India vs England | 1st Test | Ahmedabad | 18/11/12 | Day 4

[Random Aussie]

Malcolm Yadav doing the damage with two quick wickets. This is now the best partnership England have so we need another wicket, then another couple of guys can head off for family commitments.

 

[James]

Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bairstow, Prior for the new top six. Fatel is out of his depth and Bell can just do one.

 

[SempreSami]

What I would give right now for a scratchy century a la Collingwood in Chennai right now.

Either Tony Hill or the mongs at the BCCI who object to DRS need shooting.

 

[Marshland]

Pretty chanceless test match for Cook, scored 163 runs for one dismissal currently.
Difficult to tell if he is so good or we are so rubbish though.

Cook is the only class bat you've got, along with the mercurial KP. It's everyone else that are inconsistent/rubbish.

 

[SempreSami]

Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bairstow, Prior for the new top six. Fatel is out of his depth and Bell can just do one.

Stuff off, Patel's awesome. Not enough portly players in international cricket.

 

[James]

Prior is an imp and Bairstow has a lot of potential. All is not lost going forward.

I miss Collingwood, he really did retire too early. Even now there's still a place for him in...all formats?

 

[James]

Stuff off, Patel's awesome. Not enough portly players in international cricket.

Quality for the LOIs but keeps flopping in tests.

 

[Fire Bird]

Yadav is good when is on but he has the habit of spraying full on leg at times. Needs to concentrate on off stump

 

[SempreSami]

Prior is an imp and Bairstow has a lot of potential. All is not lost going forward.

I miss Collingwood, he really did retire too early. Even now there's still a place for him in...all formats?

Not sure about Tests. He retired from them at the right time because everything was rosy and he appeared to be the only weak link. Then we went a whole summer without any tricky situations to miss his grittiness because we only played some pub team.

 

[James]

Bro look at all of the Tests we lost this year. They were crying out for some Collingwood.
I think we didn't appreciate him enough until he was gone.

 

[SempreSami]

Quality for the LOIs but keeps flopping in tests.

I'd prefer to see him play a home Test before deciding that.

 

[Marshland]

And all the dropped catches too. Colly would of caught all of 'em.

 

[Bilal7]

Not sure about Tests. He retired from them at the right time because everything was rosy and he appeared to be the only weak link. Then we went a whole summer without any tricky situations to miss his grittiness because we only played some pub team.

Harsh.

 

[Fire Bird]

My god Manjrekar is annoying. Ok Yadav is brisk but Manje contends that Zaheer's pace is up. Really? And the statistic shows his average speed is 129ks with a top speed of 137. If Zak was bowling quicker, whats his original speed? 110?

 

[kungfu90]

yadav has control problems with the new ball.

 

[SempreSami]

Harsh.

I'm making the most of that joke in case we ourselves get whitewashed in this series.

 

[James]

I'd prefer to see him play a home Test before deciding that.

The home series versus New Zealand would be a good trial period. I don't think we can just throw him straight into the Ashes, he would fall to bits. Being inexperienced, Indian and fat makes him an Aussie sledger's dream lol.

 

[Bilal7]

I'm making the most of that joke in case we ourselves get whitewashed in this series.

Nah. You guys will definitely be more competitive than the 'pub team' was in England.

 

[James]

How do the Indian boys rate England's chances in the second test? (Kolkata) I don't know anything about this pitch and conditions stuff.

 

[Bilal7]

The home series versus New Zealand would be a good trial period. I don't think we can just throw him straight into the Ashes, he would fall to bits. Being inexperienced, Indian and fat makes him an Aussie sledger's dream lol.

He's any sledger's dream!
In all seriousness, he is a handy cricketor to have in your team. Bit like what Hafeez offers to Team Pakistan.

 

[Random Aussie]

You will lose

 

[mixie]

How do the Indian boys rate England's chances in the second test? (Kolkata) I don't know anything about this pitch and conditions stuff.

Eden Gardens will be a minefield...that is for sure

Pick monty in place of bress...finn for broad...

I see it is an even stevens fight...

 

[BHM :D]

England just about hanging in here. My two favourite English players showing their class once again, hopefully they can take it through to the close of play.

Patel looks out of depth, I'd swap him with Bairstow who has a lot of potential, and then possibly drop Bresnan for Monty depending on the wicket for the next test. Maybe bring in Finn for Bell who is going back home.

 

[James]

So we are effectively -100/5. Couldn't hope to construe a more hopeless position in a test match.

Hopefully we are just being 'slow starters'...

