Thetownend.com

So with the Summer over, and with a fair amount of cricket ahead, it's only right to start a new 'seasonal' cricket thread (Yes it's Autumn, but cricket only recognises Summer and Winter series')

The ICC World t20 fast is approaching (starts today) and England are away to India and New Zealand before The Ashes at home next summer!

Predictions? I can see England making the super 8 stage of the t20 and losing away to India, before beating New Zealand.

Looking forward to it all!Love a bit of winter cricket.Its always dark and freezing cold here but your sat at 5am watching or listening to the cricket in a country where its boiling and sunny.Plus with the baby i have the excuse to watch it,i've not got work during the week  :D

Unhappy at all the kp stuff.Just all round depressing really.  :(

Can my winter cricket posts in the summer cricket thread from today be moved across?

N....Yes bring them on in, make the transfer!

My initial offering ..

Maybe we need to begin a 'winter of cricket' thread but ....

England test squad for India named in an hour ... It looks like ....

Joe Root and Nick Compton will be named in it.  Also Monty Panesar will miss out.  Monty's ommision is an odd one as it must be down to the lack of trust in his fielding as he is by a country mile the 2nd best spinner in the country.  So it appears in the test series Swann will be back up by a bit of left arm twirl from Samit Patel with Tredwell in reserve.

..........................................................................

Also T20 world cup starts tomorrow will about as open a field as I can remember. 

As much as I want India to win the bowling is dross so the batting against most decents sides will have to make in excess of 180 just to be in the game.

Pakistan are the other way around.  Great bowling especially Ajmal but will they make enough runs? 

I do like Sri Lanka especially with Malinga.

West Indies are my wildcard.  With Gayle and Pollard they xcould turn a game in seconds but dont fancy the bowling much.

England as defending champions .... Good unit.  Much will depend on how Morgan/Buttler/Bairstow play the spinners during the middle/late overs.

I think the Aussies have no hope (So lump on them)

Saffers are good, but I cant bring myself to back them!

Also Englands opener is on Friday v Afghanistan.  They aint bad.  The batting is dodgy especially against extreme pace but they have a decent bowling attack with a mix of slow bowlers potentially suited to the Sri Lankan pitches.  Either way they are a great story and I expect them to be better than Bangladesh in most formats in due course

My predicted team for the 1st test:

Cook
Root
Trott
Bell
Morgan
Bairstow
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

More likely they will leave out Monty and include Patel and go down the strengthen the batting option.  May even consider bumping Prior up to 6 and leaving out one of Morgan/Bairstow.  But think for first test they will want to make the batting as long as possible.

India v Afghanistan in the T20 World cup!

Really promising start by the Afghans.  A couple of sharp quicks and have India 41/2 after 7.

Wonder what the battings like??

Industrial on the few occasions I've seen them, Sadiq & the keeper are both good at the old tonking.

Would like to see one or two upsets and the Afghans look the most likely.

Cook
Compton
Trott
Bell
Morgan
Prior
Patel
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

Thats my gut feeling. They will need 3 seamers to shoulder the load. I wouldn't pick Patel or Bres mind.

Predicted: Cook, Root, Trott, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, Patel, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn

Whereas I'd pick:

Cook, Bell, Trott, Compton, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson, Panesar


Easiest time to score in India is against the new ball, two slow openers is just throwing away free runs against India's excuse for a seam attack.

I reckon Morgans apparant expertise against spin will make the selectors desperate to have him in.

Maybe not after his performance against Pakistan last winter. 82 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 13.66. 5 of his 6 dismissals to spinners. Dropped for subsequent Sri Lanka series.

I figured that was sarcasm after his efforts against Ajmal. Not that any of the Indian spinners are in his class.

To an extent.

None of the England batsmen covered themselves in glory in Pakistan and Morgan went largely as he was the last one in, and the England management had to get rid of someone.  You could have made a case for any of the top 6 to have been shifted.

Whilst the pitches are certain to turn and India will go with 2 spinners most likely Ashwin and Ohja.  Neither are in Ajmal's league.

They could also look at the one day series played in India last year where numerous English batsmen got themselves into a right pickle!

It looks great to have the name Compton in an England side. On the few occasions I've seen him play he has looked very good, but that it is at Taunton, and I think I could bat on that track, and I didn't break double figures with the bat all season.

I've not seen Root. What do people think of him? I wonder if, at 21, he is going for the experience, with one eye on the future, but then he is the only addition who opens in first class cricket, so he may be straight in.

Only seen Root in one day stuff, and he's not been too impressive. The England hierarchy obviously think there's a talent here that can be developed.....Michael Vaughan's county figures were moderate, but Fletcher saw a player.

Root also bowls a bit of of spin, which could be helpful...

We won't all be sat in the cold watching it :)

My old chap played with Varun Chopra today (Warwickshire) in Neil Carter's benefit 6 a side at Wormsley, he happened to get a phone call from Andy Flower, telling him that he is the '1st reserve' should anyone pull out...believe he was the leading run scorer in one of the competitions this season! Said he was a great guy and that there are a few to look out for. He rated Joe Root as the next technically best batsman England will have, so I believe they will play Root.

1st Test Prediction: Cook (c) Root Trott Bell Morgan Bairstow Prior Broad Swann Anderson Panesar/Finn (depending on what they believe the wicket does)

England start off against the Afghans today, and we're 0/1 off the first over. Not an ideal start.

The Counties should be eyeing up these 2 Afghans opening bowlers for a 20/20 stint.  Both really sharp.  I especially like the left hander!

Bearing mind Hassan is their best bowler and he's crocked, they've got a fucking good attack! I can think of at least two Asian full member nations who would swap their quicks.

So does Luke Wright apparently.

Wright is properly marmalising them here. Not a big fan but he can sure as hell hit it.

Wright 99 not out - damn good knock but must be a bit gutted at the same time.

Im feeling confident.

Afghans 25 for 6 after 7.4

Might sneak home.

26 for 7

That was rather embarrasing today...80 all out, and yet again, we look fucking clueless against spin!

Doesn't matter in the slightest because of the rubbish format of the tournament, no points carried forwards to super 8s, all minnow games first. Great work guys, nothing better than a whole bunch of dead games straight away. Bit embarassing when even Rohit Sharma scores runs against you though.

Don't really understand why we looked so bad against the Indian spinners: Ajmal kinda makes sense because there's nobody really like him in England, but orthodox off spin really shouldn't have quite the same effect.

The format is rather odd, looking forward to seeing how we fair against other major nations! Confidence might have taken a hit, especially with so many young guys in the team right now! If we come up against Pakistan, Sri Lanka or anyone with a half decent spinner then I can't see us scoring many against them.

Oh bejesus. Case in point as to why we need KP in the side.

As KP is such a good player of spin isnt he.

He really is a brilliant player of right arm spin. And not as bad against left arm spin as people make out, watch the innings of him slaughtering Kerrigan in the CC earlier in the year.

The KP issue is besides the point though, the team we have out should be capable of playing orthodox off spin.

India to win test series v England 4-0 me thinks.

The way they played the spinners yesterday was verging on the criminal!  Didnt even turn much.  Play straight you stupid fuckers!

True India dont have an Ajmal but the other two spinners to cause all sorts of shit were Rehman and the Sri Lankan left arm spinner whos name illudes me right now.

Englands main hope is to bat first and bat long 450+ and apply pressure that way.  India bat first get a big total, then India get men round the bat, then its when England get rolled over not if!

FCB, you realise that probably one and max two of the top 7 will play in the tests?

Won't be 4-0, I have India as slight favourites but only slight.

Say the top 7 will be ....

Cook, Root, Trott, Bell, Morgan, Bairstow, Prior ......

You've got 3 players there at the beginning of there test careers.  Bairstow based on the cricket he has played in the sub continent has a question mark over how he plays the turning ball.  Morgan's reputaion against spin is based on the trick shots he plays in the one day game which is going to be more difficult with men around the bat.  I havent seen much of Root.  The other 4 have issues being carried with them from last years sub continent tours and I believe Bell may miss one of the tests for some reason.

Also the ball wasnt really turning yesterday, the England batsmen managed to make it look like a bunsen!

Maybe 4-0 is a bit ambitious, but I expect India to win and comfortably!  Ashwin and Ohja will definately play for India and I wouldnt be massively surprised if they tried to get a 3rd spinner in there.

Yes

Just had a look at the super 8 groups:

England .. Sri Lanka .. New Zealand ..West Indies/Ireland
Australia .. India .. Pakistan .. South Africa

Well if England could hand picked their super eight group thats what they would have gone with.

Dangers as I see it ...

Sri Lanka .. Mendis/Matthews/Dilshan
New Zealand .. McCullum/Vettori
West Indies .. Gayle/Pollard/Narine

Game to be played at Pallekelle, which turns more than Columbo so obvious dangers are Mendis and Nariane.

Great group imo, think we'll stuff the Windies and NZ.

If the Aussies and the Saffas can get shot of India for us, I think we have a good chance.

When is England's next game?

Thursday at 3pm vs either W Indies or Ireland I believe

Cheers pal.  Looks like I have picked a good week to have off work.  :pint:

Englands Super 8 Fixtures:

27th Sept - Eng v WI/Ire 3PM
29th Sept - Eng v NZ 11AM
1st Oct - Eng v SL 3PM

That's a really good super 8 group for England to win!...I think we'll do it, even though we got stuffed yesterday!

I can see us stuffing WI or Ire, beating NZ and potentially losing to SL due to the Mendis brothers who spin to win! I think 2 wins and NRR will be key to getting out of the group if it comes down to it!

Yep, that's a bloody good group for us and as has been mentioned, I'd quite like Aus and South Africa through to the semis as I think we have a much better chance against either of them than against India/Pakistan.

Ireland out this evening, don't think 130 would have been enough especially with Gayle, Samuels, Pollard and Bravo et al in their batting line up! Good news is that it leaves them without a hit going into our game against them on Thursday! It starts to get interesting now...!

Its been a bit dull so far the matches between the top two teams are pointless, and the minnows have got tanked in their games, but now the competition starts properly

You might remember the fate of the last debutant England batsman in India : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/239025.html

Let's wait and see. Very interesting series ahead, don't think anyone knows for sure what will happen, both sides have major issues.

Pak vs the Banglas tonight, looking like an actual competitive match for a change!

Probably the first one since the internecine war of 71, which saw Bangladesh gain its independence from Pakistan.

England v West Indies delayed as SL v NZ has gone to a super over!!

NZ v Sri Lanka sounds like a great game, looking forward to watching the highlights later...hope England can do the biz, would have preferred to set a target after the other day! Still backing us though!

Oh bejesus, Gayle is on one

We need Gayle out pronto, still have Samuels, Pollard to come!

Gayle 29 off 21 so far and hasn't moved out of first gear.

He is too fucking cool. A bit of turn though for swann which is good and bad.

Being neatly balanced out by Johnson Charles being wank though.

Gayle seems to enjoy Samit's Pies even more than the man himself does.

I'll shut up, I promise.

Even he seems to like Samits pies!

Chasing 200+ it looks like...Gayle on for a big one!!! (Even Johnson Charles could be too!!!)

Finn drops Charles to cunningly get Gayle on strike and then catches him. Reading the game brilliantly.

At least you caught that one Steve Finn,well done!

Narine apart the windies bowling is a bit shit!

Our bowling is currently no better.It'll be interesting to see the tactics that we employ against Narine.

5 overs to go at say 10s....looking about 180 chase!

Good news with the danger man Pollard out.

0/2 off 3. Ah.

Oh dear, couldn't have been a much worse of a start! Shades of India?

Always going to be a big ask at 0-2 after an over! Can't see us getting through to the Semis, as I think Sri Lanka will be too much in the spin department and we'll beat NZ in a dead rubber!

Morgan batted superbly!

Someone out fucking Kiesblocker out of his misery for fucks sake

At least Kieswetter got straight out, Bairstow scoring 18 off a full five overs did more damage to our chase.

The game was lost by letting Johnson fucking Charles score 84 runs mind.

Reckon the blame lies solely with Bairstow. If he'd scored at the same run rate (or even close to) as Hales and Morgan we'd have run. Scoring under 4 an over is beyond shit. Maybe they should have put Morgan in when the 2nd wicket fell.

Of course, we'd also have won if KP was playing. They (the ECB) could have sorted it out in time if they wanted.

Bairstow wasn't helped by coming in at 0/2.

Also heard England off 12 overs of spin only got 70 odd. 

Think it's NZ next. So in an ideal world England can win that and Sri Lanka beat the west indies so in the final game Sri Lanka rest a few against England.

Also it's handy England got close so the run rate didn't take a battering of it comes to that.

Big day today.  India v Pakistan ... Come in India!!!

Also have had £ 50 in the south Africa and India double ...

Which with the saffers now 10/2 is in peril!!!

A great day of sport today, t20, Ryder Cup and Super Sunday....got to love Sunday afternoons!

Thank goodness England won yesterday, didn't see the game or any highlights due to Shrewsbury yesterday but from what I gather it was a much improved performance from the India and WI games....winner takes all on Monday then!!!

edit: Just seen the WI v SL result....does that mean we need to beat SL and hope NZ beat WI??

I think if England win they will go through.  If Eng beat SL, and WI beat NZ then it will all come down to net run rates and SL are much better than Eng and WI at present.  If England win narrowly and WI annihalate NZ then England may have a problem.

England though will have to bat much better.  Kieswetter up top just clogs the bloody thing up.  Highly unlikely but the only option could be to give Bairstow the gloves and bring Bopara in and garner another bowling option.  With the two Mendis's another trial by spin awaits!

I fancy the saffers here.  Get a couple early and get stuck into that fragile looking middle order.

All to play for between India, Pakistan and South Africa! Australia looking good and Shane Watson...4 MOMs on the trott...has to be in a shoe in for Player of the Tournament?!

If news reports are to be believed England have taken my option and dropped Kieswetter for today.  It's bold and brave.  If it backfires they will get pelters but I think it's a good option.

Not to sure about Bairstows keeping.

Bairstow isn't a bad keeper, we're not talking Read/Foster/Bates level but I don't think he's much different to Kieswetter.

Why the fuck Prior isnt playing is a total mystery.

He himself has admitted he has had numerous chance at ODI and T20 level and not done it.  A very real frustration.

So what's the best result for England with the WI v NZ game

It looks like NZ will win.  If they win inside 19.4 overs the qualify apparantly.  That would leave the Eng v SL game as winner takes all I think!  (Willing to be corrected)

Cracking over by Narine there.  A wicket and just the 2 off it.  Sammy should have brought him on earlier!

Sammys only in this team for his captaincy and at times its shitter than his batting!

If the Windies rescue this he will have played his get out jail card!

New Zealand need 14 off the last over. 13 and we have another super over!

If Windies lose this they are out. If NZ win, they will probably qualify should England lose

2 to win off the last ball.

1 and we have a super over!!!!!!!!!!!

dIRECT HIT FROM DEEP MID WICKET AND WE HAVE A SUPER OVER ;-)

Wow! What a throw

Got to go for Windies in the super over

NZ get 17!

Gayle has some serious work to do here.  NZ strong favs!

So England will want NZ to win?

I dont think it matters.  England win they qualify!

Gayle smashes first ball for 6 .... AND ITS A NOBALL ..... FREE HIT!

7/0 off 0.0 overs !

Windies win to stay in with a chance of qualifying and its confirmed.  If England beat Sri Lanka, England qualify.

England win toss and bowl.  3 changes.  Out go Bresnan, Briggs and Kieswetter.  In come Bopara, Patel and Dernbach.

i wish bopara would stop rimming the selectors and fuck off

Didn't think the Sri Lankan national anthem would ever end!!

He's a better bowler than Dernbach.

Need to keep them below 150.  Ideally a fair bit below!

Bairstow's having a mare behind the stumps

Getting out of hand here!

That's better!

All out for 140 now

Perera can tonk the thing mind.

Test Match Sofa are currently noting the rather amusing resemblance between Steven Finn and Tamsin Greig. Excellent work.

Edit: Argh, what the fuck is Jade Dernbach for? Surely Anderson is a hundred times the bowler, even though I realise T20 is his weakest form. It's not like we haven't got fucking options for bowlers.

Fucking Dernbach.  Looks like about 170 to qualify for the semis!

Anyone fancy England?  Me Neither!

Bowling Dernbach for the final over when R-Bop has done two overs for 12. Ffs Stuart.

We're doomed!

Doomed I say!

169 to win.

We can do it.

But it needs one of Hales, Wright and Morgan to come off big time.

I'd rather it was Justin Rose, Poulter and Kaymer!

Hmm. Think we might just be fucked now.

Was it Bresnan who said that Bairstow was better than Petersen. :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:...he has done nothing to convince me he should be opening our batting :(

Going well, I think!

It's ok boys. Samit's got this.  There's a pie or 5 in it for him.
Playing the extra batter may prove handy if it gets close

Mmmmmmm - batter!

Come on Samit, eat them alive.

