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

[Burgey]

Excellent day, all told, for India.

Rohit was absolutely awesome and showed why we put up with the lows he can bring. A definite SehWAG innings if ever there was one.

Rahane, once set, is such a different batsman to the one who first walks in. It was an absolute pity that the controversy of that decision happened around him and he played this ridiculous shot. I guess he shoud have been inside the pavilion anyways so it does not matter but the shot was still disappointing.

I usually dont mind players who get out early in their innings as it can happen to the best of them but I hate it when batsmen gift it away after being set and that is what Pujara, Rahane and Ashwin did today IMO. Those were the 3 most disappointing strokes. Gill and Kohli misjudging on 0 is fine and Rohit getting out to a shot that brought him like a 100 runs is fine too.

A word on the umpiring. What happened around the Rahane review was shameful and farcical. I can only assume there was some communication error as the umpire did not check the part the players wanted him to check. Coz otherwise, it really does look like the umpire was in a hurry to give it not out which is idiotic and just so unfair to England. At least common sense prevailed and they gave the review back to England. It does not make up for the poor decision but at least it did not penalize them for appealing correctly, lol.

And I thought the Rohit stumping was a fair enough decision as the umpire could not have been sure no part of the leg was behind the line. As long as the umpiring remains consistent in this application of the benefit of doubt to batsmen in such decisions.

I said at the start that I feel 350 will be par here and it seems to be going that way, although I feel a team can win with a total much lesser than 350 here given how much it is turning.

Ok

 

[artvandalay]

It seems as though the england team have given the indians a strategy to counter spin by sweeping anything outside off but they look mighty unnatural playing it. Apart from pant and maybe rahul I don't know that many Indian batsmen are even encouraged to sweep. Gambhir mentioned it sometime ago. Afaik even vijay used to sweep the odd occasion but i don't remember sehwag, laxman, dravid, ganguly using it much despite how well they played spin.

 

[theegyptian]

I usually dont mind players who get out early in their innings as it can happen to the best of them but I hate it when batsmen gift it away after being set and that is what Pujara, Rahane and Ashwin did today IMO. Those were the 3 most disappointing strokes. Gill and Kohli misjudging on 0 is fine and Rohit getting out to a shot that brought him like a 100 runs is fine too.

IMO it's the kind of wicket where the bowling team are always going to create chances so no batsman is ever going to be set.

 

[honestbharani]

It seems as though the england team have given the indians a strategy to counter spin by sweeping anything outside off but they look mighty unnatural playing it. Apart from pant and maybe rahul I don't know that many Indian batsmen are even encouraged to sweep. Gambhir mentioned it sometime ago. Afaik even vijay used to sweep the odd occasion but i don't remember sehwag, laxman, dravid, ganguly using it much despite how well they played spin.

In the current crop, only Pujara, Virat and Rahane do not play the sweep. Ashwin if you wanna include him in the batters. Others can all and do play the sweep and various variations of it. The trouble is those 3 have pretty much always been our MO for a while now.

 

[Prince EWS]

Axar used to have a 50+ FC average. Shame that its declined, was one of the best examples of ranji stats dont mean ****.

I think he does still have a 45+ average in the Ranji Trophy, it's dragged down by a poor record for Durham and India A I believe... which if anything helps your point.

 

[honestbharani]

Might be good to jam a good knock here though. I will take that for now.

 

[Gremlin]

What was the verdict on Moeen's bowling?

I've only been able to see about 90 minutes play and thought he was bowling well, without luck and there was some very good batting on this pitch.

 

[theegyptian]

Ehh? Sibley has improved massively against spin recently and burns is an excellent player of spin in general. Profile bet says one of them makes 50+

I agree with JMay on this for sure. Sibley has improved massively but you need a strong offensive game in conditions like this and he doesn't have that. He's likely to be a sitting duck tomorrow imo. I'm not quite sure what you are basing the analysis of Burns on because I haven't seen much to suggest he is an excellent player of spin, although he does have a bit more of an attacking game to help counter the bowlers.

 

[honestbharani]

Anyways, Chepauk.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Anyways, Chepauk.


View attachment 27271

All I can hear are chants of "CSK CSK CSK".

 

[BoyBrumby]

What was the verdict on Moeen's bowling?

I've only been able to see about 90 minutes play and thought he was bowling well, without luck and there was some very good batting on this pitch.

Produced a couple of worldies for his wickets, but didn't offer the control I think he'd been brought in to provide. Root actually bowled tighter when he gave himself a trundle.

Although the "how" may've been different, 2/112 @ 4.31 RPO look quite Bess-like figures.

 

[Kirkut]

True, but objectively Kohli being an emotional guy spending all his energy in the field trying to abuse the oppn players (even his team mates). Captain should be a calm person who spends his time thinking about the match situation, analyze them and form planst to win the game then and there.. think on your feet, literally.. If you spend all your time in the fielddoing thetrics and to appear like a warrior or something in TV, you dont have time to think about anything else.. Lot of time, kohli simply acts like he is acting out in a movie or something.. this works out great when you play well.. But when not in form, it looks so pathetic

Well there is a trade off here. Kohli does appear brash but it is him who has played a critical role in developing our fast bowlers.

Dhoni was calm and gentlemanly, but Shami, Ishant and Umesh all seemed to bowl at a lower gear under him.

 

[Manee]

Could be interesting tomorrow. India could go 320 all out or 450+ depending on Pant and Axar.

 

[Kirkut]

Someone in the opposition needs to do a Kesrick Williams to bring Kohli in his zone again.

 

[sunilz]

Mumbai 2012 deja vu anyone ?

 

[silentstriker]

I don’t actually know how this thing is gonna play exactly. IMO need around 375-400.

 

[Pup Clarke]

If England brings all of Stone, Archer and Wood out here next summer and play two of them with Broad I think they’ll do pretty well.

Maybe even win a test.

Anderson to take all 20 in the pink ball day/night test and put his feet up for the rest of the series. Warner to not score a run all series up against Archer and Broad when they bowl round the wicket. 3-1 England

 

[Prince EWS]

Anderson to take all 20 in the pink ball day/night test and put his feet up for the rest of the series.

Dropped after taking all twenty would be hilarious.

Dropped.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Haha
I know I bleat on about it, but feel Root could definitely back himself to bowl a few more overs. He's genuinely quite a decent part-timer imo, and could take a few in these conditions

 

[Kirkut]

Good days play for the pantster! Come back tommorow for more daily pant updates! Turn to page 3 for alleged IPL talks and page 5 for some spicy Kohli cheating theories!

For real? I get it you like Pant, but pant updatez?