***Official*** India vs England 2021 General Discussion thread

[Woodster]

Really good series for England to win in Sri Lanka, good preparation for the India series, but as everyone knows they are going to be a whole different proposition.

My main concern is with our spinners and their ability to trouble the Indian batting line-up. Bess’s 12 wickets at 21 looks impressive in SL, but he didn’t have to bowl too well to get those figures and his five-for in the first Test was down to really poor batting.

I see Jack Leach as the better of two two, more consistent and more likely to trouble a right-hand dominated top six for India.

Should he be fit enough, I think I’d like to see Moeen in there but that may be a selection based on past performances rather than the level he may currently be operating at.

I do think two spinners will be needed and with Stokes we can still field three pacemen and two spinners which just gives us a better balance.

 

[mackembhoy]

Really good series for England to win in Sri Lanka, good preparation for the India series, but as everyone knows they are going to be a whole different proposition.

My main concern is with our spinners and their ability to trouble the Indian batting line-up. Bess’s 12 wickets at 21 looks impressive in SL, but he didn’t have to bowl too well to get those figures and his five-for in the first Test was down to really poor batting.

I see Jack Leach as the better of two two, more consistent and more likely to trouble a right-hand dominated top six for India.

Should he be fit enough, I think I’d like to see Moeen in there but that may be a selection based on past performances rather than the level he may currently be operating at.

I do think two spinners will be needed and with Stokes we can still field three pacemen and two spinners which just gives us a better balance.

Reads like they want to play

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Moeen
Archer
Broad/Anderson
Leach

 

[Woodster]

Reads like they want to play

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Moeen
Archer
Broad/Anderson
Leach

That’s the kind of XI I’d be edging towards with reservations over the lack of cricket my five bowlers have had. Moeen, Archer and Stokes have obviously played very little of late, the top seven I think I’m perfectly happy with.

Could you make a strong case for including both Anderson and Broad? I know it’s nice to have some extra pace in the side, a change up from the medium pace of Broad, Anderson or Stokes.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

A monster series for Joseph Root incoming???

 

[Chrish]

I have a feeling this will be far from being a one-sided series. There will be an upset or two.

 

[honestbharani]

I think this will be a defining series for India. The general fandom, especially Aussie media, have blown up our win in Aus (obviously, it is the greatest win for us overseas) but every single Indian side has plateaued or even regressed post epochal triumphs. I would say over time we have moved on from regressing (2001 post BG series, 2004 post Aus draw and Pak win, 2011 post WC) to just plateauing sometimes. But if we are ruthless this series and do as well as most expect us to, I think we would have finally turned a corner as a cricketing nation.

Hopefully we do. Really glad Virat is back as I feel he will be the one who can help the most in getting into that mindset and effort space.

 

[Shri]

i don't think we had square turners the last time eng toured

i bet the pitches will only have marginal help for the spinners where really great ones can find something to work with while the mediocre ones get plastered

will be a completely different series to the one that we saw in sl

 

[morgieb]

i don't think we had square turners the last time eng toured

i bet the pitches will only have marginal help for the spinners where really great ones can find something to work with while the mediocre ones get plastered

will be a completely different series to the one that we saw in sl

Slow turners are clearly India's best hope IMO, full square turners just turn the matches into lotteries and give the England spinners a big boost.

 

[ankitj]

I fear there may be a rough crash landing waiting to happen for India in this series after the highs of Australia tour.

 

[duffer]

No Jaddu is a killer. With him we'd romp it.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Yeah rank Turner dustbins and very green pitches will be avoided at any cost.

Chennai hasn't really thrown up any of the above ever to the best of my memory. It has always produced the classical Indian wicket - firm and hard with low bounce, which goes deteriorating at a slow rate and becomes excellent for spin as it goes on, without being overtly unpredictable.

 

[Senile Sentry]

No Jaddu is a killer. With him we'd romp it.

There is no Jaddu for this series

 

[Shri]

There is no Jaddu for this series

he meant jaddu means 4-0

this will probs be 2 or 3 nil now without him

 

[Gremlin]

Moeen Ali is such an interesting selection.

An in form Moeen would be one of the first names on the teamsheet for me. His bowling is not perfect but very capable of great spells and deliveries, his batting has been mucked about by not giving him a regular position and role in the side. But he has not been in form for some time and undergone many mental issues along the way. Only he and the selectors will know if he is ready for Test cricket once again. Is he up to it or is it a case of throwing him in at the deep end with expectation on his shoulders?

Second question is do they retain Lawrence if Pope is match fit once again? They are both talents but I think Pope is an outstanding long term prospect. The remainder of the top 7 pick themselves for me, Sibley, Burns, Crawley, Root, Stokes and Buttler / Foakes.

We know the bowlers will be rotated through the series, this is clearly a long term strategy. One of the comments I read regarding the Indian win at Brisbane was how jaded the Aussie attack was looking (the excellent Cummins excepted) by the final innings. I suspect we won't see Broad and Anderson in the same side this series with one of them playing with a speed bowler, Stokes 3rd seam and two spinners. England are fortunate that they have the depth to do this but then someone like Woakes misses out. People will point at his overseas record but he is a better bowler now than he was then.

As for India, I think we have seen they have strength in depth. Will this be a come down for them after the highs of Brisbane? I suspect they'll have the odd wobble but overall I think they'll be favourites for the series win quite rightly. My only hope is that England play to their potential and if they're beaten by a better side then so be it.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Mooenalitharan, Curran Ambrose, who's it going to be this time. If its ****ing Dominic Best I am going to quit watching cricket period.

 

[Manee]

I've read that there is a chance that this will be broadcast on Channel 4. With this in mind, I feel this has to be posted.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I suspect we won't see Broad and Anderson in the same side this series with one of them playing with a speed bowler, Stokes 3rd seam and two spinners. England are fortunate that they have the depth to do this but then someone like Woakes misses out. People will point at his overseas record but he is a better bowler now than he was then.

You are probably correct, but Broad/Anderson/Stokes looks a decent balance to me for a 3 man seam attack since Stokes can bowl the back of a length hostile spells. I expect Jofra will be first choice though as you say and it'll be good experience for him, but I'm not sure he'll do better than either of the older pair would. I'd like to see Woakes get some game time this series as well.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Surely Broad and Anderson both get to play the D/N affair? That's the third game, right? Play Old Man Jimmy in the first, Broad in the next, and both under lights.

 

[Shri]

i cannot see any bowler in the eng side who can just be a workhorse through all the tests

will be surprised to see anderson or broad play consecutive tests

woakes will be willing but ineffective

archer will naturally do slightly worse in every game if his workload isn't managed well

stokes is the only one crazy enough to sustain pace/intensity throughout imo

 

[Pup Clarke]

I think India will be secretly delighted if Moeen plays.