England v India | 3rd Test | Headingley | Aug 25 - Aug 29, 2021 | Pre-match discussion

[MP2011]

Jadeja is far better batsman than Ashwin overseas.I suspect you are not even watching Tests regularly.

I'm, thank you!

Let's leave aside Ashwin for a moment, if Jadeja is as good a batsman as you're claiming him to be and is good enough to bat as a specialist batsman then why isn't he played in middle order? Why is even Pant batting ahead of him?

That's because team management also considers him a bowling all rounder who isn't good enough to bat higher up in the batting order.

That he is still getting picked up in the final XI is due to team management still pinning their hopes on him that may be he'll deliver as a bowler, however he has proved to be totally toothless as a test class bowler.

Just because he is scoring runs down the order doesn't make him a specialist batsman!

 

[Ab Fan]

I'm, thank you!

Let's leave aside Ashwin for a moment, if Jadeja is as good a batsman as you're claiming him to be and is good enough to bat as a specialist batsman then why isn't he played in middle order? Why is even Pant batting ahead of him?

That's because team management also considers him a bowling all rounder who isn't good enough to bat higher up in the batting order.

That he is still getting picked up in the final XI is due to team management still pinning their hopes on him that may be he'll deliver as a bowler, however he has proved to be totally toothless as a test class bowler.

Just because he is scoring runs down the order doesn't make him a specialist batsman!

Jadeja and Ashwin both of them will become utility as bowler when bowling together as a unit. As a standalone spinner, they are relatively easier to face.

 

[Robert]

This.

Jadeja isn't half the bowler Ashwin is in away games, while Ashwin isn't as hopeless a batsman as Jadeja is a bowler in away games.

Home tests of course, Jadeja is on par with Ashwin as far as utility for team is concerned.

Jadeja isn’t really a batter or bowler in England. Ashwin can take wickets, especially on the drier surfaces which are (probably) coming in September.

 

[Ashmal]

India beat west indies under 4 days for both of the test matches played between them and the same australia bulldozed pakistan.The current pakistan is struggling against a club level team but we like to draw comparisons for the sake of feeling good living in a world of delusion.

Calm down....No one is comparing India and Pakistan.
Pakistan are a mediocre team right now.

But that doesn't change the fact that Indian players play in Eng/Aus much more than players from NZ/SL/WI/Pak.

So we can't belittle series wins by NZ/SL in Eng just because it wasn't a 5 match series.

 

[globalcitizen]

Is a pre discussion even needed?

So india lose toss and england start well. Some posters come out with posts saying india are exposed after a lords miracle.
If india does well then england are missing stokes woakes foakes etc..

I am pretty sure even if india wins the series, there will be a handful ready with excuses not crediting the team for good performance.

 

[OMB]

Is a pre discussion even needed?

So india lose toss and england start well. Some posters come out with posts saying india are exposed after a lords miracle.
If india does well then england are missing stokes woakes foakes etc..

I am pretty sure even if india wins the series, there will be a handful ready with excuses not crediting the team for good performance.

I have a quick fix to remain happy under all conditions

If you hear about missing players - remember Aus series and remain happy.
If you hear about India exposed after the lords miracle - Applaud England. and see what India has achieved relatively over the last 2 decades and be happy.
If India keeps losing all series, switch off TV and take up gardening or classical music, it is soothing

 

[MenInG]

Legendary batsman and former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels Joe Root-led England will require a superhuman effort to make a comeback in the ongoing five-match Test series. One of the finest batsmen in the history of the gentlemen's game, Gavaskar believes India have dealt a 'psychological blow' to the Three Lions in the high-profile Test series between the two cricketing superpowers.

After ending the curtain-raiser in a stalemate, Virat Kohli-led Team India thrashed England by 151 runs in the 2nd Test to take a 1-0 lead in the series. While opener KL Rahul slammed a match-winning ton, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami frustrated England with their all-round show to help India outclass Root's men in the 2nd Test match contested at the Lord's Cricket Stadium.