 

[Marshland]

The home series versus New Zealand would be a good trial period. I don't think we can just throw him straight into the Ashes, he would fall to bits. Being inexperienced, Indian and fat makes him an Aussie sledger's dream lol.

Well you played Bopara in the 2009 Ashes....at #3!

 

[mixie]

Downside of replacing broad and bress is that you will have a longer tail on a raging turner against Indian spinners.

But you will yourself have a better chance at containing the Indian batsmen with 2 spinners and excellent pacer like Finn...

 

[praveen]

Baffling selection really.

I was so sure Bairstow would feature but Samit was named instead. And then Patel hardly bowled , which totally defeated his selection purpose. England need to drop him for Monty or Bairstow. It seems tricky as both the batting and bowling are weak.

IMO they should play 2 proper spinners and 2 pacers. Anderson, Bresnan and broad in the same team is stupid and one of them is sure to get under bowled.

 

[mixie]

Fatel is a useful ODI player...worthless for tests...

He is neither a batsman nor a bowler...you should be good enough in either of those trades to make it in to the 11...

 

[Bilal7]

Baffling selection really.

I was so sure Bairstow would feature but Samit was named instead. And then Patel hardly bowled , which totally defeated his selection purpose. England need to drop him for Monty or Bairstow. It seems tricky as both the batting and bowling are weak.

IMO they should play 2 proper spinners and 2 pacers. Anderson, Bresnan and broad in the same team is stupid and one of them is sure to get under bowled.

Bowled 30 odd overs. Bowled poorly though.

 

[Ruri]

I miss Collingwood. He and Cook were my favorite batsmen. I rooted for them more than any of the others. Both are just honest hardworking lads. And Collingwood's fielding was the stuff of legend, easily the best fielder in the side and in the world really.

 

[MRSN]

Trott will always play his shots

 

[mixie]

Having said that...England will most likely play Fatel in the Eden test as well...they just can not fathom an even longer tail...

Iam expecting

Bell - Bairstow

Broad - Finn

Bresnan - Panesar

As replacements

 

[praveen]

Bowled 30 odd overs. Bowled poorly though.

Yes , out of no choice. Looks like Patel is selected for Ashwin like purpose but he is actually more of yuvi like.

 

[Marshland]

Trott will always play his shots

Looks like your clock is running a couple of hours late, son.

 

[Marshland]

Broad won't be dropped. Vice captain and all that.

 

[praveen]

Trott will always play his shots

Prior ?

 

[BaaliSoda]

@James - Kolkata's pitch has become one of the lowest bouncing and slowest turning wicket in the country since its been relaid in 2010. Slow Bowlers will enjoy this one. England must pick Monty in for Bresnan, also possibly Bairstow for Bell in the next game.

If finn is fit then he should play instead of Broad.

 

[SempreSami]

I miss Collingwood. He and Cook were my favorite batsmen. I rooted for them more than any of the others. Both are just honest hardworking lads. And Collingwood's fielding was the stuff of legend, easily the best fielder in the side and in the world really.

Was def our best fielder, but in the world? South Africa's regulars in the covers would suggest otherwise.

 

[praveen]

Broad won't be dropped. Vice captain and all that.

If he becomes captain someday, Lucifers final deed is done.

Okay drop Bresnan then.

 

[James]

Well you played Bopara in the 2009 Ashes....at #3!

Well yer. And it was a completely retarded idea which failed.

 

[Robert]

So we are effectively -100/5. Couldn't hope to construe a more hopeless position in a test match.

Hopefully we are just being 'slow starters'...

We always lose the first test in India.

But since I have been watching, we have come back to win the series one time, and share it another time.

It's just a question of picking the right team in the next three matches and working to the plan better.

 

[James]

India's fielding still sucks. If only their bowling and batting was a bit worse too lol.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Prior is stepping up the gas. Deficit is now just 80 runs.

Need at least one more wicket before the tea break

 

[Marshland]

India's batting always turns up, unlike their bowling and to a lesser extent, their fielding.

 

[praveen]

Looks like we have to bat again thanks to sloppy Zaheer .

 

[James]

I predict 350/8 at stumps.

 

[Mamoon]

Matt Prior is one heck of a fighter. Always takes it to the opposition.

He is quite underrated in IMO.

 

[James]

These are the two England players who IMO get into a World XI.

 

[James]

Settle down Matty.

 

[Mamoon]

England can do what we did in Mohali in 2005.

We also had a wicket keeper on one end.

We were in a similar position and :kami and put on an absolute dog fight on the final day, saving the test.

That would require a Cook double hundred and a Prior ton. Both are capable o achieving that.

 

[Ruri]

Was def our best fielder, but in the world? South Africa's regulars in the covers would suggest otherwise.

