***Official*** England in India

[Jono]

RIghto just finished watching the day's play on delay.

KP was magnificent, as was Monty. England have thoroughly outplayed India here, it has been impressive. KP's innings is dead set one of the best I have ever seen in India. So good it completely overshadowed Cook's brilliant knock as well.

That being said, India's spin bowling was so disgustingly short. Wtf was wrong with them? Pitch it up you dumb ****s.

Congrats to all English fans, so much respect for the way they've played here.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Congrats to all English fans, so much respect for the way they've played here.

Cheers, we are as amazed as you though. Don't think we expected this at all.

 

[Jono]

Was there mention in this thread of Kohli congratulating Cook on his ton rather than celebrating with the rest of his team when Cook was dismissed?

Kohli was so generous he even decided to give his wicket away to a full toss.

And people call him a ****, he's too nice a guy

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Fair play to him if he did that, I missed that as at that time in the morning it is kettle on and another coffee time when a wicket goes.

 

[Jono]

Yeah he did it and I was happy when I saw it. Went up to Cook and shook his hand whilst everyone else celebrated.

Reckon he's just a fierce competitor on the field and therefore him acknowledging an opposition player is good to see, if you're going to have white line fever gotta also acknowledge your opposition. Doesn't really correspond with his ****ty comments that England prepared greentops for India last year but at least that brought the lols.

Regarding this match, looking forward to our specialist batsman Harbhajan saving India tomorrow. I mean that has to be what he's in the team for, because surely he's not been selected to bowl.

 

[silentstriker]

Very impressive from England. Kumble would have destroyed on this pitch....


Well done to England. Maybe Dhoni will stop complaining about having to work too hard to win matches in India. It's Test cricket ffs, you're supposed to work hard.

Looks like all the tours to India and players becoming used to the subcontinent is beginning to pay off. Ten years ago, any visiting team would have been destroyed on this pitch. Well done all around.


And cook - Wafg. Been saying it since he debuted - the guys going to hold all the records.

 

[harsh.ag]

RIghto just finished watching the day's play on delay.

KP was magnificent, as was Monty. England have thoroughly outplayed India here, it has been impressive. KP's innings is dead set one of the best I have ever seen in India. So good it completely overshadowed Cook's brilliant knock as well.

That being said, India's spin bowling was so disgustingly short. Wtf was wrong with them? Pitch it up you dumb ****s.

Congrats to all English fans, so much respect for the way they've played here.

Yup. Well played here. Pietersen the magnificent was on display, so it made my day. Unfortunately, later, Tendulkar the fallen was on display too, so I would say it all evened out. Just wish Kohli had shown some rigor. And I think India should seriously consider if they ever want Bhajji to play tests again (I suddenly get a vision of me having to eat my words after the Turbanator demolishes England in the second innings for a thrilling finale, but even the dream me looks high on LSD there). And Ashwin and Ojha should really pitch it up more, good point. Ashwin especially seemed really frustrated and out of ideas. He has to be more patient.

 

[shankar]

In any system with accountability, Harbhajan's selection for this match and series would lead heads to roll. Struggles for ages in international cricket, gets dropped, goes to England and does nothing in county cricket, comes back to India and does nothing in domestic cricket - then gets picked.

 

[grecian]

In any system with accountability, Harbhajan's selection for this match and series would lead heads to roll. Struggles for ages in international cricket, gets dropped, goes to England and does nothing in county cricket, comes back to India and does nothing in domestic cricket - then gets picked.

yeah, it's a real head-shaker, three spinners is just silly especially when you've got back-up amongst the batters.

 

[Xuhaib]

yeah even if Bhajji picks 8-20 tommorow it does not change the fact that his selection was foolish and undeserving.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Regarding this match, looking forward to our specialist batsman Harbhajan saving India tomorrow. I mean that has to be what he's in the team for, because surely he's not been selected to bowl.

Know you're jestering, but there is a part of me that thinks India really are having a bob each way on Harbhajan.

Bowling was pretty merde, but he's a very decent test #9 and, given England's well established arseness against even quite moderate spin, if no seamers were beating the door down one can kinda see the thinking with the extra ballst that batting gives the order.

Not that I agree with it; would've gone with a leggie or an SLA bowler given the tourists' right-hand dominated top order.

 

[lockton2skipper]

get broad and samit patel out for ,well i'd try joe root and a decent quick finn or meaker and england can win this series. as for bhajji his selection was not as puzzling as englands non selection of panesar, those responsible should be sacked.

 

[grecian]

get broad and samit patel out for ,well i'd try joe root and a decent quick finn or meaker and england can win this series. as for bhajji his selection was not as puzzling as englands non selection of panesar, those responsible should be sacked.

Meaker decent? Anyway it was a bad decision to leave out Panesar but not sackable, hard to know why India have regressed so much against spin, a few years ago this attack wouldn't have troubled them.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Absence of Dravid and Laxman plus Sachin's ongoing cricketing senescence must have had some negative bearing on the collective spin-playing prowess.

 

[hendrix]

Are India looking at the possibility of a new-look spin attack for the next Test? Ashwin's bowling has come off worse, but neither of them look any good

I think if you look at how well Swann and Panesar are going, what India needs here are just some very good orthodox spin bowlers who are able to get drift and dip in the air as well as off the pitch. Ashwin's variations are nice but he usually beats a batsman off the pitch, not in the air, and dogged players like Cook are able to see him off by being very assertive in either going forward or back. A bit of dip would make things much more difficult.

I liked the look of Ramesh Powar when I saw him in the IPL a few years ago, but I'm sure there are many others floating around domestic cricket.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

wanted to ask about P Chawla, not sure how he's doing in the circuit recently

or Mishra who got a game for Haryana against England and finished up with 4/67 just checked

 

[Neil Pickup]

Can we please stop talking like this game is done and dusted already?

 

[GIMH]

As long as the players aren't doing it.

 

[Cabinet96]

wanted to ask about P Chawla, not sure how he's doing in the circuit recently

or Mishra who got a game for Haryana against England and finished up with 4/67 just checked

He hid himself (was skipper) when KP was at the crease. Last time he bowled in a test was against England, 0-170.

Chawla I wouldn't bee too against actually. He did do well against England in the World T20, obviously in a very different format though, but got smacked by Watson the next game. Would rather him than Mishra though.

 

[shankar]

He hid himself (was skipper) when KP was at the crease. Last time he bowled in a test was against England, 0-170.

Nah, he just bowled 2 overs out of nearly 100 overs in the preceding Ranji match as well for some reason.