View Full Version : [Cricket] India V England (First Test 1st - 5th March)
Both teams have come off losses to Pakistan in their last Test match series and both will be looking to restamp their authority on the Test scene. India have ushered in a new generation of younger players whilst England have been forced to draft in new players due to injury.
Flintoff will captain England in the absence of Vaughan (knee injury) and expects the team to do England proud:
Come Wednesday I know what I'm going to get - I'm going to get 10 (other) lads who want to play for England and want to do well for England.
At the moment England are underdogs and are looking to reclaim their form of the Ashes.
At the moment England are underdogs and are looking to reclaim their form of the Ashes.
That's putting it lightly. Without the likes of S Jones, Giles, Vaughan, Trescothick I can see us struggling. I am please Cook is playing because I think he can become a star of the future, but he has been thrown in at the deep end so to speak. For me Flintoff was probably the only one you could give the captains job to, but he doesn't have that much experience of it at any level in the game.
I think the only positive is that the injuries shift all of the pressure to perform onto India. English Sports teams always seem to perform much better when viewed as the Underdogs in tough situations. IF we can just get on the front foot on day 1 tomorrow and either bat out the day after winning the toss or really rip through the Indian lineup, then I think we can really pressurise the Indian side into collapsing. Its still a young Indian team after taking out Dravid, Kumble and Tendulkar so they may have a softish under belly.
I'm looking forward to it but with a lot of fear as well :eek:
For those of use who are going to be stuck in work during the 1st test, this may come in handy??
Link Removed
I'm not sure the legitimacy of that site so I think it is best kept of the forums.
I assume everyone knows the following:
The Guardian and cricinfo will do good but different OBO coverage on the web and Cricinfo have audio commentary if you pay for it. BBC Radio (I guess 5live extra) will have it online/digi radio for free.
Also I think we still have a chance. My worry is we'll go for two spinners and not take Monty our attacking one. That would be bad.
d80s0q
Is anybody in agreement with me, that this is a series too far......its no wonder we have so many injuries....all the players should have at least a 2 month break to prepare for the upcoming summer... :shrug:
This tour is due to finish around April 15th, which is then only a few weeks away before the start of the county season where the likes of Monty and Cook will return to their counties, absolutely crazy shedeuling...
Great that Sky Sports won the rights. You would have had to subscribe to Zee TV otherwise in order to see live coverage.
Off to bed early with alarm set for Indian time :clap:
A sold if unspectacular start, much will now depend on Pietersen. Cook isn't looking to bad at the moment.
One of these absolutely has to be batting at the end of play today
poissony
01-03-2006, 07:38
Cook is out now, although haven't seen the dismissal as Sky have lost the video feed from India. He's played very well.
unrealnils
01-03-2006, 07:41
Another wicket before end of play would be really helpfull......
Damn! Was looking for Cook to anchor this innings. Another loss before the close and we'll be lucky to post 250+ which would look a poor total I reckon on this pitch.
Sky have been without feed for a little time now. Just wondering if it's down to Sky or the firm they bought the rights off as if it's the later I would be looking for a refund!
unrealnils
01-03-2006, 08:18
sounds like it has nothing to do with sky
I'm not sure the legitimacy of that site so I think it is best kept of the forums.
Sorry
Looks a good partnership at the moment with Freddy and Colly - bet we throw a wicket away just before the close in typical fashion though! ;)
poissony
01-03-2006, 09:22
Looks a good partnership at the moment with Freddy and Colly - bet we throw a wicket away just before the close in typical fashion though! ;)
Good prediction ;)
Flintoff out LBW, looked like it was going down leg but not an outrageous decision.
EDIT: Watching it again, it was missing leg.
Not even appeared on the online one yet. Another prediction strikes home again :cry:
unrealnils
01-03-2006, 10:25
they keep tlaking about injuries how many from the starting linup are out?