Fuck. Was no need for that.

That was fucking painful to watch!

See the newcomers are doing well

How many more chances does Bopara get?

Think that might be the last we see of Ravi Bopara in an England shirt.

With a bit of luck!

England should ditch the limited overs cricket and stick to what we do best . . .


. . .  cycling!!!

Or rowing.

If we could find a sport that involved racing a boat in wheels we'd be kings ;-)

Pedallo Racing?

Freddie Flintoff would come out of retirement for that one

That was another poor performance all round, not good enough to progress. Patel batted extremely well but to be 18-3 chasing 170 leaves with little chance. We gave them 20 too many and at one point they were only on for 150-160, which was chaseable! The selection of Bopara was a poor one...firstly I don't rate him and he's been given so many chances, but I do feel for him in this instance as he was put in at the deep end. He didn't score many runs at the end of our season, so what prompted the selectors to play him today when he hasn't had a knock for god knows how long has baffled me!

Sri Lanka or Australia as winners for me!

FWIW, I think the super 8's was about par for England.

Positives:
Steve Finn - Bowls at serious pace and is a real wicket taker up front.  Here to stay in all formats for many years to come.
Luke Wright - Two decent knocks against Afghanistan and NZ.  Something to build on and the forthcoming one day tour to India will be another learning curve.  Been around a while now though so really needs to make the chance tell.
Samit Patel Batting Today - An England batsmen capable of working spinners for ones and two and able to find the boundary.  He will bat further up the order in the limited format stuff especially in the sub continent.
Eoin Morgan - His back must be killing him carrying the England batting.
Buttler/Bairstow in the outfield - Electric quick and safe as house when catching.

Negatives:
Jade Dernbach - Does he have to many slower ball options for his own good?
The Top 3 - To often England found themselves 1 or 2 down early and rebuilding hence the powerplay was wasted and england behind the eight ball.
Ravi - Another Ramps? Ramps had the odd success at international level at least.  I felt for him today.  Everyone knows he was out of form and I felt he was a lamb put out to slaughter today.  Maybe a while before we see him again. If ever?
Keeper - In an ideal world Prior would make runs in the limited overs teams and that would sort that.  I thought giving Bairstow the gloves today was a bit desperate.  In low slow conditions he will never have seen before that was tough.  I think for the one dayers they will go back to Prior.
Lower Middle Order - All the other teams seemed to have players at 5, 6, 7 who could clear the ropes.  The England players never looked like consistently clearing them.  For the likes of Bairstow/Buttler this is all about learning.  Certainly in Jos's case, he isnt going to very often find the environment he has at Taunton, with a small ground, flat track and some 70mph dobblers.  We saw Buttler dismantle Wayne Parnell in the recent T20 in England, but against spin it seems to be a very different game.

I'm sure theres loads of others but i'm tired.

No Prior baffles me.

Some very good points FCB, have to agree with what you say!

I would like to add that I think KP was missed at the top of the order during this tournament, especially as it is/was a young, inexperienced team. A poor attempt at defending our t20 world champions crown, but lots of positives to take from it for 2 years time!

I think KP will be missed on the tour to India and I hope the whole situation is sorted sooner rather than later. It's ok saying it has been but he's still available and personally I would have him in the team if things can be sorted before the India tests get under way!

I think KP will go to India.  He will apologise and be added to the squad.

India will probably play 3 spinners and one will take the new ball.  Looking at the venues for the tests they will all turn, not massively but enough.

England will have to hope they can bat first and go big 450+.  If India bat first and go big I would worry.

Just seen that the next T20 world cup is in Bangladesh.  So conditions will be similar.  Hopefully the youngsters will be able to take what they have leanrt here to that.

India beat South Africa by 1 run,but neither side qualify for the semi-finals.

Semi-final lineup on friday.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

Australia vs West Indies

Reckon the ECB agree and have realised they can't do without him. Hence their sudden change of tune - looks like an apology of some sorts and he'll be on the plane to India. It was madness not taking him to the T20.

Just seen the Andy Flower interview Jonny on SSN, looks as though there will be an announcement of some sort tomorrow on KP!

I reckon:

Pakistan to beat Sri Lanka
Aus to bt WI

Pakistan to win final

Will be interesting to see how they for the first test.  There must be a temptation to push Prior up to 6 which would allow a second spinner probably Patel.

Cook, Root, Trott, KP, Bell, Prior, Patel, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn.

If Prior kept at 7.

Cook, Root, Trott, KP, Bell, Morgan/Bairstow/Compton, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn.

The second option would rely on Root being able to provide a back up spin option.  Panesar would be the obvious second spinner option but based on the England selectors way of making the batting as long as possible I dont see them playing Finn, Anderson and Monty in the same team.

Also apparantly Bell will miss a test due to his wife having a baby.  So will need to reshuffle for that as well.

In reality looking at the venues, I would want monty in there as the second best spinner, but dont see it happening.

As said last night, KP return expected for India: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/19783259 ...IMO great move!

Kp officially available "upon completion of reintegration programme"

That makes me think he will miss the test tour and be back for the 20/20 and one dayers either side of christmas.

Giles Clarke actually compared KP coming back into the England side to re-integrating a prisoner into society.

The man is barking.

Clarke is a knob, "reintegration"...also makes me think he'll miss the tests and if we find we are 1 or 2 down with 2 to play KP will be brought straight in...silly decision, should be in there for the 1st test!

Gayle teeing off!

WI 140-3 ............ Should get something very competitive!

205 very competitive indeed....remember in the groups it was high scoring and Aus were 100-1 or something chasing 190 and they did it with ease on D/L! Would love WI to make it, I think I predicted WI v Sri Lanka final...we shall see!

Warner and Hussey gone early!

All over bar the shouting!

2 games on two different day at the same ground but on different pitches.  One turning extravagently, the other as flat as a pancake!

Surely Sri Lanka will choose the bunsen!

Didn't know KP had dis-integrated.

Hopefully a high risk Clockwork Orange-style operation on KP will neuter his capacity for destruction but somehow preserve it at the crease.

It's gotta be worth a try after the 20:20 debacle

West Indies v Sri Lanka in the final today, nice one for the neutrals as I'd really quite like both to win.

Windies off to a poor a start, which isn't a huge surprise as Johnson Charles faced the first ball. No runs off the bat in the first two overs.

It would be fair to say that Windies have got off to a shocking start now. Gayle gone, 14/2 after the powerplay.

WI did well to get to 138, Samuels batted extremely well...Could be a tight game, being a final and all!

The women lost the T20 final to the Aussies. Don't follow much cricket, let alone women's cricket. But we always want to beat the Aussies.

Windies look dead certs now. Absolutely stunning comeback. They were 6-1 (odds not score!) after 10 overs of their innings!

SL 44 from 4, just took Rampaul for 22 off 1 over...could be a great finish still!

Deja vu!

WI beat SL in the final after losing to them in the group stages, after the Aussie women beat England in the final earlier, after England beat them in the group stages.

What a turnaround for WI, after 10 overs of their innings no way did I think they'd get near a good score let alone win the match! SL seem to fall away and didn't have the power hitters down the order like WI. WI bowled well and deserve the win!

Team Gangnam style dance followed by Gayle and Pollard rapping in an interview with Sanjay Manjrekar.

I love the Windies, none of the usual media crap about executing plans, just plain silliness.

If England can't win, then I'm glad the Windies have....raised on Caribbean cricketers down the years, Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, Lance Gibbs, Seymour Nurse, Basil Butcher, Frank Worrell, Conrad Hunte, Ramadin and Valentine, Rohan Kanhai...and teh greatest of all time Sir Garfield, the list could go on......  What I liked is they always seemed to enjoy the game, whereas England players seemed in a straight jacket of public school toffery, or dour norvern professionalism...still my team though, so had to accept it.

This is probably more appropriate for a Summer 2013 thread, but managed to bag 4 ashes tickets this morning to the 2nd test at Old Trafford...missed out on the 12th man allocation (useless) for Trent Bridge yesterday, so hoping to pick up some more on Monday when they go on general sale!

Yorkshire and Hampshire both in action today in the champions league t20 qualifiers!

I am going to the first 4 days of the Lords test and to the 3rd day at Durham and Old Trafford!

I will be paying this off for the forseeable future!

Hampshire getting absolutely stuffed earlier by Auckland, they are out of the champions league already! Thanks for coming!

Yorkshire chasing 149 against Trinidad & Tobago to make the actual groups of the CL. Interesting to see T&T had 3 members of the WI t20 2012 champions playing for them...Ramdin, Rampaul and Badree (along with 3 others who were in the squad) Come on you Yorkies!!!

Yorkshire through with ease, beat T&T by 6 wickets to go into the CL group stage! T&T are out having only played 1 game, seems a long way to go to enter a 'pre-champions league qualifying group' losing your 1st match and then being knocked out. A rethink perhaps needed on that, especially as the top 4 IPL teams go straight into the draw and a representative from England gets no automatic place!

That's because the main shareholders of the CL are India, SA and the Aussies, and that's why their sides go straight through.

Great crowds so far...not !!

Gonna try for Lord's and the Oval...see what happens.

Yorkshire beat T&T yesterday who would have been seriously hampered by the fact 3 of their players (Narine, Pollard and Bravo) all elected to play for their IPL teams.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/19909921

Sad news....was a good player on our shores for a few seaeons.

Just sunk £400 into Old Trafford tickets, trying to do the same for Notts but I'm in a queue. On the website. A website with a queue. Blimey.

Just secured 4 for Old Trafford at £70 each after being in that queue for over 90 minutes. Stick with it Nemo. There was plenty of availability left for the Friday when i eventually got through. Not sure what day you're after....

Any of the fuckers will do, I'm not choosy.

Got my OT tickets last week, now hoping to get day 1 Trent Bridge...but in the queue, if you're in before me nemo give us an update on Day 1 please! cheers!

Best way to be. I'd be massively surprised if you didn't get anything then. Also don't panic once that black bar gets to the end and it keeps trying to connect again and again (well that's what happened to me). I was worried but let it do it's thing and 5 minutes later i was in! You can then navigate and play around with blocks as much as you like although they do tell you to get it sorted within the half hour.

Got my Old Trafford last week to Maj.

The bar on the OT website kept loading back up for me then out of nowhere it connected me, I reckon I'm about 1/5 of the way down the Notts ticket site on the black bar and been queueing for rougly 20 minutes so looking at about an hour I think...probably all gone by then which would piss me off as really want day 1 of the ashes series, no other cricket day like it apparently. Also thinking of going to Aus next winter as well!!!

I got in the queue at 8:35 and finally got to the end of the queue and connected about 10:15. Stick with it although i think you might be lucky to get day one but i know nothing. Maybe in the alcohol free stand, it's always the last to sell out! :0)

Flipping heck that was an early start then and a long wait...could be here for a while then! I'd be keen for any day though and I'm awaiting news of the ballot from The Oval as well!

Yeah i know. I heard they were on sale from 9am so tried to log in as soon as i got to work and ended up in the queue. Could have been worse. I'm in ballot for the Oval too. This summer is gonna set me back a few pennies i think.

I didn't think they went on sale until 10, which is probably why I'm still 1/3 away from logging in...can't be many left now although OT said day 1-3 was pretty much a sell out and there were tickets still available for those until fairly late on in the day so I have everything crossed!!! Yeah next summer is going to be an expensive one for sure...haven't even bothered giving NZ test series a second thought! May try to get an Aus ODI as well but depends on the funds!!!

How have you overtaken me? I was about the same earlier and I'm still under half!

I'm about a 1/3 left

Maybe it was 10, if so i had a result as i doubt i was eligible to purchase until then. Sounds like the 90 minute queue may have worked in my favour.

I now have Durham, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge and am in the pot for The Oval. If i get that it's 4 out of 5 Tests so will have to draw the line at that. In my head i'm only using the money i didn't spend not going to the Olympics last year. Unfortunately i didn't actually save anything mind.

Good luck both!

4 Day 1s at Trent Bridge bagged, get in!!!

Just got in, availability across all four days still.

What stand are the £55 tix in?

The alcohol free stand, what cunts!

Got all the way through and it disconnected me. If there wasn't already a major precedent, I'd be threatening violence against Nottinghamshire landmarks right now.

Nemo, try the Notts CCC ticket line 0845 508 4082 and press 5 for the ticket office when it allows you...another option!

Thanks for the advice, but 0845 from Tokyo would probably cost me about as much as the tickets! I'll wait the queue out again, availability wasn't awful last time round.

Not trying to be funny Nemo but have you tried pressing "back". It worked for me the other day after i had been kicked out.

Sadly that didn't work. Got through for a second time, card declined as Nationwide detected unusual spending patterns- no shit, Ashes tickets don't go on sale every day. Think I'll take the hint as Trent Bridge has booted me to the back of the queue again.

Not having much luck are you! Just admit it, you just like queuing don't you?!

its men against boys watching Yorkshire in the Champions League T20 tournament, everyone else is chock full of internationals from around the world, Yorkshire have got their reserve team out almost.  Their best player from last year is starring for Sydney, no Bresnan or Bairstow, Sidebottom injured its painful to watch

"The boys" are doing a pretty good job of defending this, despite Adil Rashid being a steaming pile of cack these days. Been thoroughly outspun by the latest Yorkshire Asian spin prodigy Azeem Rafiq (4-0-13-1) who, at the risk of repeating the mistakes made with Rashid, looks like he'll play for England one day. Hopefully not too soon.

if you saw my football prediction you'd know I obviously know fuck all about either sport...

Englands opening tour game in India got underway this morning.  Theres normally a few clues about the make up of the team for the first test in there.

India A 340/8
Finn has gone for a scan on a thigh injury.
Looks like they have gone with Compton to open with the new skipper.
Patel playing the role of the second spinner instead of Panesar.
No Bairstow, Root or Morgan.  So this suggests they could be looking at Prior/Patel at 6 and 7.

I don't think Patel is significant less of a batsman than Morgan or Bairstow really, especially against spin. His fielding is wank and I don't think KP is much worse as a bowler mind.

Hope Finn is fine as I reckon he's the key for us after watching the ODIs last year.

I'd like to see Panesar as the second spinner, but he offers fuck all with the bat. He took and looked more dangerous than Swann did in the UAE last year so I wouldn't be surprised if Swann gets dropped during the series if he's not taking wickets. I do like Patel and from the way he played spin in the t20 world cup he deserves a go. I think it's a toss up between him and Morgan for that no.6 spot and as he offers more with the ball it looks like they will be picking Patel. Saying that I would have liked to see Ian Bell go up top in one of these tour games before the series, as he is by far the most technical batsman we have IMO!

I'm with you on Panesar as a second more attacking option but it would need either Finn or Anderson to miss out as there is no way the selectors will pick Anderson, Finn and Panesar in the same team.

I think Bell is also due to miss one of the test matches for a childs birth.

Assuming everyone is fit I think the England team in the first test would be:

Cook, Compton, Trott, KP, Bell, Prior, Patel, Broad, Swann, Finn, Anderson

I don't think you'll be far wrong with that team FCB!

Meant to add, if Finn misses out through injury I would expect them to go with Bresnan.

Agree that FCB's side si the way they will go. Should back the top 6 and play Monty instead of Samit though.

If anyone is planning on going to the Mumbai test match I will see you there!

I will hopefully be the one with an Indian flag with STFC on it ..... I should stick out  :D

I would like them to go Bres for Patel at 7 and then swap Finn for Monty, as I think that Monty is the more attacking option, and Bresnan is still a solid number 7

I will see you there then, I was looking at getting a flag done but I think i have left it too late now.

Captain Cook blasts 112 not out this morning with Samit on 80 odd not out as well!

Samit at 6 in the tests then.  I dont have much of a problem with his batting certainly in the subcontinent as he plays spin as well as any other English batsmen, I just dont think his bowling will provide much in the way of penetration.

Chosing Compton to open instead of Root is interesting as Root opens at county level, whereas Compton ats at 3.

In the next 2 warm up games they will need to give Bairstow/Morgan a hit as one of them will play in the second test when Bell goes home.

Compton > Root

Compton is a Somerset man, enough said.

There are many who would claim Dennis his grandfather as Engalnd's finest post war batsman, so not much to live up to. Dennis was a bit before my time, but do recall him turning out for the International Caveliers, along with the likes of Godfrey Evans.

The Caveliers, were a pick up team, suppose a bit like rugby's Barbarians, who played one dayers on a Sunday afternoon v the Counties, before the Sunday League, came into being.

The fledgling BBC 2 picked it up, and it was winner....John Arlott doing commentary, and a chance to see legends like Sir Garfield, Compton, Evans and Graeme Pollock.

By then Dennis was a big old boy, as he clearly liked a drink or ten...but some serious young West Indian talent like Keith Boyce and John Shepeherd, were given a go. The Caveliers success, led to the Sunday League and counties opening up the game to more overseas players...and possibly a golden age, when all counties could field serious imports for the whole summer before the current explosion of pointless one dayers and tests, means the imports only ever play a handfull of games.

