***Official*** England in India

[Tom Halsey]

Reportedly.

And I believe the reports, because, as Marc said, he went at 6s before he bowled to the tailenders when he took wickets.

 

[tooextracool]

I would've liked to see them getting time in the middle rather than just going for shots.

Is it not a coincidence that the men who go over the top more have spent very little time out there again?

but how many players are willing to apply themselves for a game that is largely inconsequential? for players who are certainities for the first test, they have no real incentive to focus hard and scratch around for a while, instead they prefer to try and hit their way into form. most players tried to score as quickly as possible, other than of course collingwood and bell and not surprisingly both of those 2 have something to prove.

 

[tooextracool]

I think most England fans have given up on Vaughan being a consistent run scorer sadly.

AFAIC this series is make or break for vaughan. he'll be walking on a very thin line if he fails again with the bat in this series, especially if england lose it.

 

[tooextracool]

well atm i'm 85% sure this will be england's team in nagpur:

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

and im 100% sure that we wont see that side during the first test. i can barely see the point of having batting till number 9, and having to go in with just 4 bowlers, especially considering that Jones has only just returned from injury.

 

[tooextracool]

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

yea i think it will be one of those 2 sides, depending of course on what the pitch for the first test looks like.

 

[tooextracool]

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.

they might not be that successful with reverse, but simon Jones has already reported to fletcher that he managed to swing both the new and old SG ball. also mcgrath managed to reverse the ball in the 2004 series, i presume that they used the same balls then too.

 

[Barney Rubble]

And I believe the reports, because, as Marc said, he went at 6s before he bowled to the tailenders when he took wickets.

I wasn't saying I didn't believe the reports - sorry, I just read that back and realised the impression it gave. All I meant was that either way, Blackwell got more wickets. But hey, what do I know, I'm a biased Zoiderman.

 

[tooextracool]

And I believe the reports, because, as Marc said, he went at 6s before he bowled to the tailenders when he took wickets.

thats not going to affect duncan fletcher one bit. the fact that blackwell gives him the option of being a slight above rubbish batsman will mean that he gets the nod above panesar.

 

[UncleTheOne]

thats not going to affect duncan fletcher one bit. the fact that blackwell gives him the option of being a slight above rubbish batsman will mean that he gets the nod above panesar.

I think batsman is being a bit generous, I prefer lower order banger. Oh and the earlier point about Vaughan, providing England perform fairly well I see no chance of him being dropped from the test team.

 

[tooextracool]

I think batsman is being a bit generous, I prefer lower order banger. Oh and the earlier point about Vaughan, providing England perform fairly well I see no chance of him being dropped from the test team.

you may not, but there is certainly a major case for dropping him, or at least stripping him off the captaincy. a 2.5 year struggle with the bat is conclusive enough i would think, then when you consider that tresco is at least nearly as good as vaughan as a captain, then there isnt much left in Vaughans favor.

 

[superkingdave]

Maybe they'll call over Gareth '7-23' Batty

 

[aussie]

and im 100% sure that we wont see that side during the first test. i can barely see the point of having batting till number 9, and having to go in with just 4 bowlers, especially considering that Jones has only just returned from injury.

yea if it think it about it your probably right, sine Jones as just returned and i just read on cricinfo he was advised not to bowl at full pace, so most likely they may go in with the usual 5 bowlers.

 

[shankar]

they might not be that successful with reverse, but simon Jones has already reported to fletcher that he managed to swing both the new and old SG ball. also mcgrath managed to reverse the ball in the 2004 series, i presume that they used the same balls then too.

In the SL-IND series, both Vaas and Pathan got reverse as early as the 15th over with the SG balls. It wasn't prodigious swing though and might also have to do with the roughness of the pitches in that series.

 

[adharcric]

For England, the following players are pretty much guarantees.

M Trescothick, A Strauss, M Vaughan, I Bell, K Pietersen, A Flintoff, G Jones, S Jones, S Harmison

For the final two spots, I think it'll be either Blackwell + Hoggard or Panesar + Collingwood. So for all you England fans, would you go with the more penetrative spinner, one less specialist seamer, a very weak tailender and an extra specialist batsman ... or a less penetrative spinner, one more specialist seamer, a decent tailender and a useful lower-order bat instead of a specialist bat?

 

[adharcric]

I would go with Hoggard and Blackwell in the first test at Nagpur as it'll most likely provide the most assistance for seamers. If Hoggard can have any impact, it'll be here. If Blackwell gets punished here, bring on Panesar.

 

[aussie]

I would go with Hoggard and Blackwell in the first test at Nagpur as it'll most likely provide the most assistance for seamers. If Hoggard can have any impact, it'll be here. If Blackwell gets punished here, bring on Panesar.

Yea the thing about those 3 venue's Nagpur, Mohali & Mumbai is that they would provide assistance for england seamers going on recent matches i've seen on these ground i.e India vs Australia 3 & 4th test 2004 & India v Pakistan 1st test 2005. So england really should rely on their seamers to win this series..

 

[DhonisOnslaught]

I think India should go into test match with at attacking stratey, i.e they should play just 5 specialist batsmen and 5 specialist bowlers.They can now do that as they have 2 world class allrounders in Dhoni and Pathan, on top guys like Kumble, Khan/Ajit(though these two shouldn't be played) and not bunny with bat either.

I would like to see foll team take on England

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dhoni
Pathan
Kumble
Harbhajan
Karthik/RPS
Sreesanth


This team has the potential to match any team.I see only one weakness in the team, and that is of the opening slot, but hopefully Gambhir would fare well.

 

[silentstriker]

They can now do that as they have 2 world class allrounders in Dhoni and Pathan

They do not have two world class all rounders. They have two good players with lots of potential.

But I agree with you on team composition, with the possible exception of Gambhir (I'd like Jaffer in his place).

 

[aussie]

now do that as they have 2 world class allrounders in Dhoni and Pathan.

you are going to cop some stick for this one unfortunately..

 

[DhonisOnslaught]

They do not have two world class all rounders. They have two good players with lots of potential.

But I agree with you on team composition, with the possible exception of Gambhir (I'd like Jaffer in his place).

Dhoni is placed third on ICC table as a batsman, i think it shows his class.

As for Jaffer/Gambhir, both have been given chances and haven't made much of it.Butconsidering Gambhir was tried in OD against pakistan and he fared poorly a against a poor Pakistan attack, i guess Jaffer might get the nod this time around.