Tresco
Vaughan
S.Jones
Giles
Our best opener, our captain, our reverse swing bowler and our best Test match spinner in the King of Spain. Plus I doubt the fitness of KP and Collingwood as well. So its not exactly a crap excuse. But it sounds like according to the online updates, that we've thrown away at least 2 wickets to crap shots and injuries can't excuse that!
TigaSefi
01-03-2006, 11:48
250 runs at the end of 1st day isn't bad and online update from BBC did say the umpire got it wrong twice.
I think 400 would have been a par score - Batting looked our strength on paper. Bowling could be a problem potentially if Panesar and Blackwell struggle. If Sachin and Co play well tomorrow, we could be looking at a complete tonking with a massive run chase to avoid an innings defeat. Or Captain Flintoff, GBH and Hoggy could lead from the front and just dismantle the Indian Lineup themselves! :nuts:
poissony
01-03-2006, 13:59
250 runs at the end of 1st day isn't bad and online update from BBC did say the umpire got it wrong twice.
The only possible dodgy decision was the Flintoff LBW and one decision going against you is no excuse. The umpire made a great decision for the Jones LBW, when it would have been easier to say he was not out.
Blackwell, Strauss and KP gave their wickets away to poor shots but generally that's the way England play, they go for their shots. If it comes off great, if it doesn't....
The score is about what I thought we would have got to be honest, if Collingwood can hang around in the morning then we might have a hope of get 350 plus. A great debut innings for Cook who looks likely to have a long future at this level.
unrealnils
02-03-2006, 05:38
The score is about what I thought we would have got to be honest, if Collingwood can hang around in the morning then we might have a hope of get 350 plus
:( you where right
:( you where right
I'm surprised we are still batting, great stuff by Collingwood and Harmison to hold England up. I am also surprised that India haven't taken the three wickets they needed today, perhaps we can edge towards 400.
Brilliant innings so far from Colly - what a bonus to be pushing close to 400. The Indians must be get really cheesed off now still having to be bowling after lunch! :eek: :D
A Couple of quick wickets now from the guys puts us right back in the game :thumbs:
poissony
02-03-2006, 07:14
Hoggard strikes with the prize wicket of Sehwag, excellent start by England.
What a great day's play so far. Colly and his maiden ton, monty and harmi staying out for 40+ balls. Wicked.
Now Monty should be coming onto bowl!!! Exciting :D:D:D
d80s0q
unrealnils
02-03-2006, 07:53
Jesus sehwags gone........
poissony
02-03-2006, 08:12
An encouraging start by Panesar. 41-1 at Tea. England have played well so far today.
Is anyone struggling with the 5Live coverage?
It's knackers here, keeps dropping out.
cheeseypuffs
02-03-2006, 08:30
Just caught up on the score and felt I should post:
:thumbs: Collingwood
:eek: to nearly 400 runs for England
:clap: Hoggy
cheeseypuffs
02-03-2006, 08:33
Oh, and KP caught another one ;)
83-1 according to the Live Updates - Jaffer is not out for 45 and Dravid is just plodding along as usual. 20 extras already conceaded by us so far. Very poor I think to have given away that many so early on in the innings. Need to get rid of 1-2 more Indian batsmen for sure before the close.
Not the best final session, but then we were up against the wall and a cake (very absorbent). Still, prmising day that we won, if not all three sessions!
d80s0q
TigaSefi
02-03-2006, 11:25
Need to sharpen up our bowling. We could have knocked off 20 runs off their total if we been more disciplined.
unrealnils
02-03-2006, 11:33
You kept the run rate down though
poissony
02-03-2006, 15:46
Vaughn confirmed as out of the entire series. Not surprising, just disappointing:
http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1214038,00.html
India came back very well in the last session and with Tendulkar up next, they're in a strong position.
It always disappointing to loose your captain, we can only hope Jones isn't ruled out as well.
I hope Collingwood batting will keep the critics of his back for a while, especially those in the media that doubted he could play the longer version of the game. What a great time to get you first test hundred.
A few early wickets in the morning will be useful.
At least we are still in contention to win this Test Match after 2 days :clap:
At least we are still in contention to win this Test Match after 2 days :clap:
Good point, but where will be this time tomorrow ?