Caveliers Reg?, presumably from their tussles with the Rindheads?   Or am I missing somethng?

Seems like majority of our batsman hit runs in the warm up game, so a steady start to the tour!

Fitness concerns over Finn would probably mean bringing Bresnan in for the 1st test if Finn is unfit, who took 3 wickets I believe?!

Think your about right Major.  2 more warm up games to go and in the next I expect the likes of Root/Panesar/Bairstow/Morgan/Onions to get a game before the third one in which I expect the test team to return.

Big game for Bairstow/Morgan as one of them will play instead of Bell in the second test, so its up for grabs there.

Bairstow struggling as well FCB, although he looks as though he's been declared fit to play in the next game! India A didn't have a bad side out either the other day, so it will be interesting what other make up teams we'll play before the 1st test.

Looking forward to this series,should be a cracker.

Excellent hundred for Bairstow in the warm up game. Runs also for Morgan and Samit.  Bairstow could put pressure on Bell who failed again.

Also, Stuart Meaker being flown out as cover for Steven Finn.

Sounds like it FCB, I like Jonny Bairstow and with Bell unavailable for the 2nd test/lack of runs in the warm up...is his head in the game with his missus being pregnant, so I would back Bairstow to bat 5 if Bell doesn't get selected/fails again this week to be in the side for the 1st test. That being said Morgan scored runs, and I think Patel is a given to bat 6/2nd spinner in the 1st test now!

Seems we now have Broad going for a scan on a dodgy heel.

If worst were to come to worst and Finn and Broad missed the first test ....... The team could be ...

Cook,
Root/Compton,
Trott,
KP
Bell/Bairstow
Patel
Prior
Bresnan
Anderson
Swann
Onions

I still think I would want Panesar but think England will go with Onions to start with, with the 3 seamers and 2 spin options.

Neither Root or Compton have made runs yet so they will have a second innings shoot out as surely Cook will come back in the final warm up game.

For me Bairstow hasn't done enough yet to start....good player and his time will come.
With KP turning the ball as a part timer and Patel in good form i dont reckon there will be a place for Monty.
Have a feeling Compton will start in the first test.

Really? Only 2 batsmen have scored 100s in the warm ups - Cook & Bairstow.

I might be inclined to think about moving Bell up to open - I don't think Compton or Root are ready.

I would also seriously think about whether Pietersen walks back in. Morgan scored runs in the warm ups, so might stick with him. Pietersen's spin is negated by the fact that Patel has won a place as a second spinner through his batting.

Compton made 60 odd in the 2nd innings, along with Monty/Samit taking 3 wickets each...seems a solid performance and we're adapting well to the sub continent conditions...I do expect Flower & Co have learned from the Pakistan (UAE) and Sri Lanka tours last winter, so hopefully we're setting up nicely for a great series!

Indian squad for first two tests was named today ... Looks like in the first test they will line up ....

Sehwag, Ghambir, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zaheer, Ohja, Yadav

Tendulkar is a class act, but he's out of form massively the past year...with rumours of a retirement not too far away don't be surprised if a) he scores a bagful of runs and is man of the series or b) his lack of runs continue and he announces his retirement ahead of the last test match

Sachin's eyes have gone - walking wicket.

The two batsmen to watch in the Indian line up are Pujara and Kohli.

I'd say some people are obsessed...http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20007287 (a bit like those Yellow Cunts down the road are with us)...I think Australia will lose to South Africa FWIW!

I agree with the Saffers smashing the Aussies.

With Watson missing the first test through injury the Aussies will have a top 3 of Warner, Cowan and Quiney (On debut).  To be followed by an aging Ponting, a new skipper before there best batsmen Hussey comes in.

With the bowling Cummins is injured again.  Siddle/Hilfenhaus are workhorses at best.  Calling Lyons a spinner is almost an insult.  This leave Starc and Pattinson, who FWIW I do think are really decent bowlers potentially.

Agree with all this and I'm looking forward to this series almost as much as England's, especially after taking 14/1 for a SA 3-0 win a couple of days ago. Can really see the Aussies getting stuffed if the Saffers perform anything like they did over here.

Much less confident of an England series win though as I can see our weakness against spin being our downfall yet again. Hope I'm wrong.

I think I am going to do a 3-0 double.  India to beat England and the Saffers to beat Aus.

Not a bad shout at all! 97/1 with BetVictor. There shouldn't be any weather problems in either venue so I guess the main threats are the possibility of a completely dead pitch in India or a Ponting renaissance to nick a win/draw for the aussies.

I might have a bit of that too. Not very patriotic on my part though.

The 'thrill' of the Ashes is muted when the Aussies aint that good. The building up of the Ashes in the last few years has been because the Aussies have been almost unbeatable. So, winning, losing, winning back and retaining were a big deal. The fact that the Aussies are still imho a poor Test nation at the moment lessens the interest.

The better contest is against South Africa, because our Saffers aren't quite as good as theirs! So, beating them in a series (either here or there) would be a big challenge.

India just annoy me. Dominant in their own back yard and poor away from home. Time for Sachin and Sewag to bow out I'm afraid. Pakistan are similar to India, but you never know what you are going to get and there is always the fear that something dodgy is going on!

Having intently watched the 'blackwashes' in the70s and 80s I pine for the Windies to once have a fearsome bowling attack and the odd batsman or two that can take an opposition apart.

With Sri Lanka, we are going to have to wait a few years, as their good players are getting past it now. While New Zealand are about as good as Gloucestershire!

I'm just looking forward to next summer and we're thrashing those convict cunts  :D

Have gone for Amla top run scorer in the Aus v SA series and Cook top run scorer in the Ind v Eng series!

Broad and Finn ruled out of last warm up game.

So if Broad plays in Ahmedabad he would do so having only bowled 4 overs. 

KP is back! 110 off 80 odd balls, walks off and retires  :D (also runs for Compton, Captain Cook and Mr Bell)

KP is a fuckin' god. Gonna gets stacks. Top English runscorer 100/30 buying money

Got 3/1 on Cook from SkyBet along with England to win 2-1 at 10/1!

Looks like Amla is getting you off to a good start

JP Duminy has fucked his ankle and needs surgery after injuring himself during the after play warm down.

Will have surgery later and be out for 3-6 months.  

So Saffers down to 10 for the rest of the test match and as the left out Tahir he was the spin option!

I'd still back the Saffers 10 mind, Amla must be worth a few.

Wouldn't surprise me if ABdV could bowl some spin, he can do everything else. Rudolph bowls passable leggies I think.

Meanwhile, England's reserve bowling attack are doing a decent enough job against Haryana, who by all accounts aren't that great. Bresnan looks nailed on for the first test now I'd have guessed.

Is Chris Tremlett fit at the moment by any chance? Seemed a more direct replacement for Finn than Meaker (who I rate, but might be too early)

Hopefully it continues, love seeing the Aussies get pummled on a flat deck! South Africa must be on for a very good 500+ unless the aussies fight back! Shades of The Oval for Amla?

Aussies 40/3 in reply to 450 against the Saffers' 10. Shouldn't laugh really.

111/3 at the close I think that the lost day and the fact that SA are lacking a spin option may tell against them being able to force the win, but it's always nice to see the Aussies lose

They had Cowan caught behind late on too but Morkel overstepped.

Strange to think Ed Cowan was due to turn out for Bath this year...

Money on the draw at this stage, although with 2 days to go and if the Aussies lose a couple early this morning we may see them all out for around 200!

384 for 4 now...

Hmm. Aussies now in front.  If they can get a shifty on and get infront by lunch tomorrow it could make things a tad awkward with the saffers a batter light. Unlikely though because saying the pitch is as flat a pancake is a big of an understatement!

Michael Clarke is fucking quals.

Yeah, that's a little disappointing. Kleinveldt having a bit of a mare, Cowan is a proper opener (reminds me a little of Strauss, good on the pull) and Clarke is, as DMR notes, disappointingly good.

Didn't see the Aussies getting anywhere near SAs score, let alone a lead! Michael Clarke is a great player!

With the first test barring an extraordinary SA collapse heading for a draw.  The second test in Adelaide which is traditionally as flat as can be also having a reasonable chance of heading for a draw.  This series could come down to a 3rd test shoot out in Perth.

 Klienveldt was bollocks.  He bowled 16 no balls!  It is a shame for SA they cant get Marchant De Lange fit for a reasonable period of time.

With the first India v England test starting on Thursday, it appears Broad and Finn will both be fit and available for selection and Swann is not back in India after his jaunt home.

I am thinking ....

The top 7 seems to pick itself.  The bowling will be made up of 3 seamers and a spinner.  With Swann certain to play as the spinner, its the make up of the 3 seamers that will dominate discussion.  Anderson is a certainty.  I think they will be reluctant to play both Broad and Finn givent there injuries and lack of match time.  So I reckon they will pick Bresnan and seniority will see Broad make the line up.

My predicted 1st test line up:

Cook, Compton, Trott, KP, Bell, Patel, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson

Other Predictons:

Series Score: India 2 England 1 (9/2 with Bet365)
Top England Runscorer: Alistair Cook (11/4).  (Might have a cheeky e/w flutter on Samit Patel at longer odds 14/1)
Top England Wicket taker: Graeme Swann (7/4).  If it turns out to be a seamer England will have spent many an hour in the field!
Top Indian Runscorer:  Virat Kohli (10/3)
Top Indian Wicket taker: Ohja (5/2) (Bog standard left arm spin with a bit of flight and guile).  England will collapse at some point and it will probably involve a lot of batsmen attempting and failing to play the sweep shot when it pitches in line and goes on to hit proven by DRS.

Must be a different Swann to the one we know then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20244011

Are we using DRS in this series FCB?

It appears DRS will not be used at all.

A blessing in disguise if you ask me for England out there. India have a massive problem with using it and I believe they are the only cricketing nation not to use it for lbws. I think snicko will be available, as it was when they visited England last summer.

Cancel that airline ticket DRS.

Looks like Finn is out so as I said for the first test line up.

I'd say Australia shaded that 1st test draw with South Africa, all to play for though!

Bresnan for Finn almost a cert I'd say now FCB, unless England plan on playing Panesar?

Bresnan almost certain to play.

England played in Ahmedabad about 10 years ago in my first overseas test match.  From memory as flat as a pancake!  Recent results seem to suggest this hasnt changed to much.

Based on this I will be backing the draw! Two heavy batting line ups and two bowling attacks who I think will struggle to take 20 wickets without significant help from the pitch.

Also a word for Yuvraj Singh who will play his first test match since treatment for a rare form of lung cancer. In hot, oppressive heat it will be a challenge but a good human story in a world recently dominated by not so good stuff! One of my best cricket memories of recent time was watching Yuvraj take Stuart Broad for 6 6's in an over at the first T20 WC.

You'll be glad to hear that playing the Series using International Cricket Captain 2012, England won the first test by 9 wickets after a sensational performance by Graham Swann who took 14 wickets in the match. Trott made a ton and Cook 97.

The England team was the expected one, India weren't really helping my attempts at simulation when they picked Laxman, Tiwary and both Kumars but were otherwise as expected.

Get your money on it.

is that the one where you roll the ball down a little slope to bowl, then press the batmans head to bat, and if the ball rolls between the fiedlers legs in the little hoop, that is out?

According to MS Dhoni the pitch is going to start dry and cracked.  With a baking hot sun as well it shouldnt take to long for the ptich to deteriorate.

Massive toss.  Theres probably about 2 maybe 3 good days in it.  Sounds like I may have re think my draw prediction.

Eugh, going to be an early start tomorrow to catch the opening session before.

God I miss being an undergraduate, didn't miss a ball of the last Ashes

I'm afraid I can't believe why England will start playing spin well given all the evidence to the contrary.

Easy India series win

Quietly confident. Yes, we got destroyed by Ajmal, but Ashwin and Ohja aren't in his class: decent, but not special. Both teams have a lot of frailties so it's a really interesting series, but I think we have one or two more top class players (as in currently, not historically) than them and we might just shade it.

Certainly won't be 4-0 simply because there will always be a draw at some point in an India Test Series as one ground or another will serve up the M25 as a batting strip.

If we bat patiently and grind out some big scores then we have a chance.

Also luck is needed to win the odd toss i reckon.....will be up early to catch this tomorow.

IF England can win the toss and bat 1st then hopefully we can get some big runs on the board from our top 5 (I'm thinking Cook/KP will score a bagful if they are in the right mindset) and put their new middle order under pressure later on in the game (no Wall Dravid or Laxman remember)!!! I am looking forward to some winter cricket and as DMR says I miss being at Uni and being able to watch cricket from and until stupid hours in the morning!

The major makes a good point about us missing Dravid and Laxman.  However these two have been replaced by Pujara who made a big hundred in his last test I think and Virat Kohli who is the most exciting young batting talent in the world bar none.

Sadly not, this one is a computer game which is like an incredibly low budget version of FM. England won the second test too by the way, but this one only by 10 runs, with Bell scoring 106 and 92 and both Indian openers getting tons too.

90 minutes to go now, really looking forward to it. Ahmedabad is supposedly likely to crack and the toss will be important, so a good start please Captain Cook.

India win the toss and bat, which is not an ideal start. Teams as expected:

England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Patel, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann & Anderson

India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Ashwin, Ohja, Khan, Yadav

Anyone awake in England?

Morning Nemo ... Awake and reporting for duty ....

Coffee ... Check
Biscuits ... Check
India win toss .... Woohoo
Expect Sehwag to take on Swann and try and get on top early if he survives the new ball!

Now having backed the draw, Wallet is screaming draw but heart says India to bat once and bat big .

Come on India!!! :pint:

Morning both! Up and ready to go....

Not chuffed with the side we've picked. Would have gone in with two front-line spinners at all costs.

As for losing the toss and being put into the field on the first morning of a series - never mind that too much. It's the classic conundrum for side batting first: "can't win a match on 1st morning... but can go a long way to losing it". I'm backing Jimmy A to nip a couple out early, followed by Swann to grab two before lunch. 85-4 i reckon!

awake in Norway....

Early thoughts ....

No real surprise .. Flat as a pancake ... England will have go keep it tight and hope for errors. Oh yeah, and catch everything. On the upside for England pitch looks pretty hard so I don't think it will turn much till day 4/5.

Jimmy looks well scrawny.  Delhi belly?

there is that sense of anticipation on the first session of a series, anything is possible, until England fuck up again... the openers have done ok so far england just need to winkle one out

India getting into their stride now could be a long hot day in the field

50 up inside an hour.  Sehwag starting to find the middle with regularity.  Ominous!!

Ominous is the word. Not just for England but for this Test Match. Pretty sure we all tune in to see a contest between bat and ball... Which this is not!

Cooky's only a baby captaincy wise and you can spot it in this first hour. Screaming out for Swann to bowl at his bunny Gambhir.

It's Swann o'clock

do we not have a 3rd man??

It's just so fucking obvious..... When you go to India, you play two frontline spinners!

England have got it wrong and the worrying thing is, Sehwag's barely played a shot in anger. All his fours have been stroked. So so easy paced this pitch.

The only bowler with a hope would have been Finn with a bit of extra pace on the ball. And he's injured!

Watch out! He's playing shots in anger now!!!!

England missing Finn and the extra pace he would have given.  On a flattie .. jimmy, broad and bresnan can become pretty samey very quickly.

These seamers need to hold an end if they continue to go at 5+ an over ... Trouble is on the horizon.

Now Sehwag takes 14 off Bresnans first 3 balls.

This isn't going terribly well is it? Both batsmen caressing the ball without any pressure and there's only been tge one half chance off Swann.

And now Sehwag has just hit a 6...

On the upside for England the pitch is flat and will remain so for England's 1st innings.  Problem is India will have 500+ on the board.

But I imagine the England batsmen will make it look like a landmine against spin.

Prior missed two chances, one hard and then a stumping from Gambhir. At least it wasn't Sehwag.

Edit: never mind, he's gone! We're on the board!

India will be 350+ at stumps.  If Sehwag is still there could be 400+ and he could be 200+

Pujara seems to have dashed to 50 in the blink of an eye.  It's a good job the next man in doesn't have much pedigree. :D

Bugger!

Double bugger?

Pedigree means nowt when you're past it. One of the best ever, but everyone's time comes.

Swann has all three.

What kind of a fucking shot was that Sachin?

He's lost it against the quicks so he knows he has to go hard at Swanny to get his runs.

The longer he stays in the side the better for England.

Trott drops Kohli, England slip issues continue.

Rikki Clarke for England!

Catches win matches!  Cant go dropping the oppositions in form player.  Since the last Ashes series Englands catching has become hugely fallible.  Dare I say if they hadnt dropped Amla in the first test in the summerearly on they may still be the number 1 team in the world?

Don't think that's unfair at all FCB, there were a few others in that series too, but we have lost our long term slip cordon of Strauss and Colly in short order.

