***Official*** England in India

[Prince EWS]

Both did qualify his statement slightly; he meant India wouldn't have been able to press home the advantage after a long day in the field like England could once an end was open, as it were.

Yeah that's a good point really. It's not that India lost wickets late today because they were unfit, but perhaps they weren't able to make the breakthroughs late on Day 1 during the Root/Prior partnership that England did today because they were unfit? It's not an absurd thing to suggest, although I don't think it's really what happened myself, having actually watched Day 1.

 

[centurymaker]

Longer to bowl England out (obvz) and the visitors haven't exactly had the scoreboard ticking, so we could end up with a potentially exciting chase for the home team on the last day. If India need (say) 200 off 30 overs it'd be interesting to see how big a crack they give it.

it would most likely be 250-270 from 45/50 overs.


anyways, i am of the opinion that Ashwin needs to bat positively tomorrow and not waste time. He should look to do exactly what he did in kolkata where he shielded the bunnies and tried to score the runs himself.

 

[Cevno]

India over the last year or so, have been more mentally lacking confidence once things go against them than being unfit physically. Though they aren't the fittest side either, granted and England are probably more fitter.

They used to come back pretty well during the phase they were number 1. Probably the lack of a go to bowler which Zaheer was during that time contributes big time too.

 

[Cabinet96]

I don't really care about scoring rates or the quality of cricket. It's the contest that gets me excited. I too am fizzing at the bung for tomorrow. What a huge day it will be.

 

[Spikey]

just how long was MS on 98/99

 

[flibbertyjibber]

just how long was MS on 98/99

Not sure, was in the 90's for over 70 minutes though.

 

[Cevno]

Took ages in the late 90's.

 

[centurymaker]

73, 62, 48*, 5, 29, 6, 52, 0 , 99.

dhoni's scores after aus tour.
thats a revelation all alright. i was under the impression that he had done much much worse.

pews

but the last one woud've been a 100+ if you hadn't intervened. argh

 

[Prince EWS]

73, 62, 48*, 5, 29, 6, 52, 0 , 99.

dhoni's scores after aus tour.
thats a revelation all alright. i was under the impression that he had done much much worse.

pews

but the last one woud've been a 100+ if you hadn't intervened. argh

Looking at what Dhoni scores out of context never gives an accurate account of his worth or the quality of his batsmanship. He averages high 30s for a reason and it's not because he's a good batsman. Keep in mind, I've not been putting forward the idea that he's declined; I've been putting forward the idea that he's never been much chop.

Again though, he played an amazing innings today, so I'd rather not lump **** on him today if possible. He doesn't deserve it right now, so taste bait me some other time.

 

[Cevno]

73, 62, 48*, 5, 29, 6, 52, 0 , 99.

dhoni's scores after aus tour.
thats a revelation all alright. i was under the impression that he had done much much worse.

pews

but the last one woud've been a 100+ if you hadn't intervened. argh

Yeah, that 62 and 48 during the Bangalore test vs New Zealand both were pretty important innings too.

He's still been pretty poor overall during the last year and a half.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yeah, that 62 and 48 during the Bangalore test vs New Zealand both were pretty important innings too.

He's still been pretty poor overall during the last year and a half.

It isn't the scores but the method of his dismissals and the timing of them that has so many people wound up. Lazy slashes outside off stump just before a break or new ball infuriate people. One of those for lies, lies and damn statistics.

 

[centurymaker]

i think his negative and **** captaincy along with his CBF attitude to batting has ****ed with everyone's perception of how he has actually done numbers wise.

he's not been too bad. but it's time someone else captained the side; i think kohli is now ready.

 

[centurymaker]

Make
KOHLI CAPTAIN

agree?

 

[Cevno]

It isn't the scores but the method of his dismissals and the timing of them that has so many people wound up. Lazy slashes outside off stump just before a break or new ball infuriate people. One of those for lies, lies and damn statistics.

He tries all sorts of odd and unorthodox things and especially when he's out of form. When these don't come off, yeah they look bad but that's the way it is.

Also, more prone to do those things away than home.

 

[Jono]

Yeah that's a good point really. It's not that India lost wickets late today because they were unfit, but perhaps they weren't able to make the breakthroughs late on Day 1 during the Root/Prior partnership that England did today because they were unfit? It's not an absurd thing to suggest, although I don't think it's really what happened myself, having actually watched Day 1.

No, the comparison would be Sydney and other tests where they faced huge partnerships. India were fit enough at the end of day 1, but its when they're made to run all around the ground and bowl for ages and ages that you could make that comment and be accurate.

Botham is saying (after Brumby's second post) that if India had faced, say, Cook and Trott batting as long as Kohli and Dhoni did, they probably wouldn't have come back like England did. That's fair enough.

But Kohli and Dhoni are fit cricketers. The way Brumby's post started when he first referred to Botham, it sounded like Botham were saying those two weren't quick so they got out after batting all day. WHich was obviously not the case.

 

[centurymaker]

kohli is a big game player. he rose to the occasion today
im sure he'll rise with the responsibilty of captaincy.

 

[Jono]

Looking at what Dhoni scores out of context never gives an accurate account of his worth or the quality of his batsmanship. He averages high 30s for a reason and it's not because he's a good batsman. Keep in mind, I've not been putting forward the idea that he's declined; I've been putting forward the idea that he's never been much chop.

Again though, he played an amazing innings today, so I'd rather not lump **** on him today if possible. He doesn't deserve it right now, so taste bait me some other time.

You can genuinely argue two of Dhoni's 3 best test knocks came in the last 6 months, ironically. This one and his knock vs. NZ in the second test.

Not taste baiting as i've shared your opinion (though no where near to your extent I think his average is accurate, he's a 35-37 run average batsman) but it is interesting that he's done well recently.

Even in Sydney 1st innings he did okay compared to some others.

 

[Cevno]

Well, not a fan of giving it to Gambhir/Sehwag in current form, so won't be that averse to giving it to Kohli if they did.

Would be throwing him straight to the deep end, but hey it's been done before with Graeme Smith.

Don't think the selectors will take that call though.

 

[centurymaker]

You can genuinely argue two of Dhoni's 3 best test knocks came in the last 6 months, ironically. This one and his knock vs. NZ in the second test.

Not taste baiting as i've shared your opinion (though no where near to your extent I think his average is accurate, he's a 35-37 run average batsman) but it is interesting that he's done well recently.

Even in Sydney 1st innings he did okay compared to some others.

his 50 odd in the last test was a handy innings too while batting with the tail.

 

[Jono]

Yeah I think Dhoni will not be sacked after this knock, unless India absolutely capitulate and lose 3-1. But I think that is less likely to happen after today's play. Right now Eng 2-1 series win is more likely, and added with Dhoni's knock, they may not sack him.