***Official*** England in India

[adharcric]

I'd say Raina has officially overtaken Kaif in India's batting pecking-order now. He should still come at #6 because with Kaif the earlier the better, but if we go with 5 bowlers, Raina should be preferred to Kaif.

Sehwag and Gambhir are issues. Agarkar should be gone for VR Singh unless he picks up 5 wickets today. Actually, even then he should be gone, just consider it a grand finale for the CW hero. Besides that, the squad is fine.

 

[TT Boy]

Anyone hear Ian Ward asking for more eyeliner?

 

[Gloucefan]

I'm surprised to see this English OD team, all bowlers appear to be new chaps, what happened to Hoggard,Harmison (Jones i know is injured) and Giles????

Where the hell have you been hiding?

 

[Sanz]

Nonsense. Why would you do anything besides exactly that? Wickets in hand and potent hitters down to #11, why not go for the biggest total you can get?

At least it shows we have players who play for the team and not to preserve their personal averages.

Okay in last four overs India scored - 33 @ the loss of 2 wickets by senseless slogging of every ball.
Between 40 & 46 we scored - 75 by sensible hitting and taking singles. Tell me which one was better 40-46 or 47-50 ?

I will take 40-46 anyday over 47-50.

PS :- Please dont post ******** that senseless slogging is playing for the team and players who grind it out or run hard for singles are trying to boost their personal average.

 

[Jono]

What a batting performance from India! The pitch seems to have fooled everyone. First people assumed that it'd be high-scoring, than the pitch had inconsistent bounce and favoured the spinners with lots of turn so people figured it'd be low-scoring, and then India almost spank 300 on it

Yuvraj was dynamite and I'm spewing I didn't see that. Raina too played another wondeful knock. Yuvi and Raina batting together would have been so sweet on the eyes, two batsman that are absolutely breathtaking to watch.

Absolutely delighted with this effort.

 

[Jono]

Haha, Dhoni is hitting in a arc? Literally his bat was moving in a vertical circle!

48.2 Anderson to Dhoni, SIX!!, hammers over long on, the followthrough of the shot is something too hard to describe

That one?

 

[Sanz]

48.2 Anderson to Dhoni, SIX!!, hammers over long on, the followthrough of the shot is something too hard to describe

That one?

I am looking forward to watching that one on Youtube tomorrow.

 

[Jono]

I'm back from work but I'm absolutely shattered I missed India's innings. Youtube it will be.

Hopefully I'll be able to watch India bowl well now, I'm very interested to see how Harbhajan and Powar go on this track. I have a feeling they'll be lethal.

 

[aussie]

India really smoked England at the end especially Yuvraj, can't see England getting this toal unless freddie plays a blinder.

 

[adharcric]

Okay in last four overs India scored - 33 @ the loss of 2 wickets by senseless slogging of every ball.
Between 40 & 46 we scored - 75 by sensible hitting and taking singles. Tell me which one was better 40-46 or 47-50 ?

I will take 40-46 anyday over 47-50.

PS :- Please dont post ******** that senseless slogging is playing for the team and players who grind it out or run hard for singles are trying to boost their personal average.

From 40-45 you're supposed to accelerate, from 46-50 you're supposed to REALLY accelerate, even slog if wickets are in hand. You're also forgetting that 40-45 had Mahmood and Plunkett bowling normal deliveries and 46-50 had Flintoff and Anderson bowling good death deliveries. You're also forgetting that Yuvraj and Raina also did some big hitting and who cares if we lose 2 wickets in the final overs if we still have 4 more to come. Runs matter in the end, not wickets lost. I'll take 300-9 any day over 200-2.

Btw, 33 from 47-50 is nearly 9 an over. 77 from 40-46 is 11 an over. Not such a big difference, especially when you consider that Flintoff bowled in the latter period and did quite well.

 

[adharcric]

I am looking forward to watching that one on Youtube tomorrow.

Trust me it was incredible. The way he slapped that ball was bizarre, if you've watched Lagaan and remember the way some of the guys slogged like beasts in there, it's like that, but even more beastly. Enjoy on Youtube.

 

[Jono]

Strauss gone to Pathan

 

[Sanz]

From 40-45 you're supposed to accelerate, from 46-50 you're supposed to REALLY accelerate, even slog if wickets are in hand. You're also forgetting that 40-45 had Mahmood and Plunkett bowling normal deliveries and 46-50 had Flintoff and Anderson bowling good death deliveries. You're also forgetting that Yuvraj and Raina also did some big hitting and who cares if we lose 2 wickets in the final overs if we still have 4 more to come. Runs matter in the end, not wickets lost. I'll take 300-9 any day over 200-2.

But 300/9 wouldn't have been possible if Yuvraj and Raina had tried slogging every ball since they came into crease. I dont care who was bowling when. Sadiq mahmood was bowling allright until yuvi smashed him all over.

Btw, 33 from 47-50 is nearly 9 an over. 77 from 40-46 is 11 an over. Not such a big difference, especially when you consider that Flintoff bowled in the latter period and did quite well.

33 from 47-50 is 8 per over, 77 from 40-46 is 11 per over. it is atleast 12 runs of difference with the loss of 2 wickets.

 

[kvemuri]

Damn what i said today afternoon came true...Blackwell at 3..damn!

 

[Sanz]

Trust me it was incredible. The way he slapped that ball was bizarre, if you've watched Lagaan and remember the way some of the guys slogged like beasts in there, it's like that, but even more beastly. Enjoy on Youtube.

Haven't watched Lagan.

Btw, how can anyone be foxed by Pathan's slower delivery ? He already bowls around 115 kmph, now what would be a slower delivery like 70 kmph ?

 

[adharcric]

But 300/9 wouldn't have been possible if Yuvraj and Raina had tried slogging every ball since they came into crease. I dont care who was bowling when. Sadiq mahmood was bowling allright until yuvi smashed him all over.

33 from 47-50 is 8 per over, 77 from 40-46 is 11 per over. it is atleast 12 runs of difference with the loss of 2 wickets.

Definitely wouldn't have been possible, Yuvraj and Raina did the right thing when they were batting, churning out singles and gradually going for bigger controlled hits. In the final 5 overs though, India could afford to go wild with wickets in hand. I'm not saying slogging is the way to go, but when you've got a few overs left and wickets in hand and an opportunity to build a massive total, you should do it by any means necessary.

 

[aussie]

go Blackwell

 

[adharcric]

Haven't watched Lagan.

Btw, how can anyone be foxed by Pathan's slower delivery ? He already bowls around 115 kmph, now what would be a slower delivery like 70 kmph ?

Pathan will be Kumble's replacement as India's leading spinner, just watch. Poor Chawla.

 

[Sanz]

Damn what i said today afternoon came true...Blackwell at 3..damn!

He can surprise us, Freddie is trying to copy Dravid's move. Bloddy copycat, be creative, think of your own strategy.

 

[adharcric]

He can surprise us, Freddie is trying to copy Dravid's move. Bloddy copycat, be creative think of your strategy.

Duncan Fletcher is the bloody copycat, considering it's Chappell's move.