Gavaskar expects Kohli-led Team India side will hold sway over England after their emphatic win over the hosts in the Lord's Test match. In his column for The Telegraph India, Gavaskar spoke at length about England's chances of making a comeback in the remainder of the bilateral Test series. "India have dealt a psychological blow to England and it will take a superhuman effort from the home team to come back in the series. Yes, cricket is a game of uncertainties and thing can turn around quite dramatically but for that to happen it will take a miracle," Gavaskar wrote.

Recalling the dramatic final day of the Lord's Test match, Gavaskar opined that England are relying heavily on skipper and premier batsman Root in the five-match series. Topping the batting chart in the bilateral series, Root has amassed 386 runs in the first two games against India. Averaging 128.67, the England skipper has also slammed two centuries against India in the five-match Test series.

"At the start of the fifth day’s play, the general thinking was that England would win the game. But, on a last day pitch even 180 would have been tough as seen by the team being dismissed for 120 and losing by a big margin. Their batting depends so much on Root that if he doesn’t hold the innings together, then the innings comes apart at the seams," Gavaskar added. The batting legend concluded by saying that the Root-led England side is missing an ‘impact player’ like Ben Stokes in the ongoing Test series.

 

[globalcitizen]

I have a quick fix to remain happy under all conditions

If you hear about missing players - remember Aus series and remain happy.
If you hear about India exposed after the lords miracle - Applaud England. and see what India has achieved relatively over the last 2 decades and be happy.
If India keeps losing all series, switch off TV and take up gardening or classical music, it is soothing

I don't think India test team has given even an opportunity to it's fans to feel sad. It's been a winner from last few years.
Anyway I just applaud good teams based on performance irrespective of nationality.
It's just that my types are in minority. Unfortunate.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Hope to see Livingstone in the England Squad

 

[Mesozoic]

I don't think India test team has given even an opportunity to it's fans to feel sad.

*Cough* WTC final *cough*

 

[Saurav]

I'm, thank you!

Let's leave aside Ashwin for a moment, if Jadeja is as good a batsman as you're claiming him to be and is good enough to bat as a specialist batsman then why isn't he played in middle order? Why is even Pant batting ahead of him?

That's because team management also considers him a bowling all rounder who isn't good enough to bat higher up in the batting order.

That he is still getting picked up in the final XI is due to team management still pinning their hopes on him that may be he'll deliver as a bowler, however he has proved to be totally toothless as a test class bowler.

Just because he is scoring runs down the order doesn't make him a specialist batsman!

That's because of seniority factor only.They don't even deserve their places based on last 3 years performances

Jadeja deserves a promotion as he looks more solid than them.Maybe he can bat at 5 and Pant 6

As for his bowling,nobody expects anything from him on these wickets except economy.If he picks wickets its a bonus only.Check how he's being used.If they think spin can play a role,they'll play best spinner Ashwin.Simple.If Jadeja isn't scoring runs,but picks 1-2,he won't hold his place.

He's a batting AR that's currently batting better than so called specialist batsmen.And hence fully deserves his place even if he goes wicketless for rest of series(as long as he scores runs)

 

[captain.hansolo]

Sad to see the state of England batting these days.

From

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Bell
Petersen

To

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Lawrence
Bairstow

Happens to everyone, time is the greatest annihilator of the biggest empires.

 

[globalcitizen]

*Cough* WTC final *cough*

Oh yeah there are some fans like you who can't get over the fact that a better all-round team took all the crucial moments in game and beat india. India had their chances but could not capitalise. NZ were deserved winners and there is nothing to feel sad about it nor cough about it!!

 

[globalcitizen]

I would like Surya to be drafted in place of pujara or rahane. He really has lots of potential and scores quick. Will be vital at 3 or 5. Don't want him to end up a Fawad Alam for India

 

[Devadwal]

Mark Wood ruled out of the third Test against India, Saqib Mahmood in line for Test debut. advantage England

 

[MenInG]

England seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the LV= Insurance third Test against India with a jarred right shoulder.

Wood sustained the injury on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s and will not be fit to play at Emerald Headingley starting on Wednesday.

He will remain with the squad in Leeds and will continue his rehab with the England medical team.

The 31-year-old will be assessed at the end of this Test match.

