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

[mackembhoy]

We really seem to putting all our eggs in the third test basket with the absolute nonsensical selection policy.

Root getting shafted while Morgan will get every player available for a pretty much meaningless white ball series.

 

[grecian]

I just think Bess looked a bit tired in that second innings, give him a rest, seems to fit with the rotation, not sure it's as big a deal as many are making. In domestic cricket he hasn't bowled a lot, so all the overs in Lanka and India, plus traveling, can see why they might want to let him have a breather. Wouldn't be shocked if Leach was left out for one of the games.

I'd probably prefer Stone as variety, but TBH, we have been waiting so long for Stokes, Foakes, Woakes, it's got to be the biggest chance.

 

[BSM]

Leach had a tough time in 1st innings though where Bess took 4-76. One bad innings and he’s been dropped when his figures over the three tests are good. I’m not convinced by Ali.

He was much more consistent though. Even if he was getting carted for a bit in the 1st innings he wasn't bowling non-stop full tosses. If the pitch plays as expected in the next match and turns from ball 1 you can't afford to throw away runs with full tosses. The balls that Leach was bowling against Pant in the first innings meanwhile would be much more likely to pick up wickets.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Need to see a big score from Gill this Test. Really early doors in his career, so this is a little harsh, but he's looked silken every time he's batted without kicking on. Want to see him bat at a slightly more sedate tempo for a change for no other reason if only to know that he can.

 

[Woodster]

Need to see a big score from Gill this Test. Really early doors in his career, so this is a little harsh, but he's looked silken every time he's batted without kicking on. Want to see him bat at a slightly more sedate tempo for a change for no other reason if only to know that he can.

He really has been pretty consistent so far in his short Test career in terms of getting those starts, three fifties in eight innings is a solid start. Beautiful to watch, would be so bitter sweet to get him early!

 

[ParwazHaiJunoon]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1360083267270045698

 

[superkingdave]

I just think Bess looked a bit tired in that second innings, give him a rest, seems to fit with the rotation, not sure it's as big a deal as many are making. In domestic cricket he hasn't bowled a lot, so all the overs in Lanka and India, plus traveling, can see why they might want to let him have a breather. Wouldn't be shocked if Leach was left out for one of the games.

I'd probably prefer Stone as variety, but TBH, we have been waiting so long for Stokes, Foakes, Woakes, it's got to be the biggest chance.

I mean it will be Stokes, Pope, Foakes, Ali, Woakes. I think it would have to be in England to have a chance at all 3 in a row but even that can’t see Woakes at 7 if Stokes is playing.

 

[Gnske]

Stokes Foakes and Woakes is almost here and I can barely hold my gunk juice inside me in excitement

 

[aitorita12]

Hopefully, Pant Gill and Bumrah are dropped. They were the primary reasons for the loss in the 1st Test.

In test cricket, experience is the most important thing, and I want players who are boring and defensive. So here is my lineup:
Rohit
Agarwal
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Saha
Axar
Nadeem
Siraj
Ishant
Ashwin

Siraj is a much better bowler than Bumrah in Test cricket, as shown by the previous Australia tour.

 

[Robbie]

Hopefully, Pant Gill and Bumrah are dropped. They were the primary reasons for the loss in the 1st Test.

In test cricket, experience is the most important thing, and I want players who are boring and defensive. So here is my lineup:
Rohit
Agarwal
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Saha
Axar
Nadeem
Siraj
Ishant
Ashwin

Siraj is a much better bowler than Bumrah in Test cricket, as shown by the previous Australia tour.

You want defensive players so you've kept Rohit ?

And you blame Pant, who scored 90 odd, for the loss over Rahane who scored 0 and 1 ????

Re the England side, nobody fancy them playing Woakes AND Stone and leaving Lawrence out ?

It would be a shame for the kid, and he seems like a top guy, but I'd have thought they'd settle for 5. Stokes 6. Moeen 7. Foakes 8. Woakes if it meant playing an extra bowler. Just a thought.

 

[aitorita12]

You want defensive players so you've kept Rohit ?

And you blame Pant, who scored 90 odd, for the loss over Rahane who scored 0 and 1 ????

Re the England side, nobody fancy them playing Woakes AND Stone and leaving Lawrence out ?

It would be a shame for the kid, and he seems like a top guy, but I'd have thought they'd settle for 5. Stokes 6. Moeen 7. Foakes 8. Woakes if it meant playing an extra bowler. Just a thought.

Rohit is an experienced 33-year old. Pant played one of the worst innings of all time in that 91 score. He was so horrendously reckless and unorthodox. He is only 23-years old, who does he think he is? Pant should be kicked into domestic Ranji trophy, and only be given a chance when he is 30 or so and plays with humility, temperament and more defensively. When he is 30, he can be inducted into India team then.

Rohit's experience is invalulable, and he also plays defensively (ie he has a much better temperament than Pant).

 

[Woodster]

You want defensive players so you've kept Rohit ?

And you blame Pant, who scored 90 odd, for the loss over Rahane who scored 0 and 1 ????

Re the England side, nobody fancy them playing Woakes AND Stone and leaving Lawrence out ?

