*Official* First Test at Lord's

[Bun]

lol india won't ever win the first test of an away series against a top side.
don't waste your money guys!

quoted 4 epic pwnge

 

[Bun]

btw where are all the good indian posters like Teja, Shri, and Blaze 18?

am here dear

 

[Bun]

Why wasn't Ban Announcements updated for GS?

I'll be next. Enjoy the series everyone.

on second thoughts as much u have hunted and haunted, wud hate seeing u go. pls exercise restraint for sumtime, i'll share my msn and u can sodomise me there

 

[GIMH]

You'd hate to see me go so much that you bitched and whined to multiple mods about me receiving no punishment? Even though I got multiple infractions for 'harassing' you? I've been transparent about what I want, but whatever.

This series is not GIMH V Bun. I don't do ignore lists, they're pointless, especially for someone who gets quoted as often as you. But kindly refrain from talking to or quoting me. On here or elsewhere. Forever.

 

[Bun]

i stand hurt

 

[Daemon]

Come on, grow up guys. It's all really ridiculous if you take a step back and look at it.

 

[Manee]

I really do not fancy India in this match. Our performance in the tour game was really abysmal and it is up to Ishant, Praveen (who I am sure will play), Harbhajan and Dhoni to raise things, somewhat. I hate how under preparation means that it is a foregone conclusion that we start series badly.

 

[BoyBrumby]

hasn't even got a single 50 in what 7 innings or something

There was an article in today's Independent that said he's not alone in this. 6 of the unquestioned modern greats (Sachin, Lara, Ponting, Gilchrst, Warne & Murali) have failed to score a single ton or take a 5-wicket haul at the home of cricket.

 

[GIMH]

IIRC Warne was on a 4fer when he took the winning catch at Lord's in 05

 

[Howe_zat]

There was an article in today's Independent that said he's not alone in this. 6 of the unquestioned modern greats (Sachin, Lara, Ponting, Gilchrst, Warne & Murali) have failed to score a single ton or take a 5-wicket haul at the home of cricket.

Honours board XI:

Bill Athey
Curly Page
Stuart Broad
Ajit Agarkar
Gubby Allen
Ray Illingworth
Derek Pringle
Marcus North
Shane Watson
Shahadat Hossain

(Watson playing as a specialist seamer, North a spinner, Broad, Agarkar, Allen, as batsmen, ofc)

Not on the honours board XI:

Sunil Gavaskar
WG Grace
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Sachin Tendulkar
Everton Weekes
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Dennis Lillee
Curtly Ambrose
Muttiah Muralitharan

 

[Dissector]

A slightly better Honours Board XI:

Hobbs
Hutton
Bradman
G Chappell
Viv Richards
Sobers
Ames
Hadlee
Marshall
Grimmett
McGrath

 

[Furball]

IIRC Warne was on a 4fer when he took the winning catch at Lord's in 05

Did he not have someone dropped the over before?

 

[Cruxdude]

There is a chance Yuvraj plays as an opener. Hope that doesn't happen even though his left arm spin would be useful.

 

[Vroomfondel]

my punt: pie chucker to open the batting. I actually don't think it would be as terrible as it sounds.

first, I don't think Mukund has what it takes to be a good international opener at the moment (from how he played in WI). for one, from his numerous inside edges, it seems he has a serious weakness against inswing, and i think he'll be seriously shown up by the english.

so it wouldn't be a bad thing if, instead of mukund, yuvraj comes in and goes hard right from the first ball. worst case, out for a duck, but he contributes as a serious 5th bowling option (more of a threat than bhajji probably). best case, he gets lucky with the edges etc, gets his eye in, and catches england on the wrong foot.

 

[Woodster]

The idea of Yuvraj opening the batting must surely have Jimmy Anderson licking his lips! I would expect Yuvraj's technique to be seriously exposed against the moving ball. I understand they may want to get him in the XI somehow, and with Raina's current form, it's unlikely be in the number six position, but to throw him up the order as opener in England is a recipe for disaster imo.

 

[GIMH]

Don't wanna tempt fate too much as these ideas that seem crazy often come off (Watson in 09, for example) but he is the last guy I'd pick to open the batting. Are they doing it because they want the aggressive replacement for Sehwag?

If he opens and it's cloudy, win toss, bowl, and have them a couple down by drinks. Good times.

 

[Cevno]

From where is this idea of Yuvraj opening coming from?

Dhoni insisted that the team will go into the match just as they had in recent times.

"I think we will stick to the cricket we know," he said, adding, "we will keep to our strengths.

"In the absence of Viru (Virender Sehwag), Gautam (Gambhir) and Abhinav (Mukund) will open the batting and they will be playing their normal game, without any pressure of being aggressive."

India well-prepared for 'significant' Test - Rediff Sports

 

[GIMH]

I just read it round here

 

[Prince EWS]

There is a chance Yuvraj plays as an opener.

Haha. Surely not.

FWIW I actually think Yuvraj is a tiny bit under-rated in some circles. No doubt that he's massively over-rated by a lot of the general public who judge his Test credentials by how many sixes he can hit in a T20 over, but I think several factors have lead to him being slightly under-rated by those who I'd generally consider in the know. Firstly, the fact that he is massively over-rated by idiot fanboys can cause people to overcompensate. Secondly, he's a bit of a dickhead, which makes people dislike him and subconsciously rate him lower. Thirdly, he's a waste of talent, which is again something I think we subconsciously rate players lower for - the same performance could be seen as a disappointment from one player and punching above their weight from another.

Most of all though, I think we all think India with their riches in batting and player upon player who dominates domestic cricket and averages 50+ could surely find someone better - if he played for Bangladesh we'd probably be putting him on a pedestal. I do think Yuvraj is a decent player - borderline Test standard - who could be quite useful to quite a few countries right now, and might not disgrace himself if he plays in this series, but I definitely think India should be looking for someone a bit better by now. This goes triple for him as an opener - surely, if Mukund isn't the guy, then Rahane, Vijay, Pujara, Rohit, Badrinath, Kohli or someone else other than Yuvraj might be. And yes, I realise most of those middle order batsmen, but so is Yuvraj.

 

[Woodster]

Don't wanna tempt fate too much as these ideas that seem crazy often come off (Watson in 09, for example) but he is the last guy I'd pick to open the batting. Are they doing it because they want the aggressive replacement for Sehwag?

If he opens and it's cloudy, win toss, bowl, and have them a couple down by drinks. Good times.

At least Watson's technique, while mechanical, has a good deal of orthodoxy and correctness about him, giving him half a chance of succeeding. Still didn't expect him to hit the heights of consistency that he has though.

Don't see any other reason than trying to shoehorn him into the side, and the opening berth is the only place you could see him sneaking in currently. You could suggest they are replacing the aggressive Sehwag with a like-minded individual, but it would be sheer craziness to think it would pay-off with similar results.

From where is this idea of Yuvraj opening coming from?

Dhoni insisted that the team will go into the match just as they had in recent times.

"I think we will stick to the cricket we know," he said, adding, "we will keep to our strengths.

"In the absence of Viru (Virender Sehwag), Gautam (Gambhir) and Abhinav (Mukund) will open the batting and they will be playing their normal game, without any pressure of being aggressive."

India well-prepared for 'significant' Test - Rediff Sports

It's a story I've heard in and around the press. Don't read too much truth into it personally.