 

[Pakhs]

Huge match for England they will have to dig deep to get some runs on the board. Despite their problems with many injuries in the bowling department its their batting that needs sorting out.

 

[James]

Mark Wood ruled out of the third Test against India, Saqib Mahmood in line for Test debut. advantage England

A shame for Wood, I love his commitment and passion (and his skill), but great news for Mahmood and very excited to see him debut.

 

[AMSS]

Costly price to pay for Wood bouncing Bumrah. Hope it sated Anderson's bloodlust/ego.

 

[street cricketer]

Ashwin plus 4 pacers would be a huge mistake.

Jadeja is a must because he provides the much needed lower order stability for this line up as the middle order literally contributes nothing. I've been saying this since the WTC final - Jadeja is not playing in the XI because of his bowling, he's playing because of his batting which has improved leaps and bounds in the last few years. Pant is a happy go lucky batsman and you wouldn't want Pant at 6 followed by Ashwin and 4 bunnies. Jadeja instead of Ashwin provides the stability there with the bat.

If India needed a genuine spinner, they would've picked Ashwin first thing on the sheet. The fact that Ashwin has not been picked till now is because the Indian management feels the conditions don't necessitate the selection of a spinner and rightly so. The fact that Jadeja can bowl spin too is only a bonus.

Ashwin is the best spinner in the world but he has to take one for the team and sit out the series unless India comes across a real dry wicket, in which case, he comes in for one of the pacers (Ishant) and not Jadeja. The only scenario I don't mind Jadeja getting dropped for Ashwin is on a real flat wicket where Jadeja's bowling would be less effective than the 4th pacer and it's reasonable to expect the middle order will score runs on a flat wicket, which would reduce the significance of Jadeja's runs in the lower order. Everywhere else, I would take the 4 pacer line up, although I would rather have Thakur as one of the pacers to provide cushion in the tail. I think we got away with one at the Lord's when Shami and Bumrah miraculously had their best ever games with the bat in the 2nd innings. Don't expect that to happen every test though.

 

[MenInG]

India pace bowler Shardul Thakur is fit to be considered for the third Test that commences here at Headingley from Wednesday although he is not yet guaranteed a place in the playing XI. "Shardul is fit and fine. He is ready for selection. We just have to see what combination we are going with," said India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane to media in a virtual interaction.

The India middle-order batsman ruled out rotation policy saying all the bowlers have got a good break after the second Test which ended on August 16. "About rotation policy, we got very good break after the last Test match. So all the fast bowlers, they are ready to play. They want to play, which is a very good sign," added Rahane.

Thakur, who played the first Test at Trent Bridge at the start of the month, suffered a hamstring injury and had to be ruled out. However, his absence wasn't felt as Ishant Sharma stepped in and performed admirably. The 33-year-old Rahane said that the players, including the bowlers are much more experienced than they were in 2014 and 2018.

"I think when you play in UK, your lines and lengths are very important. In 2014, when we had come here, we were a young unit. We are now all experienced, [we have] bowlers who have played all over the world and they know how to bowl in certain situations. So this time around we were focussing on keeping it simple as a bowling unit and bowling in right areas."

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...3rd-test-against-england-at-headingley/802763

 

[Devadwal]

Aakash Chopra :- magine India 0-1 after Two Tests in a home series and the Indian players involved in the Test series participating in a franchise-based limited-overs league between the two Tests. What furore it would’ve created!!
Imagine BCCI creating a window for the final stages of the IPL to be held between a Test series. Whole world would’ve been up in arms about how commercial Indian cricket has become blah blah…..

 

[Devadwal]

The current state of the England's test team is quite similar to India after the day night Adelaide test in Australia last December. Embarrassing defeat, Important players missing, injuries, top class bowling.
But will england be able to bounce back like India?

 

[shortbread]

England almost drew the second test, everyone forgets this. Needed to survive half an hour more, that was it.

Buttler had a brain fade (again) or would've taken the team home.

He needs to make it count. I'm hoping Root gives him the license to cut loose.

 

[BaankeJi]

England almost drew the second test, everyone forgets this. Needed to survive half an hour more, that was it.

Buttler had a brain fade (again) or would've taken the team home.

