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

[Daemon]

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.

Man with all the injuries around, Aswin/Bumrah’s enormous workloads plus Ishant only just coming back from injury, I’d be very uncomfortable with 4 bowlers. No Vihari to bowl part timers either.

 

[Arachnodouche]

You play two spinners in India, period. Pitches take turn and more often than not, you have to ration for being in the field for at least a hundred overs. Who's going to pick up the slack if Ashwin's back acts up again? Siraj and two seamers that have both missed games recently on account of injuries? Makes no sense.

 

[centurymaker]

Yeah have to play 3 spinners given Ashwin's workload and his fragile back.

 

[silentstriker]

You play two spinners in India, period. Pitches take turn and more often than not, you have to ration for being in the field for at least a hundred overs. Who's going to pick up the slack if Ashwin's back acts up again? Siraj and two seamers that have both missed games recently on account of injuries? Makes no sense.

I would rather play Bumrah/Siraj/Ishant/Ashwin/Yadav than two-seamers and three spinners.

I just don't think the third spinner adds enough and is way more likely to get carted around the park than our pick of a third seamer.

 

[Arachnodouche]

I would rather play Bumrah/Siraj/Ishant/Ashwin/Yadav than two-seamers and three spinners.

I just don't think the third spinner adds enough and is way more likely to get carted around the park than our pick of a third seamer.

Oh my bad, you probably meant Yadav as in Kuldeep? Few drinks down here....yeah, I agree in the main, but not entirely comfortable leaving Sundar out given how unpredictable the batting is. And as mediocre as he was last time out, he can still turn his arm over in a manner befitting a professional bowler. Can't turn your nose up at that.

 

[Gnske]

Yeah same with Bumrah, he bends his arm over like a professional despite everything.

 

[Deleted member 38150]

I hope/wish Rohit finds some form this test at least.. If not, mayank should get his place as opener again. His domestic numbers are fabulous and will have more patience than what rohit has shown so far.. Every test I wish and pray rohit makes justice to his talents and every time I get disappointed big time by him throwing his wicket away when he is good nick.. it's really tough being his fan in tests..

 

[honestbharani]

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

They really want to win the WT20 as well. And to be fair to them, they have a better shot of doing that than winning the WTC right now, so it kinda makes sense?

 

[Niall]

Yeah I'd like to think India will say to Rohit he has to perform in this test or bring in Agarwal.

Why should India persist with him if he can't do it in India?

He's going be be so bad in England opening v Anderson.

 

[honestbharani]

Axar Patel debut confirmed.

India will hope he turns H4Xar Patel against England.

 

[Niall]

DARTS

 

[Shri]

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.

 

[Burgey]

Calling on Bumrah to be rested is controversial tstl

 

[OverratedSanity]

Bumrah rested. What. Series is on the line here ffs.

 

[Shri]

Bumrah rested. What. Series is on the line here ffs.

good call imo

always felt like we were over bowling him and i don't want him getting injured anytime soon

if this is a bunsen, it won't matter really

 

[honestbharani]

So apart from Bumrah, we are playing the side we would have played in the first test had Axar not picked up the stupid injury. Batting first sounds fun on this track. Good. Finally a toss win for Virat. Hopefully end of the Panauti days for him from now.

 

[honestbharani]

I feel Siraj and Ishant maybe much of a muchness on this track but they do attack the stumps a lot, and can reverse the ball, so it could work out fine for us.

 

[JOJOXI]

I took it as Poth was referencing the 10/11 tour. If memory serves Finn was our top wicket taker for the first three tests, but was going at over 4 an over so was dropped for Bresie-lad as a "bowl dry" theory.

Whatever Bess's merits as a bowler, economy isn't yet one of them.

Is weird Finn is seemingly so much yesterday's man though, yeah. Younger than Woakes, Broad and Anderson.

Oh, and welcome back, obvz.

Would never have assumed he's younger then Woakes! Although I just remember Woakes getting good runs and wickets for Warwickshire and me thinking of him as a really young prospect so perhaps that thought has somewhat remained with me even now he is a fully-fledged international cricketer

 

[Daemon]

I think we should've rested Bumrah in the third test instead where Shami would have potentially been ready to play.

Rooting for Siraj tho, anyone seen how he is with reverse?

 

[OverratedSanity]

good call imo

always felt like we were over bowling him and i don't want him getting injured anytime soon

if this is a bunsen, it won't matter really

He barely bowled in the 2nd innings of the 1st test. I want them to be cautious about Bumrah's workload too but weirdly resting him when 1-0 down just makes me more concerned that they think his back might give out any game.