If Tendulkar or Dravid is still in, then probably not :D
If Tendulkar or Dravid is still in, then probably not :D
England fightback once again :clap:
Hoggard strikes! 3 prime scalps with Jaffer, Dravid and Laxman gone. Could this be the start of the fightback? 162-4.
See ya Sachin :wave: Not a bad first scalp for Monty :D
poissony
03-03-2006, 05:20
Another wicket down, 183-6, excellent performance from England this morning :thumbs:
6 down !!!!! Freddie Strikes.
What a morning, six wickets down :clap:
Now lets finish the job off, we don't want any of their tailenders hanging around.
What a brilliant effort from England - if we can polish off India and leave at least 150 runs still in the bank, then we can absolutely put India under massive pressure! :clap:
Pathan out now as well - 5 for Hoggard now :D :D :D
190/7 India
Let's keep this going now we've taken the new ball. Wipe that tail out. With the moisture in the air Hoggy will be in his element....
d80s0q
TigaSefi
03-03-2006, 07:40
Hoggy hoggy hoggy!! oi oi oi!!! :)
India digging in like a tick at the moment - 241/7 with Kaif reaching his half century in about 894 balls. Kumble is unbeaten on 19 as well. This partnership has to broken FAST!
270/7 now - Kaif has his highest Test Match score ever according to the Sky Updates. Kumble is is now 27 n/o as well - seems to be developing into a replica of our innings. Lead is down to 123 :(
unrealnils
03-03-2006, 08:59
Oh man i just got up late to see the score line :(
Did Jones miss a catch behind the stumps :mad:
Sounded an easy catch according to the updates. Would have been 8 down around 70 runs earlier :(
and so the Jones debate starts again. He got away with it against the Aussies because the batsmen he dropped/missed stumpings soon got out, but 70 runs would of been a hell of a difference
Not an easy place to take wickets however....
And yesterday I'd have still taken this!! England's day, but the India dude has played pretty well.
If/when we bowl them out tomorrow, our approach will be interesting. Do we just ensure this game isn't lost or do we go for riskier 'hell for leather' approach and get a big lead built up but risk getting skittled out?
I'd take a draw.
In fact I'd take 3 and go home. Quick.
These 2 are seemingly unmoveable - 311/7 and Kumble is 56 n/o and Kaif 81 n/o.
Think England's tactics now will just be bat out as long as possible as these 2 have totally stalled our victory march :oh-hum:
Catches win matches.
We could have had India all out for maybe 230 with a lead of 163.
Kumble has just fallen, so finally the 8th wicket goes down.
Kaif out now as well - bowled by Panesar :clap:
EDIT: Close of play as well now - 322/9 and a good last little burst. Should hopefully mean we'll be batting within the first half hour tomorrow :thumbs:
TigaSefi
03-03-2006, 11:02
Grrrr so long to get them all out :(
There's still two days to go. Most likely scenario now is a draw, but if England can press on tomorrow with a good score (350+ ?), there's a fair chance of England bowling India out.
Pakistan did it against India in the thrid test, so may be England can replicate it.
Did Jones miss a catch behind the stumps :mad:
I am only suprised you had to ask. If I was an English wicketkeeper Prior, Foster and Poor Chris Read I would be gutted. He dropped an easy catch while Kumble was on 17 ish, which the others would have taken.
I could understand his selection if he was averaging over 40, but he is below 30 which I am sure the others could manage without as many costly errors.
I know any keeper will put some chances down, but he puts too many down and far too many important ones.
Still should have a 60/70 run lead tomorrow and that will be a big lead on this pitch if it begins to deteriorate. :)
Very good bowling performace from England today. The Hogster again demonstrating his ability to remove top order batsmen :thumbs: and Monty, could it be that we've finally found a spinner that doesn't have to bowl at least one 4 ball every over? :)
Freddie and Harmy kept it tidy too so we only conceded 7 extras in the day - much improved!