He needs to make it count. I'm hoping Root gives him the license to cut loose.

There is nothing to write home about England's 2nd innings effort. They could not even survive 60 overs!
If they had survived 92 overs needing to bat out 100 overs, then people will talk about that.

 

[deep82]

The weather forecast is bright and sunny.

Perfect opportunity to play Ashwin in place of Ishant.

 

[OMB]

England almost drew the second test, everyone forgets this. Needed to survive half an hour more, that was it.

Buttler had a brain fade (again) or would've taken the team home.

He needs to make it count. I'm hoping Root gives him the license to cut loose.

Didn't look like that especially with the bowling and field placements.
Anyway, the series is not over yet and the English batsmen can still turn the tables on India.

 

[MP2011]

England almost drew the second test, everyone forgets this. Needed to survive half an hour more, that was it.

But they didn't and that's the bottom-line and the same is being reflected in the scoreline of this series till now.

 

[OMB]

India vs England, 3rd Test: Saqib Mahmood Likely in Playing XI as Hosts Set for Wholesale Changes

The England skipper also hinted that Hameed and Burns could pair up as openers.

Pace bowler Saqib Mahmood is set to get his maiden Test cap after fellow pacer Mark Wood was ruled out of the third Test against India to be played here at Headingley from Wednesday, England captain Joe Root has hinted. Batsman Dawid Malan is also set to feature in the playing XI.

The right-arm pace bowler from Birmingham has played seven ODIs and nine T20 Internationals for England and had burst into limelight with a four-wicket haul in an ODI against Pakistan in July.

“I feel like Saqib couldn’t be in a better place to play Test cricket. We look at how he has progressed over the last couple of years across all the formats. The opportunities that he has taken which he has been given is exceptional," said England skipper Joe Root to media during a virtual interaction.

“He went into that one-day series [against Pakistan] as probably the most experienced player and the go-to seamer and was under pressure. It is just great to see the strength and depth, and him developing the way he has developed over a period of time," added Root.

Mahmood, who is strongly-built and bowls at an impressive pace, picked nine wickets during the three-match ODI series that England won.

Root said missing the second Test is frustrating for Mark Wood, who bowled in India’s second innings of the second Test despite pain.

“He bowled very well. This is frustrating for him and us. It gives opportunity to some of the others to step up."

Root also said that Dawid Malan, who was called in to bolster a struggling England batting line-up, will bat in the top order. Malan could play at No. 3 with Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns set to open the batting.

“Dawid will offer a lot of experience in the top 3. Not necessarily Test cricket, but he has played lots of international cricket. He has dealt with pressure situations. He has played a lot of red-ball cricket over the course of his career. He also had great success and played in a massive series in Australia away (2017-18 Ashes) and been our leading run-scorer there," added Root.

Malan had hit a century and three half-centuries during that Ashes tour.

“We know that he is capable of big things in Test match cricket and he is coming on the back of one County Championship score, but it is a big one (199 for Yorkshire vs Sussex in first week of June). He scores in pressure situations in shorter format," said the 30-year-old England captain who became the second highest run-getter for England in Test cricket during the ongoing series.

The England skipper also hinted that Hameed and Burns could pair up as openers.

“They (Hameed and Burns) are two very fine players. They are different in styles. It is an opportunity for them to make some big runs and get us off to a good start and hopefully, we can follow through on that."

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/india-vs-england-3rd-test-saqib-mahmood-likely-in-playing-xi-as-hosts-set-for-wholesale-changes-4119881.html

 

[street cricketer]

The wicket is expected to be wet apparently.

The worst type of wicket for Indian batting which struggles on seaming wickets. Only consolation is that the English batting is not much better either. Root's runs can make the difference in a low scoring match.

 

[RamLakhan]

England almost drew the second test, everyone forgets this. Needed to survive half an hour more, that was it.

Buttler had a brain fade (again) or would've taken the team home.

He needs to make it count. I'm hoping Root gives him the license to cut loose.

Buttler did take the license to chase a relatively wide ball and nicked the ball (Did not got success like IPL though) As if its so easy!

