***Official*** England in India

[Jono]

They didn't cause Pakistan much trouble because Pakistan's batsmen know how to play pace bowling, and because Pakistanis invented reverse-swing. India are going to have to get their act together if they want to avoid being exposed, as England's pace bowlers are superior to Pakistan's as a unit. Pakistan benefitted from Shoaib on top form and Kaneria being more than effective. The other bowlers, particularly Sami, showed very little, despite Rana Naved's useful showing.

You honestly believe Pakistani batsman play pace bowling better than Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar?

That being said, England's pace attack will be a threat, just like it was a threat in the first test against Pakistan. Its whether the Indian batsman can see off that threat is the key issue. But saying that the reason Pakistan belted the English attack around was because the Pakistani batsmen are better against pace bowling than India's is pretty inaccurate IMO.

 

[Barney Rubble]

You honestly believe Pakistani batsman play pace bowling better than Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar?

That being said, England's pace attack will be a threat, just like it was a threat in the first test against Pakistan. Its whether the Indian batsman can see off that threat is the key issue. But saying that the reason Pakistan belted the English attack around was because the Pakistani batsmen are better against pace bowling than India's is pretty inaccurate IMO.

Erm.....having read back what I said again, it does seem like I was talking out of my ****. Ignore all that. I think I was just clutching at straws, or maybe just being really biased. Either way, forget it, just the ramblings of a mad Englishman.

 

[Jono]

Lol, ramblings are fine.

But considering what McGrath and Gillespie have done in India in the past, I do think the English pace attack will be a threat if they're on song. For India to win the home series, which I believe they will likely do, they'll have to counter them with good batting like they did in 2001 against Australia. That or the English pace attack will just be overworked due to the lack of a spinner to take up enough overs (because I believe that whoever plays as a spinner will get taken to like in Pakistan).

 

[aussie]

That or the English pace attack will just be overworked due to the lack of a spinner to take up enough overs (because I believe that whoever plays as a spinner will get taken to like in Pakistan).

dont think this will happen, because unlike Pakistan, India will have pitches that will assist spin & whoever spins it for Englad will get assistance this time around.

 

[Deja moo]

dont think this will happen, because unlike Pakistan, India will have pitches that will assist spin & whoever spins it for Englad will get assistance this time around.

Well, with exceptions, the quicks have traditionally won series' for visiting teams in India. Teams shouldnt be concentrating too much on the horses for courses policy when it comes to winning games here.

 

[honestbharani]

Collingwood would be more dangerous than Udal.



But the English pacers will be a distinct threat. Esp. since they have now noticed the INDian's failings when faced with fast inswing bowling.

 

[Pratters]

Just because a few comments from the man stirred quite a reaction among people in the England-Pakistan thread, here are the comments of Trescothic on the India-Englad series.

Trescothick tips England to win against India

London, Feb. 7 (PTI): England opener Marcus Trescothick, has tipped his side to win against India in the upcoming series, saying the debacle against Pakistan would spur the team to deliver the goods this time around on the sub-continent.

"We will make a bigger effort knowing we didn't perform in Pakistan. There is something for us to live up to again now," said the batsman ahead of the side's departure to India on Sunday.

Trescothick said the Test defeat to Pakistan late last year was probably the "kick" that his side needed to perform better.

"It is never plain sailing where you win every game and series as you would like to; sometimes you need to take a step back to realise what you need to do to move to the next level or what you have not done to get there as yet. We have to learn from it as much as we can," he was quoted as saying by Press Association.

Trescothick said the side was praying that spinner Ashley Giles would recover in time although there was the option to play the Indian-origin bowler Monty Panesar.

"Fingers crossed Ashley is going to become fit at some stage and be with us... Monty is a totally different cricketer, so if he comes in the dynamics of the team will change," he said.

"But we will have to assess it when we are out there, think on our feet a little bit, see how things go and work out the game plan and team make-up when we are out there," he added.

 

[luckyeddie]

Quite refreshing that...

How long before it is translated into "Arrogant Trescothick says England will win 3-0" ?

Incidentally, no Giles. Blackwell called up.

