***Official*** England in India

[wpdavid]

Is that a call on Harmison? Because I'm thinking if Simon Jones was fit with Giles then Blackwell and Harmison would miss out on form!

Here's a fact for you. In tests since 1/12/2004, excluding those against Bang, SH averaged 40 per wicket before the current game. In comparison, Hoggard averaged
29, Flintoff 26 and Jones 24. If we were to play 2 spinners and everyone was fit, there's not a lot of justification for picking Harmison. Still, that's not the case here, so he plays.
However, things become more interesting in 9 months time when we're in Aus.

 

[TT Boy]

Here's a fact for you. In tests since 1/12/2004, excluding those against Bang, SH averaged 40 per wicket before the current game. In comparison, Hoggard averaged
29, Flintoff 26 and Jones 24. If we were to play 2 spinners and everyone was fit, there's not a lot of justification for picking Harmison. Still, that's not the case here, so he plays.
However, things become more interesting in 9 months time when we're in Aus.

I think Australian conditions would suit Harmison better, no way will two spinners play in Aus. He has been off the boil for a long time now but at least he contributed with the bat in this game, 39 priceless runs.

 

[PY]

Here's a fact for you. In tests since 1/12/2004, excluding those against Bang, SH averaged 40 per wicket before the current game. In comparison, Hoggard averaged
29, Flintoff 26 and Jones 24. If we were to play 2 spinners and everyone was fit, there's not a lot of justification for picking Harmison. Still, that's not the case here, so he plays.
However, things become more interesting in 9 months time when we're in Aus.

So it was, and I agreed with you.

 

[wpdavid]

I think Australian conditions would suit Harmison better, no way will two spinners play in Aus. He has been off the boil for a long time now but at least he contributed with the bat in this game, 39 priceless runs.

No, there's no way that we'll play 2 spinners in Aus. But unless Harmison's form improves, there should be a real questions as to whether he deserves to be in the side, especially with guys like Plunkett coming along.

 

[wpdavid]

So it was, and I agreed with you.

Actually, it wasn't only Harmison I was querying. If Collingwood keeps playing like me has in the last 2 tests, I don't think we can continue to assume that he shouldn't be in the starting XI. Jones' keeping has continued to be poor, and his batting doesn't come near to compensating, AFAICS. And if Panesar continues to impress, then that will be hard to ignore, although obviously it's very early days for him.

 

[wpdavid]

I just think the game may be heading for a draw, for England to get a substantial lead there will need play positively and that could be there downfall because the pitch is so damn slow and shots are hard to time- that may cost a few of are boys there wicket and may lead to England getting into a spot of bother. If England do have any ambition of winning the game, really would need at least 90 overs to bowl the Indians out. Can’t see Laxman, Sachin and Sehwag going cheaply again in the second innings.

Tomorrow's going to be a tough call for Fred if England have to declare. Ideally, they'll bat normally for a couple of sessions then see if they're in a position to blast away after tea. As you say, it won't be easy to up the pace though, and it may eventually come down to how brave Flintoff is feeling. It would almost be in England's interests to be bowlled out for 250 half an hour or so before close of play tomorrow.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Quietly impressive. Rather beautiful, high-armed orthodox action too. Bowled one that caught the edge of the rough and turned square, absolutely unplayable. His batting wasn't even quite as dog-rough as had been promised. He's a genuine 11, but not in the Malcolm/Tufnell/Mullally mold tho.

Blackwell looked well out of his depth tho, looks like the occasion got to him.

Sounds impressive, and it also sounds like he bowled a ripper today too.

Encouraging...

 

[SJS]

you seriously think the selectors would drop him from the SQUAD altogether in favor of a rookie?

Sorry. I misunderstood. I didnt mean the squad of course just the XI.

In fact, I was wondering why we are talking of Raina when the real contest for positions is between Laxman, Yuvraj and Kaif which started in the order just mentioned but may have changed to Yuvraj, Kaif, Laxman today.

Of course Laxman may still get runs in the second knock and frankly I rate him very highly indeed but I think Kaif has done his chances a hell of a lot of good today.

Its a good problem to have for the Indian team.. Laxman challenged by Yuvraj, Kaif and even Raina isnt something Indian fans should fret about. Individual heroes are important only to an extent but in the overall scheme of things I would be happy to have all of them in form and whosoever plays to get a hundred

 

[honestbharani]

Indeed, loads of people wrote Collingwood off based on three nightmare-ish Tests (in terms of difficulty) for a new guy and one other bad Test. I said all along that he was just the same skill as Bell with the bat and it's starting to show (I would also add that I think Collingwood has another gear than Bell).