I still remember a test match in West Indies which India lost chasing a very low score against Ambrose & co in 90s (West Indies which still had something in it before declining completely). India had a much stronger batting lineup than the current paltry English side!

So please learn to give some credit to a determined team, determined bowling team when they chase success!

 

[MenInG]

Captain Virat Kohli says his India team were "provoked" by England in the second Test - and will "not take a backwards step" when they meet again at Emerald Headingley on Wednesday.

India won an often ill-tempered game at Lord's by 151 runs thanks to a remarkable fightback on the final day.

"This team is not going to back down," said Kohli.

"What's said on the field and what's done in the moment gives you extra motivation."

Kohli did not reveal what provoked him or his players, but there were several confrontations during a thrilling match that went into the final hour.

India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah targeted England number 11 James Anderson with a series of bouncers on the third evening, and England responded to Bumrah and fellow tailender Mohammed Shami in similar fashion on the fifth morning during a spell which arguably cost them the match.

Kohli was also involved in a verbal exchange with Jos Buttler as England were bowled out for 120 on the final day, failing to bat out two sessions to secure a draw.

"The details don't need to be discussed," said Kohli, whose side lead 1-0 in the five-match series.

"It happens in the moment. It's how you get up from that situation, that's what matters."

Bumrah bowled four no-balls in an over to Anderson in the first innings, hitting him on the helmet with one of several bouncers.

"I felt like he wasn't trying to get me out. I've not felt this ever in my career," Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.

"They are a passionate side. They use emotion differently to how we use it. They channel it well - we saw that on the last day."

Malan eager to prove people wrong

Test cricket is a different baby - Malan
England recalled batter Dawid Malan for Headingley - an opportunity he did not expect after playing the most recent of his 15 Tests in 2018.

He is set to bat at number three, with Haseeb Hameed - who returned to the team in that spot at Lord's - likely to open after Dom Sibley was dropped.

"Realistically, did I think it would happen? Probably not," said 33-year-old Malan, who averages 27.84 and has one century - against Australia in Perth - and six fifties from 26 Test innings.

"Sometimes you say the right things but don't believe it will happen.

"When you come back you're hungry. You want to score runs. You want to prove people wrong. You want to prove yourself wrong, that you can actually play at this level for an extended period of time.

"I know I can play Test cricket. This is a fantastic opportunity, an unbelievable opportunity to get another crack at it."

Who will replace injured Wood?

One of Craig Overton and Saqib Mahmood are expected to replace pace bowler Mark Wood, who will play no part at Headingley because of a shoulder injury sustained while fielding at Lord's.

Somerset seamer Overton has taken nine wickets at 44.77 in four Tests, the most recent of which was in 2019.

Lancashire's Mahmood has never played a Test, but was man of the series in England's 3-0 one-day series win over Pakistan in July after taking nine wickets at 13.66 apiece.

India may recall off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 413 Test wickets but was overlooked for the first two Tests.

"We're quite surprised to see the pitch," said Kohli. "I thought there'll be more grass and it will be more spicy and lively."

England (from): Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson.

India (from): Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav.

BBC

 

[Devadwal]

Has anyone seen pitch?

 

[MenInG]

India captain Virat Kohli has said that while he is reluctant to break up a winning team, he is tempted to play off-spinner Ravi Ashwin in the third Test against England starting on Wednesday.

India are 1-0 up in the five-match series after drawing the first Test at Trent Bridge and winning the second at Lord's by 151 runs - both games in which Ashwin, the current second-ranked Test bowler in the world, was left out.

 

[Robert]

A shame for Wood, I love his commitment and passion (and his skill), but great news for Mahmood and very excited to see him debut.

Aye, the lad Saqib is quick. England have got a clutch of good young fast bowlers coming through. I can see Saqib, Stone and Robbo as the attack for the mid-twenties.

 

[Robert]

The wicket is expected to be wet apparently.

The worst type of wicket for Indian batting which struggles on seaming wickets. Only consolation is that the English batting is not much better either. Root's runs can make the difference in a low scoring match.

It won’t be wet, the match would be called off. There has been a lot of unseasonal rain recently which will make the outfield soft though, so reverse swing is unlikely. But orthodox swing will happen if clouds march over.