Kohli gone, 4 down and all to Swann.

Test Match Sofa now interviewing the owner of an Indian restaurant called Gaylord, which is not funny in the slightest.

A glimmer of hope here for England.  Pujara/Yuvraj in now, with Dhoni to follow.  Then a lenghy tail ...

Never rated Straussy as a slipper. The odd worldy but a few clangers too.

Swann on for all 10 having just passed Jim Laker as England's most successful spinner. Sounds like he's got half a chance too with way the rest are bowling.

I thought Straussy was fairly solid. Before him Trescothick was brilliant ... I can barely remember him grassing one!

Most successful Offie, Underwood is well ahead overall.

And DMR, Strauss wasn't one of the best but I'd have him back in the current cordon!

Very true, I thought TMS had said most ever this morning but I thought I should look it up and Underwood is around 100 ahead so they must have said off-spinner.

In the early 2000s, Athers at 1st, Tresco at 2nd and someone like Butch at 3rd, what a cordon.

Looking at the fact Swann is turning this thing quite big for a first day pitch albeit slowly I am not fancying my draw.  Vital England keep India under 400.

England are more worried about their batting. Panesar should definately have been picked in this team the way it's turning/Swann has taken the wickets. The only reason he's not is because he's a number 11!

Sehwag gave it a bit of a tonk!

I suspect the bigger issue with Panesar is with the catching.  In his last test in SL he dropped a couple of dollys which proved expensive and from there it appeared faith in him from the management sunk pretty sharpish.

India's day, in a very strong position overnight and should be looking at 450+ unless England can put in a decent shift 1st thing in the morning!

Pujara aka Dravid v2.0

Anderson dropping him on 8 looking pretty expensive already.

England are at 10/1 from here with SkyBet to win the test match (India 4/7, Draw 15/8)

India 460-6

England have managed to slow down the run rate.  Maybe an hours batting at the end of the day for England?

Good news is eventhough the odd ball has turned it has been only the odd ball and even then the turn has been slow.  England should be able to bat on this with relative ease.  I wouldn't be surprised if MSD throws Ojha the new ball.

Pujara looks a player and a half. 

That he does, we've finally got rid of one wall and another has followed directly behind him. Arse.

I know England are ahead of the over rate but these time wasting tactics are a bit pants!!

502/6 at tea and Pujara is left just short of a double century over tea, having been just short of his century overnight. I hope he doesn't have too many issues with nerves.

We'll have to wait and see how incompetently England bat against a bit of spin, but realistically this pitch should let us get somewhere near this score if we don't bat like dicks.

I reckon if these two bat for an hour more India might bat right on and for a bit tomorrow to see if this breaks up a bit.

All 6 wickets to spin...I think that's telling you something England selectors! Fair play to Pujara for knocking up a double ton...none of England's pace bowlers look like they will take a wicket in the series let alone this match!

Big work for the batsman when India rack up 650!

All seven wickets to spin, including one for KP. Bit embarrassing that.

We'll be fine. Cook, Trott and Compton to bat long and KP to blitz us past the follow.

It's rubbish really from the Indian authorities. Either quicken the pitch up (they'll never do that) or at least have a deck that turns square so anything happens. It's dreary really, watching India try and nick an early test and then just prepare pancake after pancake and settle for 1-0.

No wonder they're so pump away from the sub continent.

A wicket! For a seam bowler! C'est une miracle!

They finally declare on 521/8...Big response from England needed with the bat! I'm feeling big runs for Cook/KP!

A massive 70 mins batting for England. 

Will a pitch that has been as flat as a pancake for the last 1.5 days all of a sudden become a land mine?

The one thing they can't afford is to lose wickets to Zaheer/Yadav before the spinners come into the attack

Scrap that ... India open with spin!

The draw is still available at 13/10 ..... I am all over that!

What's the price for an innings defeat

If that happens on this thing, they should all get on a plane on and be publically flogged!

The difference is, though, India had to face only one quality frontline spinner plus a couple of pie chuckers and England have to face non-stop top quality spin

Here we go!

Compton gone

and Anderson gone

Blimey, it's only Anderson but if we lose Trott or/and Cook before the end we are in the brown stuff once again!

Trott gone!

...and there he goes

[url width=330 height=222]http://i.imgur.com/WP3KN.gif[/url]

 :headhurts: :doh:

Come on KP you lad

Ok I am indian so am partly delighted about this but .........

Did these English batsmen learn sod all in the UAE earlier this year?  Still thrusting at the ball which is turning fractionally with hard hands making every ball look like a hand granade .....

England never got within light years of a bat pad or making a ball spin past the edge.  Or was Pujara playing on a different pitch?

On the upside still plenty of batting to come and as the ball gets older it may grip and turn less.

Yuvraj's first ball was a cracker

Day 2 to India.

I repeat my earlier point about batting like dicks.

Although the Ashwin to Compton ball was a bit good.

Massive partnership needed from Cook and KP, expect the latter to face plenty of Ohja & Yuvraj on Day 3.

Agreed.  Its a big hour.  I think as the ball gets softer it will grip less and get easier. But if India whip out a further couple early the pressure for the rest may too much for the rest.

Though with Anderson out the way it means England actually do bat to 11 with Swanny there who averages over 25!

Come on England,big Cook double hundred i fancy.

Scoring some lovely byes this morning with a few clever played and misses.

KP gone after looking very very scratchy. Everyone will be stunned to hear that it was the SLA that got him.

Just as he was settling down.  On the upside for England that could have come 40 minutes ago!

Bell caught at long on first ball .... Words fail me ..... Nemo help me out .

BELL YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKING DUNDERHEAD

Just tonked his first ball for what he thought was six and turned out to be straight to mid off. Absolute twat.

Not good........follow on looks a long way off now.

That Bell dismissal was the stupidest thing I have see since Lineker tried to chip that pen against brazil in 91 or 92 when he had the chance to equal sir bobby charlton's goal scoring record.

Come on Samit.  Good player of spin.  Maybe a spot to high but worth his place for his ability to play spin alone.

I'll probably regret saying this but already looks calm, composed and not as frantic and belter skelter as what has gone before .....

Cuntgargling useless braindead idiots.

80/6 on a 400 pitch. Useless.

I actually do think you are being too kind here!

Feel free to add more expletives, it'd need a Tuckeresque burst of creativity to come close to providing a fair assessment.

Umpires having nearly as bad game as the batsmen, Hill's turned down some of the plumbest lbw you'll see in both innings and Dar's just given Patel for one that wouldn't have hit a fourth stump.

To say we've batted pretty shit would be an understatement. We struggle against spin and it does the job on these pitches.

Why oh why are we not playing Monty? Yes I know he can't catch but if that's the argument why have him in the squad at all.

Seamers virtually redundant and we're playing three of them.

Samit/prior/bresnan/broad at least showing some fight.  As the ball has got older it has got easier but the damage done by the brain dead top order could well be terminal.

Mike Atherton in reference to Bells shot said .. After that he can take as much paternity leave as he wants'

Our lower order do generally show some fight these days. Thank god!

Not convinced that Broad dismissal was hitting the stumps. Think Dar just got fed up with an appeal every ball.

Ironically he seems to think the next ball was going down. What the fuck?!

ICC should enforce DRS worldwide. Ridiculous teams can pick and choose.

They've learnt by necessity! Didn't think Prior had to go for such a big (difficult) shot when he got out because Swann is an able cricketer. If it was Panesar at the other end I'd understand but you can't knock Prior or Cook, at least 2 of the top 7 showed the application required.

Cook to make 150+ here now! Captain's innings required

I'd add Patel to that list.  He middled everything prior to being sawn off.

As much as that worked, I'd quite like Compton to put the reverse sweep away.

Ok .... Who thought at lunch the game would be over by now?

Well played Cook and Compton.  Helped by calm batting and a pitch that became very friendly to bat on by stumps.  Roller in it tomorrow and a ball 40 overs old should mean more application like we saw from the openers will see England have a chance if saving this.

Massive opening session tomorrow. India now 1/3 and the draw is 11/4.  At the start of the second innings India were 1/20!

Yep, much better second innings, get yourself in sensibly and it becomes much easier to bat, Pujara showed that. Glad to see Compton getting some overs in, think he's a long term opening prospect with Cook especially outside India as those two can definitely see of a new ball and shield the middle order who make a lot of hay when the going in good but don't exactly fill me with confidence if they're in too early. First England session of the Test.

Apologies for my lack of posts last night on the thread, really couldn't believe what I was seeing...well I could but we just have not learned. How the hell we were bowled out for 191 on a flat deck is beyond me, and (so far) the 2nd innings just shows that we did not apply ourselves batting wise. IF and it's a massive IF we can bat all day on day 4 without losing 4 wickets then I think we could sneak a draw. Big odds on India and at this stage I can see it being 4-0!

If we save this test it will be amazing. Today's batting is a good start though but they're still deservedly odds on.

Don't think we'll lose 4-0 though. We'll get Monty in at some pint and win a toss at some point. Both of which will definitely help.

Just fixed it for you.

It only India that objects to DRS. Hotspot is not used in some countries due to the cost. I'm sure the ICC could put their hands in their pockets though.

ICC are scared of India though. Need to develop some backbone and force it on them or get rid of it completely.

Understand the cost but cricket's never really been a paupers game has it. Like you say, get their hands in their pockets.

Not so sure, i reckon we would have been all out for 90 odd if the LBW decisions were looked at.
To be fair we got the rub of the green and i reckon it was really refreshing to go back to the old days of umpire says all.
A few dodgy decisions yes.....when is that ridiculous law of not pitching in line going to be chucked out....if it hits your pads bang in line then cheerio i reckon.

Wasn't using the lack of DRS as an excuse for our inept batting. Just think its mental the rules are effectively different from one series to the next.

The irony of Dhoni giving Alim Dar a lot of stick when he had turned an appeal down was not lost on me.

I thought Hotspot couldn't be used in the subcontinent because it was too hot, so marks wouldn't show up

Bringing Monty in will make a difference.  It will mean the English and Indian spinners will be virtually on a par the difference is then the fact I would back 99 times out of 100 the Indian batsmen over the English.

But I also am tempted by a cheeky few quid on England to escape Ahmedabad with a draw.  Certainly the pitch looked to have lost some bite and with the ball now 40 overs old the hardness and gone and didn't seem to be spinning as sharply.  The top 3 need to go deep though.

With how outrageously hideous Bells dismissal was, KP's skittish knock seems to have gone user the radar.  He will no doubt claim he was playing his natural game but some of his attempts to play against the spin were going to come undone sooner than later.  Cook and Compton showed how you have to play ... Rotate the strike, use the crease and for the name of god don't play against the spin and only drive the ball that is criminally full.

Agree with most of that FCB. Still don't think we'll lose 4-0 though.

Morning. Anyone up?

I am, but I'm watching the UFC first.

Can I say something mildly controversial and say that I don't think Monty is a match winner on the subcontinent (or anywhere outside the UK)?

The balance of the side for the subcontinent is wrong, I agree, and I'd only play a third seamer if Finn was available but I'd rather have Finn-Broad-Anderson-Swann than Broad-Anderson-Panesar-Swann. Dropping Broad isn't really something the selectors seem likely to do. Just don't think Monty is that good- decent enough sure, but the Indians play spin brilliantly (compared to us) and I think he'd just milked for 3 an over without much threat.

Just turned over to find out that we're 3 down and KP got out cheaply to Ohja. Strike me down with a feather.

As daft as it sounds, he might be better off taking guard as a leftie, his switch hit is good enough.

Go back to bed England, Samit's got a second horrible lbw decision.

The Umpires have been almost as bad as us in this one.

Prior gets his fifty.

I called it didn't I... Great effort from Cook and Prior. Always maintained that Prior is good enough to bat 5 in test cricket.

Keep it up lads!

Of course you can say it Nemo. Just think in this test and by the sounds of it, all the tests we need 2 frontline spinners in these conditions. Wasn't really building Monty up as a match winner but the selectoirs have picked him in the squad so he has to be the man for the job. playing an extra spinner will benefit Swanny too i reckon.

340-5 at stumps with a lead of 10, definitely take that!

setting my alarm for 5 tomorrow...

Fantastic from Cook, would definitely have taken that position at the start of the day. Massive credit too to Prior who seems to have taken over from Colly as the guy that steps up when you desperately need someone to step up (Aka the Anti-Bell).

Incredibly Cook is already up there in the running for the most centuries by an English batsman ever. That man is going to break every (England) record in the book before he calls it quits you'd think.

Cracking effort from Captain Cook, can we save the test match? Prior also outstanding and once again showing why he's the best wicket keeper batsman in the world right now!

An exhibition in concentration, watching the ball and playing late.  Undoubtably helped by the pitch had got lower and slower and not really broke up.

Cook is going to be a captain who leads from the front with his batting ala Strauss, he isnt ever going to be a tactical genuis like Vaughan.

Good to see Trott and Bell getting a start and a shame neither went on but at least both were got out rather thangiving it away.  Samit got a stinker for the second innings running.  Prior played a gem.  That brings me onto KP .... I'll just move on .....

England will have to bat for the best part of two sessions to save it tomorrow and I reckon Cook/Prior will have to go to lunch.  Its not turning massively but men around the bat and pressure of the situation will make it tricky for the tail.

I am leaving for Mumbai on Tuesday and cant wait :-)

England will be already considering the make up of the bowling attack.  Most likely they will bring in Panesar for Bresnan, but it shouldnt have gone unnoticed that the one seamer who has looked remotely threatening is Yadav with his extra pace.  If they were to be uber-aggresive they could also bring in Finn instead of Broad but then they would have a serious tail. 

The four tests are all back to back so if Finn does play it will have to be off the back of what he does in the nets.

Finn would have started if he was fit, I'd be very surprised if he's fit and doesn't come in for Bresnan.

Who you leaving out for Monty?  Or you sticking with the 3 seamers and 2 spinners option?

at least one of the current two need to make it to lunch, england have a good lower order batting line up, but they will need someone to play round and take the pressure of scoring the runs off.   Its amazing how often batsmen get out early the next day after a good score

it will be interesting to see how attacking India are with their field placements tomorrow as if England could get a lead of 150 with 40 overs left it would make an interesting 4th innings chase for India.

I may have to get up at 4.00 to see how we get on, although if theres 2 quick wickets i'll go back to bed

See my earlier thoughts on Monty. I'd play Finn ahead of him. For what it's worth, I'd probably have played him in this Test over Bresnan, but I think Finn is more of a threat even on the subcontinent.

I think 3 seamers are a complete waste of time.  FWIW, I would want Finn and Monty, but that would involve taking a massive risk and leaving out Bresnan and Broad.

Inspite of whats happened over the last day and a half there is no way England will trust there batting enough to do that.

I have notice thar the BCCI have been making friends an influencing people.

I did read a month ago that they asked Sky for an extra £500k and the BBC £50k to be able to commentate from the stadium. Both initially refused, but a few weeks ago BBC came to some sort of agreement, and that is why TMS is on. Sky are commentating from West London from the picture feed.

Also noticed that no photos have appreared from the first test. On BBC this is the reason given :

We are using archive pictures for this Test because several photo agencies, including Getty Images, have been barred from the ground following a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, while other agencies have withdrawn their photographers in protest.

Looks like the money grabbers at the BCCI are trying to do what the Southampton chairman tried to do a few years ago. Time for a paper to do a Subbuteo themed photos again ?!!

not sure that Subbeteo would work very well but I was wondering why the commentators on Sky were all in the studio except for Athers, cheers for clarifying

Sky spent millions on securing the rights for all Tests/One day and T20's in India for the next 5 years a few months ago, then they have the audacity for another £500k to put a studio up.

Could be all over by then :headhurts:

If we can be no more than one more down then we have a sniff.

i'm an hour ahead, hope it won't be over by the start of play!

Agree with you FCB, Finn & Monty would be my choices to come in on the right pitch but the batting would have a longer tail than a Giraffe so it's play it safe or take a risk for the 2nd test match!

Good morning all...

Fancy Cook and Prior to hit their double century and century respectively but think a collapse will follow

Great job.

arse

77 to win then.

my early morning optimism was clearly down to sleep deprivation.

this isn't going to last too long is it

Anyone for a post mortem?

I am preparing mine. As well as thinking up a second test preview where I will be posting on the TEF live from Mumbai.

India 1 up so part of me delighted  :D

England did well to get it to day 5 but the ease with which India knocked off the 90 odd showed this was still in reality a belter of a pitch.

I expect England to make the two changes for Mumbai.  Monty in for Bresnan and Bairstow in for Bell.  Monty will lend more control than Bresnan but on pitches that are in essence flat dont expect him or anyone to run through India with 6/30 or the like.

The potential top 6 just looks a tad brittle for me with Compton, Patel, Bairstow in it.  Those who failed in the first test, KP and Trott need to come to the party.

