Anderson has been on fire today. India in trouble, and need a partnership fast 75/4. Lets see what Dhoni can do, and if Kohli has what it takes at Test level
I must have had too much of the hard stuff last night before my posting !! Looks more like an England win or at worst a draw - cant see India getting a lead now they have closed at 80-odd for 4.
Tendulkar's career should be over. A great player should never go on for too long and thereby let failure tarnish his reputation. India, once the home of talented and patient batsmen (at least when playing @ home) now find that the cupboard is bare. England on the other hand have discovered a few good uns .. Bairstow, Root, Compton, and they are NOT South Africans .... all right Compton was born there
Tendulkar's career should be over. A great player should never go on for too long and thereby let failure tarnish his reputation. India, once the home of talented and patient batsmen (at least when playing @ home) now find that the cupboard is bare. England on the other hand have discovered a few good uns .. Bairstow, Root, Compton, and they are NOT South Africans .... all right Compton was born there
Pujara is quality, and I reckon Kohli will come good. But Laxman, Dravid and Tendulkar are big shoes to fill. I still think England are struggling to replace Collingwood - Bopara, Bairstow, Morgan, Patel, Taylor have all been tried... (though may all deserve another chance) Root looks good, but is generally an opnener?
I don't see the problem with having an opener at no. 6 to a certain extent. With shot makers either side (Pietersen and Bell at 4 and 5, Prior at 7), we need somebody in there who can be patient and rescue a collapse if need be. The only issue becomes can they then bat at a high tempo if need be. Early days for Root, we've seen he can do the former (rescue a collapse), we might see the latter in the second innings if we put India on the backfoot and are trying to take the game away from them.
This is why the selectors are so keen on Morgan, if he could develop the patience, and ability just to weigh anchor and stick it out he would be perfect as he has the ability to take a game away from the opposition very quickly and is great at pacing an innings. The issue is so far he can't do it for 70-80-90 overs at a time, and he has given his wicket away too often when runs are hard to come by.
The other things Collingwood offered were superb fielding and extra bowling. It could be argued that neither is as necessary now, generally all the England players are excellent in the field and we have plenty of bowling options (Trott and Pietersen) from within the top order batsmen.
It's good that we've got that little bi of depth now though - while it was good we had a settled top 6 for so long, it meant any injury or loss of form and there wasn't really anyone to come in except maybe Bopara, who hadn't convinced.
Now we've go Bairstow there, Morgan trying to play his way back in etc.
The other things Collingwood offered were superb fielding and extra bowling. It could be argued that neither is as necessary now, generally all the England players are excellent in the field and we have plenty of bowling options (Trott and Pietersen) from within the top order batsmen.
That 5th bowling option has never really been replaced, Trott and KP are much more occasional bowlers than Collingwood. It would be useful is one of the batsmen was to work on his bowling, to provide a decent alternative, after all bowlers are expected to bat well now!
That 5th bowling option has never really been replaced, Trott and KP are much more occasional bowlers than Collingwood. It would be useful is one of the batsmen was to work on his bowling, to provide a decent alternative, after all bowlers are expected to bat well now!
I'm sure that's the reason they keep going back to Bopara, he really is a useful bowler, just seems to lack the patience/application in his batting.
That 5th bowling option has never really been replaced, Trott and KP are much more occasional bowlers than Collingwood. It would be useful is one of the batsmen was to work on his bowling, to provide a decent alternative, after all bowlers are expected to bat well now!
I'm sure that's the reason they keep going back to Bopara, he really is a useful bowler, just seems to lack the patience/application in his batting.
Unfortunately his batting hasn't been up to scratch.
England batsmen seem to let their bowling skills decline, KP came to England as an off spinner, yet hardly bowls at all these days.
Maybe that's why Patel got picked - his bowling. Sadly, he lacks the ability with the bat needed at this level. there are enough middle order batsmen who can step in, but no-one demanding to be picked. It KP really had gone, we'd be in trouble what with Bell's inconsistency and Trotts (temporary I hope) lack of form
India added 140 without loss today, they are back in the game but as pointed out by randy andy above the scoring rate is low so even if they go through to close without loss they will still be behind on the first innings with only six sessions left
India will be up around our total by the close today - they will then bat on until at least tea tomorrow wih a lead of around 180 - 200, We will then have 3 - 4 sessions to survive. On this surface it should be possible, but I have seen England collapse time & time again by pushing & prodding and India will have men all round the bat.
Just as I post Swann gets Koli out .............269-5
India will be up around our total by the close today - they will then bat on until at least tea tomorrow wih a lead of around 180 - 200, We will then have 3 - 4 sessions to survive. On this surface it should be possible, but I have seen England collapse time & time again by pushing & prodding and India will have men all round the bat.
Just as I post Swann gets Koli out .............269-5
More pessimism please Golfie so more Indian wickets fall :-)
India will be up around our total by the close today - they will then bat on until at least tea tomorrow wih a lead of around 180 - 200, We will then have 3 - 4 sessions to survive. On this surface it should be possible, but I have seen England collapse time & time again by pushing & prodding and India will have men all round the bat.
Just as I post Swann gets Koli out .............269-5
Comments
This is why the selectors are so keen on Morgan, if he could develop the patience, and ability just to weigh anchor and stick it out he would be perfect as he has the ability to take a game away from the opposition very quickly and is great at pacing an innings. The issue is so far he can't do it for 70-80-90 overs at a time, and he has given his wicket away too often when runs are hard to come by.
The other things Collingwood offered were superb fielding and extra bowling. It could be argued that neither is as necessary now, generally all the England players are excellent in the field and we have plenty of bowling options (Trott and Pietersen) from within the top order batsmen.
Now we've go Bairstow there, Morgan trying to play his way back in etc.
England batsmen seem to let their bowling skills decline, KP came to England as an off spinner, yet hardly bowls at all these days.
Trail by 152.
India added 140 without loss today, they are back in the game but as pointed out by randy andy above the scoring rate is low so even if they go through to close without loss they will still be behind on the first innings with only six sessions left
Just as I post Swann gets Koli out .............269-5