*Official* 2nd Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 13 - 17 Feb 2021

[Woodster]

Stone for Archer, if they want variety in the attach and they want some genuine pace and stick to their formula, then Stone gets the nod. Jimmy will play the third Test and fourth if necessary, he can’t play all four, simple as that.

Woakes is an obvious option for Archer, but if they want pace it’s Stone.

 

[centurymaker]

Reports are suggesting that the 2nd Chennai pitch is likely to take turn from day 1.

The soil used for the 2nd pitch is different from the 1st test (this was prepared pre-series). Main change is that they have stopped watering it.

1st Test it was all red soil. However, in this test only the base is red soil while the top layer is black soil which disintegrates faster if left dry.

I reckon both sides may play three spinners

Ashwin
Axar
Kuldeep/Chahar

Bess
Leach
Ali

 

[BoyBrumby]

Could see us going for Broad and Woakes in place of Jimmeh and the sadly broken Jofra.

We lose a bit of (potential) pace by not going for Stone, but think Woakes's batting will look attractive, especially with Foakes in at #7.

There'll obviously be a very strong temptation to play Anderson and it wouldn't necessarily be a mistake, but the rotation idea exists for a reason. Bloke is gonna be 40 next year.

 

[Burgey]

he can’t play all four, simple as that

Why ffs? They had August-January off. FMD they don't paly another test until June after this series. So he has 3 months or so off after this series to prep. He'll bowl ten overs a day max anyway on these turgid **** heaps they dole out for pitches over there, and the spinners will do all the work.

 

[Burgey]

Also, why is the return series between these two sides starting so late? First test isn't til August.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Also, why is the return series between these two sides starting so late? First test isn't til August.

We're spending most of June and July playing 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is v both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

 

[Woodster]

Why ffs? They had August-January off. FMD they don't paly another test until June after this series. So he has 3 months or so off after this series to prep. He'll bowl ten overs a day max anyway on these turgid **** heaps they dole out for pitches over there, and the spinners will do all the work.

He’s a fit lad, yet he is still 38 years old, he has to be managed and his workload monitored. It isn’t purely the work he does in a Test match, he’ll have to prepare and bowl overs, it all adds up especially when you’re playing back to back Tests. He spoke after the first Test about how hard it was, do you want to throw him straight into another Test with minimal rest ? My feelings are that we will nullify his effectiveness at the business end of the series by playing him in back-to-back Tests.

England play a lot of Tests this year, the next one is always the most important but realistically we’ve got rest him where we can and ensure he’s fit and firing for the important deciding Tests.

 

[Burgey]

o you want to throw him straight into another Test with minimal rest ? My feelings are that we will nullify his effectiveness at the business end of the series by playing him in back-to-back Tests.

You win this test, there is no business end to the series. You can't lose it.

 

[Burgey]

We're spending most of June and July playing 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is v both Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

What a thrill for the home spectators that will be...

Seems very odd scheduling when those formats can be played at night. I know there's still plenty of light in the UK around August/ September, but aren't you more prone to poor weather then?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wasn't dropped. He was rested.

R E S T E D
E
S
T
E
D

Rested.

He needed the time off after his

T E A R S
E
A
R
S

 

[Burgey]

They weren't tears, they were the salt of England players and supporters from the preceding Ashes series.

S A L T
A
L
T

Salt

 

[Niall]

You win this test, there is no business end to the series. You can't lose it.

Yep.

I know he is old in cricketing terms etc, but I can't get my head around dropping a dude after such a good performance at the exact same ground also.

He should be able to handle this test and if he bowls like he did last week then its quite likely England will retain the series.

Reassess after the second test where he is physically.

Also in sport its a wise idea to ask what would the opposition want with Anderson?

They will be praying he is rested understandably, so yeah pick your ATG bowler ffs.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

They’re getting far too clever with the rotation of players. Deciding which bowlers are playing in each Test of a series at the start of it is a nonsense. Start a series with your best team and give someone a rest if they need one.

 

[Woodster]

You win this test, there is no business end to the series. You can't lose it.

Yes I appreciate that, there still is a business end though as we’ll want to win the series if we get 2-0 up, which means he’ll play the third, the day/nighter.

You either like the rotation in order to preserve fitness and high end performances, especially for the older players, or you’re not for rotation and just think you should pick the best XI all the time. Not sure we can argue the case that the other person will agree with.

 

[Woodster]

They’re getting far too clever with the rotation of players. Deciding which bowlers are playing in each Test of a series at the start of it is a nonsense. Start a series with your best team and give someone a rest if they need one.

To get the right balance in the side that they wanted they did effectively pick their strongest side for that opening game. Two spinners, Stokes, Anderson and a genuine quick. Not sure with that make up how Broad gets in with Anderson filling the role he would play.

 

[Woodster]

Yep.

I know he is old in cricketing terms etc, but I can't get my head around dropping a dude after such a good performance at the exact same ground also.

He should be able to handle this test and if he bowls like he did last week then its quite likely England will retain the series.

Reassess after the second test where he is physically.

Also in sport its a wise idea to ask what would the opposition want with Anderson?

They will be praying he is rested understandably, so yeah pick your ATG bowler ffs.

No opposition will want to see Jimmy in the side, so we pick him for every game??

 

[Niall]

No opposition will want to see Jimmy in the side, so we pick him for every game??

Clumsy point from me, but got to pick Jimmy after the last match and then reassess.

Not sure Burgey will be upset if he leads the bowling in Australia tbf

 

[silentstriker]

If this match goes into the fifth day, the entire groundstaff should be fired.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Reports are suggesting that the 2nd Chennai pitch is likely to take turn from day 1.

The soil used for the 2nd pitch is different from the 1st test (this was prepared pre-series). Main change is that they have stopped watering it.

1st Test it was all red soil. However, in this test only the base is red soil while the top layer is black soil which disintegrates faster if left dry.

I reckon both sides may play three spinners

Ashwin
Axar
Kuldeep/Chahar

Bess
Leach
Ali

Well, if it's a bunsen, these are the kind of pitches where people expect India to dominate on but instead they get rolled. And axar is rubbish, the idea that he's the answer is dumb... Not quite sure what the selectors see in him.

 

[centurymaker]

Should finish inside 4 days.

Only doubt is if the pitch turns out to be low and slow