England [432] defeat India [78 & 278] by an innings and 76 runs to win 3rd Test and level series 1-1

[PakLFC]

I thought England at least will be made to bat again. After Kohli and Pujara were dismissed the late middle order just collapsed. India's dependency on Kohli and to a lesser degree Rohit is clearly for all to see. For some reason until recently I believed the likes of Pujara and Rahul would score heavily in England too.India should drop Ishant for someone better if they have one. A few injured English players returning in the next test will only add to India's misery and worries.

 

[Robert]

My prediction before the series and after the first two Test matches was 3-1 to India. But I’m not so sure now.

I always thought that India would win at the Oval, because Ashwin (England’s nemesis) will surely come back into the side, and the conditions in general will suit the Indian players.

But perhaps England could then win at Old Trafford.

We could be looking at the series being tied 2-2.

I still think 1-3 to India for the Ashwin factor on September wickets. But the Indian batting is so bad that it’s hard to call.

 

[Smbhayi]

I knew it.

Our trimurthis will score when the pressure is off...and get out when its on.

Pujara is a champ but knew this will turn out to be a useless career saving knock because he is like Dexter.

Survival instincts are too strong so he will play more and more of these knocks from now on.

Last game in Lords...him and Rahane played similarly useless knocks but luckily for them Bumrah and Shami used it to take the game away from England.

They need something special to turn this useless knock into a match winning one.

Then we can have exspurts like Laxman hailing it as a better win than Gabba

I don't mind Pujara not scoring runs, what I want from him he's facing minimum 150 balls every games..

 

[Swashbuckler]

Tough to support a side which carries Rahane and Ishant for so many years.

At least Kohli was phenomenal till 2019. And Pujara was our most important batsman of the 2010s, so many clutch innings by him. Those two deserved backing, not this hack Rahane.

Hopefully we get to see a couple of changes in the middle order. Also high time Ashwin comes in.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I don't mind Pujara not scoring runs, what I want from him he's facing minimum 150 balls every games..

Won't last 25 balls when it swings.

Oval conditions lets see.

He has the fighting skills no doubt.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Tough to support a side which carries Rahane and Ishant for so many years.

At least Kohli was phenomenal till 2019. And Pujara was our most important batsman of the 2010s, so many clutch innings by him. Those two deserved backing, not this hack Rahane.

Hopefully we get to see a couple of changes in the middle order. Also high time Ashwin comes in.

Ishan’t has been doing good

 

[MP2011]

Tough to support a side which carries Rahane and Ishant for so many years.

And then Rahane says people will talk about only those who are important! I mean what kind of fool this guy is?

However, he knows his captain is a lame duck and is in no position to crack the whip on him as he himself is adding to the misery of the team he leads.

 

[pillionrider]

I always thought that India would win at the Oval, because Ashwin (England’s nemesis) will surely come back into the side, and the conditions in general will suit the Indian players

......and Kohli had to try his experiments just now.

I'm not so sure about Ashwin returning.

Kohli's ego is glorious to watch in situations like the 4th innings of the Lord's test. But it also means he's bullheaded with his consistently pathetic team selections. I wonder if he'll switch Jadeja for Ashwin because he doesn't seem keen on dropping Ishant as he hinted during the last post-match.

If he brings back Ashwin and the latter gets a bagful of wickets, people will wonder if the same would have happened in the previous matches. Sometimes I wonder if Kohli is more obsessed with backing his decisions rather than being flexible about them.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I'm not so sure about Ashwin returning.

Kohli's ego is glorious to watch in situations like the 4th innings of the Lord's test. But it also means he's bullheaded with his consistently pathetic team selections. I wonder if he'll switch Jadeja for Ashwin because he doesn't seem keen on dropping Ishant as he hinted during the last post-match.

If he brings back Ashwin and the latter gets a bagful of wickets, people will wonder if the same would have happened in the previous matches. Sometimes I wonder if Kohli is more obsessed with backing his decisions rather than being flexible about them.

True.

Many people are feeling the same way.

Kohli fell intk the trap of turning this into an ego issue.

Now instead of winning the seires, his fovus will be on proving template right.

So I dont think Ashwin is a guaranteed selection in Oval at all.

The way Kohli bowled Ishant last test...felt like he wanted to.prove he took the right decision as opposed to doing what the team needed.

Ideally Ashwin coming and flopping would be the ideal scenario for Kohli.

If Ashwin picks wickets and wins India a game...i am not sure sure how Kohli would process that.

Happy on one side but a bit resentful on the other.

So either Ashwin will be dropped for Oval.

Or if he is picked, he will be given a few overs and taken out the moment he gets hit for a few runs.

He has to be on point the whole test to get proper chances.

