***Official*** England in India

[flibbertyjibber]

Well batted Cook and Compton, another century opening stand and a 4th in a row over 50 I think.

 

[Arjun]

A feature here shows how critical leg-spinners have been for winning in India, and laments the lack of a spinner beyond Kumble. Honestly, if they hadn't dropped Amit Mishra after that A'bad Test or the England tour, and persisted with him, they wouldn't be without one.

 

[smash84]

ok....England 200 behind with all 10 wickets in hand.....this doesn't look pretty for india

 

[ankitj]

Really don't remember the last time we were dominated two Tests running at home.Darker days ahead. It's going to be a bit embarrassing seeing the BCCI strut their stuff while the team representing them gets shellacked all over the world.

They will be seen talking about next IPL.

 

[wpdavid]

eng 620/8 dec

Random 1984/85 reference? A couple of doubles would be handy.

 

[Arjun]

More and more sledges aimed at Ashwin. Fair, he's had a dreadful home series, but I don't believe Ojha's been any good either, beyond one innings. The Aussie series and the tour to South Africa could have two new spinners playing for India. I'm no fan of discarding the best players after a poor series, but this is a pee-poor spin roster. You can't even blame the poor management for this, the way we would for the loss of Amit Mishra, as this spin choice is really a step down.

 

[NasserFan207]

More and more sledges aimed at Ashwin. Fair, he's had a dreadful home series, but I don't believe Ojha's been any good either, beyond one innings. The Aussie series and the tour to South Africa could have two new spinners playing for India. I'm no fan of discarding the best players after a poor series, but this is a pee-poor spin roster. You can't even blame the poor management for this, the way we would for the loss of Amit Mishra, as this spin choice is really a step down.

Both of them are quite old-fashioned, slow spinners. Modern batsmen just aren't threatened much by that, particularly on a slow pitch like this. They have too much time it seems

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So since the toss was lost it couldn't have gone any better, much like the last test. Just need to carry on doing the same for another day and a bit and be in a winning position. Sounds easy but obviously isn't.

 

[Arjun]

Both of them are quite old-fashioned, slow spinners. Modern batsmen just aren't threatened much by that, particularly on a slow pitch like this. They have too much time it seems

That is the problem. They're useless on flat decks. I know most Indian bowlers struggle on flat decks, but here, you've got one bloke pushing ahead a whole lot of silly variations that he can do without, and the other offering slow, straight deliveries that these batsmen can wait on and hit for easy runs.

 

[Howe_zat]

Ashwin doesn't strike me as old-fashioned at all.

 

[NasserFan207]

That is the problem. They're useless on flat decks. I know most Indian bowlers struggle on flat decks, but here, you've got one bloke pushing ahead a whole lot of silly variations that he can do without, and the other offering slow, straight deliveries that these batsmen can wait on and hit for easy runs.

I think this brand of spin is slowly going to die out tbh. Guys like Ajmal and co, Panesar; fast spin is the future.

Edit: Howe he is unorthodox but he is also old-fashioned in that he tosses the ball up and has a slow arm.

 

[Arjun]

I think this brand of spin is slowly going to die out tbh. Guys like Ajmal and co, Panesar; fast spin is the future.

Edit: Howe he is unorthodox but he is also old-fashioned in that he tosses the ball up and has a slow arm.

They've adapted and gone ahead, much like England's batting against spin. India's spin, on the other hand, just went backwards. I don't know if there really is much scope for Ashwin and Ojha to pick up, but if series are being lost, they shouldn't be given any.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Don't see any argument why 'slow' spin should die out. After all, both Warne and Murali were slow spinners. It's just the current fast spinners happen to be better.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So basically if this ball doesn't reverse much and India exploit it then England are sitting pretty. The thing is will the track break up much to help us later in the game or will it remain a flat deck all the way through?

 

[NasserFan207]

Don't see any argument why 'slow' spin should die out. After all, both Warne and Murali were slow spinners. It's just the current fast spinners happen to be better.

Warne is a leggie, which is a different brand of bowling to finger spin. And Murali was literally a freak

The track will break up late on day 4 and 5

 

[Howe_zat]

Well it's day two and we still trail by 185, exciting as things are let's not talk of when to declare just yet

 

[Daemon]

sehwag wtf?

 

[Satyanash89]

Just like the previous game, i hope India loses and the stupid public finally realises this is a **** team no matter where we play and more than that, i hope dhoni gets called out on all that ****e about "greentops".
No excuses left if we lose this... none at all... and thats why i srsly want us to lose... badly

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Cook wag, youngest to reach 7000 test runs

 

[Satyanash89]

Cook already has 7000 test runs?! holy ****
:o