You will see that I have been a rather solid Colly backer here, since the Ashes. He can fill a big void in this English side and I think he can do it better than Bell. But I suppose the English selectors have a problem of plenty here. Both are equally good players and they have the luxury of picking whoever is in better form. Or, perhaps, Vaughan's career is done for good and both these guys can play in the side.

 

[honestbharani]

laxman really cant play that incoming delivery can he. first asif, now hoggard.

It was his first ball. You have got to cut him some slack. I would rather blame blokes like Jaffer and Sachin and even Dhoni and Pathan, who had faced more than 10 or so balls and then gotten out. In fact, Sachin is like the worst culprit here. I HATE it when I see someone has played 45 balls without too much discomfort and then gets out.

 

[SJS]

It was his first ball. You have got to cut him some slack. I would rather blame blokes like Jaffer and Sachin and even Dhoni and Pathan, who had faced more than 10 or so balls and then gotten out. In fact, Sachin is like the worst culprit here. I HATE it when I see someone has played 45 balls without too much discomfort and then gets out.

Absolutely.

 

[adharcric]

Sorry. I misunderstood. I didnt mean the squad of course just the XI.

In fact, I was wondering why we are talking of Raina when the real contest for positions is between Laxman, Yuvraj and Kaif which started in the order just mentioned but may have changed to Yuvraj, Kaif, Laxman today.

Of course Laxman may still get runs in the second knock and frankly I rate him very highly indeed but I think Kaif has done his chances a hell of a lot of good today.

Its a good problem to have for the Indian team.. Laxman challenged by Yuvraj, Kaif and even Raina isnt something Indian fans should fret about. Individual heroes are important only to an extent but in the overall scheme of things I would be happy to have all of them in form and whosoever plays to get a hundred

Yeah I was talking about Kaif having secured his spot in the "squad" for the 2nd test over Raina, who will miss out now that Yuvraj returns. Honestly I don't think Kaif is in contention for the 5th batsman's spot even after this knock because Laxman was almost undroppably recently and Yuvraj is in blistering form. It comes down to a contest between those two, assuming we go in with 5 bowlers, which we should. If Laxman gets a big score in the 2nd innings (75+ or so), he should get the nod ... otherwise Yuvraj. Yuvi has the advantage of being a superb fielder, and the team would do well with at least one world-class fieldsman in Yuvraj, Kaif or Raina.

 

[honestbharani]

That's a daft shot, really off balance and result is a sitter for GoJo.

Eight down! It's dreamland!

Great jinxing there, Neil.

 

[adharcric]

I still can't comprehend Sachin's dismissal. Jaffer and Pathan got out chasing wide balls stupidly, that happens a lot. Dhoni has played too aggressively against seaming deliveries early on against Pakistan too and gotten out like he did today. But what the hell was Tendulkar thinking?

 

[Pedro Delgado]

I still can't comprehend Sachin's dismissal. Jaffer and Pathan got out chasing wide balls stupidly, that happens a lot. Dhoni has played too aggressively against seaming deliveries early on against Pakistan too and gotten out like he did today. But what the hell was Tendulkar thinking?

Even the genius can make a mistake.

 

[honestbharani]

Oh and congratulations to Mr Kumble on an excellent and well-timed fifty.

What is it with England and not being able to get leg-spinners out?

Really? How many did Kaneria get against them then?

 

[adharcric]

Oh and congratulations to Mr Kumble on an excellent and well-timed fifty.

What is it with England and not being able to get leg-spinners out?

Whatever it is, all the more reason to bring in Piyush Chawla in the 2nd test. Even if he doesn't take wickets, he'll surely score a half-century at least.

 

[neutralguy]

Even the genius can make a mistake.

But the genius has been making too many mistakes of late

 

[Barney Rubble]

But the genius has been making too many mistakes of late

Too many? As in "an unacceptable level"? As in "he should be dropped"? Give me a break.

 

[Top_Cat]

Indeed, loads of people wrote Collingwood off based on three nightmare-ish Tests (in terms of difficulty) for a new guy and one other bad Test. I said all along that he was just the same skill as Bell with the bat and it's starting to show (I would also add that I think Collingwood has another gear than Bell).

I'll put my hand up as another Colly-backer in the face of somewhat overwhelming opposition from a while back! However, I don't think he approaches Bell for raw batting talent. Bell seems to have a very bright future, more shots, etc. whereas Colly is peaking. As far as mental toughness goes, I definitely think Colly has the edge over Bell, though.

But the genius has been making too many mistakes of late

Point? And what's the penalty for his supposedly excessive amount of mistakes? To be dropped?