India tour of England 2018

[asprin]

If this happens England's attack will lack a bit of variety in the sense they'll be playing 5 seam bowlers without massive difference between them unlike say Australia's pace attack (no one who can bowl 150+ and no one to swing it at 145+ primarily).

With the way India is playing, I doubt that it will matter much. The so-called "dry" season is not helping them either.

 

[Velocity]

This could play into India's hands. If this happens England's attack will lack a bit of variety in the sense they'll be playing 5 seam bowlers without massive difference between them unlike say Australia's pace attack (no one who can bowl 150+ and no one to swing it at 145+ primarily). If batsmen get settled then it'll be difficult to remove them without an X-factor. Look at how Ishant seemed pretty comfortable against pacers in the first innings of the first test only to be instantly removed by Rashid. It makes sense to replace Rashid with Moeen but the 5-seamer idea seems very risky.

Variety doesn't seem to matter it these conditions. As long as they are able to swing the ball in all directions at 82 MPH then the Indian batsmen will still struggle. Everyone expected dry pitches where the sun beat down on it making it flat, but as long as its cloudy it doesn't matter. This isn't like Australia where England needed some variety, some pace to challenge the Aussies on those flat and dead tracks with no swing. In England having pace isn't a massive factor as pitches don't have that kind of bounce in them.

Rashid should still keep a spot. I think at any time England are struggling to get tailenders out he is perfect to get them out. And if there is any turn of some sort he could come into play. Likely be Stokes for Sam Curran but it's very unfortunate to see him go after performing so well. If he builds up on some pace he will seriously tussle with Woakes for a place.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Rashid out, Stokes in. Straight forward for me.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Wish Shastri would just STFU instead of asking the batsmen to standup and deliver ... every time he speaks, our performance only sinks lower

If only he paid attention to the requirements of the team instead of dozing off, we wouldn't be humiliated like this

We really need to get better support staff as well. Our batting and slip catching just gets worse with every overseas series. Get a real full time coach instead of a "DIRECTOR".

 

[Mr C P McQuillan]

I don't get Butler's role in the team. If he's going to be a specialist batsman he needs to bat in the top 5. If they dont trust him there, and I can't see any reason they should, then he doesn't make the team for me. There are plenty of candidates to perform the lower order counter puncher role, Stokes, Woakes, Moeen, Curran and even Rashid to a degree. He either keeps, or he gets left out. With Stokes coming back in its Butler who affects the balance of the team, not Curran or Woakes. I suspect Rashid will make way, but that just moves the problem along until there's a spinning track to play on. He's a useful option for certain situations but I think England are making a rod for their own back by making him a regular fixture. Picking a specialist batsman who has little chance of enough support to play a big innings is daft. Its possible to score a century with 6 wickets down but it's not something you should be planning for.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Looks like Pant might be in for the third test ... DK might be injured?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24390637/rishabh-pant-lines-test-debut-trent-bridge

 

[Mr C P McQuillan]

I don't get Butler's role in the team. If he's going to be a specialist batsman he needs to bat in the top 5. If they dont trust him there, and I can't see any reason they should, then he doesn't make the team for me. There are plenty of candidates to perform the lower order counter puncher role, Stokes, Woakes, Moeen, Curran and even Rashid to a degree. He either keeps, or he gets left out. With Stokes coming back in its Butler who affects the balance of the team, not Curran or Woakes. I suspect Rashid will make way, but that just moves the problem along until there's a spinning track to play on. He's a useful option for certain situations but I think England are making a rod for their own back by making him a regular fixture. Picking a specialist batsman who has little chance of enough support to play a big innings is daft. Its possible to score a century with 6 wickets down but it's not something you should be planning for.

And actually Curran makes way. So 4 right arms seamers and a spinner the captain only reluctantly uses. Hmmm. If they'd swapped Butler for Stokes I don't think the batting is weakened and Root has 6 bowlers to play with.

 

[bumrahguy]

Looks like Pant might be in for the third test ... DK might be injured?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24390637/rishabh-pant-lines-test-debut-trent-bridge

Why the fearsome tweak do you think DK is likely to be injured if Pant wins his place?

 

[AliB]

Why the fearsome tweak do you think DK is likely to be injured if Pant wins his place?

Why the fearsome tweak you can't read the whole article?

 

[zimrahil]

With the way India is playing, I doubt that it will matter much. The so-called "dry" season is not helping them either.

Yes as soon as India land on British soil, the 2 month heatwave ends and its been rain and showers ever since

 

[Velocity]

Yes as soon as India land on British soil, the 2 month heatwave ends and its been rain and showers ever since

With cloudy conditions and the ball swinging everywhere leaving our batsmen bamboozled, reminiscent of 2014 when India played in late July/early August. Whatever the experts said turned out to be a load of crap. That India would seriously win the series because the heat wave was expected to continue.

 

[zimrahil]

With cloudy conditions and the ball swinging everywhere leaving our batsmen bamboozled, reminiscent of 2014 when India played in late July/early August. Whatever the experts said turned out to be a load of crap. That India would seriously win the series because the heat wave was expected to continue.

in fairness if you played us in June/July it could well have been a different story. But...……...you didn't

 

[Master Bates]

I really hope India can put up a good performance. Missing Bhuvi for sure. His swing would have been very useful alongside Shami and Ishant. I fell Pant and DK should both play to strengthen India's batting but then the balance of the side does not remain. Bumrah bowls like Hardik so if India want better bowling then go for Bumrah and have Pant in place of Kuldeep Yadav.

 

[asprin]

Yes as soon as India land on British soil, the 2 month heatwave ends and its been rain and showers ever since

You tricked me into believing that India had a chance. Raised the hopes only to squash them later. I hope England tour India in winter and the sun beats down to crack open the pitch and turn square

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Pant over DK? What a lame selection. Changing for the sake of changing. Exactly why we are in this spot in the first place. And I've seen this injury excuse to cover up a lot by this management!