***Official*** England in India

[AndyZaltzHair]

Kunal Khemu?

a bit of Chunky Pandey too

 

[Jono]

But I thought this pitch took the skill out of the game, right?

 

[smash84]

a bit of Chunky Pandey too

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Being serious you needed a 2nd paceman to exploit the uneven bounce first up, might have been a different game if you had one in the side. Done very little for the spinners so far but that will change as the game progresses. Still a crap pitch for a test match as it so slow. Game will probably be decided by which side has that crap session with the bat and loses a ruck of wickets from nowhere.

 

[Daemon]

England had a chance to get a big first innings total here, they'll definitely feel disappointed with some of those shot selections. Reckon they'll easily make 300-350 though which is still pretty decent.

 

[cnerd123]

Chawla and Ashwin defo selected as allrounders. Jadeja is in as second spinner. Makes a lot more sense now. Expect batting lineup to read Ashwin-Chawla-MSD-Jadeja

 

[Xuhaib]

can see Sehwag having merry on this.

 

[Prince EWS]

Chawla and Ashwin defo selected as allrounders. Jadeja is in as second spinner. Makes a lot more sense now. Expect batting lineup to read Ashwin-Chawla-MSD-Jadeja

There is no way Chawla will bat ahead of Jadeja unless he comes in as nightwatchman or something. I'll bet you $1000.

 

[smash84]

If England can go up to 350 and bat out at least 2 sessions for tomorrow then I reckon they will be in a pretty good position to win the series

 

[cnerd123]

Wasn't a serious post PEWS

 

[centurymaker]

has it been a boring day's play??

just 200 in close to 100 overs....

 

[weldone]

There is no way Chawla will bat ahead of Jadeja unless he comes in as nightwatchman or something. I'll bet you $1000.

Haha right. Batting lineup will probably read Jadeja-Dhoni-Ashwin-Chawla, but should read Jadeja-Ashwin-Dhoni-Chawla.

 

[Spark]

If England can go up to 350 and bat out at least 2 sessions for tomorrow then I reckon they will be in a pretty good position to win the series

Might take them a bit longer than 2 sessions to get to 350.

 

[smash84]

from cricinfo

Apparently, England have played out 80-overs worth of dot balls today.

WOW

 

[smash84]

Might take them a bit longer than 2 sessions to get to 350.

at this run rate....they might get to 325 by 2 sessions down

 

[cnerd123]

Slow day comes to an end.

Honours about even atm. Pitch doesn't seem to be breaking up yet. Morning session tomorrow will be important.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Brave positive cricket here from England, clearly going all guns blazing for the win.

Select an extra opening bat, and Tim Bresnan for his batting, then smash your way to 199 in a day against this lethal gun bowling attack

 

[Spark]

But holy ****ing **** that was an dull day of cricket.

 

[weldone]

a bit of Chunky Pandey too

Haha OK you win

 

[Neil Pickup]

But I thought this pitch took the skill out of the game, right?

Let's wait and see what happens. It seems that the first day's play has demanded patience and application and durability and adhesion; not technical skills so to speak. I am surprised that India have not taken more than five wickets having had us 16/2. It's going to be an intriguing contest, and it could be argued either way whose day it is depending on what your perception of par is.

It would have been interesting to see what Finn could have extracted, bounce or otherwise, from the wicket, but I am still expecting the pitch to have a significant say in what happens between now and Monday. Will happily taste if required...