***Official*** England in India

[Barney Rubble]

Come on Fred, show this young upstart Patel who's boss...

 

[TT Boy]

Congrats to Munaf Patel bowling the correct length to KP and his last over was exceptional to Collingwood, great lick as well.

 

[Salamuddin]

I'd suggest that, based on today's evidence, if that's him trying to control his line then he shouldn't bother...

An incredibly silly comment......give him a break....he's playing in his first test match.
You precious Harmison was decidedly worse in his first few games.

 

[adharcric]

Munaf has a deadly yorker. Helps that he's RFM and gets some reverse swing as well.

 

[adharcric]

Flintoff wants to celebrate his baby boy. How cheap, that's enough light, he's just afraid of Munaf's venom.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

England's bowlers might be devastating in these conditons. 300 or more is far away right now though, a job to be done.

 

[Salamuddin]

England have been lucky to win the toss again. I really want to see how their batsmen will fare batting second against Kumble and Harbhajan.

Hopefully in Mumbai.

 

[Salamuddin]

Oh and Irfan Pathan needs to pick up another 5kms in pace a t least if he wants to take wickets consistently against teams other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

 

[steds]

Flintoff wants to celebrate his baby boy. How cheap, that's enough light, he's just afraid of Munaf's venom.

I don't agree with teams taking the light unless it's actually dark and I can't see the conditions so I'll have to take your word for it, but don't think for a minute that the Indians or anyone else wouldn't take the light when offered it unless they had extremely favourable chances of getting a dominant position in the game. It wouldn't matter if Munaf was bowling or Dravid. They'd have still took it, as would India were they batting.

 

[steds]

England have been lucky to win the toss again.

Duh! Tossing hardly involves skill.

 

[adharcric]

I don't agree with teams taking the light unless it's actually dark and I can't see the conditions so I'll have to take your word for it, but don't think for a minute that the Indians or anyone else wouldn't take the light when offered it unless they had extremely favourable chances of getting a dominant position in the game. It wouldn't matter if Munaf was bowling or Dravid. They'd have still took it, as would India were they batting.

I won't dispute that. As a supporter of the bowling team, it's my right to accuse Flintoff.

 

[Salamuddin]

Munaf fooled Pietersen with his change of pace.

Man that 144.7 km/hr yorker certainly woke Paul "We will beat Pakistan 3-0" Collingwood up

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Munaf fooled Pietersen with his change of pace.

Man that 144.7 km/hr yorker certainly woke Paul "We will beat Pakistan 3-0" Collingwood up

Well it was almost 84mph so not exactly a slower ball. KP has been getting on the front foot all day, even with his defensive pushes to short-ish deliveries, and I think that's what did for him. Colly said "we will try to win 3-0" by the way.

 

[honestbharani]

Another Draw. Indians are becoming specialists in draws these days. I hate that.

 

[Jono]

Depends on the weather tomorrow really.

 

[adharcric]

Another Draw. Indians are becoming specialists in draws these days. I hate that.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Munaf's bowling pretty well and if he can run through the side like he did in the warmup match, this could change. The English bowlers could also generate some reverse swing. Don't forget that there are 3 potent spinners who could make a difference .. Kumble would be keen to get his 500th, Harbhajan to keep his place on his home ground and Chawla to get his first wicket. But if rain and bad light come our way .. then it's a bloody draw.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Munaf's bowling pretty well and if he can run through the side like he did in the warmup match, this could change. The English bowlers could also generate some reverse swing. Don't forget that there are 3 potent spinners who could make a difference .. Kumble would be keen to get his 500th, Harbhajan to keep his place on his home ground and Chawla to get his first wicket. But if rain and bad light come our way .. then it's a bloody draw.

If the weather continues to be overcast and damp then having to fill in overs with spinners should help England - who have 4 pace bowlers instead of India's 2 (especially if someone gets after Patel).

Anyways, another day another high percentage of bad dismissals.

 

[Jono]

Well the end of the day's play, and I would have been fairly disappointed had Pietersen still been there but with him back in the shed, India have done reasonably well.

I very much like the look of Patel and Chawla. Yes its very early days, particularly for Chawla, but even though KP took to him he hit the right spots immediately from ball 1 and has a very nice wrong-un. Patel's pace is great to see, and I don't understand all the complaints people had a few pages back. He may have been slower in his first spell due to nerves, attempting to swing the ball, no rhythm or anything of the sort. The fact that people were judging him immediately after his first spell ever in test cricket is flat out stupid. It really is.

His spell just before the end of the day where he troubled Collingwood and scalped KP was very impressive, and I think he's a future talent for sure. Glad to see him in the team.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Munaf fooled Pietersen with his change of pace.

Man that 144.7 km/hr yorker certainly woke Paul "We will beat Pakistan 3-0" Collingwood up

I'd prefer him to be known as Paul "189 undefeated runs in the series so far" Collingwood, thanks very much.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I'd suggest that, based on today's evidence, if that's him trying to control his line then he shouldn't bother...

Much improved once he let rip and stopped bothering with control. Reversing it too.