Wouldn't be surprised to see Prior get a game this series, unfortunately for Read unless his batting has improved an awful lot he's as much a liability with the bat (16ins, ave 15, <10 if you don't count his runs against Bangladesh) as Jones is with the gloves.
I'm a Notts supporter so slightly biased I suppose but to be honest it's superb for Notts that he doesn't get picked.
Read was thrown into the team when he was a lot younger in a worse team overall etc.
Last year in Div 1 of the county championship his average was 44.68 with a top score of 103. That was in 20 innings with 4 no's and 715 runs in total. With 58 catches and 2 stumpings I think you will be hard pressed to find any wicket keeper with better stats.
Matt Prior for example had an average of 31.47 with a top score of 109. That was from 24 innings with 1 no and 724 runs in total. He had 43 catches and 1 stumping.
Notts were champions and as you say catches win matches.
I think KP and Freddy will be crucial tomorrow if we are to have a chance of posting a chasing target. Cook/Strauss/Bell just need to manouevre us into position then the attacking players can take that platform to post a massive total for India to chase down.
On the otherhand, we could be all out for 100 giving India a small total to win :D
I thing we have done the whole wicketkeeper discussion before on here so all I am saying is that I would have Read in the team, as someone said above catches win matches.
It is disappointing that India are still batting at the close of play especially after they were six wickets down at lunch and seven just afterwards. Hopefully we can get the remaining wicket early in the morning so we can still have a decent lead. The batsman need to apply themselves and not get out playing stupid shots.
Hoggie gets 6 for 57, and England currently have a lead of 206 for the loss of 2 wickets. Cook doing well..
Well KP is not hanging around, with Cook on 47 and KP on 45, England are 155-2 at tea, a lead of 225. KP was lucky to survive a caught and bowled appeal though.
If we want to win this, they need to come out after tea all guns blazing, go for a fast 150 and put them in on the final day chasing around 400.
KP was lucky to survive a caught and bowled appeal though.
He was very lucky, I just can't understand why he was given not out, sure it could be for the benefit of the doubt, but what doubt was there ? You could clearly see that he had hit the ball of the bottom of his bat.
Come on England. Surely we ought to be accelerating now?
TigaSefi
04-03-2006, 10:16
And I kept thinking it was Day 3 !!
I wish it was. More likely to be a result that way.
TigaSefi
04-03-2006, 10:27
i think flintoff wants 350 on the board and it hard with spinners on continously.
England are on 333 now so we may as well swing the bat at everything from here on in.
How many dropped catches?
Sky have Cook's score wrong. He's on 91 not 92. They credited him a run that was a leg bye.
bad drop as well.
Edit They've amended it now
Cookie :clap: :notworthy :clap:
The 15th English player to score a century on debut, brilliant stuff.
TigaSefi
04-03-2006, 10:53
think we start bowling in the morning ?
Arthur Fowler
04-03-2006, 10:55
Cookie :clap: :notworthy :clap:
The 15th English player to score a century on debut, brilliant stuff.
Fantastic. :clap:
Both Cookie and Monty educated at local (to me) schools :thumbs:
think we start bowling in the morning ?
I would have thought that was a certainty as England are 367 runs ahead which will take some getting even with all their strike makers.
think we start bowling in the morning ?
Almost certainly. Might have an early night tonight ;)
Who's this Cook bloke again? :suspect: :D
I think we'll be seeing a lot of him over the next, erm, 15 or so years ;)
Got to feel for the Indian team today they've had a shocking run of bad luck!
Declaration over night and get to work on them first thing, the pitch still seems pretty tame so it'll still be a challenge to get 10 wickets in the day.
Superb position to be in now - funky things always seem to happen on Day 5 in Tests so I really think we can bowl them out tomorrow. Would have been nice to have had a bowl but as they said on Sky, time would have been lost as I think the light would have forced the players off early if Captain Flintoff and Co had been steaming in. A nice rest over night and we'll throw everything at them tomorrrow.
What a result if we can win tomorrow - first win in India for 21 years? :nuts:
I thought the decision not to be India in for a few overs was the correct one as they would have been off had the umpires offered them the light.