Not much recent history from matches at the Wankhede.  A test in Nov 11, finished in a thrilling tie with the West Indies.  It will be flat as per Ahmedabad with a fraction of turn.  Ahmedabad was a pretty good pitch on days 4 and 5 really, and turned at its most on days 1 and 2.

If England had half an eye on the rain they can forget that too.  When I look yesterday there was a 1% chance of rain over the 5 days, that is now down to 0%.   

No shock in the result, India outplayed England over the course of the test match although there are signs from that 2nd innings can bat a bit (certain players more so than others). Cook leading from the front always a good sign and I think he'll go on to be England's leading run scorer in the series. Would like to see Panesar and Finn play in the 2nd test. Bell out, likely Bairstow or potentially Morgan to come in for him.

At least we're going to stop giving the Indians money, from 2015.  Unfortunately we've commited to £1.1 billion of aid, up til then. TBF to the Indians, they did say they didn't want it, but the government, wrongly, thought it might lubricate a few arms deals.

with apologies to FCB, (and slightly enviously of his trip to watch the 2nd test) I think that most people would say that Australia would be their favourite place to watch England on tour, but what would people say would be their 2nd favourite tour is.  It was a bit depressing this morning so my mind started to wander.

For me it would be a toss up between the Caribbean or India, a chance to see Eden Gardens may swing it for India, but I think that the West Indies would shade it, for me any thoughts or comments

South Africa is a good'un.
West Indies is good, but 90% full of English folk.  I may be on my own but I like a strong home crowd and these days you can count the numbers of Windies fand who attend test matches on one hand.
India is obviously a favourite of mine being Indian.  If you get the chance to do a one dayer there grab it with both hands. 
Australia is great as long as England are winning.
Sri Lanka is a stunning country.

Having not been on any tours as yet, I am looking at doing The Ashes in Australia next winter but I'd really like to do the West Indies as well!

This also amused me at work today...http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20393408

Well that was a massive let down really, we Bowled poorly and batted even worse in the first innings. I have started another blog for my tour around India. 

www.keithontour.blogspot.com (http://www.keithontour.blogspot.com)

Good read that! Sounds bloody cheap for 5 days cricket, compared to the £80 per day we'll be paying for The Ashes next summer!

What a bunch of wankers.

Preferred team for Friday?

Cook, Compton, Trott, KP, Morgan, Prior, Broad, Swann, Jimmy, Finn, Monty.

Gamble with 6 batsmen, if the top 7 are gonna get fuck all, it might as well be the top 6 getting fuck all.

I think they'll swap Samit for Monty and Bell for Morgan and that will be it.

I'd probably pick your team with Bairstow over Morgan DMR. Would be tempted to play 4 bowlers without Broad but there's no chance the actual selectors will.

Hello

Plane delayed, a bit bored .....

My second test team having had quite a while staring at a departures board begging for a gate number to turn up .....

Cook
Compton
Trott
KP
Bairstow
Morgan
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Panesar

A tail longer than a giraffe, but bowlers bowl and batters bat.  This give England the best chance of getting 20 wickets and sufficient runs to create pressure.  If the top order fails and the tail gets blown away well it'll look a bit silly but its up to the top 6 to earn their corn.  KP to provide a third spin option as hes a better bowler than Patel.

don't think you can drop patel after he was in great nick in the warm-ups and got two rough decisions

bairstow completely underwhelms against spin/in the sub-continent so can't (wouldn't want to) see him player

i doubt they will go with both finn and panesar - finn if he's fit in for bresnan, if he's not it'll be panesar for bresnan

Finn ruled out the second test.  I struggle to see him playing at all on this tour now.

So it will be just be Bairstow for Bell and Monty for Bresnan.

Find it hard to believe that they'll leave Panesar out again. Even Pietersen's spin got better figures than the seamers.

Don't buy the argument it weakens out batting too much either as Prior, Broad and even Swann average pretty high and can put in match winning innings.

Finn being out is a real blow.

Think I'd now pick:

Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bairstow, Patel, Prior, Swann, Onions, Anderson, Monty

Three genuine number 11s but hell, if the first seven can't score any runs then we deserve to lose.

Once again though, England have lost due to bad batting and are probably going to change the bowling. Bowlers get a shit deal, don't they?

Does a giraffe have that long a tail?

Technically he is implying our tail is longer than a giraffe full stop, and not just it's tail.

According to the ICC test rankings, we've got 5 batsmen in the top 20. India have only got 1 and the best any other country has is 3. So they should be more than capable of scoring enough runs without having to rely too much on the tail.

This should really happen on paper but sadly it doesn't what with different conditions and different bowlers bowling better to different conditions. At home I'd back any England batsman, but away on these type of pitches anything can happen and we really struggle to adapt to slow, turning pitches. As Jonny says we should be more than capable of scoring runs but for some reason we can't without having some collapse away from home (Think this test, Pakistan in UAE, Sri Lanka and for those who remember the 1st test away in The Ashes 2010)

I would bring in Panesar and think that much is a given now, I'd bring in Bairstow for Bell.

I don't understand the fascination with Pietersen. He has to be the worst batsman in the England team! Totally panicked in the first test. Can't play spin. No technique but can club the ball. Suggest that if he is picked it is in the number 6 or 7 position up against Patel.

I would love to go for:

Cook
Compton (Got to persist with him now)
Trott (Will forgive him one bad game)
Morgan (Left and right hand mixes)
Prior (He needs to move up the order)
Bairstow
Pietersen/Patel (Neither are good enough spinners. Dropping Pietersen down the order would send a message!)
Broad (Cos he can be a workhorse and bat a bit)
Swann
Finn (There will be no swing for Andersen and Finn makes things happen)
Panesar

Each to their own but anyone who thinks KP should bat at 7 is fucking mental

Has Broad made any significant runs since his infamous hundred in that test match against Pakistan at Lords?

4 50's in 25 innings, average a bit over 23. Not terrible for a number 8. Not as strong batting overseas certainly, but he's hardly alone in that respect.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh #10 Abul Hasan has scored a hundred on test debut, having only played 6 first class matches up until this point.

It'd be fair to say I don't think he'll bat that far down again for a while.

Thanks for that. But please refer to me properly. I am a fucking mental L2 ECB cricket coach. What cricket qualifications do you have?

More than Anderson and Bresnan. With the wickets not suiting any of them, none of them are likely to be match winners in their own right. So play them in the same roles as Yadav and then add a bit more in the batting department being as we are so frail.

In all fairness, from the team you suggested I think coming to the conclusion your mental was almost sensible.

The difference between Yadav and any of the three England seamers was sheer pace.  Broad in particular seems to get more pedestrain by the series.  As for Big Bres, there was one ball in the first test I think he almost overtook in his follow through!

What the fuck has that got to do with anything? So am I, for what it's worth, I also captain a league side in the WEPL structure and coach our U9s... next question...?

So, on the seam bowling front the choices appear to be:
Finn - Who is fast and seems to be able to get the odd bit of movement now and again. He's a strike bowler who goes for a few. He bats and 10 or 11.
Broad - Medium fast who can be a bit sharpish and get the ball to move around when he wants to. Seems to have gone off the boil for the last 12 months. Seems to have good spells amongst some average ones. Can bat at 7 or 8.
Bresnan - Medium fast. Bowls from too wide of the crease and slants it down leg. Not a strike bowler. Can bat at 7 or 8.
Anderson - Fast medium. Excellent in English conditions. Moves the ball both ways. Lost the battle with Steyn imho in England to prove he was the best. Excellent fielder, although his standards seem to have slipped. Good night watchman against seam bowling, otherwise a number 10 or 11.

I would want to play 2 spinners - Panesar and Swann. That leaves room for 2/3 other bowlers. For me, Bresnan would be the first to go. I would like to pick Finn, because I think that his pace (even on a slow wicket) could be an asset - Although I think you would want him to bowl in short bursts. I thought Anderson looked ineffective in the first test, so my preference would be to go with Broad as the second seamer.

Anderson is almost certainly the first name on the sheet.........his fielding is exceptional as well.

Broad needs to buckle down a bit....at batting he flatters,looks brilliant then does something silly.
Also his attitude and twitter account is getting tiresome......why the hell Onions is on this tour baffles me also.

Pick the same team and bring Monty in for Bresnan and Morgan for Bell.

I don't have any more questions thank you. You asserted that I didn't know what I was talking about - But I do.

The thing about Pietersen is that I don't believe that he is 'that good'. I don't think you can rely on him, which is what I think you need at the top of the order. His technique is flawed, which means that he doesn't have the ability to consistently score runs. He can be devastatingly brutal when he gets it right, but I can't see him doing that in India. I'd be happier to take the risk if he batted down the order.

Morgan is also flawed, which is why he is successful in the shorter form of the game rather than in Test matches. However, I believe that he has the mindset and ability to improve. I also like the thought of mixing right and left handers, because no matter what level you play at, its always a pain to bowl against both.

Prior is going through a form period. There is also the fact that India don't have bowlers to expose his technical flaw chasing wide balls outside his off stump. I'd therefore capitalise and push him up the order.

Bairstow is an exciting talent. I think putting him in Bell's place gives a bit too much pressure. I would like to develop him as soon as possible in the middle order. But the problem that England have is there is not a lot of solidity in the batting line up. Maybe having a senior pro like Pietersen coming in behind him might help relieve a bit of pressure?

Also, the bit about sending Pietersen a message, meant that I think Pietersen would be angry at being dropped down the order, which might motivate him the show everyone what he is capable of.

Anyway, at the end of the day, opinions are like arse holes - Everyone has one.

His fielding wasn't that great in the first test. But I do think he has been England's best bowler in the last few years. Conditions aren't great for him. So why burn him out?

What a fucking score by the Aussies to wake up to!

441/4 with 10 more overs in the day - unbelievable! Clarke about to get his double ton on the first day.

I know all the SA bowlers took a pasting bar Steyn but Imran Tahir ... Going at 7.5+ an over is fucking outrageous over 20 overs I don't care how fucking flat it is. The spinner needs to be able to keep it relatively tight when not attacking and he does neither.  Anyone remember the SA spinner from a couple of tours ago Paul Harris?  Bog standard left armer in the Ashley Giles mode who offered a bit of everything, took a wicker here and there but was able to keep a lid on it ... He'd have been a better bet or even Robin Peterson who is in the squad!

Granted SA a bit unlucky as Philader was injured before play with a dodgy back and Kallis pulled up after 3 overs.

Now on tv in the Indian hotel I am in, we are being treated on the tele with Bill Lawry and Ian Healy lording it ...

I went to the Wankhede yesterday where the test is being played and looks like Yadav is out probably to be replaced by Dinda or Sharma.  Either way a good thing for England as both lack Yadavs out and out pace.

I shall repeat my post of a week ago. Michael Clarke is fucking gun.

Not bad that kid. If the Aussies could find a number 3 and 4 they'd be quite good, which is a bit worrying with the Ashes next summer.

He's certainly decent, the flat batsmen's paradises that the Australian pitches have been for the last 18 months have certainly helped him put up these ridiculous numbers though.

He's averagaing 140 this year, against India and South Africa... flat tracks or not, he's fucking gun

Last I looked they were 50-3 last night and expected Steyn, Morkel et al to run through them, then I see it's 480/5 with Clarke making (another) 200!!! Big questions for SA to answer as #1 test side in the world for the remainder of the test/series. Injuries haven't helped their cause of course!

Cook loses another toss and India play three spinners plus Yuvraj and bat. Incoming Bunsen I fear!

Good mornings cricket that. Much more even after a one-sided 1st Test. Panesar's showing exactly why he should have played from ball 1 in this series - the ball to get Sachin was (to quote Richie Benaud) a 'ripper'.

As he did at Ahmedabad, Pujara is providing stubborn resistance but at 87/3, England know they're only 1 wicket away from getting at Yuvraj Singh and the lower middle order. Plenty to play for.

Anderson bowled well up front. As well as getting Gambhir LBW, he beat Sehwag on the inside and outside edge in the same over (costing him 8 runs in edges!!). Definitely a bit in it for the seamers but Broad has been off colour again. Shame.

Kohli gone, before someone drags up my quote from the other day, I'd be absolutely delighted to be wrong about Panesar not being a match winner!

Yuvraj gone.

Calling a three day test now, will take a special innings or two to take it long.

Morning.  Don't think I will be needing my ticket for day 5 and probably not day 4 either.

Need to knock then over for less than 200.

Thank god we've got a Test Match that's not being played on a road. Low scoring games are so much more interesting and hundreds are actually a great acheivement. Got to love Test cricket like this.

Still don't fancy our chances though, against their 3 spinners and batting last, but at least it won't be a boring run fest.

Is it just me, or is David Gower the most boring, inane commentator on Sky

Let them off the hook here a bit! Panesar a great inclusion and has justified it so far by taking 4 key wickets! Come on England lets get another breakthrough before the close! Could be a minefield by day 3!

This Pujara kid needs his fingers broken fast for our chances in this Series.

Might not need to be so drastic. It would help if we just caught stuff when he edges it!

I'd say a shared day this one, I'd possibly have India slightly ahead on what looks to be a deteriorating track and us having to bat potentially last on it. If we can get 1 of these out early tomorrow, along with the rest of the tail then hopefully they won't reach 300! Great decision to pick Monty, but something seriously wrong with Broad going at +5 an over in a test match!

It doesn't help that he's not bowling a great deal faster than Monty.

they are starting to do ok now, but we do rely on Cooky for runs though

Peterson is looking majestic to me

i hope you've been watching this innings  :)

Get out! Nice one Monty. Come on boys!

Think you should stick to translating NMH's. :-)

What do you and your qualifications make of that then you complete fuckwit?

KP, king

Brilliant cricket England...watched every ball and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Just got back from two internet free days to find this. Brilliant, now we have a Series on our hands!

Not seen anything but the scorecard yet but runs from KP are very welcome and Cook is every bit as much of a weapon as Clarke is for Oz.

I did. Did you notice that for the majority of it he batted properly? No bat in front of pad. No staying offside or legside of the ball. Treated most balls with respect and played the ball on its merit with a straight bat close to the pad. Then, when he got bad balls, he punished them. I honestly didn't think that he had it in him to play conventionally. Totally different player than the one who showed up in the first test.

Most of us agree KP is arrogant but the above response to KPs innings takes the biscuit.

Has KP only got his shit together because he played as NMH advocated?

You can have opinions about technique (and I believe his variations from conventional technique are what make him difficult to bowl to and I enjoyed the reverse sweep for the 100) but not about consistency of scoring about England's highest averaging current test batsman. 

An average is all about consistency unless you mean it would be more useful for KP to score 49 or 50 every innings (no more, no less) or that a top world test batsman should be dropped to no. 7 if he gets two low scores on the trot??

Read this and eat humble pie:

Kevin Pietersen's 186 is the third-highest score by an England batsman in India. It is also the highest score by an England batsman in Mumbai surpassing Graeme Hick's 178 in 1993.
Pietersen and Alastair Cook, who scored 122, now have 22 centuries each and are joint-highest on the list of England batsmen with the most centuries.
The 206-run stand between Pietersen and Cook is the third-highest third-wicket stand for England against India and and the highest such stand in Tests in India.
Pietersen's strike rate of 79.82 is the sixth-highest for a 100-plus score by an England batsman against India. It is also the third-highest strike rate for Pietersen in away Tests (100-plus knocks only).
The century is Pietersen's tenth score of 150 or more in Tests. He is now joint-highest with Wally Hammond and Len Hutton on the list of England batsmen with the most 150-plus scores

Great day for England and a terrible one for India.

In regards to KP, when he scores big runs, he gets them quickly. I remember he virtually won the test in Columbo because he scored a big ton at a run a ball, whilst everyone else, was struggling to score at 1 in 3, and we won with only an hour to spare. But he needs to be consistant.

It's been noticeable that Swanny and Monty have out-bowled the Indian spinners. With Monty now getting 10 wickets in this match, they don't like slow left arm bowlers either !!!

Very true on most points I reckon. I would argue that KP's stats stack up against some of the best so would say he's been pretty consistent. No batsman does it EVERY time!

Hopefully we can wrap this up pretty early, don't fancy another chase like in UAE around the 100 mark (or even 60 odd I think)! KP quality, Captain Cook rising to the challenge again and big up to Monty Panesar! Hopefully I will awake to some good news on a Monday

As others have pointed out, the stats suggest KP is consistent with the best average of all the current England players.

Think the cause of the apparent inconsistency is the extremes you get with KP. He's just as likely to get out after a few balls as he is to make a double century, whereas most players don't hit as many lows or highs. Think you get the same extremes from all the top sportsmen, look at Cantona and Maradona - one moment they're the best in the world and the next they're cheating, stamping on someone, talking crap or doing drugs. If you take away the bad you'll lose the good.

Barring another meltdown, come his retirement KP will be the highest scoring English batsman and in the all time top 10 and will be go down in history as one of the all time greatest players. Though the chances are Cook will eclipse him by the time he retires.

Job done, beautiful.

