*Official* India Tour of England 2018

[harsh.ag]

The reason we need 5 bowlers is because we've seen time and time again that, over a 5 test series, playing 4 bowlers inevitably leads to someone or another breaking down. Especially for India overseas. Sometimes they break down mid game and leave us with just 3 bowlers and some rubbish.

It's just too intense a workload, and if our batting doesn't click the bowlers will have minimal rest between long spells. They lose effectiveness as well.

The fifth bowler gives us that breathing room, regardless if they actually take wickets or not.

I said India should replace Ashwin with Kuldeep, not that Hardik should be dropped.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

England don't have similar options like India do. Everything has a trade-off. Good way to ensure Woakes's runs don't hurt is to get the rest of the line-up out for less. Good way to ensure Woakes doesn't scrap a nifty cameo at 8 is to get him out quickly.

With a Dukes ball, cloud cover and English pitches, at some point in this series even trundlers will threaten, late in the season or not. It is how England plays their test cricket at home due to the conditions. They're well experienced in fighting for runs to get enough on the board to bowl the opposition out.

Some days - wickets, almost if not actually or more than 20 wickets will fall.

England is prepared for this. Their batting order will fight for this. BCCI need to be prepared too.

 

[cnerd123]

I said India should replace Ashwin with Kuldeep, not that Hardik should be dropped.

yea sorry misread you as being in support of 4 bowlers theory with Ashwin being a lock

Yea I agree. Ashwin, Kuldeep, 3 quicks. If the pitch seems super seamer friendly, Hardik in for Kuldeep.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

yea sorry misread you as being in support of 4 bowlers theory with Ashwin being a lock

Yea I agree. Ashwin, Kuldeep, 3 quicks. If the pitch seems super seamer friendly, Hardik in for Kuldeep.

Why not in for Ashwin? Bat deep?

If it were bowling, isn't Kuldeep as a wristie likely to threaten also when the ball is gripping, as well as when it is gripping less?

 

[harsh.ag]

You may not feel the same way when Woakes at 8 is scrapping for what becomes a match winning lead.

Runs are often the premium in England lately in between rain showers that are the real force of a day 5 getting play.

With a Dukes ball, cloud cover and English pitches, at some point in this series even trundlers will threaten, late in the season or not. It is how England plays their test cricket at home due to the conditions. They're well experienced in fighting for runs to get enough on the board to bowl the opposition out.

Some days - wickets, almost if not actually or more than 20 wickets will fall.

England is prepared for this. Their batting order will fight for this. BCCI need to be prepared too.

Why not in for Ashwin? Bat deep?

If it were bowling, isn't Kuldeep as a wristie likely to threaten also when the ball is gripping, as well as when it is gripping less?

Are you arguing for 5 bowlers with Kuldeep and Hardik, 5 bowlers with Hardik and Ashwin, 5 bowlers with Ashwin and Kuldeep, 4 bowlers with Kuldeep, or 4 bowlers with Ashwin?

I honestly can't tell.

 

[cnerd123]

Are you arguing for 5 bowlers with Kuldeep and Hardik, 5 bowlers with Hardik and Ashwin, 5 bowlers with Ashwin and Kuldeep, 4 bowlers with Kuldeep, or 4 bowlers with Ashwin?

I honestly can't tell.

he's just arguing

 

[Borges]

On the kind of wicket that is expected, Hardik, Kuldeep and three quicks.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Are you arguing for 5 bowlers with Kuldeep and Hardik, 5 bowlers with Hardik and Ashwin, 5 bowlers with Ashwin and Kuldeep, 4 bowlers with Kuldeep, or 4 bowlers with Ashwin?

I honestly can't tell.

4 bowlers with Kuldeep is a debate. (So is 4 with Ashwin if someone wanted India to bat deep but I am not sure the pitches will be conducive to him)

I'm not arguing for any of the propositions, merely identifying that they exist.

 

[cnerd123]

On the kind of wicket that is expected, Hardik, Kuldeep and three quicks.

I wouldn't go with Kuldeep on a seamer friendly wicket. I think the risk he gets taken apart and leaves us relying on the 4 seamers is not worth it, plus given the form of our batting lineup, if the wicket has some juice in it i'd like the extra batting depth. So would play Ashwin or Jadeja instead.

