***Official*** England in India

[Howe_zat]

There are rumours that Swann was ill today - he was off the pitch a fair bit - and that England were hoping to win the toss and he'll be better tomorrow.

Swann is a far more useful bowler when conditions aren't in his favour than Panesar would be, so his position isn't really in contention.

 

[centurymaker]

good day's play. england have the advantage after their bowlers bowled very well

i think this test will be close.

 

[smash84]

Gavaskar and co, having worked overtime to argue Harbhajan's case even though he was clearly struggling to stay in the team as a spinner for the last few years.They latched on to his "makings of an all rounder" to strengthen his case as he was gasping for breath, For them to now admit that Ashin is the first genuine all rounder India has seen since Kapil and (to a lesser extent) Prabhakar is so obviously very tough indeed. "He could have the makings of an allrounder" Gavaskar very reluctantly uttered today. That must have tough Sunnybhai.

Ashwin does not have the makings of an all rounder - he IS an all rounder, the all rounder India has been bemoaning the lack of for over two decades. His batting, I would like to say is actually even better than his bowling and if the captain and selectors realise this and, more importantly, encourage the youngster in that direction, Ashwin will be India's first batting all rounder in a long long time.

At the cost of ruffling some feathers here let me express my opinion that Ashwin should bat higher than his captain in Test matches and he may actually move a spot higher still in time.

Ok, while I might not agree with your complete analysis I definitely agree that looking at Ashwin's batting you do get the feeling that he can be very very good at it.

 

[GIMH]

jimmeh

 

[LegionOfBrad]

How much pressure, if any, is Swann's place under from Panesar when England go back to one spinner?

I find it odd that both Cook and Strauss have appeared to have more faith in Monty when the two have played together.

Swann has a lot of faith in the bank and is also a better bowler when the wickets are flat. There is no way that Monty would be starting a test in England ahead of Swann. Also Monty's all round game is not close to Swann's. Who is a regular slipper and (although not as of late) contributor with the bat.

 

[Jono]

Hard to believe that Tendulkar debuted before Lara, who has been retired for what feels like ages.

Yeah it's crazy. And it has been ages...about 6 years since lara's last test.

Or that he debuted 6 years before Ponting and Kallis.

...and 7 years before Dravid...

7 years is about as long as the career of some decent test players lol...

It is quite ridiculous. His longevity in the game truly is stuff of legend.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well historically Monty has always been the better spinner in the SC. Swann has bowled better in England and elsewhere. His batting also helps him

Add in the fact Swann was on and off all day today and bowled so few overs makes you think that he may have either a tummy bug or virus which they think will be shaken off in a day or so.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

It is quite ridiculous. His longevity in the game truly is stuff of legend.

I know players have had careers as long in the past but this guy has played so much more international cricket than them and his records won't be beaten, his test runs maybe but not his ODI and certainly not by the same man if they go.

 

[centurymaker]

It is quite ridiculous. His longevity in the game truly is stuff of legend.

mindblogging really.

Lara effectively had a 14 yr career.
Tendulkar 23 yrs.


Whats more surprsing that his average still hasn't dropped significantly after so many more yrs and tests than other greats.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

mindblogging really.

Lara effectively had a 14 yr career.
Tendulkar 23 yrs.


Whats more surprsing that his average still hasn't dropped significantly after so many more yrs and tests than other greats.

He plays on so many roads.
(In before Burgey)

 

[smash84]

how many of the other greats have had very long careers?

Bradman 20 years
Sobers 20 yers
Imran 21 years (although later purely as a batsman)
Wasim 19 years
Kallis 17 and counting
Ponting 16 years
Dravid 16 years

 

[Jono]

He plays on so many roads.
(In before Burgey)

Countered by the fact he's never had the opportunity to bat against India's crud bowlers. Would lick his lips at some of the **** they've put out recently.

Another confusing thing about Sachin is his best mates. Yuvi, Zaheer and Harbhajan. They probably just use him to get chicks.

 

[centurymaker]

I know players have had careers as long in the past but this guy has played so much more international cricket than them and his records won't be beaten, his test runs maybe but not his ODI and certainly not by the same man if they go.

ODIs were the real deal in the sub-continent for so many yrs, especially during his peak. (back when 240-250 was a great score)

they would have one ODI multi-nation tournament after another...
and he was terrific at it. beyond terrific actually. i think he got like 7 hundreds in one particular yr

btw Kohli has a real shot at breaking tendulkar's ODI records if india continue to play a lot of ODIs.

 

[Contra]

Kohli needs to score in test cricket first

**** day for us, can't be down 7 for less than 300 on the first day at Eden Gardens flat deck. Need to somehow get to 350 at the minimum.

 

[centurymaker]

Countered by the fact he's never had the opportunity to bat against India's crud bowlers. Would lick his lips at some of the **** they've put out recently.

.

maybe why he's struggled recently.
He prepares himself facing those ***** and then faces guys like Anderson, Swann, Monty in top flight in the tests.

actually might explain why the whole batting side has been struggling

 

[centurymaker]

amla, kallis and co have a luxury of facing steyn, morkel and co day in day out
no wonder they're scoring so easily.

when aus had mcgrath, warne in the side,
guys like hayden, ponting were exceptional and after their departure, they (batsmen) declined.

so i guess there is some correlation there.

 

[cnerd123]

Most definitely is.

Although a lot of sides also do practice against throw-downs, net bowlers and bowling machines, so all that should even it out a bit.

But moving from the likes of Steyn and Warne in the nets to facing some lesser bowlers, definitely an advantage.

 

[duffer]

Another confusing thing about Sachin is his best mates. Yuvi, Zaheer and Harbhajan. They probably just use him to get chicks.

From what I've seen Zaheer doesn't have any problems there.

 

[Jono]

I doubt any of them do obviously. But for some reason I can so see them using Sachin to get people to talk to them, and then shoving him in a corner whilst they leave with the chicks

 

[centurymaker]

I doubt any of them do obviously. But for some reason I can so see them using Sachin to get people to talk to them, and then shoving him in a corner whilst they leave with the chicks

harby the most likely one to do so?