***Official*** England in India

[Jono]

Well there were some imposing targets against Pakistan, but nothing too far above 300. But then again, they chased those targes with Sachin and Dhoni. It'll be interesting how they go with the new blood playing, particularly if Dravid or Yuvraj go cheaply.

 

[alternative]

274/7.. sreesanth bowling well picking up 4 wickets..

 

[Jono]

Pathan and Sreesanth doing well at the death now.

 

[adharcric]

A 50 on debut would do Uthappa's confidence a world of good.

 

[marc71178]

And his "if the slips fielders could catch" average below 25

You're beginning to sound like Richard.

Thought I'd better warn you so you can save yourself

 

[marc71178]

KP ripping into India now. What a champion he is. An absolute machine in ODIs along with Hussey and Dhoni.

But it appears woefully out of shape.

Can understand getting tired in 1 knock, but how many times has it happened to him this series?

 

[marc71178]

Bell really looks like a much better opener than Prior. He's much more sensible and much less reckless.

Well when Trescothick comes back it'll be interesting to see what happens - Strauss was supposedly dropping to 4, but then illness meant he opened and did well.

At least the likes of Solanki, Shah and Prior will be discarded.

 

[marc71178]

86-87 mph? Nothing special in the past two matches, something's wrong with him ..

Without control, the mph is irrelevant.

 

[Jono]

100+ opening partnership between these two. Hope you're watching Viru

 

[superkingdave]

But it appears woefully out of shape.

Can understand getting tired in 1 knock, but how many times has it happened to him this series?

well it was only one knock he got tired in Marc, the other two times he's been injured - today he did his knee in.

 

[Jono]

You're beginning to sound like Richard.

Thought I'd better warn you so you can save yourself

Lol true

I still reckon his bowling average doesn't display how well he's bowled since his debut. Then again his 6-fer will help that.

He obviously needs to improve his ER and that will come through more experience I reckon.

 

[Jono]

A 50 on debut would do Uthappa's confidence a world of good.

He's played very sensibly, and I'm guessing having someone like Rahul Dravid at the other end has helped him greatly.

 

[adharcric]

Well played Uthappa! Karnataka shining here!!

 

[Jono]

England have bowled woefully. They have strayed down legside continously, and Dravid is one batsman in the world who will punish you almost every time. Very strong off his pads.

Not to mention they haven't put much pressure on Uthappa in his first match. Its very nice in your first international match to face a lot of leg side bowling I'm sure. Free runs.

Anderson, Mahmood and Kabir Ali have all been guilty of this so far. Only Plunkett has bowled decently.

 

[adharcric]

Big Six from Robin Uthappa!

 

[Jono]

But it appears woefully out of shape.

Can understand getting tired in 1 knock, but how many times has it happened to him this series?

Yeah well I'm not sure if his throwing his wicket away is mental, physical or a bit of both, but that's what seperates him from Dhoni and Hussey at the minute, and of course the other champion ODI batsman that have been around for ages (Sachin, Ponting, Inzy etc.).

He continues to gift his wicket away. Even Dhoni has a lot of sense in ODIs and realises when its time to attack and time to consolidate. As a fan of the opposition, KP always frightens me yet at the same time I always have hope that he'll gift his wicket away. He wasn't like that 12-18 months ago in SA that's for sure. He went on with it.

 

[adharcric]

Without control, the mph is irrelevant.

For God's sake, I was answering someone's query about his pace in the current match. All you know how to do is criticize for no reason whatsoever.

 

[marc71178]

As a fan of the opposition, KP always frightens me yet at the same time I always have hope that he'll gift his wicket away. He wasn't like that 12-18 months ago in SA that's for sure. He went on with it.

I'm beginning to wonder if it's arrogance.

He came in had to prove himself.

Now he seems to think he has and just goes over the top.

 

[superkingdave]

I'm beginning to wonder if it's arrogance.

He came in had to prove himself.

Now he seems to think he has and just goes over the top.

personally Marc, i'm more worried about the fact that he's one of the only batsmen that ever seems to get runs.

When 3 of the top 6 are stuggling to average 25, criticising someone averaging over 50 seems a bit rich.

 

[adharcric]

Well when Trescothick comes back it'll be interesting to see what happens - Strauss was supposedly dropping to 4, but then illness meant he opened and did well.

At least the likes of Solanki, Shah and Prior will be discarded.

Well I'm not so sure all three of them will be discarded.

With everyone fit, I reckon it will look something like the following.

M Vaughan*, M Trescothick, A Strauss, I Bell, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, batsman/seamer, G Jones+, A Giles, I Blackwell, A Flintoff, L Plunkett, S Jones, S Harmison, J Anderson

Trescothick should be back and I hear Simon Jones is ready for a comeback as well ... what's the status on Giles, Harmison and Vaughan?

Anyways, I'll assume Giles and Vaughan are out and the other three return. That means there are 3 spots open in that squad, one for a spinner, one for a batsman and one for a batsman/seamer. Granted Prior and Solanki are the top batting options, at least one of them would have to be in the side and possibly both. Shah definitely needs to go though.

You probably know a lot more about English cricket than I do so correct me if I'm wrong about any of this.