I've always felt that Colly was a class apart.

De Villiers is very good but Colly was majestic.

 

[BaaliSoda]

25 minutes to Tea break, need a breakthrough now

Umesh should be brought back into the attack

 

[James]

England can do what we did in Mohali in 2005.

We also had a wicket keeper on one end.

We were in a similar position and :kami and put on an absolute dog fight on the final day, saving the test.

That would require a Cook double hundred and a Prior ton. Both are capable o achieving that.

Nah this one is gone dude. But there are some genuine positives to take into the rest of the series, hopefully we will not disgrace ourselves.

 

[Ruri]

Nah this one is gone dude. But there are some genuine positives to take into the rest of the series, hopefully we will not disgrace ourselves.

I just want to reach parity at this point.

 

[Mamoon]

Nah this one is gone dude. But there are some genuine positives to take into the rest of the series, hopefully we will not disgrace ourselves.

A bit more resistance from Trott and Pietersen and England would have been in a fantastic position to save the match

34 overs left in the day, if this pair sticks till stumps, I think England are in with a great shout of saving the test although on a day 5 pitch, they would be one Ojha/Ashwin spell away from crumbling.

 

[Ruri]

A bit more resistance from Trott and Pietersen and England would have been in a fantastic position to save the match

34 overs left in the day, if this pair sticks till stumps, I think England are in with a great shout of saving the test although on a day 5 pitch, they would be one Ojha/Ashwin spell away from crumbling.

34 overs are a huge stretch.

Just equalize, go pass 300 which India could not do in England, and call it a day.

 

[Mamoon]

I think England can do with in this situation.

He'd be a real handful.

would be a good option too.

 

[James]

A bit more resistance from Trott and Pietersen and England would have been in a fantastic position to save the match

34 overs left in the day, if this pair sticks till stumps, I think England are in with a great shout of saving the test although on a day 5 pitch, they would be one Ojha/Ashwin spell away from crumbling.

Well yer. Saffer bottlers. 'It's in their nature'.


[utube]8x525Tk7KpI[/utube]


Even 34 overs is a lot of batting mate lol.

 

[Mamoon]

Well yer. Saffer bottlers. 'It's in their nature'.

Beautifully played

 

[Mamoon]

I'm beyond confident India won't whitewash England like we did

 

[Fire Bird]

I think England can do with in this situation.

He'd be a real handful.

would be a good option too.

This is an ideal pitch for some style tuk tuk. Slow pitch and lots of time in the test.

 

[James]

I nearly go in my pants every appeal that goes up.

 

[JibranAnsari]

I a expecting a wicket this over.

 

[Fire Bird]

I'm beyond confident India won't whitewash England like we did

Wait till they get to Eden Gardens

 

[Mamoon]

This is an ideal pitch for some style tuk tuk. Slow pitch and lots of time in the test.

England need a tuk tuk masterclass. Can the best opener of his generation pull it off? very much so.

 

[Ruri]

Ashwin appeals everything.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Now we understand the importance of misbah

 

[cricketjoshila]

Second was clearly not. Would have missed leg, and it was a nick anyways.

First was shaving leg if anything.

Yea the snicko did show a possible nick.

 

[Mamoon]

Now we understand the importance of misbah

He is a must in tests. But useless in LOI.

 

[James]

Ojha is a quality bowler. Better than the inconsistent Ashwin.

 

[cricketjoshila]

The pitch has slowed down a lot.There is still turn,but thats slow turn and no bounce.Mumbai and Kolkata will be tougher.England will have the best chance in Nagpur.

 

[Saurav]

Cook has looked unshakeable so far

 

[mixie]

Parts of the pitch which are not scuffed up by foot marks are still good...

 

[leatherface58]

Ojha is a quality bowler. Better than the inconsistent Ashwin.

But he chucks according to some know-it-alls :bedi

 

[chaiwala]

) Harbhajan

 

[BaaliSoda]

Last over before tea break coming up.

 

[Arcturus]

Crowds love KP and Bhajji. Loud cheers whenever they are in action

 

[Fire Bird]

He is a must in tests. But useless in LOI.

. So is and dont forget

 

[kungfu90]

The pitch has slowed down a lot.There is still turn,but thats slow turn and no bounce.Mumbai and Kolkata will be tougher.England will have the best chance in Nagpur.

yep, Edges are not carrying, once the ball goes older, it will be even tougher for the bowlers. England on their way to make India bat again.

 

[BaaliSoda]

Good resistance shown by Prior and Cook.

65 runs partnership so far.

Need to get one of these batters out ASAP after the tea break.