***Official*** England in India

[kvemuri]

srinath: "if you're a batsman you can become a bowler, but if you're a bowler it's very hard to become a batsman"

what do you think guys?

Srinath needs to get his head checked.

 

[kvemuri]

how does someone with as pathetic a first-class average as that (blackwell) make it to a national squad?

Well cause in general our batting makes them look like tearaway pace bowlers and our bowling makes them be the re-incarnation of Gilchrist or Symonds.

btw Blackwell tonked 82 off 68 against us in Champions Trophy in 2002.

 

[kvemuri]

India will be batting on the 5th day, when Panesar should be turning the ball left and right. To avoid chasing a score larger than 200, we need a lead of 100 runs at least.

I think we need close to a lead of 250 and odd to make sure we have a chance of winning the game, otherwise I am placing my odds right now on a draw. Not able to dislodge the tail in the opening session of the game is just a telling factor.

Worse Monty was allowed to hang around for more than an hour in a partnership of 67 just tells how ineffective our spin bowling is, Kumble has done a great job over the years so I won't really blame him, nowadays he seems to be going to McGrath way of being an economical bowler than a wicket taker. But Bhajji needs a serious kick in the rear, he is non-performing outside India we know that, let me rephrase I know that, he is becoming non-performing within too, seriously contending to be the new AA. Seems to perform only when his position in the team is under threat like the second innings of the third test against SLK.

 

[kvemuri]

I think its almost guaranteed. Kaif will be gone, replaced by Chawla, and more likely Munaf Patel.

However, if Yuvraj is fit, then they might still go with four bowlers. I don't really see how you can keep any of the other batsman out.

Sehwag: Can't drop
Jaffer: Can't drop (After the disaster when going with no specialist opener)
Tendulkar: LOL*
Laxman: Can't drop
Dravid: Can't drop
Yuvraj: Can't drop considering his current form

*If any selector so much as hints as that, there would be literal beheadings at the BCCI office...even if his drop is justified....if you think dropping Ganguly created a firestorm...

Radically thinking I would drop Laxman (although his batting is better than Kaif's) rather than Kaif, Kaif needs to be given chances and with Yuvi back, I would prefer India taking a chance here and dropping Laxman.

 

[Tom Halsey]

How good was Panesar?

I've not seen the highlights but it sounds like he bowled well, would appreciate a description.

 

[BoyBrumby]

How good was Panesar?

I've not seen the highlights but it sounds like he bowled well, would appreciate a description.

Quietly impressive. Rather beautiful, high-armed orthodox action too. Bowled one that caught the edge of the rough and turned square, absolutely unplayable. His batting wasn't even quite as dog-rough as had been promised. He's a genuine 11, but not in the Malcolm/Tufnell/Mullally mold tho.

Blackwell looked well out of his depth tho, looks like the occasion got to him.

 

[steds]

Blackwell looked well out of his depth tho, looks like the occasion got to him.

No, he's just rather poo.

 

[Sanz]

I
Tendulkar: LOL*
Laxman: Can't drop

If Laxman fails in this test and we need to play 5 bowlers then IMO he will be dropped. Tendulkar will never be dropped by selectors, period.

 

[Anna]

No, he's just rather poo.

*hm hm*

I know this is incredibly short-sighted but I will not tolerate any Blackie-bashing while I'm around. So watch what you say & that goes for all of you

 

[PY]

How about Fatty-bashing?

This doesn't mean I don't think he's good enough, I shall with-hold opinions until I've seen him and he's had a fair go.

 

[luckyeddie]

*hm hm*

I know this is incredibly short-sighted but I will not tolerate any Blackie-bashing while I'm around. So watch what you say & that goes for all of you

I should have thought by now that only an idiot would knock anyone selected for England (or any international side, for that matter) but still they keep persisting. Over the last couple of years, pretty well every newcomer has been castigated in one form or another by a host of people on CW, but usually there's a reason why people get selected for international honours.

Can't think what it is in Blackwell's case though.

/runs

 

[adharcric]

Once Yuvraj returns to the side, Laxman could find himself in danger of being dropped for a fifth bowler. Usually it's blasphemy to suggest someone like Laxman being dropped, but this time Yuvraj is in better form and is a brilliant addition in the field as well. Once Yuvraj is in, Kaif stands no chance whatsoever, so he better score big in this match to stay ahead of Raina for the reserve spot. Chawla should get a look-in but only if Bhajji fails in the second innings ... if he can't beat England on a 4th day pitch, he clearly isn't a solid option at the moment. Pathan isn't bowling consistently enough but he should stay, as should the impressive Sreesanth. RP Singh is a good bowler, but looking at what Sreesanth has accomplished, the selectors might just opt for VR Singh or even Munaf Patel, who can both swing the ball at high pace.

Sehwag, Jaffer, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman/Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pathan, Kumble, Chawla/Bhajji, VRV/Munaf, Sreesanth

That's a deep batting lineup with some new potent bowlers worth trying out.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I should have thought by now that only an idiot would knock anyone selected for England (or any international side, for that matter) but still they keep persisting. Over the last couple of years, pretty well every newcomer has been castigated in one form or another by a host of people on CW, but usually there's a reason why people get selected for international honours.

Indeed, loads of people wrote Collingwood off based on three nightmare-ish Tests (in terms of difficulty) for a new guy and one other bad Test. I said all along that he was just the same skill as Bell with the bat and it's starting to show (I would also add that I think Collingwood has another gear than Bell).

 

[aussie]

well england now should be aiming at restricting India to a score around 393 & then hopefully look for a draw which in itself would be a great result.

On Panesar i really liked the way he bowled, seems pretty accurate & got some turn. Only slight faul probably at this stage of his career is that he seems to be a bit on paced with his speeds, he was regulary between around 82-87 kmh's cant really remember him bowling any quicker deliveries. But overall he has what it takes to be good spinner in the future. If spinners really do mature has they get older i'd expect some great things from Monty in the future.

 

[Scaly piscine]

well england now should be aiming at restricting India to a score around 393 & then hopefully look for a draw which in itself would be a great result.

Cobblers, if they restrict India to around 393 they should be looking to win not draw.

 

[marc71178]

Blackwell looked well out of his depth tho, looks like the occasion got to him.

Or more likely he's not up to the job.

Bring in a plank of wood I say.

 

[steds]

*hm hm*

I know this is incredibly short-sighted but I will not tolerate any Blackie-bashing while I'm around. So watch what you say & that goes for all of you

Why? There are better spinners in England than Blackwell and better bats (not to mention more mobile fielders). Blackwell plays because he can do a bit of both, but in all honesty, neither to the standard required. I'm sure he'll give his all and perhaps get some decent results now and then (like Collingwood has tried and got his results), but he's not of the quality to forge a successful international career.

 

[Anna]

I wasn't disputing that fact....I just don't want anyone saying it when I'm around because I love Somerset & anyone who plays for them

....apart from Dan Cullen...what has Wes Durston done to deserve that?

 

[steds]

what has Wes Durston done to deserve that?

If you're that protective of Somerset players, no comment.

 

[Langeveldt]

Somerset perfecting the art of replacing a mediocre English player with a mediocre overseas player..