 

[harsh.ag]

4 bowlers with Kuldeep is a debate. (So is 4 with Ashwin if someone wanted India to bat deep but I am not sure the pitches will be conducive to him)

I'm not arguing for any of the propositions, merely identifying that they exist.

Most people here know all the alternatives that exist and the trade-offs therein, esp the ones on this page. It's not wrong to keep arguing about them, but it is tiresome if you don't put some money where your mouth is.

 

[TheJediBrah]

he's just arguing

That's not like him

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Most people here know all the alternatives that exist and the trade-offs therein, esp the ones on this page. It's not wrong to keep arguing about them, but it is tiresome if you don't put some money where your mouth is.

Fine, I'd take Kuldeep in a four prong attack with 3 more seamers.

I think India may well be on the balance of probabilities be better off thrashing the young wrist spinner for Hardik's paltry overs and having a proper batsman at 6 instead of him.

I'm not even saying Hardik's a fraud, he could just as likely slog a match winning century with the ball hooping.

He may skittle England with a five for on a greenie.

But I am still not convinced he is the best man to bat 6 for India just because he bowls a few overs of seam in England this series.

 

[wpdavid]

If rumours are to be believed, Adil Rashid is due for a recall despite only playing white ball cricket this summer.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

If rumours are to be believed, Adil Rashid is due for a recall despite only playing white ball cricket this summer.

Kohli has caused this with his expression on being bowled.

Kohli has already got into the minds of the England test team management before the series begins.

 

[Borges]

If rumours are to be believed, Adil Rashid is due for a recall despite only playing white ball cricket this summer.

I do hope those rumours are not unfounded; England would be so much stronger with him in the playing eleven.
The last thing I want to see is the dreariness of Ashwin vs Moeen Ali.

 

[Pratters]

Does Pandya add substance if he is a nothing cricketer like Robin Singh who is neither good with bat or ball.. I am not convinced regarding Pandya yet but let's see how he fares.

I would much rather have a more genuine wicket taking option in his place. Play five bowlers.

 

[R!TTER]

Let me add my 2 paise, worth of opinion, so Kuldeep to play on grassy pitches, where the ball usually doesn't spin.
On dry surfaces, which could turn significantly on the last day, a toss up between 2 of the 3 spinners, depending on who's in better net form. Hardik will play all the games, unless Kohli really swings it the other way, while Rahul may not get a game.

Does Pandya add substance if he is a nothing cricketer like Robin Singh who is neither good with bat or ball.. I am not convinced regarding Pandya yet but let's see how he fares.

I would much rather have a more genuine wicket taking option in his place. Play five bowlers.

Pandya's a brilliant fielder, arguably better than Jadeja atm, also an awesome smasher of spinners.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Does Pandya add substance if he is a nothing cricketer like Robin Singh who is neither good with bat or ball.. I am not convinced regarding Pandya yet but let's see how he fares.

I would much rather have a more genuine wicket taking option in his place. Play five bowlers.

You could play 5 bowlers if one was Ashwin as he bats well enough. But will the pitches turn enough for him to be a genuine threat? And is two spinners excessive for England? (Unless you mean Ashwin Bumrah, Shami, Ishant and Yadav).

If the conditions are like typical England, there will be constant rain breaks for the bowlers to put their feet up with.

If the conditions do swing, seam and spin, the game won't go 5 full days.

This isn't Australia.

I am just not sold on the need for 5 frontline wicket taking bowlers in England with a tail starting at 7.

You may well be right. But I am far from convinced.

 

[Pratters]

I have thought long and hard about three spinners on drier pitches. However, the issue with that is that we won't have any one as first change seamer, which is important as it's not a subcontinent wicket. So we would have to go with three seamers or two seamers and Hardik with two spinners in both cases.

 

[Pratters]

Pandya's a brilliant fielder, arguably better than Jadeja atm, also an awesome smasher of spinners.[/FONT]

You select your test team based on batting and bowling ability. Smasher of spinners but do we expect him to last long on English wickets or add any pressure with the ball? Fielding is a bonus when considering test selection, the icing (old cw meme).