***Official*** England in India

[Prince EWS]

Why exactly did Pietersen bat at #4 with Collingwood in the side? Pietersen is definitely a #5 as far as I'm concerned, and Collingwood has performed fairly well at #4 in his career so far.

 

[alternative]

Blackwell is gone.. picked up by pathan..

 

[steds]

Blackwell = idiot.

 

[IndianByHeart]

At the end of the end's play, Pathan stands tall!!

 

[andyc]

I just noticed that (excluding Cook's 60), the highest batting average for England is Strauss' 45.84, and there are only three batsmen (Strauss, Bell and Pietersen) who have averages over 40.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I do hope Collingwood gets his ton tomorrow and I hope certain people have noticed that his average is better than Bell's when you remove the Bangladesh freebies.

 

[IndianByHeart]

I think india is going to win the first test with ease, England really have a poor bating lineup, they have some talented youngsters but what they miss is some experianced test batsmen.

 

[wpdavid]

I do hope Collingwood gets his ton tomorrow and I hope certain people have noticed that his average is better than Bell's when you remove the Bangladesh freebies.

He'll have to go some with only the bowlers as company, but all credit to him for showing more intelligence than most of the others put together.

A typical Jones innings, AFAICS. Some pretty shots, then misses a straight one. I suppose lbw makes a change from bowled, but his batting continues to be a big disappointment. And the idea that Blackwell would cut it at this level was always a tad optimistic. Maybe that's unfair after one innings.

An innings defeat seems the likeliest option. It's hard to see our bowlers doing much on this on days 2 & 3, which sets up Kumble & co to clean up on Day 4. I know we're depleted, but I hope that won't obscure the fact that once again our regular batters haven't done the business at all.

 

[CDAK]

What is it about Pathan?

He must be the most overrated bowler around these days.

Any change now?

 

[steds]

Any change now?

Nope.

 

[GIMH]

Brilliant innings from Colly, played the sort of role I believe most critics say we have badly lacked, but now he needs to up the strike rate tomorrow morning to add some runs before the tail folds. I personally can't see us staying in long enough for him to reach a ton now.

 

[Jono]

Some pretty poor batting, and it wasn't really that England tried to play too aggressively and belt the bowlers around the park at 4-4.5 an over (as I thought they would do). They tried to bat using their brains, but just failed. India bowled well, and Dravid captained beautifully, making good bowling changes and spreading the fielding when necessary to dry up the runs.

One thing that is pretty poor from England is that 5 of the 7 wickets have come from the seamers. All this talk about spin, they're being outdone by swing and/or are playing silly shots. Blackwell was just poor. Wide ball, and he chops on by not using any feet at all.

Pathan has fought back well after his poor first spell with the new ball. He bowled much better with the old ball swinging it both ways, and the same can be said of Sree Santh.

India in are in a very strong position, and should take advantage tomorrow.

 

[Jono]

Nope.

Says something about this English batting line-up though, if they fall flat to a quicky on debut with some poor FC and an overrated slow pace bowler such as Pathan.

 

[wpdavid]

Blackwell = idiot.

What did he do?

 

[Jono]

Tried to cut a short wide ball, didn't move his feet at all, and chopped on to his stumps.

 

[wpdavid]

(re Blackwell)Tried to cut a short wide ball, didn't move his feet at all, and chopped on to his stumps.

Ah. And with only a couple of runs to his name, and about an over to go?
Yup, "idiot" sounds about right.

 

[CDAK]

All through out his careeer ,irfan has been a medium pace bowler.He was adviced either to increase speed to reach the Akram level or to reduce it to be in kapil's class. He opted the second and Coach Greg Chappel is having a big role in his slow action now a days. He is just 21 and over performance at this stage will invite trouble. Like Chappel said how many cricketers are having the records which Pathan is having, at 21.?
So don't bother about him being over-rated, he has the stuff.( Javed Miandad will think twice now , to comment against Irafn)

 

[sledger]

Ah. And with only a couple of runs to his name, and about an over to go?
Yup, "idiot" sounds about right

whoever said he didnt have the mentality (or ability) to play tests ? .......yes anyway

bring back udal.

 

[sledger]

Why exactly did Pietersen bat at #4 with Collingwood in the side? Pietersen is definitely a #5 as far as I'm concerned, and Collingwood has performed fairly well at #4 in his career so far.

hes there to do the thorpe job, hes in that position to come in and put in a solid display and sure up the innings in case the top order fail, exactly as has happened today.

 

[UncleTheOne]

Feel really bad for Freddie, was looking in good touch for the first time in ages then gets a dodgy decision.