 

[GIMH]

Giles is out, Blackwell in, as expected

 

[Jono]

Tresco sounds more and more like a captain every day. Drop Vaughan from your ODI side already

Anyway, as an Indian fan I hope Blackwell gets a game I have to admit I'm happy Giles is out, and not because I see him ripping 5-fers against India, but rather I fear that the same old negative line tactic may have been used again this series. And what's worse, it may have worked. I don't think Blackwell is disciplined enough to do that IMO. Logically one would think he won't get a game anyway, with Udal apparently England's front-line spinner now, and Panesar selected ahead of Blackwell too.

 

[simmy]

Love to see Panesar start above Udal..

Udal simply wont take wickets so you may as well take a chance on wickets from Panesar!

 

[Neil Pickup]

Going off performances in Pakistan... Udal > Harbhajan. Discuss.

 

[Jono]

Discuss?

Please England selectors, believe that what Neil said is true and play Udal as a front line spinner.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I just think that Udal's getting a little bit of harsh treatment in some quarters, given Harbhajan's return in the last series was 0/355.

Udal's not as bad as his Test average suggests.

 

[Jono]

Two of the three tests Udal bowled in had results, whereas the two tests Harbhajan bowled in didn't even have 4 innings of batting.

Yes Udal bowled on flat wickets, however the two Harbhajan bowled on were a fair bit worse. In particular the first test, which everyone knows was one of the flattest wickets ever.

There's no doubt Harbhajan has been in poor form though, and he didn't bowl well all tour. Maybe you're right, and Udal isn't as bad as some of those here make him out to be. I mean after day 1 of the 1st test a few were claiming he should be in for Giles permanently, but that changed quickly. I just can't see him troubling the Indian batsman, even on turning wickets, if the Indians were able to handle Murali fairly well. It would just make no sense at all if he had a good tour.

 

[aussie]

I just think that Udal's getting a little bit of harsh treatment in some quarters, given Harbhajan's return in the last series was 0/355.

Udal's not as bad as his Test average suggests.

all true, hopefully though Gilo recovers fast & could make it to India before the test series concludes.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I just think that Udal's getting a little bit of harsh treatment in some quarters, given Harbhajan's return in the last series was 0/355.

Udal's not as bad as his Test average suggests.

No, he's not - but then, even I'm probably not that bad.

 

[TIF]

India, have just announced their Board President's XI squad to take on England. The only real surprise was - Pravin Kumar's ommision.

Also, India, is very desperate to find a tearaway pace-bowler for the national team and so, both VRV Singh and Munaf Patel have been selected alongwith Sreesanth, with 3 tearaway pacers in action and playing in the same conditions, it will the real test for the 3 young pacers. Also, Venugopal, who is the next in line for a test spot, is captaining the team.

However, there is an unknown player Pragyan Ojha selected. Anybody knows anything about Pragyan Ojha?

Just noticed that this is my 1st post in this thread!

 

[Arjun]

The Board President's XI for the tour match has already been announced.

Board XI squad Venugopal Rao (capt), Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, S. Badrinath, Dinesh Karthik, Dheeraj Jadhav, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, Ramesh Powar, SS Paul, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, VRV Singh.

Whether England will really face a hostile reception is a question to be answered, but this Board XI definitely looks stronger than the full-strength Indian side. Three of them may (or should) get into the national team sooner than later.

 

[Arjun]

India, have just announced their Board President's XI squad to take on England. The only real surprise was - Pravin Kumar's ommision.

Also, India, is very desperate to find a tearaway pace-bowler for the national team and so, both VRV Singh and Munaf Patel have been selected alongwith Sreesanth, with 3 tearaway pacers in action and playing in the same conditions, it will the real test for the 3 young pacers. Also, Venugopal, who is the next in line for a test spot, is captaining the team.

However, there is an unknown player Pragyan Ojha selected. Anybody knows anything about Pragyan Ojha?

Just noticed that this is my 1st post in this thread!

This should be the XI:

• Jaffer
• Gambhir
• Venugopal
• Raina
• Badrinath
• Dinesh Karthik (WK)
• Munaf Patel (RMF)
• Powar (OB)
• VR Singh (RFM?)
• Mishra (LB)
• Sreesanth

With Ojha, Paul and Jadhav on the bench. Ojha is a left-arm-spinner for Hyderabad, who has been moderately successful in the last two seasons, but mostly in one or two matches. He's still got 33 wickets in 7 matches, but not someone you would expect to replace Harbhajan tomorrow.