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***Official*** 4th Test @ The Oval, London - 2nd-6th September

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
"But what about my ego bro? How do I go back to Ash again after not picking him for the entire series"
How does that matter? Everyone knows its a team game. Ash was super gracious at Lords in his youtube show when he mentioned his selection depends on overhead conditions. But when Ishant is out, I think the simple play would have been to get Ash in and let Umesh sit out. I dunno why we need 4 seamers when 3 can't do the job. The only reason to play 4 seamers is if one of them is an allrounder or if your spinner is useless. Ashwin has been the best spinner in the world for ages now. This is just silly.
 

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
Whatever improvements are there in his captaincy get undone by these kind of stupid decision making and ego stroking. I hope Rohit gets a crack at captaincy.
I dont think Rohit is beyond stupid decisions like this either but the worry with Virat is how he seems to be like a dog with a bone with his ideas. Its fine to have certain ideas and beliefs but when it is shown they are not working, you have to move away from it. It seems like for Ashwin to play, we need Hardik Pandya in the side. That is beyond stupid.
 

Lillian Thomson

Hall of Fame Member
Good to see Pope force his way back in by playing a handful of white ball matches and not making any runs since being dropped.
 

mackembhoy

International Regular
The last Test of the summer is usually around now and not September, when Surrey have their last two CC games at the Oval. I'd think the county fixtures are usually settled after the Test ones, but if Surrey have a say in that, maybe they wanted to finish at home.
Surrey making up their own rules. Never.

Kent had to field a second XI in the championship due to Covid.

One case for Surrey and they don't have to play the game
 

OverratedSanity

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Kohli has always had a 4 pacer obsession. He even selected 5 pacers once on a tour to sa which funnily enough we ended up winning because sa made the same mistake. Would even have preferred another batsman if ashwin wasn't picked tbh.

Perhaps because he doesn’t get picked when conditions don’t suit him.

But surprised England opted to bowl first here.
We should only pick him on Australian tours so he can embarrass Smith again I agree.
 
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honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
The amount of grass left on the surface indicates this is a pitch they have tried to prepare to instructions. Now whether it backfires or whether the actual ground conditions aid preparation per said instructions remains to be seen. But it seems obvious they wanted it to retain the green.
 

Teja.

Global Moderator
Selection even more idiotic because Ashwin has been a properly good bowler in SENA for ages now.

Between 2011 and 2015, He played 9 tests in SENA and took 24 wickets @ 56.5.

He did not play in those conditions in 2016 and 2017.

Since 2018, he has taken 43 wickets in 12 tests @ 28.2 in SENA.

He is also improving rapidly. Since 2020, he has taken 19 wickets in 5 tests @ 25.78.

He was possibly our best bowler over the Australia tour and the WTC test including taking out Smith 3 times in 3 tests.

Completely inexcusable omission even if the replacements do well.
 

Spark

Global Moderator
The amount of grass left on the surface indicates this is a pitch they have tried to prepare to instructions. Now whether it backfires or whether the actual ground conditions aid preparation per said instructions remains to be seen. But it seems obvious they wanted it to retain the green.
Idk this feels like the kind of grass that looks impressive rather than really does anything. I expect it'll dry out within an hour or two of sunlight and it'll be an absolute dream to bat on after that.
 

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