Well what a fantastic test match, enjoyed every over of it.  It just goes to show how well KP and Cook performed on day two. Monty also had a fantastic game, he doesn't get a look in at home but in Asia he just keeps taking wickets!

Brilliant news to wake up to! Hopefully we can carry on this momentum in the last 2 test matches!

Makes you wonder if there is any room for more than 1 seamer in the side

Apparently the pitch for the third test is slightly quicker, I'd still expect to see Panesar and Swann in the side though! Will Ian Bell come straight back in for Bairstow?

Also, a word on the Aus v SA test match...talking about grinding a draw! Du Plessis 110* off 360 odd balls...winner takes it all for their final test starting Friday also!

Bit unfair that one. I was giving my opinion on Pietersen. I'm pleased that he came out and proved me wrong by batting incredibly well. But, I honestly do think that the foundation for that innings was build upon a solid defence. He didn't give his wicket away by playing an outrageous shot. He wasn't hoping around like a cat on a hot tin roof. He applied himself, got a start and then punished anything wayward. There was the odd audacious shot, but that didnt come until he was seeing the ball like a football.

I didn't think that Pietersen had that in him at this stage of his career. As you get older your poweres decline. You don't see the ball as well and you can't move as quickly. Some of the most successful players with long careers have adapted their game to cope with this. I could be wrong, but I believe that Pietersen could probably have biffed the Indians around a while ago without concentrating on defence because of pure talent. Now though, its a different stage of his career. I don't think he can just walk out there and consistently biff it. If he becomes a little more orthodox (as he was in this innings) I think he will score a lot more runs for England. If he returns to the way he approached the first test, then I believe he will fail more often than not - As he will be batting with the same mentality as a number 7. 

I feel sorry for the kids you coach

Looking towards the 3rd Test, Steven Finn got through 16 overs for the England Performance Programme side today. Returned figures of 4-50. Simon Kerrigan, promising left arm spinner from Lancashire, also took 4 for. I just wonder if England could be tempted to go with three spinners in Kolkata? Especially as India's 9 right handers struggled against Montys left arm spin so much.

Four man attack of Finn, Anderson, Panesar and Swann for me, with Patel to provide a bit of relief every now and again.

Kerrigan is promising but wouldn't be my third choice spinner yet, and nor would I consider playing three spinners- our quicks are too good to only play one.

Finn, Anderson, Panesar and Swann sounds about right with Bell back in for Bairstow.

I would put emphasis on the members of the top 6 other than Cook and KP.  Of Englands 420 odd I think the other 9 barely made 100 between them?  When Cook and KP fail it will need the others to come to the party and that would become really important with the extended tail.

I was playing Devils advocate really. Finn, Anderson, Swann and Panesar is the way I'd go as well. The other thing I'd consider is dropping Patel to get Ian Bell back in the side and sticking with Johnny Bairstow at 6. With Swann and Panesar playing, it negates the need to play Samit, especially as KP can give you 4-5 overs a day as an old school partnership breaker.

Think England may be hoping that Azeem Rafiq, can be the next young spinner to make it as Swann replacement.  Stilla lot to do, but spinners don't really come through until they're a bit older than 21.

Doubt it...the pitch will be flatter i reckon.
I cannot understand why KP isn't used more when the pitches turn like the last one...he turns it miles though he does throw up some rubbish also.
I am hoping it is an unchanged side.......when does the third test start.

Woops.  Just meant to say NMH that I was being a bit harsh.

Share your opinion in para 1 in fact but not sure Pietersen can't bif from ball 1.  His record in 20:20 is pretty impressive too..

I just happen to think KPs unorthodoxy can be a danger to others as well as to himself and when he gets it wrong early in tests he is very frustrating but then even more conventional batsmen play horror shots (eg Bell) with less comment.

I didn't see the outcome of the second test coming.

Can't wait for the third test now

Wednesday 5th of December, I thought it was this weekend, but there is a tiny break in the schedule! Nice to see big Steve Finn taking 4fer yesterday! I think he'll replace Broad...England's tail would grow even longer with Panesar, Anderson and Finn!

Giles replaces Flower as ODI Coach...the separation of the formats continues.

 Ponting to retire at end of next Test  :)  Shame he couldn't have hung around for a bit more Ashes humiliation..

Went up in my estimation in 2005, despite all the shenanigans, with his innings at Old Trafford to save that test. What a fucking knock. What a player, let's be fair.

A whole lot more than highly respectable career and a nuggety little fucker to boot. The fact that his average against us is far lower (44 according to Wiki) against his 53 total average makes me happy though.

He is an Aussie afterall - can't get too carried away with the praise. The Ashes will miss him next year. Was looking forward to him coming over for one last crack - and failing miserably of course.

Ponting lbw b Philander 5

I'm experiencing the very strange feeling of regret at seeing Ponting dismissed (last experienced when he played for Somerset)

Aussies 43/5 and in need of more Clarke heroics. Surely he can't do it yet again?

The Aussies need a miracle. Saffers leading by nearly 300 with 8 wickets left, and currently scoring at 6 an over.

It says something that the Aussies best bowler is Mitchell 'He bowls it to the left, He bowls it to the right' Johnson.

Money placed firmly on SA to win this by a landslide and putting Ian Healy and the rest back in their place that Australia aren't the cricketing nation they once were!

Big win for South Africa by over 300 runs, Ponting out for next to nothing and SA win their second consecutive away series' in Australia! (They're still #1 as well)

Early start for the third test tomorrow.  Starts at 3.30am due to the light closing in quicker on the east side of India.

I expect Bell and Finn to come in for Broad and Bairstow.  So England should line up:

Cook, Compton, Trott, KP, Bell, Patel, Prior, Swann, Anderson, Finn, Panesar

With the extended tail it needs to top 7 to step up.  Especially those other than KP and Cook.  They've made the majority of the runs in the first two test and are both due to fail.

I expect India just make the one change and bring in a seamer for Harbhajan, probably Ishant Sharma. 

I'd probably pick that team FCB, although Root for Patel may be a dark horse as Root just scored a ton in a tour match and he's not a dreadful third spin option himself, while Patel hasn't really done much yet.

I'd go for that team too. Agree with your points too FCB although not sure you can level the accusation at KP that he's due a failure. Plenty were calling for his head on a stick before that monumental knock in the last test.

I'd go with FCB's team, are you out there watching the test still FCB?

I'm going for an England win here, momentum with us and all that!

I got back yesterday.  Had a brilliant time apart from India getting battered!

After Mumbai, I went and visited my dads two sisters in Gujarat who I hadnt seen for 20 years and did a bit of sightseeing.

Was it pricey to do? Next time England visit India I think I may have to go and watch (as well as trying for The Ashes away and doing the West Indies!)

Fuck me you won the lottery Maj? I'll come.

We have to be happy with the start at tea, especially after losing the toss again! Need to get one of these early though, looks like they've come out on the attack.

I only went to to the Mumbai test.  So it was about £500 for a flight but then I stayed in decent hotels.  Match tickets are cheap.  A 5 day match ticket came to about £11.  Food and booze is all fairly resonable.   

The Windies will be cheap for match tickets, where as Aus will be more expensive purely becuase of demand.

Below is a link to a company who does overseas tours.  You will be able to make it cheaper by tailoring it to your own needs, but it will enable you to have a rough idea of whats what.

http://www.gulliverstravel.co.uk/cricket/ashes-series-2013-14

Well, today went rather well.

I wish Paolo, but if I do I'll keep in mind all the TEFs who comment on this and pay for the TE Barmy Army to go on tour!

Today went well, the bowlers bowled well and although Finn didn't take a wicket he looked more threatening and had more control than Broad has done in 2 tests!

I will have a look at that site FCB, cheers!

Cheers Maj, i'll hold you to that one! Given India's record at this ground the last 6 tests we have to be more than pleased with how well we bowled. Wrap up the tail as soon as and bat properly and we're in the box seat. It's an easy game on here!

Agree about Finn although not managed to actually see it with my own eyes. Broady looked out of sorts both tests, admittedly on not exactly conducive tracks but even so.

316 all out, would have very definitely taken that at the toss.

Now for runs from Compo, Trott, Bell and Samit to really get us looking good.

England 146/0, showing what an opening partnership can do when they don't run eachother out.

After a very slow start, Compton has reached a maiden 50 and Cook is on the cusp of a fifth century in five games since becoming captain. What a man: his average has crept over 50 for the first time (since debut anyway) as well.

Great knock from Compton. I love him a litte bit. Shame he didnt go on, but time for the middle order to step up.

As for Cook... words fail me (in a good way)

Pretty sure if you cut Compton up he'd bleed grit.

Anyone know why they changed Calcutta to Kolkata?

Seems so similar as to not be worth the bother.

Kolkata was the original name. It was changed to Calcutta by the English when you ruled.  Same as Mumbai/Bombay and Chennai/Madras.

So much the same as Aqua Sulis = Bath

Damn that Empire!!

Chef! You truly are the man!

Was Compton's shot really as "stupid" as Boycott was making it out to be? Yes i know it may have knicked his glove on the way through too, despite Geoffrey initial stating that "a five year old could have given that out!"

Would it now be appropriate to order a Chicken Chennai next time i go for a Ruby then or will i just get looked upon as a mentalist?

And Mumbai Aloo just doesn't have the same ring to it

And while we're at it how about Beijing Duck

Fuck - when did they change the name of Crispy to Beijing ? Must have missed that one....

I think Ben did it to wind him up.

I think boycotts issue was more having played straight down the ground for 55 runs Compton should have kept with what was working rather than turning to the sweep with brought about his downfall. 

There might have been a small brush of glove but my initial reaction was he's a goner!

That was another excellent day for England! Captain Cook is more than stepping up to the plate! Well done to Compton for scoring his maiden test 50, hope Trott and Cook push us ahead tomorrow! Pitch seems quite flat and doesn't look (based on reports) as though it will break up. If we can get a lead of 250+ and put them under pressure, then I think we'll sneak a win! Big day tomorrow!

That was Fuka Duck before the Chinese wrestled independance back from the Mongolians.

Top effort by England...and especially Chef.

The India team's body language at the end of the day reminded me of when we beat them 4-0.

We are looking back to our best.....and KP will be champing at the bit to level those centuries up.

Cook vs. Clarke is going to be a hell of a contest next summer.

I have asked before and forgot the answer but does a double century(if Cook gets one)count as two centuries?

I am g.uessing not.

no its just one i'm afraid

Thanks.

80 ahead with six wickets in hand, few careless wickets there, including Bell getting out to Sharma which is a bit embarrassing. Patel and Pietersen now so the score could move along pretty fast now.

Fuck's sake, if Samit Fatel is a better option than Bairstow or Root then I am a wagon wheel.

It's a tricky one, because he looks in no trouble at all at the crease, has plenty of time and uses his feet well considering he's still fat. But then he gets out, every time. Currently averages less than Swann after 5 tests.

Good day. Job done with a lead of 200+ now guaranteed. Bat all morning if we can and get stuck in.

Bash it around for an hour or so tomorrow and get bowling.  Pitch still looks pretty good so England will need maximum time and need to factor in the chance of a chase of 100-150 on day 5.  I think England will need India at least 4 or 5 down tomorrow at stumps.

Personally i'd bat sensibly for an hour. These two will get at least 4 an over if they stay there batting sensibly anyway. Then if we're still in, have a bit of a bash before lunch. If we can get a 300 lead then all good (i'd probably take 250+ now). Still leaves 5 sessions to bowl them out and knock off what hopefully will be a minimal target.

Big proviso is we have to bowl like we did first innings and hope the pitch hasn't flattened out even more. Oh and hope Sehwag still hasn't learnt to run between the wickets. :-)

Don't chuck the last 4 wickets away and get their momentum up. Bat them in to the ground. Bat all morning at 3-4 an over and grind them down.

Just watching the highlights, we're well in control and looking to build a 250+ lead as I mentioned! Cook run out! Bell well out of form, but other than that a successful day again! I look forward to watching tomorrow morning! Funny Moment of the day: Sir Beefy spotting his daughter in the crowd clapping KPs 50, he hasn't seen her in 3 weeks and wondered where she was!  :D

First time he has ever been run out..........in any first class match  :eek:

Don't see any point declaring any sooner than say an hour before tea. Any earlier and you're asking for trouble.

Can't see us losing though, we'll bowl India out in a couple if sessions.

I'd disagree Jonny, if we aren't bowled out I'd say bat the morning lead up to and past 300 and give us 5 sessions to bowl them out/potentially chase a few on what is still a flat track. It may start turning a bit more tomorrow, which would give us more of an advantage.

Key man in the morning: Matt Prior!

Neat little collapse and two dropped catches so far this morning. Ho hum.

Great run out by Belly to get Pujara and then we nearly got Gambhir straight after. Finn's bowling since lunch has been superb, every ball on the money.

Game's set up very well right now.

Got him! Gambhir nicks Finn after Sachin edged to a vacant gully first ball. Glad I slept through the first session and woke up for the second session the way this has gone.

Sachin out for 5. All getting a bit sad for him now really and I'm not sure he'll walk from the team.

Boom now Sachin goes. Great spell for England.

And that is that i reckon :D

A day of two halves, with another one to come. One more wicket and we're into their (dare I say it) weak tail.

You know it's been a good day when I'm annoyed at the end of it because we haven't won by an innings within four days.

A good day again for England, hope we pick that last wicket up early doors and are chasing less than 50 tomorrow!

Would have been nice to wrap it up today! Still, I would have taken this position at start of play today. In fact, if we don't win it from here we want shooting.

hope Ashwin gets his 100 and we can knock off 50 within the first session.

Ashwin has a better average than every Indian batsman bar Pujara in this Series, and a better Test average than the three batsmen above him. Decent #8.

I'm extremely disapointed by the lack of fight exhibited by the Indian team.  Ashwin showed this is still in reality a very decent track to bat on so god knows what the top 7 were up to.   Too many out of form and living on past glories.

The problem with India is the growth of the IPL and the failure of kids coming into the team to be able to adapt to playing a longer more sensible innings.  I reckon the current crop will get the 4th test and then we will see changes with the likes of Ajinka Rahane and Rohit Sharma given a chance, probably at the expense of the likes of Ghambir, Yuvraj.

This is where England and the ECB have done very well, by limiting the amount of T20 played by the top test players.  Finn has made a major difference with his extra pace and height and has put a real question mark over the hell Broad was doing for the first two tests bowling at 80% pace with no aggresion or venom.

This might be a bit early but Finn will go on to break Beefy's test match wicket record and put a fair few on top.  I only hope for his sake he manages to avoid being seduced by an IPL team as plenty would love a up front fast aggressive strike bowler like him.

Expect a proper turner in Nagpur which is unlikely to get close to going to 5 days.

England will win within 45 mins tomorrow. 

See, blaming the IPL is very fashionable but I don't think it's actually that fair. The issues with the Indian team seem to be mostly around the older players, who can't field for shit and can barely bat or bowl. I guess you can say that there aren't the replacements there but Pujara has done well and Kohli is worth persisting with. Rahane impressed me when he played in England too, so there's a bit of talent there.

The main "IPL issue" for me is the fact that it seems to have elevated Dhoni to minor deity status, which is unfortunate as he's a shit keeper, poor captain and only a middling bat.

watching him bat earlier, I genuinely forgot he was a number 8 - looked solid. It did amuse me when he grumbled about the light to the umpires then middled the next shot!

Reminded me of Sourav Ganguly whenever he was batting well, getting close to the end and it was getting dark! Loved a good blink to let the umpires know he couldn't see the ball!

The whole light issue has always been a bit of a farce. To moan about the light then smack the next ball for 4 just highlights this. Ashwin was obviously in the zone with sterling support from his number 11. Why the hell would you want to go off? Come back in the morning and its a different ball game sometimes. Look at Prior and Swanny this morning.

Don't buy the IPL argument or the notion that India lack fight.

We're just a better side

Bit of hard work chasing 41 but all wrapped up by 7 wickets and 2-1 up. Brilliant.

Edit: Bumble's tweeted "Start the Tuk-Tuk" :D

Edit2: Brave statements from an Indian journo on Cricinfo:

Spot on.

Great win and 2-1 up  :D At 8-3 I had visions of Pakistan in the UAE last year, only worse but we got over the line with ease in the end!

I always enjoy reading the opposition press when we're doing well. Even more so, the comments of the Indian fans - quite Adver like! Sachin is suddenly becoming fallible in the eyes.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/england-in-india-2012/top-stories/Dhoni-says-he-will-not-quit-captaincy-after-England-debacle/articleshow/17542871.cms

Another great victory at Kolkata, have to say Eden Gardens is the best ground in India so far.  Hopefully we can put in another good performance in Nagpur.  Also updating my blog!

Good blogs mate. I'm not at all envious.

Looks like Finn may well be out injured so either Bresnan or Onions to come in.  Probably big bres.

