*Official* 4th Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 4 - 8 Mar 2021

[Spark]

would be a shame if the wtc final is rained out

should flex and shift the match to india

"Rained out no result" would be just the result this fatally compromised tournament deserves

 

[Pothas]

They looked mentally a bit gone on Day 1 tbh. They tried hard with the ball, but realistically I don't think they could have put together a defensible total in the third innings even if they'd squeaked out a lead.

Probably not no but India would have at least have to chase something.

As I say 3rd Test was the one.

 

[wpdavid]

They looked mentally a bit gone on Day 1 tbh. They tried hard with the ball, but realistically I don't think they could have put together a defensible total in the third innings even if they'd squeaked out a lead.

Yeah, I think there's been an element of the mental approach to batting at times. And that's more accurate than whoever it was referred to some sort of moral failing. Day 1 in the 3rd test is one example, and Day 1 here is another. Recognising that India have been much the better side shouldn't preclude some sort of discussion about where England should have been better.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

would be a shame if the wtc final is rained out

Don't worry, I believe it's in June.

 

[OverratedSanity]

They looked mentally a bit gone on Day 1 tbh. They tried hard with the ball, but realistically I don't think they could have put together a defensible total in the third innings even if they'd squeaked out a lead.

They had India 140-6 before pant went nuts. It's a much closer test than the final margin makes it seem because if he'd gone cheaply, India could've been chasing a very nervy 150 odd right now.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah, I think there's been an element of the mental approach to batting at times. And that's more accurate than whoever it was referred to some sort of moral failing. Day 1 in the 3rd test is one example, and Day 1 here is another. Recognising that India have been much the better side shouldn't preclude some sort of discussion about where England should have been better.

Oh yeah that is definitely part of it but look at Pope this series, he has really tried digging in at times and faced a lot of balls, he has tried to be proactive at others, he has tried really really hard. Just not been up to it.

 

[James]

would be a shame if the wtc final is rained out

Should make WTC Finals timeless Tests

 

[wpdavid]

Oh yeah that is definitely part of it but look at Pope this series, he has really tried digging in at times and faced a lot of balls, he has tried to be proactive at others, he has tried really really hard. Just not been up to it.

Yes, I agree about Pope. His approach to facing the spinners does make me question how he's been advised, but basically he was out of his depth. Hopefully he'll come again, but Lawrence has probably overtaken him in the pecking order at the start of next season unless Stokes is unavailable, when they'll both play.

EDIT
I think I've just seen who you meant by the 'moral' reference. A couple of quality posts there.

 

[Pothas]

Would hope they would both play anyway. Would be very disappointed if Pope is not in the team for the summer.

 

[wpdavid]

Would hope they would both play anyway. Would be very disappointed if Pope is not in the team for the summer.

I know we're going off topic, but I'll politely disagree if one of them has to play at 3 in the summer. If Stokes is available, I reckon they're competing for the number 6 slot.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I don't have any concerns about Pope in England - except maybe now that Marcus Trescothick has been appointed batting coach.

 

[sunilz]

Scoreline line of current and last IND -ENG series doesn't indicate how close both the series were.

 

[Pothas]

I know we're going off topic, but I'll politely disagree if one of them has to play at 3 in the summer. If Stokes is available, I reckon they're competing for the number 6 slot.

Definitely not ideal but long term I think we are better off having Lawrence in the team than Burns.

If only Root could bat 3....

 

[Pothas]

Scoreline line of current and last IND -ENG series doesn't indicate how close both the series were.

Haha this is very generous to England.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Haha this is outrageously generous to England.

I think he's making the point that the scorelines don't tell you that one was a close series and the other was not.

 

[wpdavid]

I think he's making the point that the scorelines don't tell you that one was a close series and the other was not.

I think it's fair to say that England had their chances in all three tests that they lost in this series. I don't remember that being the case four years ago.

 

[Pothas]

I think he's making the point that the scorelines don't tell you that one was a close series and the other was not.

Oh yeah probably.

 

[White Ball]

After this series defeat will England have an inquiry like the one after they lost the 2006 Ashes? I want to see plans outlined.

 

[anil1405]

Team selections from England were a bit baffling. The team for 4th test would've been better suited for 3rd test and vice versa.

Playing for the spin, especially to Axar who doesnt spin the ball much was surprising. I don't know if I have seen so many overseas batsmen get out to straight deliveries as they have this series.

I know players wellbeing was given a priority but Moeen's services would've been pretty handy in Ahmedabad.

 

[Shri]

wonder if shami won't play the wtc final given how he'll be out of fc match practice

siraj is a nice enough replacement i guess