***Official*** India in England 2014

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, I guess the pattern is that good bowlers do well but bad ones do badly. But I would say Ashwin is closer to Ajmal's quality than Tahir's.

The question I guess is how Ajmal did in England compared to other countries Ashwin is being left out due to bowling poorly in. Ashwin's dreadful overseas record is compromised entirely of matches in Australia and South Africa -- Ajmal averaged over 100 in Australia (but only played one game) and 32 in South Africa (where Ashwin has only played game), compared with his average of 30 odd in England.

Really, any serious statistical analysis of Ashwin's overseas bowling would conclude that it means next to nothing because the sample size is so small, but he just looked so poor in those games. I certainly think it's fair to say that bowling spin in England is significantly easier than bowling spin in Australia so you do have a point, but the sticking point is that Jadeja actually bowled well in South Africa and took a bag. The original dropping was pretty harsh. but the non-recall not so (unless you're comparing him to Binny, in which case he can line up with about twenty other blokes who also should've been selected ahead of Binny).

 

[GIMH]

The question I guess is how Ajmal did in England compared to other countries Ashwin is being left out due to bowling poorly in. Ashwin's dreadful overseas record is compromised entirely of matches in Australia and South Africa -- Ajmal averaged over 100 in Australia (but only played one game,) and 32 in South Africa (where Ashwin has only played game), compared with his average of 30 odd in England.

Really, any serious statistical analysis of Ashwin's overseas bowling would conclude that it means next to nothing because the sample size is so small, but he just looked so poor in those games. I certainly think it's fair to say that bowling spin in England is significantly easier than bowling spin in Australia so you do have a point, but the sticking point is that Jadeja actually bowled well in South Africa and took a bag. The original dropping was pretty harsh. but the non-recall not so (unless you're comparing him to Binny, in which case he can line up with about twenty other blokes who also should've been selected ahead of Binny).

And to think that about 3 hours ago I was thinking how this had been a good tour thread

 

[Cabinet96]

Never seen something that speaks more volumes than Dhoni standing back to Jadeja. Save the darts for your post-cricket career you ****.

 

[Jarquis]

What am I watching?

 

[Jono]

Dhoni

 

[Cevno]

Thought he had bowled him there.

 

[Cabinet96]

Anyone else think Ballance was walking?

 

[Cevno]

Anyone else think Ballance was walking?

Yeah, I thought he was bowled and he was walking therefore.

 

[Cabinet96]

This is now the most balls Cook has faced in an innings in 2014, since first dig in Perth.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Big partnership, needed it to reach that 50. Need it doubling now.

 

[grecian]

Not really happy we've got so many left-handers ATM.

 

[Cevno]

Medium Spin bowling from Jadeja. Get the close in fielders nearer ffs.

This is now the most balls Cook has faced in an innings in 2014, since first dig in Perth.

Facing Spinners so early is helping him clearly. Been slightly strange tactics from India.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Crikey we are riding our luck. If we are to win this we need Bell, Root and Prior to get about 150 between them.

A lefthander new in will struggle on this.

 

[Cevno]

Freaking Binny would be more likely to pick up a wicket here than Ishant.

 

[Cabinet96]

Cook has actually been really disappointing when in and with his patience in the last year. Obviously hope he'll overcome it today but the India seamers would do well to just sit in the channel.

 

[Prince EWS]

Just as an aside, this has been an excellent Test wicket. The sort the venue deserves. It's provided an excellent balance between bat and ball throughout, offering something to everyone at different stages of the match and all without making a toss a big advantage. Having pitch variation is great but if most curators took this wicket as the median position and deviated slightly in all directions from this, I'd be thrilled.

 

[honestbharani]

Man.. India have squandered another great opportunity yet again.. Letting Cook get in is gonna bite us in the rear...

 

[91Jmay]

Run rate could do with a boost, put a bit of pressure back onto them.

 

[Cabinet96]

Just as an aside, this has been an excellent Test wicket. The sort the venue deserves. It's provided an excellent balance between bat and ball throughout, offering something to everyone at different stages of the match and all without making a toss a big advantage. Having pitch variation is great but if most curators took this wicket as the median position and deviated slightly in all directions from this, I'd be thrilled.

And it also shows you don't need to make an absolute road for test matches to go five days. Will generate a result midway through the final day, which is pretty much perfect.

 

[honestbharani]

Just as an aside, this has been an excellent Test wicket. The sort the venue deserves. It's provided an excellent balance between bat and ball throughout, offering something to everyone at different stages of the match and all without making a toss a big advantage. Having pitch variation is great but if most curators took this wicket as the median position and deviated slightly in all directions from this, I'd be thrilled.

Disagree. I do think the toss was a huge advantage here.. Just because England bowled poorly on that track on day 1 does not mean this pitch did not offer a huge advantage to the side winning the toss and bowling first... RSA on this track would have had any side reeling at about a 150 odd.. Or even the 2011 England....