It should be a cracking day tomorrow, my money would be on a draw but you really can't count against an England win with our bowlers on the top of their respective games at the moment.
I'm putting my money on an England win. Hoggard is on fire, Flintoff and Harmy are well rested, and Monty should take advantage of a detiorating pitch. The pressure will be on the Indian batsmen.
morleyian
04-03-2006, 21:41
http://www.willhill.com/iibs/EN/buildcoupon.asp?couponchoice=CR1185752
3/1 on an England win, good price :)
EDIT: as is 7/2 on an England series win
http://www.willhill.com/iibs/EN/buildcoupon.asp?couponChoice=CR1047618
Pisces Iscariot
04-03-2006, 21:51
http://www.willhill.com/iibs/EN/buildcoupon.asp?couponchoice=CR1185752
3/1 on an England win, good price :)[/url]
Not as good as the 5.8 you can get on Betfair. :thumbs:
I hope when I wake up at 10 I tune into good news. The boxing was brilliant tonight; an England win will really make my day.
Well they declared overnight and got off to a fantastic start - Hoggie bowled Sehwag for a duck making it 1-1 but since then there has been nothing, and India are now 99-1 chasing 368 to win.
Unless there is a breakthrough soon it has draw written all over it :(
India are now starting to play a few shots, surely they are not going to go for it ?
I think they are - but even if these 2 fell, Tendulkar, Laxman and Kaif are still in reserve to steer home the ship.
Why bring Blackwell on ahead of Panesar?
Phew, Dhoni goes.
5 wickets to win
If we can just get rid of Tendulkar, then maybe, just maybe! :eek:
mattwakeman
05-03-2006, 10:32
Hmmm, that was looking a bit worrying for a while. Fair play to India I say, at least they thought about making a fist of it.
If we can just get rid of Tendulkar, then maybe, just maybe! :eek:
If that was to happen they would shut up shop I would imagine.
The Turbinator is gone now - another wicket might just induce some utter panic! :D
EDIT: Offered the light and they've taken it - a more entertaining end than was expected! :D
Shame they have taken the light now. Could have been an exciting last hour.
Well that was a disappointing end to the play, but you can't blame India for taking the light as it is quite possible that England could have taken the four remaining wickets in the remaining twelve overs.
Credit to India for making a game of it in this last session, perhaps if they hadn't batted so slowly in the first couple of sessions they might have had a better chance.
unrealnils
05-03-2006, 10:45
wow so exciting the last few hours first time in a while i was glues to the tv watched cricket :D
first time in a while i was glues to the tv watched cricket :D
You didn't get pulled in by the Ashes then :D
Matthew Hoggard gets the man of the match award.
LMAO at Hoggard riding around the pitch on his newly acquired free bike :lol:
Four wicket in 11.4 overs would have been interesting, but can't blame the batsmen for taking the light.
The really huge positive for England has been Cook. What a revelation.
Geraint Jones :shrug: :mad:
The really huge positive for England has been Cook. What a revelation.
Wonder what will happen if/when Trescothick makes himself available again after this series and say Cook helps lead us to a series win? :thinking:
Wonder what will happen if/when Trescothick makes himself available again after this series and say Cook helps lead us to a series win? :thinking:
If that was to happen perhaps Bell or Strauss could be in danger of loosing their place.
We could have some serious competition for places for the Summer Tests ahead of the Ashes - if Cook, Panesar and Colly keep up their good form then I think Tresco, Bell, Vaughan and the King of Spain could have trouble either getting back in or retaining their places!
Out of those I would say that Giles is the one most had risk at the moment as you can't deny that Monty has had a good first game at this level. Plus it is nice to have a spinner who actually does spin the ball.
From the BBC website:
One regular observer, a statistician, now logs Jones' missed chances as 13 dropped catches, four missed stumpings and a run out from his 24 Tests.