Of course, all these are just guesses and nothing of this sort might happen....but I wouldnt rule this out.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

It all started when Killiamson koed him in WTC finals and from there on, this obsession took hold.

Now its consuming him.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Now instead of winning the seires, his fovus will be on proving template right.

So I dont think Ashwin is a guaranteed selection in Oval at all.
.

You deal in too many hypothetical scenarios and controversies these days.
Ashwin is a sure shot selection at the oval.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

It all started when Killiamson koed him in WTC finals and from there on, this obsession took hold.

Now its consuming him.

There's not even a single match where Ashwin could have helped us more than what the pacers did, Oval is his best chance.

Yes Shardul over Ishant was a fair point but still that also fits Kohli's template.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

You deal in too many hypothetical scenarios and controversies these days.
Ashwin is a sure shot selection at the oval.

I wish it were true.

But Lords drop was baffling to say the least.

Wont you agree?

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

There's not even a single match where Ashwin could have helped us more than what the pacers did, Oval is his best chance.

Yes Shardul over Ishant was a fair point but still that also fits Kohli's template.

Nottingham 3rd innings
Lords 2nd innings
Headingly 2nd innings

Ishant went at 4 rpo last game.

Atleast Thakur would have done better.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Nottingham 3rd innings
Lords 2nd innings
Headingly 2nd innings

Ishant went at 4 rpo last game.

Atleast Thakur would have done better.

Innings of the game i mean.

 

[Mp812]

Shardul for ishant.
Ashwin for jadeja.
Yadav for rahane.
Within kohlis template
Hey but i am just a spectator so maybe i am wrong

 

[James]

India really have to make those one or two ruthless changes to their XI in order to get back on track for the Oval.

England have already scythed two promising young players (Crawley and Lawrence) due to poor shot selection, and they have also dropped all round nice guy Dom Sibley (it is now a long way back for him) due to underperformance over an extended period. These regrettable but required changes to their beleaguered batting order have greatly assisted England in levelling up the series.

I am still not truly getting the sense or feeling convinced that Kohli/India are ready to make those similarly tough decisions about the likes of Ishant and Rahane, who are both Test class players but are also clearly just not in good enough form to be getting selected in such a challenging away series. At the moment they both feel like sentimental picks.

 

[Robert]

India really have to make those one or two ruthless changes to their XI in order to get back on track for the Oval.

England have already scythed two promising young players (Crawley and Lawrence) due to poor shot selection, and they have also dropped all round nice guy Dom Sibley (it is now a long way back for him) due to underperformance over an extended period. These regrettable but required changes to their beleaguered batting order have greatly assisted England in levelling up the series.

I am still not truly getting the sense or feeling convinced that Kohli/India are ready to make those similarly tough decisions about the likes of Ishant and Rahane, who are both Test class players but are also clearly just not in good enough form to be getting selected in such a challenging away series. At the moment they both feel like sentimental picks.

It’s a shame that England had to have those two rough tests before toughening up the top order.

With Stokes returning, and a deep pool of quicks in evidence, England look strong going forward. They have to stop making silly face-fits picks like Bess instead of guys who can deliver like Leach.

Kohli would be mad not to pick Ashwin for Ishant and I hope he keeps the creaky quickie.

 

[James]

It’s a shame that England had to have those two rough tests before toughening up the top order.

With Stokes returning, and a deep pool of quicks in evidence, England look strong going forward. They have to stop making silly face-fits picks like Bess instead of guys who can deliver like Leach.

Kohli would be mad not to pick Ashwin for Ishant and I hope he keeps the creaky quickie.

Leach isn’t getting a look-in at the moment, not even in the squad. Not sure why, because he has always delivered with ball and bat for England.

I know that Moeen is a good player and worth his place, but two specialist spinners would potentially have been worth a go at the Oval.

 

[IMMY69]

Leach isn’t getting a look-in at the moment, not even in the squad. Not sure why, because he has always delivered with ball and bat for England.

I know that Moeen is a good player and worth his place, but two specialist spinners would potentially have been worth a go at the Oval.

This is radical I know but I would drop Butler, have Bairstow keep and bring in Livingstone at 5...

 

[Saurav]

This is radical I know but I would drop Butler, have Bairstow keep and bring in Livingstone at 5...

who will keep?

 

[Ab Fan]

This is radical I know but I would drop Butler, have Bairstow keep and bring in Livingstone at 5...

For next two tests, Bairstow only is keeping. Buttler isn't available due to personal reasons (child-birth I think). Pope or Lawrence will most likely get a place in the XI.

 

[IMMY69]

who will keep?

Bairstow should keep.

 

[IMMY69]

For next two tests, Bairstow only is keeping. Buttler isn't available due to personal reasons (child-birth I think). Pope or Lawrence will most likely get a place in the XI.

I did not know that...
I wish they would think outside of the box and bring in Livingstone