***Official*** England in India

[aussie]

I doubt it, I can't see England not picking Hoggard even if he is only going to have a minimal workload if the conditions don't help him.

well i'm only 85% sure..

 

[UncleTheOne]

I doubt it, I can't see England not picking Hoggard even if he is only going to have a minimal workload if the conditions don't help him.

Totally, I can't see England dropping any of their seamers to be honest. Collingwood probably won't play until Freddie returns to England for the birth of his child.

 

[aussie]

With Bell at 3?

why not he has the technique to bat their, plus vaughan in the middle looks a bit more solid..

 

[UncleTheOne]

why not he has the technique to bat their, plus vaughan in the middle looks a bit more solid..

Can't see what difference it would make to be honest, and with Vaughan's experience of playing as an opener I'd rather have him at 3 for when we lose an early wicket.

 

[aussie]

Can't see what difference it would make to be honest, and with Vaughan's experience of playing as an opener I'd rather have him at 3 for when we lose an early wicket.

well i wont mind either at #3..

 

[Autobahn]

Does anyone know if strauss has played at no.3 for any length of time?

 

[UncleTheOne]

Does anyone know if strauss has played at no.3 for any length of time?

He has spent some time there with Middlesex, he was shuffled around the order a lot there in his earlier days.

 

[alternative]

strauss actually looks better opening the batting with threscothick.. they have few good records together.. and would prefer to see vaughan come at 3, followed by bell..

 

[Autobahn]

And how did he play in that role?

 

[Anna]

Ah, Blackwell 6-57 & 59 in the 2nd innings Big up the cidermen

 

[Barney Rubble]

Ah, Blackwell 6-57 & 59 in the 2nd innings Big up the cidermen

Blackwell and Tres the main performers in this game - come on everyone else, keep up.

 

[UncleTheOne]

And how did he play in that role?

My memory is a little misty, but as I remember he was a middle order batsman when he first broke through and was very hit and miss, but this was earlier on in his career. He only started to really bloom when he was moved up the order. Justin Langer was a big influence on him when he was at Middlesex.

 

[TheEpic]

Predictions for England's side for the First Test.

If they choose to play one spinner:

Trescothick
Strauss
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
G Jones
Blackwell
Hoggard
S Jones
Harmison

If they play 2 spinners:

Trescothick
Strauss
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
G Jones
Blackwell
S Jones
Harmison
Panesar

 

[maxpower]

Only 3 Tests and 7 onedays arghh...I don't know how sucessful ENG bowlers will be in reverse swing like the ashes, due to the fact that in IND SG balls are used, not Kokabura which assist spinners a lot.

 

[marc71178]

Blackwell and Tres the main performers in this game - come on everyone else, keep up.

Erm, Bell?

 

[Barney Rubble]

Predictions for England's side for the First Test.

If they choose to play one spinner:

Trescothick
Strauss
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
G Jones
Blackwell
Hoggard
S Jones
Harmison

If they play 2 spinners:

Trescothick
Strauss
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
G Jones
Blackwell
S Jones
Harmison
Panesar

Spot on, I'd say. Collingwood is unlikely to play IMO, especially now Blackwell's started getting wickets.

 

[marc71178]

Spot on, I'd say. Collingwood is unlikely to play IMO, especially now Blackwell's started getting wickets.

I don't see that Blackwell's role is that though.

Throughout his career he has not been a wicket-taking bowler, so what is there to suggest he can suddenly do it against one of the best batting line-ups around?

More telling might be the fact that when he bowled to the middle order in this game he went at 6s, then took wickets against the tail.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I don't see that Blackwell's role is that though.

Throughout his career he has not been a wicket-taking bowler, so what is there to suggest he can suddenly do it against one of the best batting line-ups around?

More telling might be the fact that when he bowled to the middle order in this game he went at 6s, then took wickets against the tail.

I shouldn't have said "getting wickets". I should have said "seeing as Blackwell seems to be the front-runner among the spinners". The extra batsman would only be necessary if it looked like Panesar was going to play.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I shouldn't have said "getting wickets". I should have said "seeing as Blackwell seems to be the front-runner among the spinners". The extra batsman would only be necessary if it looked like Panesar was going to play.

Panesar has reportedly looked much more impressive.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Panesar has reportedly looked much more impressive.

Reportedly. But I can't help thinking Blackwell's fifty today sealed it. If he bowls badly in the first Test, though, Panesar may well come straight in.

Either way, it's goodbye Shaun Udal by the looks of things.