It would be a shame for the kid, and he seems like a top guy, but I'd have thought they'd settle for 5. Stokes 6. Moeen 7. Foakes 8. Woakes if it meant playing an extra bowler. Just a thought.

Dangerous with numbers 6,7 and 8 having had zero time in the middle in recent months. Personally a Lawrence fan so always going to be against such a move anyway.

 

[Woodster]

Rohit is an experienced 33-year old. Pant played one of the worst innings of all time in that 91 score. He was so horrendously reckless and unorthodox. He is only 23-years old, who does he think he is? Pant should be kicked into domestic Ranji trophy, and only be given a chance when he is 30 or so and plays with humility, temperament and more defensively. When he is 30, he can be inducted into India team then.

Rohit's experience is invalulable, and he also plays defensively (ie he has a much better temperament than Pant).

I sense this isn’t a completely genuine post?!

Such decisions would certainly take the heat off England’s selectors for resting Jimmy!

 

[wpdavid]

Woakes, Moeen and Broad would all have played together quite a bit so maybe they would have been 9 at some point but then usually one of the top 6 would not have one.

Think there may have been a time when everyone had a first class hundred though, fairly sure it at least happened in the ODI side.

Yes, Rashid definitely has made first class tons, and Plunkett may well too. Willey probably has, so I think you're right about the ODI side. But I'm wracking my brain to think of an England test side with nine test centurions. Games where Anderson didn't play seem a good starting point. Did Moeen play in any of the 2019 Ashes? That would help too, but Denly's presence wouldn't.

EDIT
Scrub that last bit. Moeen only played in the first Ashes test, as did Roy, Denly and Anderson. And he hasn't played since. I reckon this test will be a first if we do play nine test centurions.

 

[Starfighter]

Hopefully, Pant Gill and Bumrah are dropped.

Surely this a troll.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yes, Rashid definitely has made first class tons, and Plunkett may well too. Willey probably has, so I think you're right about the ODI side. But I'm wracking my brain to think of an England test side with nine test centurions. Games where Anderson didn't play seem a good starting point. Did Moeen play in any of the 2019 Ashes? That would help too, but Denly's presence wouldn't.

EDIT
Scrub that last bit. Moeen only played in the first Ashes test, as did Roy, Denly and Anderson. And he hasn't played since. I reckon this test will be a first if we do play nine test centurions.

There have been 21 matches in which Broad, Moeen and Woakes all played, which I thought would be a good start.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Woakes made his ton in August 2018 though, so that narrows it down to just two matches, both of which Roy and Denly also played. We could probably a couple in that list that included nine players who would one day go on to become Test centurions, but that's not really in the spirit of the exercise, so I think we can rule out Woakes's ton as a way to get there.

It does seem to me that "Moeen played and batted down the order" would be a requirement so here's a list worth looking through:

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

This game has nine Test century makers in the lineup but Buttler hadn't made one yet at the time so it doesn't quite count:

ENG vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 1st Investec Test at Cardiff, July 08 - 11, 2015

Get cricket scorecard of 1st Investec Test, ENG vs AUS, Australia tour of England and Ireland 2015 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff dated July 08 - 11, 2015.

www.espncricinfo.com

Buttler got dropped after that series but Hales and Taylor come in which makes it impossible again. Don't think it's happened any time recently.

 

[Flem274*]

moeen highlights have been slipping into my fb feed so maybe their creepy data collection knows the selectors thoughts

 

[Daemon]

There have been 21 matches in which Broad, Moeen and Woakes all played, which I thought would be a good start.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Woakes made his ton in August 2018 though, so that narrows it down to just two matches, both of which Roy and Denly also played. We could probably a couple in that list that included nine players who would one day go on to become Test centurions, but that's not really in the spirit of the exercise, so I think we can rule out Woakes's ton as a way to get there.

It does seem to me that "Moeen played and batted down the order" would be a requirement so here's a list worth looking through:

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

This game has nine Test century makers in the lineup but Buttler hadn't made one yet at the time so it doesn't quite count:

ENG vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 1st Investec Test at Cardiff, July 08 - 11, 2015

Get cricket scorecard of 1st Investec Test, ENG vs AUS, Australia tour of England and Ireland 2015 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff dated July 08 - 11, 2015.

www.espncricinfo.com

Buttler got dropped after that series but Hales and Taylor come in which makes it impossible again. Don't think it's happened any time recently.

What’s the most number of centurions any teams had? India had 9 too after Jayant Yadav’s 100 iirc.

 

[Arachnodouche]

He really has been pretty consistent so far in his short Test career in terms of getting those starts, three fifties in eight innings is a solid start. Beautiful to watch, would be so bitter sweet to get him early!

heh you're a truer cricket fan than I am! Admired Lara, Mark Waugh, etc over and above ppl from my own team, but would never feel a twinge to see their back early. Appreciation best reserved when they're hammering other sides

 

[silentstriker]

Even on this pitch, I don't think you want three spinners. I would pick Ashwin and Yadav. I just don't rate Axar and while I admire Sundar's batting and his maturity, he is simply not there as a bowler.