Maybe this is just bias against batsmen but a horses for courses policy for batsmen feels more degrading for the batsman concerned than it does for bowlers. Bowlers are mostly given leeway to thrive or toil based on conditions; so should batsmen, ideally, but there seems more criticism leveled at someone who's batting out of his element. I suppose we expect the latter to find a way through batting technique alone which ultimately is fully self-contained as opposed to bowlers who always have the middle-mode of the wicket to enhance or detract from their effectiveness regardless of bowling technique.Yeah but the jury's still out on this Indian batting lineup IMO. Rohit's mind seems elsewhere at times, Jaiswal looks an incredible talent but he's been around five minutes. Gill's Test record is abysmal, and Kohli is still in the latter stages of his career. Iyer will be fine at home, granted, his problems are away from home.
That's the key bit. Even on this pitch, you suspect that the Test level seamers would be somewhat more problematic to Indian batsmen that Rehan and Hartley. The run rate would certainly be massively different. It's even more concerning that Root has outbowled them too.Aye, it's especially weird since we had success in Pakistan not long ago playing a three man pace attack of Anderson/Robinson/Wood on unhelpful surfaces, with Leach backed up by Root plus random allrounders like Jacks for spin duties. The seamers keeping things tight and chipping away at wickets were key there. Seems odd to now bench Test calibre seam bowlers for County reserve level spinners.
At this rate, we might not even win the series...
So far this Test has gone a lot along the lines of the Nagpur game last year. I won't be surprised if, as in that game, India bat for an hour more tomorrow and then wrap up an innings win by Tea. With the variable bounce worsening and at least one use of the surface-breaking heavy roller all but certain in the morning tomorrow, England's batters may all be caught like cats on hot tin roofs. Possibly Root aside, they might try slogging their way out of trouble and lose their stumps to the spin trio.That's the key bit. Even on this pitch, you suspect that the Test level seamers would be somewhat more problematic to Indian batsmen that Rehan and Hartley. The run rate would certainly be massively different. It's even more concerning that Root has outbowled them too.
I somewhat doubt this match will see Day 4, India to be bowling for a little spell before Lunch and then clean everything up sometime after Tea.
Bring back Monty PanesarTheres not much we can do about our batting, but if they had selected
say Anderson Yobbo Leach Dawson with Root as support, they still have
3 spinners and a proper new ball attack. Goin into a test with 2 rookie
spinners with so little FC experience is sheer foolhardiness. Innings
defeat looming.
It's like they've all fallen in with a cultEven Jeetan Patel is arrogant/delusional you take your pick
In sports where there is a score, I think every sane person in the world looks at the score.
I guess this means we'll be moral winners again.Even Jeetan Patel is arrogant/delusional you take your pick
In sports where there is a score, I think every sane person in the world looks at the score.
This Indian team is a really tough proposition at home because of their spin options.I really feel that the BGT series last year demonstrated that this India team are not invincible. That was not by any means a vintage Australian side that turned up but they ran this Indian team mighty close. But you have to respect the conditions, plan and strategise sensibly and bowl with a ton of control.
However that was on different pitches to what this seems to be.
a pinnacle of Shady Slim Thought is not just picking spinners for the sake of it when you tour the subcontinent and thinking bowling on subcontinent wickets are spin go brrrrrrrr; nine times out of eight a really good pace bowler will do better than your average mediocre spinner unless it’s the sort of pitch where dean elgar could rip a five for like that nagpur one
and yet many WANGS touring teams all fall for this trap again and again
If he had actually done that it would have been a substantial improvement over what he produced.
Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar are incredibly difficult to play in India but there’s a reason why they’re not automatic selections in many other countriesTom’s actually right, he was just terrible at doing it. It’s why sc results are rightly regarded as less important. Any able bodied human can bowl finger spin, and rewarding that sort of mediocrity is second rate
I mean the main reason for this is because they play for the same team (Ashwin and Jadeja that is, I still don't really rate Axar)Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar are incredibly difficult to play in India but there’s a reason why they’re not automatic selections in many other countries
Because India also have some pretty decent seamers who are better suited to conditions abroad ?Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar are incredibly difficult to play in India but there’s a reason why they’re not automatic selections in many other countries