Some of those will have been harder than others, but having kept wicket tidily in Pakistan on flat pitches, there was always a chance that he would be exposed here with the ball spinning sharply
I can't see Jones lasting long if he doesn't improve quick time. Pakistan, India, and Australia have got excellent keepers who are also extremely dangerous batsmen. Unfortunately for Jones, he's just a decent batsman. We could do with a Akram, Dhoni, or Gilchrist.
I can't see Jones lasting long if he doesn't improve quick time. Pakistan, India, and Australia have got excellent keepers who are also extremely dangerous batsmen. Unfortunately for Jones, he's just a decent batsman. We could do with a Akram, Dhoni, or Gilchrist.
I agree. I personally think he was given the nod ahead of Read due to Jones' better batting stats but apart from occasional flashes, that seems to have dried up as well. I appreciate that during the Ashes they said they wanted to stick with one team throughout and it paid off, but you really have to wonder how many chances you give him until you say "enough is enough". I mean, some of the drops have been very difficult but he also seems to miss quite a large number of plumb ones, dropping right through his gloves. When you want to be the best, you cannot afford to make those mistakes, and we need to be ruthless now and say "sorry" and find someone else.
cheeseypuffs
05-03-2006, 17:39
I agree. I personally think he was given the nod ahead of Read due to Jones' better batting stats but apart from occasional flashes, that seems to have dried up as well. I appreciate that during the Ashes they said they wanted to stick with one team throughout and it paid off, but you really have to wonder how many chances you give him until you say "enough is enough". I mean, some of the drops have been very difficult but he also seems to miss quite a large number of plumb ones, dropping right through his gloves. When you want to be the best, you cannot afford to make those mistakes, and we need to be ruthless now and say "sorry" and find someone else.
Don't forget the messed up stumpings and runouts :( I really think we need to forget about trying to get our own "Gilchrist" and just pick a wicketkeeper. Apart from the odd innings here and there, Jones really doesn't deserve a place as a middle order batsman, so we might as well pick a specialist gloveman who can hold an end up and nick a few runs here and there.
I agree with you all and I have been calling out for Reid or someone else to take the gloves for a while. Those statics are amazing, just how much longer are Fletcher and company going to keep picking someone who can not do the basics right at times.
Well look how long they kept going with Hick.
"Oh, he can't play spin, let's try him against the Windies. Oh, he can't play pace (except at county level), let's...... erm, erm, erm.....call him a specialist fielder".
Well said cheesypuffs - another Alec Stewart would be fantastic, but we survived well enough with Jack Russell, a great glove man but not that good with the bat. Now that we have batsmen who can go down to 6 (on a good day ;) ) it is about time we went for a gloveman and did not worry too much about his batting.
cheeseypuffs
05-03-2006, 20:58
another Alec Stewart would be fantastic, but we survived well enough with Jack Russell, a great glove man but not that good with the bat.
Another Jack Russell would be great, not the best batsman, but he worked hard on it and when needed could hang around and be a nuisance to the bowlers, has a test average slightly below Jones, but was a lot tidier behind the stumps. Thinking about it, Alec Stewart was an opening batsman converted to WK in order to fit him into the England batting lineup... With the arrival of Cook, what are the chances of the selectors "suggesting" Trescothick do the same?
Anyone noticed that Read is currently the highest run scorer in the 'A' Team in the West Indies and he is a wicket keeper?
Surely this can not go unnoticed by the coachs etc.
Read as always impressed me when I have seen him live and I still say they he should be in the team ahead of Jones whose records of missed chances could have proved costly. Jones batting form of late hasn't been that great either.
Great performance by England. Wicked. Especially Colly, Cookie and Monty. Awesome.
As for Keeping, at his debut Fletch said it was coz they wanted a batter who could keep wicket. Well, his stats then were better than Read's in first class cricket and are better in test cricket:
GJ: Avg. 29.27, 24 tests, HS 100.
CR: Avg. 13.5, 11 tests, HS 38*
So BIG difference. But ODI is fairly similar.
