.

Not the best quality, but:

 

[AlwaysProteas]

Not the best quality, but:

Thanks!

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah, thought Indians could play spin?

Isn't he averaging like 50+? Not that England has needed him.

 

[AlwaysProteas]

Isn't he averaging like 50+? Not that England has needed him.

Before this test he was averaging 80.

 

[Howe_zat]

Come down to less than 50 already. If he can get 4 or 5 more wickets in this match it'll have just about rescued a bad series for him.

 

[AlwaysProteas]

I think this has been a terrible series for spinners in general. Swann has done relatively well as Harbhajan Singh averaged 143, Mishra averaged 93, and Raina averaged 76.

 

[silentstriker]

Doing badly in three and well does not mean your series is rescued.

It's a bit of a tangent since he hasn't been bowled as much as he hasn't been needed, but clearly one of the correct predictions about the series has been that India will generally end up playing him well, which they have.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

The fact he is the spinner with the lowest average and most wickets though says that Indians despite their prowess against the spinners haven't played him as well as the English players have the Indian spinners despite them always being labelled as poor players of spin.