Prices:

India 11/8
Draw 2/1
England 9/4

Quote of the day:  when the Nagpur groundsman was asked when he expected the pitch to start turning he replied yesterday :-)

Finn out is a real blow.  I think I will invest in India at 11/8

How are we longer odds than the draw? I'm sure there'll be a result one way or the other. Not sure I fancy Bresnan as one of two pacemen, wouldn't be at all surprised to see Meaker debut although I'm a big Onions fan.

9/4 is an insult to the English team, did I imagine it or did we stuff it right up India the last 2 games? I'll be having some of that.

Pretty good value i'd say.As has been said it's highly likely to be a result pitch either way.

Got Oval tickets this morning having missed out during the initial ballot. Satisfying even if i did have to get into work stupidly early to secure 'em.

That's Ashes tickets - obviously!

Meaker is with the performance squad in Pune, so wont be playing.  Finn has a chance.of making it, fitness test in the morning. If not Bres should play.

Bresnan would be a complete waste of space in these conditions - but I suppose he'll get the nod by default

Keith, what have you got against Meaker?! Pune is 750km from Nagpur, a 12 hour drive or a 90 minute flight. I'm sure that if they wanted Meaker to play, they'd stick him on a plane!

And Bresnan showed himself to be ineffectual in the 1st Test. It's all irrelevant anyway, cus Onions will get the nod! haha

Onions would be the aggressive option.  I expect them to go with Bresnan partly because of the batting.

I hope cooky has been practicing his tossing.  Pitch will be at its best tomorrow.

And that's the kind of thinking that could hand the momentum back to India and get England in trouble. Just pick your best 4 bowlers and go for the win, anything else is dangerous!

Expect another turner here! I'd like to see England bat India out of the game and really put the pressure on early! If Finn isn't available then I'd probably go with Onions tomorrow! He swings it a bit and has taken wickets whenever he has played. Doesn't have a lot of pace but then again neither does Bresnan (who IMO is the only other option). The selectors may go with Bresnan as he can bat a bit.

If Finn doesn't make it then need to go with whichever of the two they think can reverse it the best. That's how Jimmy got his rewards last test although don't think either are anywhere near Jimmy's quality at it. Hopefully won't be too important as Swanny and Monty will do the damage. Another reason they might go for Bres. His batting average of 33 against Onions' 10 will probably mean he gets the nod.

It's a shame Tremlett isn't fit (I know he ian't there at all..). His height makes him a natural alternative to Finn, albeit without the same pace. Whilst Onions' style is (to me) best suited to English conditions, I'd still favour him over Bresnan. We cant go in with Patel and Bresnan - two players who are six of one, half a dozen of the other.

I always struggle with picking bowlers on their marginal batting ability. Granted, Bresnan has a test match ton v India behind him, but you always have to pick a bowler on the basis of bowling alone. Bresnan can balance the side as a third seamer without creating a long tail, but he simply hasn't got the threat or variety needed to be part of a two man seam attack. Onions does.

Since Bresnan went public and announced on live TV that he thought Bairstow was as good if not better than K Peterson his form has dipped alarmingly with bat and ball.

I know you can read a lot of shit into stats but Bres' bowling average ain't too shoddy at 31 compared to Onions' 29 and a bit. Bres has played more tests and therefore overseas in not always seaming conditions. To say he'd only be picked because he can bat better is probably doing him a bit of a dis service. The boy can bowl, just had one bad test match.

Does this start in a few hours.  Im driving home from Newcastle and may catch the start of it.  Which would be nice.

begins at 4am

God I hope Im home by then. 

Rumour is that Root may debut in place of Patel. I'd quite like to see it.

If you're noticing a fairly chilly breeze emanating from Hell this morning, you'll be unsurprised to hear that Cook has won a toss and we're batting.

Root for Patel, Bresnan for Finn.

Indians pick Jadeja for Singh and Chawla for Singh. They are playing Ishant fucking Sharma as their only quick- I can only imagine this pitch is going to turn miles.

100/2 off 45 overs.  Proper old fashioned test cricket.  Make a hatful in the first innings as the second will be tough.

Are we batting for a draw already

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Another for the Ian Bell dopey dismissal collection.

Advantage India and pressure on Root on debut.

Oh Ian. He just can't bat on the subcontinent, I'm happy to see him in the team anywhere else on earth but just not on tour here again, ever.

If we are we're not doing a great job of it. You don't really understand TEST cricket do you KR?!

Don't try and make it more cerebral then it is.

England are too timid - they couldn't have been any worse off if they'd played to their normal tempo.

They're attempting to play to the conditions. Something which they've ALWAYS been criticised for NOT doing on the sub continent. I do say attempting mind, failing admittedly in some cases.

At the risk of being seen to make excuses, Cookie got a shocker, and the way he's been playing may well have been still there. Everything in the garden would have been rosey then.

Not a disastrous day, the pitch is low and slow and Dhoni's been setting incredibly defensive fields from the start. I did have some hope that Pietersen might break the stranglehold a bit but even he was subdued. 199/5 isn't dreadful but it should have been for 3 or 4, stupidity from Trott and Bell once they were in and Cook's decision was god awful.

Root looks gritty as anything but he doesn't really look like he has the power to pierce the field when it spreads...one boundary all innings is Tavare-esque.

I don't think this is a 400 pitch but we'll see when India bat, if Sehwag comes out biffing then suddenly we might be in a bit of trouble.

Good days old fashioned test cricket.  Indias day just but a decent effet by England to dig in.  Englands score at stumps is probably worth a few more due to the slow outfield.  Will be interesting to see how soon the pitch turns but it is so slow which should make it easier to play.

No where near a 400 wicket but I would want England to get 300+.  Will be interested to see how monty goes on here its alot lower and slower than Mumbai or Kolkata.  Big match for bresnan as well needs to bowl ad straight and look to take advantage of any uneven bounce that may appear.

I'd say an even stevens day...India took 5 wickets, but England scored 200 runs and have 2 people set. I think if England can get to around 300 it will be worth a good 450 on a normal track, get the spinners on early and hope India's batting line up crumbles again (a bit like the pitch which is anticipated). I wouldn't want to be batting last on that track, a good toss to win and hopefully Root/Prior can take us up past 250 and beyond tomorrow!

Big big morning tomorrow for us. Bat well and get near 300 or beyond and its a pretty decent total. Collapse for another 30 runs and i'd fancy India even with the pitch and how well our bowlers have done.

Make 300+ first innings and you're in the game at least in any match.

More importantly we batted out the day with probably at least another session batting tomorrow hopefully more.....this match has draw written all over it i reckon....if we score 300 the Indians would need at least two days to score 500 to make us sweat a bit .

I'm not saying he's a bad bowler at all - just that Onions is (I think) a better front line bowler: better with the new ball, bowls more wicket taking balls and (as Boycott has since pointed out) bowls wicket to wicket, which suits low slow wickets for the el-bees. I think If you asked any first class batsman who they would rather face with new ball in hand, they'd say Bresnan.

Anyway, he's playing....and I hope he pulverises them.

Well India's failed to get more than 330 on better pitches in the last two tests. This is low and slow, and really would is not good viewing for entertainment purposes.

The pitch is awful. The ball was keeping low on the first morning of the Test and if England can score 300+, they are in pole position. I'll be making sure the bowlers attack the stumps as we could see a number of dismissals like Yuvraj's in the last test from day 3 onwards, if not before.

With 280 in the bank and Root 66 I'm starting to think we're now heading for parity at least. 

How will this look at the end of the day - or tomorrow?

I was thinking we'd be heading for...... St. Louis down to Missouri
Oklahoma City, looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Runs coming much more freely today.  Looks like the pitch has quickened up a bit.  England need to try and dry it up a bit.

Getting to 330 seems useful & Root played very well (along with Swann, Prior), hopefully Swann/Panesar can get a couple before the close, then pressure on India!

Swann strikes!

Curious how a wicket changes everything.  All of a sudden Monty and SWann have turned a few.

Sachin out to Anderson for the 9th time in test cricket...England on top, any rumours to Sachin retiring whilst you were out there FCB?

I cant help but look back at page 28 where that spastic NMH was advocating dropping KP and Jimmy :D

What a fucktard

79/4, this is all going excellently.

Fortunately Andy Flower has higher level qualifications.

Barstow's not playing Reg, do pay attention.

Are Kohli and Dhoni going to do a Dravid/Laxman in 2001 or Cook/Trott in 2010 and bat out the day.  Lead is now 80 odd.  The pressure innings will be the third (England's second).

But it so flat and slow it is easy to stay in if not so easy to score quickly.

Yeah, this pitch is just horrible for Cricket, a few sound judges have said it's easy enough to stay in but hard to score. We shouldn't lose from here, not going to win either most likely but as long as we don't panic the draw should be pretty achievable. India need to win so we could see a bit of a blitz in the morning and we want to restrict their lead to under 100.

Dhoni runs himself out on 99, oh dear!

Chawla gone too, clatter of wickets after some patient bowling and they're probably not even going to get a lead. Magic.

Jimmy A is a bit good innit? His career average is still over 30 which is mystifying, I'd like to see the stats since he replaced Hoggard as the new ball bowler in New Zealand a few years back.

Great comeback there in the last session.  Good to see their heads didn't drop and were rewarded.

This time wasting by England is a bit unnessesary, very bizarre and sends a really negative message. Someone do something for fuck sake!

5 men on the boundary for the number 10 .... Really?!?!?!?

1 off 46 balls from Cook, brilliant trolling. I can understand why they're playing for the draw, we need to remember how historic a series win would be in India and how much we looked useless against virtually the same team in the first test just a few months ago. Would like him to score a bit quicker as every run we put on is one they have to knock off, but there's no need to push for the win: hopefully Compton can get a score to round the tour off nicely.

Cook been given out caught for a ball he was nowhere near. It's been said several time but bears repeating that the standard of umpiring has been shocking in this series, and notably so as it's usually exceptional.

Agreed Nemo, it's getting to the stage where I've no faith in them getting the right decision. It's almost as if standards have gone downhill since DRS was introduced. The problem is they don't have it to get them out of trouble in this series. Cookie's had 2 shockers in this game. Just given Compton Lbw when he hit the thing now. Ok he may have been caught but its the umpires job to get these things right.

Swings and roundabouts for me,the Indians had some dodgy decisions in there innings.

We need someone to get on with scoring some runs.

Blocking for ever could be our downfall here.

It maybe swings and roundabouts but that's not really the point Leef. Doesn't make for great viewing.

We need runs yes we'd be the first to slate them for getting out playing shots. What we actually need is to bat time. India know this which is why the declared.

It is the point though.

I would slate them more for blocking to short man caught......or maybe leaving a straight one :no:

There have always been shockers in games. We just notice them more now that we have got used to DRS being used in games involving all the other nations. DRS is a major part of the game now and should be used at all times.

Shall I drag up my points about Pietersen gain? Hussain just berated him for changing his technique in each game (Today he was standing outside leg for everything).

As Leefer said. If we dont get some runs, we could be in trouble!

Getting bad vibes about this.

Swing that Willow!

You could but KP's obviously an aquired taste. The facts are that he averages nearly 50 though so deserves his place at number 4. Think you must be the only person in the world who thinks he should bat at 7, although I respect your qualifications obviously.

Agreee with Leefer

By all means comment on KPs technique but why gloat because the player is berated?

Nas was actually the captain who started taking tours out east seriously and who laid the foundations for the serious success that followed and who gets a lot less credit than those who followed

He wasn't actually a great batsman at test level however and with a little more humility (and that includes you) could learn rather than lecture from watching KP

I want KP to bat at 4 in the way that he did earlier in the series - He applied himself well and was phenomenal. I don't know what the hell he was trying to do today (And I'm not just talking about the ball he got out to, but his whole approach today. I thought it was a little odd from ball one where he took his guard and you could clearly see all 3 wickets and a bit!)

He's unorthodox, you should learn to live with it. Sometimes his methods work, sometimes they don't. He's still averaging more than you and Nas put together so no doubt he would question who's right. You have suggested he's our worst batsman and is only a biffer. Both statements are clearly bollocks!

I don't think I've said that he is our worst batsman. I've given my opinion on who I would select and what order I would bat them and why. I've also stated why KP frustrates me. I think I was also glowing in my praise of KP's recent success too.

It is a true statement that KP's test average is far superior to mine. For some reason I've been overlooked by the selectors all these years. Maybe its because I'm not South African and can't biff the ball? Or maybe its because I'm not a professional cricketer and just an avid follower of the game.

There you go. Fortunately Mr Flower and the selectors can see we're a better team for KP in it (and at 4) than out of it.

I stand corrected. Maybe I should have worded that slightly differently:

I don't understand the fascination with Pietersen? He has to be the worst batsman in the England team at the moment! Totally panicked in the first test. Can't seem to play spin. No technique but can club the ball. Suggest that if he is going to persist in playing like that then he can only bepicked in the number 6 or 7 position.

I'd say Ian Bell is the worst batsman in the England team at the moment.

Probably right....

Moving on though....

Good to see Bell and Trott move the score on a little and look fairly sound.

Strange old test this one. Don't think that the condition of the pitch has been conducive to a particularly entertaining game. As a game its really gone in fits and starts - From really boring to really exciting with nothing in-between.

Lets hope that the English batsmen can hang in there long enough to secure a draw.

I'm looking forward to seeing Root bat again. I'd heard lots but hadn't seen him play before. I thought that he looked an exciting talent in the first innings. I'm hoping that's not a one off.

I shouldn't worry NMH, everyone gets things wrong. Bumble wanted Trott dropped after the first test and many, many shrewd judges wanted Cook dropped a few summers back before the Ashes down under.

The main thing I think is to pick horses for courses with batsmen. We do this with bowlers, picking two spinners when necessary (albeit sometimes not quickly enough) and using the bowlers that suit conditions. Why not do the same with batsmen? If there's one thing Bell has proved it's that he's bloody good outside of the subcontinent, but useless on it: why not just accept that and pick him for every other series.

They've had more go in India's favour than against during the series. Patel got a pair of bad decisions in the first test and Capt Cook has had a pair of shockers in this test.

Good shout.

The England management have been very loyal to their batsmen. But I'm glad that Bopara seems to have been given his last chance. Nice also to see the likes of Bairstow and Root seemingly moving ahead of Morgan (who I think can be devastating in 1 day matches). Interesting to see Kieswetter dropping behind Bairstow and Buttler in the 1 day scene too.

Cricket - Gotta love it!

England in a good position here, if we can bat 2 sessions tomorrow and lead by 350 then it gives India a massive task to chase it in about 30 odd overs. I haven't seen the past 2 days play so I'm looking forward to seeing the highlights later on!

The thing with Bell is he never looks massively out of form.  England are not due to tour the sub continent for a fair while now so he wont be exposed to spin on turning surfaces so much. 

The quality of spinners around the world isnt much to write home about anyway (Swann and Ajmal excepted).

Looking forward to the 2 T20's and the 5 one dayers after christmas.  Hopefully England will have learnt something from the 5-0 defeat in the one day series last year.  Big series for Kieswetter.  Also will be interesting to see how England re integrate KP.  Bell made a couple of hundreds opening in KP's absense in the summer and so probably deserves to carry on opening so maybe KP will come in 3 or 4?

Bell playing solidly today, which is excellent. Don't personally think it undoes all of my concerns, but would be nice to end the series with every batsman having contributed.

And it's a draw and England win the series, magnificent since the rather unfortunate first test.

Cook tops the averages with 562 runs at 80 (Root is nominally on 93 but only played one test with a not out) with KP, Prior and, at the last, Trott and Bell all going over 40.

Bowling wise, Swanny took 20 at 24, Panesar 17 at 26 and Anderson 12 at 30. Bresnan wicket-less in two tests.

On the Indian side, rather grim, Pujara excepted, only Gambhir over 40 from the rest of the top 6. SRT 76 runs in the entire series. Ashwin was the second best batsman, but rather unfortunately took his wickets at 52.

Fantastic series win for England, they have outplayed India in the last 3 test matches and it is a credit to them to come back from 1-0 down! 1st India home test series defeat since 04 and 1st time they have lost at home when 1-0 up since 84 I think I read somewhere?! Cook awesome throughout and probably would have made a few more in this test had he not been given out twice by the umpire for dodgy lbw and 'nicking off'...! Swann/Panesar really outbowled their Indian spin counterparts and Jimmy was excellent in the last 2 test matches! Good to see Trott/Bell score 100s, Joe Root looks a real find and one to watch, Compton looked steady, KP is an enigma looks world class at times but so frustrating at others-really pleased to see him back in the England team though, Prior solid as always both with bat and gloves and a word for the others like Finn and Patel who also contributed in the series! Bresnan and Broad struggled with the ball, but overall we had enough in the end!

Big questions for India, and the 'older guard', but I think the ODI series will be a lot closer contested than it was a year ago!

It's been a great tour of india, after the first test I was considering missing the last one but the fightback from England was superb.  As said above every player apart from broad and bresnan has done a great job on this tour and Cook lead from the front.  Only a few more.days left then back to chilly Blighty...