Still, despite this, Read last season had a 50ish county average and really has consistently improved his batting. Yet still Fletch won't look at him. Suggests to me his attitude doesn't fit into Team England as he has done all that the staff asked of him when he was dropped.
Hmmm, Prior isn't the answer tho. As good/bad a wickie but less good a batter. Not right!
d80s0q
Hoggard has moved up to fourth place in the bowlers list:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4778060.stm
Got to love that picture of him on his motorbike :D
And talking about Chris Read he has hit a century for England A against West Indies A:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4777268.stm
cheeseypuffs
06-03-2006, 10:56
Still, despite this, Read last season had a 50ish county average and really has consistently improved his batting. Yet still Fletch won't look at him. Suggests to me his attitude doesn't fit into Team England as he has done all that the staff asked of him when he was dropped.And talking about Chris Read he has hit a century for England A against West Indies A[/url]So if Read is still nowhere near getting into the Test team, what is the point of having an A tour? Surely it would've made sense to take a young 'keeper for development/experience rather than an old hand who is never going to make the first team again :brickwall
Maybe the selectors see picking someone for his batting over his 'keeping is a positive approach, but I would disagree.
eg. A dropped catch/missed stumping costs 50 runs but the 'keeper (let's call him "Jones") makes 60. It seems that you have a +10 balance, but... a proper wicket 'keeper (for want of a better name = "Read") might have made those 10 anyway and you've lost a few hours/several overs play. If you're after a win, Read is the better option, since you will have built a large 2nd innings lead in 3.5 days rather than 4, ie. you have 1.5 days (4.5 - 5 sessions) to bowl out the opposition, rather than just 1 day (3 sessions)
Its crazy isn't it. I agree I don't see the point in taking Read on an 'A' tour if the selector's are not going to pick him for the test team. It would be better if someone else went in his place for the experience. Surely the selector's know all about Read by now or perhaps they are thinking of doing the almost unthinkable and dropping Jones.
cheeseypuffs
06-03-2006, 12:13
Read could score 500 on the A tour and I wouldn't put money on him starting the Ashes, even if Jones continues his blunders and fails to make runs in India :shrug: Interestingly though, now that England seem to have unearthed a fairly decent slow bowler who can get the ball to turn, it should make having a competent wicket keeper even more of a priority.
I don't understadn the REad enigma. The best wickie, or one of the top 3 in the country. He bats with a better first class average last season than Cookie, and better than Banger and Vaughan ever had. He gets told by England to go away adn improve his batting.
I think there are many things going on. Fletch, or Vaughan don't like something about him, but not the selectors or the other one of the two i named, so he doesn't get dropped altogether, but can't go higher. ALSO Jonah seems to give good advice etc. to Vaughan according top the great man himself, so maybe he trusts Jonah implicitly, does good things as a result and wants that resource playing with him?
bottom line, it must be more than ability, and as such we can't really see it....
d80s0q
Dont' forget guys, when your talking about "finding a guy who can turn the ball", we are in india at the mo, Giles can turn the ball there
cheeseypuffs
06-03-2006, 17:25
But he was the stand out spin bowler against the likes of Kumble and Singh, on their own patch, and to bowl Dravid and get Tendulkar LBW is pretty good going in his first match!
Dont get me wrong the boy did good, i just won't be singing and dancing in the street saying he's the next messiah
hyndlegs
07-03-2006, 12:46
I agree about everything said about the keeper situation its not as if Jones is a young kid. Reed deserves to be number 1 as his keeping is definately better and his stats are proving that his batting is at least on a par.
On a seperate note surely Plunkett deserves a start in the 2nd test he has done very little wrong in th egames played and Blackwell must be struglling to justify his place as he hardly bowled.
On a seperate note surely Plunkett deserves a start in the 2nd test he has done very little wrong in th egames played and Blackwell must be struglling to justify his place as he hardly bowled.
From what I heard and depending on the wicket they were talking about playing only the one spinner in the second test match and bringing in either Plunkett or Anderson to replace him. If that happens Monty would probably be the spinner and Blackwell, who didn't do much in the first test with bat or ball, would be dropped.
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