*Official* Second Test at Lord's - Aug 12-16 2021

[Flem274*]

rahane has a ton at #3, really wouldn't mind him there tbh. all his best knocks have come against gun pacers, not so much gun spinners.

you could even swap him with pujara who seems allergic to scoring straight off the quicks sometimes.

 

[BoyBrumby]

looked up luke wright and he has 50 odis and 50 t20s despite really struggling. how tf did that happen. i know england had a lean era, but surely you get the idea after 20-30 matches?

There was a lot of wishful thinking from the selectors in Wright, L's career. He was probably as close as we had to an allrounder in the post-Flintoff, pre-Stokes interregnum.

On paper he was an attractive package; scores quickly, athletic fielder, able to send it down at 85mph+; probably kept him in and around the team long after his output justified it.

 

[Daemon]

Australia was 6 months ago though, not 6 years.

This reminds me of people writing off Dravid 10 years ago.

Nah come on, Dravid was one of the GOAT Indian batsmen against swing.

Pujara, over his career, averages 26 in England. 20 in NZ. 20 in WI. 30 in SA.

His method obviously works in Australia for some reason. I think, he tires the bowlers out, seems to frustrate them and gets runs when the Kookaburra's seam is bashed in. This method does not appear to work in England where the ball is swinging and seaming even when it's due for a change and the bowlers don't tire because of the friendly weather.

Like OS said, pick him at home and in SC conditions, but for this tour I wouldn't back him.

Hope he makes me eat my words.

 

[silentstriker]

Can we stop the comparisons please. A few months ago someone said they would take Pujara over Dravid in an all-time side and I was flabbergasted.

 

[OverratedSanity]

He doesn't need to be Dravid to warrant s place in the current team tbf. Hope he makes me taste it here. Ball isn't doing that much at all.

 

[Flem274*]

Can we stop the comparisons please. A few months ago someone said they would take Pujara over Dravid in an all-time side and I was flabbergasted.

bet dravid wished he had the current attack

 

[shashy]

Of his four tours to England, Dravid was TWICE named Player of the Series ('02 and '11)

 

[Howe_zat]

I don’t really mean to compare him to Dravid tbh. I just think he’s class and writing him off is silly.

 

[Flem274*]

kohli has played 45 of his 94 tests against australia and england

that has to be up there for number of tests against country/bloc vs total played proportions for a non-ashes player

 

[Howe_zat]

Ok so 8 runs in 45 minutes is a *bit* weird

 

[a massive zebra]

Have the Indian batsmen forgotten it is necessary to score runs to win a cricket match?

 

[silentstriker]

I don’t really mean to compare him to Dravid tbh. I just think he’s class and writing him off is silly.

it’s not writing off his previous contributions - even recent ones like in Australia. But you gotta keep scoring or make way for someone who can. Go back to FC cricket, score runs and earn the spot again.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Have the Indian batsmen forgotten it is necessary to score runs to win a cricket match?

There's only one winner in this Test from here. Hopefully these two can bat the rest of the day and gain some confidence.

 

[Flem274*]

it’s not writing off his previous contributions - even recent ones like in Australia. But you gotta keep scoring or make way for someone who can. Go back to FC cricket, score runs and earn the spot again.

who bats #3 then?

 

[Flem274*]

surely kohli knows he's on camera and is shaking his head for them lol no one sits outside shaking their head constantly for half an hour.

 

[cnerd123]

these two doing the right thing. Occupy the crease, be patient, find some form. Surviving this session is the main priority. Can re-asses at Tea

 

[Daemon]

I don’t really mean to compare him to Dravid tbh. I just think he’s class and writing him off is silly.

Sorry if I’m coming off as unnecessarily aggressive btw. I was just aghast that someone who hasn’t lived our painful experience wrt playing in England had the audacity to comment on it.

 

[shashy]

who bats #3 then?

Give Agarwal a shot I reckon. He's already got a couple of double centuries to his name (albeit one was against Bangladesh)

 

[Arachnodouche]

I'm glad there's finally some discussion around the recent stagnation in Pujara's attacking game, such as it is. Been easy to ridicule these concerns with #intent, but it has obviously affected his game in several other aspects.

 

[Daemon]

Agarwal/Vihari played some good knocks against a good WI attack in swinging conditions. Vihari didn’t impress in his CC stint but deserves a chance.

Easwaran also exists.