1st T20. England got 157-6.  Which looks a bit short on a belter but never know.

Good knocks by Hales and Buttler.  Injection of youth showing in the Indian fielding being 10 times better than we saw in the tests.

Mind you, shite England bowling aint going to help

So t20 series tied 1-1 each, which I'd say was a fair reflection over the 2 games! I think England have a few big players to come back in for the ODIs in January and I can see them shading it over the series! 2012 has been a mixed year for England but good to sign off with a victory! Losing in the UAE to Pakistan, drawing with Sri Lanka, beating WI and losing to South Africa at home before winning in India under new captain Cook...a big 2013 ahead with 2x ashes series and the ICC Champions Trophy to name a few!

Two bits of overnight cricket news ....

First up the passing of tony greig from a heart attack. The former England captain and now respected pundit who most famously announced his intent to make the famous West Indies side of the 80's grovel.

RIP Greigy

............................

Next up news from down under that the New Years test will be mike husseys last. Englands quest for back to back ashes just got easier. Michael Clarke apart an Aussie top 7 that should have jimmy and finny licking their lips!

RIP Tony Greig.

Probably the man who got me into watching cricket years back with his determination to win.
Good all rounder.

RIP Tony Greig, a South African who captained England and supported Australia! Don't think you'll get that again!

Mike Hussey retiring will help England massively, Mr Cricket was one of the only Aussie's I enjoyed watching and he'll be a big miss in their middle order!

Christopher Martin-Jenkins died this morning, sad news

A bad week for cricket commentators. Very sad to hear about CMJ in particular but by the sounds of it he was suffering a lot towards the end.

Shocking! Crap start to 2013. RIP CMJ.

2 sad losses from the cricketing world in the last week. RIP

The way that 'Blowers' looks on Jools Holland last night, he might make it a hat trick !

Fingers crossed. He's a waffling senile old prat.

Shocking,great commentator and fair as fuck while at it.

A sad end to 2012 and a bad start to 2013. Hope both RIP.

NZ all out for 45 on day 1 against South Africa...

The one day series starts on Friday and England have just lost their second warm up game.

I am worried by the bowling which looks weak Finn apart the other 40 overs could be serveed up by a mixture of Meaker, Dernbach, Tredwell and Patel!

I still think the series will be close, especially with England having the upper hand over India before Xmas and then Pakistan winning 2-1 in the ODI series...I am worried about the bowling, I think Bresnan and Finn will open and then it's a case of as you say FCB meaker, dernbach, tredwell and patel. Tough series to call.

Not a bad score from England that, flat track, fully expect India to give it a good whack as well!

We're in the game with that score. Set it up nicely. Will do well to hold them on that pitch though.

Flat pitch, quick outfield and short boundaries ....

India 38-0 off 5

If India can get home I am £140 better off :-)

Nice. How much did you stick on to get that much back though?

It was a £30 treble on:

Perth to beat Adeliade in the big bash yesterday    10/11
Australia to beat Sri Lanka in one dayer today         1/2
India to beat England                                         4/6

Returns £143.18

I can see India breezing this if England don't take some quick wickets and get them behind the rate!

Looking good at the moment then....

No offence but i hope you don't win.

Watching Tredwell bowl with the prospect of Patel to follow makes me wonder why the hell England dont use Panesar in Swann's absence.  I know they'll use the cant bat and cant field debate but he is a wicket taking option.  Tredwell and Patel wont get double figure in wickets in 5 matches and will go and comfortably ovber 5.5 per over.

If it comes down to England Panesar's runs then clearly the batsmen aint doing their jobs!

This debate has long been running FCB amongst England's top people...I would have Panesar in, especially after the way he has performed in the subcontinent!

I might have to take my words on Tredwell back!

2 quick wickets were needed and bagged! India have 2 new batsmen at the crease...Come on England!

Not seen the Bres non-catch but using 2D technology for disputed catches is a joke. They always prove inconclusive so benefit of doubt goes to the batsman.

Great over from Dernbach, been expensive but those 2 wickets could be key! 50 odd off 5 needed!

If only Jade could bowl all his overs "at the death".

Get in!!!!!

Great win, especially when considering we were smashed 5-0 last year  :D Happy Days!!!

I think you should. Sorry to rub it in!

2nd ODI looking finely poised at the moment...KP needs a big one!

Or not! ^

Morgan gone to!

Kieswetter in ahead of Patel ...

Oh dear Oh dear England...158 a/o gives India a pretty big win!

So after winning the test series (2-1), drawing the t20 series (1-1) and losing the ODI series (3-2) against India, England have moved on to New Zealand and I can't see anything other than England thrashing NZ in all 3 formats. The first t20 match came and went, with England racking up their highest ever t20 score (214-7) and winning by 40 odd runs. The 2nd t20 match is on Tuesday. Body clocks set to be fucked over the next few weeks with start times ranging from 11pm at night, to 6am in the morning! Good luck staying up lads!

Well the 10 wicket win this morning was pretty emphatic!

No scoreboard pressure on the batsmen. Much easier for them to have licence to show what they can do. The bowling/fielding won it for us for sure.

What should be worrying for the Kiwi's is that we now strenengthen our squad with Jimmy, Swanny and KP coming back into the fold.

Kiwis win the 1st one dayer by 3 wickets with 7 balls to spare.

Englands 258 looked a tad short and so it proved.  With no KP the top 4 of Cook, Bell, Trott and Root looked one paced and Morgan and Buttler didnt get in until the 40th over so were under pressure to go form the off to make up for the slow rate from the start. 

Agree FCB, I'd have sent one of Morgan/Buttler in at 4 to try and kick start the innings to make 270-280 earlier on! Jimmy Anderson England's leading all time wicket taker now as well...still think we'll turn it around!

My other issue I forget to mention is about bowling at the death.  England are fucking useless at it.  It either length or short.  What in gods name has happened to the yorker?  McCullum thought christmas had come early when Finn and Broad tried peppering him with such short boundaries.

When you watch Malinga bowl his ability to bowl 6 at a batters toes is incredible.  The England bowlers cant manage 3 yorkers in a row never mind 6!

Up early to catch a flight and watching mccullum make mincemeat out of the England bowlers.  Fucking hell this death bowling needs re thinking

Piece of piss too easy.

The only thing that needs a re-think is perhaps letting the Kiwi's get 300 to see if they can make a game of it.

Joe Root looked quality! made that chase easy as fuck, still expect England to win all 3 formats out in NZ!

New Zealand tests start shortly, whilst Australia are putting on a performance to make Audley Harrison look convincing in India- 237/9dec plays 311/1 (Pujara has 162- he's quite good) and have dropped their first choice spinner yet again in favour of Doherty (FC average 45) and Maxwell (a T20 specialist).

At the risk of setting myself up for a fall, 10-0.

The Aussies batting has been dire in the first test and a half. Their spinners have been dire.

I still cannot believe they actually declared their first innings, and said after yesterday's play that 237 was a competitive total batting first.

Looking down their team I just can't get scared. Cowan is shit, Warner is alright but no Hayden, Hughes is dreadful, Watson for all his supposed importance to the team averages 36, Clarke is brilliant but amongst clowns, Wade is handy with the bat but a poor keeper, like Prior v1.0 and the bowling is either very average (Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Starc)  or very injured (Cummins, Harris, Pattinson)

And their spinning department, well, is non existant.

I've just noticed that you haven't even mentioned Mitchell 'He bowls it to the left...' Johnson.

Mitchell Johnson dreams of the day he could be described as "very average"

One interesting aside on the spinning front is that they could be trying to give a Fawad Ahmed, Pakistani who moved to the country in January an Aussie passport in time for the Ashes. Makes any criticism of KP, Trott et al look a bit minor.

I cant believe the amount of credit Clarke got for his declaration for it being imaginative and in the interests of aggressive cricket!  He strengthened the batting (on paper at least), sticking all his eggs in the win toss and bat first basket. He did win the boss and then the batting him and Wade apart looked more fragile than Nasser Hussains fingers!

Cowan is totally unable to maneovare the spinners. Think it was 29 dots balls then he got out.  Warner by his nature is going to have an innings where he goes mental and alot where he doesnt. Phil Hudges against inept against spin.   Watson is a decent batter but not being helped by being shifted everywhere in the batting line up.

I do think the pace attack .... Starc, Siddle, Pattinson, Harris, Cummins .... Could do some damage in favourable conditions ... Which they will get in England.  But the batting will be the achilles heel!

Also if it gets tight ... England also have the bunsen option and play Swann and Panesar!

Fully agree. There was four days left, and now India will just bat for another day or so and then they have to save the test. In India, you've got to make your runs in the first innings, so by declaring, they've just handed the initiative to India, which they are taking.

Weather isn't looking that great in Dunedin for day 1, 4 or 5 at the minute.  Hopefully we won't lose too many overs over the test match.  NZ looked quite good in the warm up and the view was pretty good from Queenstown.

Just read the article on the BBC site. Pretty hypocritical of the Aussies. At least KP, Trott et al have family links to England.

I saw Pakistan thrash SA in the t20 earlier, Umar Gul 5-6 from 14 deliveries  :eek: India well in command of the 2nd test. Pujara looked classy again, like he did in the 1st couple of tests against England-then went quiet.

Looking forward to the response from England in the 1st test, after being beaten in the warm up. Don't read too much into that to be honest, Batsman got time at the crease and we had our 2nd string bowling line up (except Swann who bowled ok from what I read) tossing up long hops (see Onions' figures) on a final day pitch. I think 3-0 England!

A couple of genius cricket stats ...

1). In any innings xavier Doherty had Bowled at test level the lowest score to date is 517

2). Australia could become the first team ever to declare and lose by an innings!

Well, they managed to trim 14 from that this time around...Doherty taking three of the tail enders to massage his otherwise monstrously crap figures.

With a bit of luck Maxwell and Xavier have just booked themselves Ashes trips this summer!

Phil Hudges last 30 balss against spin have brought him 0 runs and cost him his wicket 3 times!

If that happens tomorrow, that would be funny. I'd challange any reporter to ask Clarke how he feels about that stat.

It happened they were always going to struggle but this is bad for them. 

The first test starts in Dunedin tomorrow! Not looking good for cricket tomorrow, although I managed to get burnt today...

Doing another blog, for anyone who wants to have a read http://keithontour.blogspot.co.nz/

Come on England.....do me a favour and beat these bloody caps tomorrow..... :)

 :pint:

Australia lose by an innings and 135 runs. Tehehe.

"Although Ed Cowan showed some signs during the second innings that he had learnt from his first three efforts and occupied the crease for nearly three hours, the rest of the batting order collapsed. So far in this series Watson has made 28, 17, 23 and 9; Hughes has scored 6, 0, 19 and 0; Cowan has managed 29, 32, 4 and 44 and Warner has tallied 59, 23, 6 and 26."

What do you call a great Australian Cricketer?

Retired.

England to bat first then, Swann is out so Panesar comes in...

and I can't get TMS to work.

...aaaaaaaand start delayed

Ive got a 2 hour drive home and was looking forward to this.  Arse.  Sort the bloody weather out you hobbit botherers.

Always great to see the Aussies lose, never mind getting pummled...makes it sweeter!

A bit worried about Swann as read somewhere he still has a dodgy elbow and he's not getting any younger....anyone else think it's a precaution ahead of playing 15 tests between now and December 30th? I guess we'll see if Monty has progressed on wickets that aren't in the subcontinent!

rain is not as heavy but still coming down at the moment.

You reckon we'll get an play Keith? Or should I go to bed?

Just seen it, hope you went to bed! play starts 30 mins earlier tomorrow!

Hmmm Cook plays a dreadful shot and we're 18/2. Not the best start.

Oh drat, golden duck for KP!

KP goes first ball 18-3

This guy Wagner is a county trundler

This could get embarrassing. Time for the middle order to step up.

Yep trundler is exactly the word I thought of.

Not exactly quick. Cook was deceived by the slowness of the long hop.

Does Bell ever look out of form.  A really classy player for whom an average of mid 40's seems a tad low.

Cunting hell

How rubbish were England today? Anyone see a STFC flag on TV?

That was pathetic...what is it with England playing away and getting skittled in the 1st innings? That bowling attack is one of the most inexperienced/worst attack I've seen and England getting done by a trundler! Maybe that's the type of attack needed on that surface as we're in big trouble already! Lucky it's only a 4 day test!

This should serve as a reality check to anyone who thinks England will cruise past the Aussies twice this year.

Just look at how competitive they were in the two recent series vs South Africa.  Who are the best side in the world by a distance.

Yes they are getting battered in India but In England will be a lot more adept with the ball coming onto the bat.

In seaming conditions where the quicks will be king Pattinson, Hilfenhaus, Starc, Siddle, Cummins will give England more than enough to chew on.

So the day lost may not make much impact in this game with how quickly the day moved yesterday.  If NZ bat till tea the lead will be around 200?  You expect Taylor and McCullum to bat and score quite freely especially as they will come to the crease with NZ in total control. 

KP was the only one who was really got out.  Cook mistimed a cut to point. Bell hit Wagner's first ball around the wicket straight to short cover.  Broad sloted a long hop straight down deep mid wickets throat. Trott caught sweeping.  The list is endless ....

No real swing on an easy paced pitch which was demonstrated by the 2 NZ openers though England dropped 2 catches.

Probably the worst days cricket by England since the last home ashes series 1st day of the Headingley test.

Here we fucking go again. One bad day at the office and everyone has the knives out.

We stuffed it up India, we WILL stuff it up the Kiwis and we WILL shove it right up the Aussies. Any who thinks differently is a clown.

Next!

I'm not saying they wont beat Aus twice I think they will.  I just dont think it will be as straight forward as everyone thinks.

My bad.

Feel inclined to agree.

Still reckon we will get a draw out of this one also.

is it raining in Kiwiland??? we could do with a bit more time taken out of the game to ensure a draw really

Not sure Red though apparently the forecast is for some unsettled weather.

The first day being lost to rain could be a blessing.

Forecast for a little bit of rain today and more tomorrow apparently...

"Cloudy morning in Dunedin with local forecasts suggesting showers this afternoon with drizzle tomorrow I'm afraid #bbccricket #nzveng"
https://twitter.com/tmsproducer/status/309737233815068673

Good news then!

How the hell did they bowl us out so cheaply on this track. Bowlers (especially Jimmy) have been well fired up today and got fuck all out of it. Batters need to redeem themselves 2nd go that's for sure.

As DMR says no panic. Just need to apply ourselves a bit better.

Going to piss it down tomorrow!

Should help us out then.

We're not great at first tests are we.

Rutherford's brought up his 150, in severe danger of him outscoring the England XI

On the bright side, at least we've taken 2 wickets this session!

A few wickets this session, 326 - 6.  Need a few more wickets!

4 more wickets for Jimmy A!

Felt a bit sorry for monty.  He hasn't bowled competitively since the last India test and it showed.  It's a shame he couldn't have played a couple of games for a nz provincial side.

235 lead with 3 wickets left.  Expect mccullum to have a dart tomorrow try and get the lead up to 300. 

Does anyone know what lead the Aussies had in the last Brisbane test after the first innings?

Looks like the weather might save New Zealand from the inevitable humiliating comeback victory powered by a run-a-ball Compton double ton

Not sure how many NZ will want to add, especially with rain forecast for the final 2 days...England will either crumble miserably or we'll see a Brisbane-style recovery!

Monty has come in very, very short of cricket-he didn't even play in that warm up game and probably wouldn't have expected to play in any tests! I heard he was doing an exam out there as well from one of the commentators.

Pleased for Compton, he reads the papers and will have known the pressure he was under. Not quite a run a ball but every bit the solid effort needed in the circumstances.

Nice one Nick. Chuffed for him. Could see how much it meant to him, and his old man.

What to say about Chef though - I bow my head. You truly are a run machine.

Watched until shortly after Compton's 50 last night. He really is up there with Trott in the remarkable resolve / brilliantly boring stakes. Two of those at the top of the order to lay the foundations for a more explosive middle order will do me just fine. Root will be fine at 6. Compton deserves a real run and a go at the Aussies.

I fucking told you so

Go Finn, 43 not out and first 50 on the cards.

Do any of you give a fuck about non englishmen playing for england at all?

Have to say, in the rugby, Visser playing for Scotland completely ruins it for me, and I wonder if seeing England select players like Morgan, Kieswetter and Trott detract any enjoyment of international sport from you?

Couldn't give a fuck.  As long as they are committed then all is good with me.

Great to see Finn with a 50  :clap:

Batted Finny!!! Flat track, shame England couldn't do this 1st innings and put NZ under pressure! 2nd test will see us fire on all cylinders! KP at the crease, fancy him to smack a ton!

Your answer surprises me, as surely instead of international sport, it turns into a representative competition. But each to their own.

Nope, couldn't care less.

In fact the knowledge that it really annoys the Aussies, the Saffas and apparently now the Sweaties it makes it a bit sweeter

what he said.