The Winter Cricket Thread

[Paolo69]

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

[Nemo]

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.

[TheMajorSTFC]

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

[Paolo69]

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.

[sonicyouth]

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

[Nemo]

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.

[fittons_coaching_badge]

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. 

[Nemo]

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.

[sonicyouth]

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.

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!

[TheMajorSTFC]

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!

[Paolo69]

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.

[DMR]

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

We're just a better side

[Nemo]

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"

Edit2: Brave statements from an Indian journo on Cricinfo:

One of these days, India will admit they have become an ordinary side. That currently they are arguably the worst bowling unit in the world, bar Bangladesh. That they are the worst fielding side in the world without any argument, which they kept on proving on the third day as Ishant Sharma dropped his third simple return catch in the fourth match he is playing this year. That the whitewashes in England and Australia didn't happen on doctored green tops. That a proud home record alone doesn't ensure future Test wins. That the ideal response to overseas batting failures is to work on techniques, and not to seek comfort in statistics at home. That no side won an away series with that kind of attitude.

When India admit that, they will start improving as a Test side. Until then, they can hope for a miracle to the tune of Kolkata 2000-01.

[leefer]

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

We're just a better side

Spot on.

[TheMajorSTFC]

Great win and 2-1 up  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!