england v/s india

heykevin

anyone watching england tour to india

heykevin

india is very close to victory....

djimi

Good fight back from England the past couple of days but no matter how much face they manage to save it doesnt cover up the fact that they have been an utter shambles in this test. Batsmen who cannot play spin and a bowling lineup that is completely lacking the proper players for these conditions. Patel is not a test cricketer; England need to find a proper second spinner to work with Swann or they are going to really struggle in these tests.

Rascasse

Well stumps on day 4 and England are ahead by 10. In addition to Cook and Prior, England have Broad, Bresnan and Swann that can all bat fairly well and Anderson who can't. Very little hope for a draw, but enough of a chance to make me tune in tomorrow.

In fairness to Patel he was absolutely mugged today. Given LBW but he hit it. Even it he hadn't it looked like it was going down leg side (though hawk eye suggested it would have nicked it). Panesar is travelling with the side so one wonders why he isn't playing. A commentator said he must either be injured or badly out of form not to get a nod. Next test I'd keep Patel but swap Bresnan for Panesar.

Talking of Patel's LBW, the standard of umpiring has been awful. LBW's given when not and not given when the should. BCCI need to use DRS.

djimi

BCCI need to have the decision to use DRS taken out of their hands. The idea that one nation can pick and choose what rules they wish to follow is absolutely laughable. If the ICC had any balls whatsoever the BCCI would be told to comply or bugger off; noone should be bigger than the overall game but apparently that is not the case in cricket.

Bondie

Have to agree, same rules should be used for all tests. Massive innings from Cpt Cook , think he may run out of partners sooner rather than later though. If the pitch in mumbai is similar Panaesar needs to be brought in but the top order batsman need to have a long look at themselves

Giggsy11

Great innings by Cook but rest were all were very poor except Prior.

KP just can't play left are spinners. Not sure what's wrong with him, he even struggled against Yuvraj singh previously.

Just need 20 more runs, great performance but should have avoided batting again.

manafana

had quick look at 2nd test here

Should be interesting pitch should have more for seamers opening the first two days

Dozen Wicked Words

Looks like the pitch started to deteriorate badly very early. Fair enough to prepare a pitch to home advantage but this one looks farcical. All over in 3 and a half days or less, and if a team gets 300 they will be doing well.

(I will probably be wrong on all counts! )

Washout

time for Dhoni to really stand up and put on a good fight

156/5 at the moment

Giggsy11

Pujara with a gem of an innings. Great 100.

Rascasse

A collapse pending? After laboring away at 2 an over to get to 66 they've lost Compton and Trott in quick succession. And now FIGJAM is at the crease.

manafana

think monty made thsi pitch look worse than it is, still another day before it becoems test, top class from cook and kp is dangerous now hes settled

booth70

My respect for Cook continues to grow by the day.....He may not be the most attractive batsman to watch but what a player...even as a die-hard Indian supporter, I hope for his sake England nail India in the match and make the series more exciting:)

Rascasse

Great innings from KP, brilliant to watch. Pitch looks like it could fall off a cliff so Prior, Broad and Swann need to try to get at least 100 ahead. Any more than that is a bonus.

booth70

Super innings from KP

Harbhajan looks in even worse form than when he was dropped from the team last year and Ashwin's taken two wickets in his last 90 overs in this series

England favorites to win this ......they have the better spinners in Monty and Swanny and Pujara excluded none of the top seven in India's line-up inspire any confidence

Rascasse

I need to stop making predictions. Prior run out, Broad caught, Anderson LBW. Only 81 ahead. Not sure England are favorites just yet.

Edit: Monty 4-W, shouldn't have taken the single at the start of the previous over. 86 ahead, 30 odd overs remaining, want to keep watching but need some sleep.

Dozen Wicked Words

Well I know feck all as usual. Clearly clueless about the game, still enjoy watching it though.

Going for India win with England having to bat last but my previous predictions show why I don't bet on cricket.

booth70

Match set up nicely by England's lower order collapse

India start 86 behind......need to set England at least 175-200 to be in with any chance

Here's my prediction......England to win by 7 wickets;)

booth70

Mind you.....India have defended 107 on this ground before!:o:o

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64102.html

Remember that pitch being an absolute minefield and the match was over in 2 days!!!

mike65

Tremendous day for England, KP eh? Can't live with him, can't live without him! Monty the difference though 5 wickets and England should have this wrapped up by mid afternoon.

Rjd2

mike65 wrote: »

Tremendous day for England, KP eh? Can't live with him, can't live without him! Monty the difference though 5 wickets and England should have this wrapped up by mid afternoon.

Yep, maybe even earlier, India have after this partnership zero to follow as Ooja and Khan are useless with the bat. Knock either Gambhir or Singh over early and it is over.

Best hope for India and it is slim with the way the pitch is and how good the spinners are doing is to try and get a 100+ partnership and pray that England mess up a simple chase.

Apart from Gambhir, Pujara and Oojha, the rest have been rubbish this test.

Rascasse

Rjd2 wrote: »

Apart from Gambhir, Pujara and Oojha, the rest have been rubbish this test.

You could say the same about England too. Cook, KP, Monty & Swann really have carried the rest of the team so far this test.

Giggsy11

Superb performance from England. Cook, KP, Monty were just awesome in this match. Well deserved winners.

manafana

3rd test just under way i have covered off on it in full on my blog

england once again cant call a toss and so india are in to bat which is a big edge, hard to see a draw here this has been a results pitch and india have ensured it remains as such

Beasty

Well Cook has certainly taken to this captaining lark...

... 23rd Test century to set a new record for England, and has just nudged his average over 50 (although that may drop back again depending on when/if they get him out!)

Only 27 and he's already turned himself into one of the all-time English greats

mike65

So many matches these days, its hard to draw comparisons with previous generations (still impressive enough of course).

Rjd2

Cook is a machine, but this Indian bowling line up is really poor, Zaheer is done, Ashwin has no patience while the selection of Sharma who this year has taken a splendid 3 test wickets in 4 test matches at a miserly average of 125 is disgraceful and a complete **** you to those on the domestic circuit.

England can put up whatever score they want here and unleash Swann and Monty and bowl them out.

manafana

mike65 wrote: »

So many matches these days, its hard to draw comparisons with previous generations (still impressive enough of course).

alot more test matches played back in the day, althou careers were not as long.

Beasty

Well, if you want more to back up Cook's "greatness", he's become the youngest player ever to reach 7,000 Test runs (ie faster than the likes of Sachin), and he's got to 23 centuries in one more test (86) than Hammond took to get his 22. Pietersen is the only other English player to get to 22 in under 100 tests.

manafana

Beasty wrote: »

Well, if you want more to back up Cook's "greatness", he's become the youngest player ever to reach 7,000 Test runs (ie faster than the likes of Sachin), and he's got to 23 centuries in one more test (86) than Hammond took to get his 22. Pietersen is the only other English player to get to 22 in under 100 tests.

hes brilliant, the one day game has helped him as well, its given him gears he can change his tempo depending on how he is needed to play, hes probably the most verstile of the english batters.

Hes now taken on a captains role, and while still learning his batting has only improved for the pressure.