***Official*** England in India

[ViruTheBest]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Exactly.

Only hard to explain if you're still trying to argue that India are the best side in the world.

Still the best batting outfit in the world I do believe. Possibly with exception of SA. England batting is poor and very one dimensional. Look at their scoring rate? When India were no1 they could not only score and chase big totals, but also in good time.

It takes England close to two days to get a good score because of the defensive nature of their game and the limitation of their batsmen. Also a massive question mark v spin.

[ViruTheBest]

Originally Posted by Priyank

Well, the biggest challenge for English batsmen would be to handle spin bowling. Trott, Bell and KP(to some extent) aare good batsmen of spinners. Lets see what happens !

Can't wait for the series.

Bell couldn't play Warne on english pitches. He is not that good v spin and Ashwin /Ojha both have a good record at home. He was also poor in the SA series.

KP and Trott are worries, SA batsmen play spin better than their english counterparts.

[ViruTheBest]

Originally Posted by Viscount Tom

Don't see why India would bother preparing a green pitch for tomorrow's game anyway given they need to be picking their no.6

It's a given Yuvraj will be chosen after his double ton comeback in first class recently.

Personally I would choose a test specialist first at no6 before trying Yuvraj/Raina again. My choice would be Badrinath/Tiwary maybe even bat Rahane lower down. Having said that, I don't think Yuvraj is a bad bet in these conditions but I was thinking more long term.

[Kohli_fan]

The great Australian side talked of the final frontier when they came to India, and look they had been giving a tonking to everyone all over the world so to call it the final frontier when they came over to India was fair game.

Matt Prior is now calling this the final frontier for England, surely a final frontier would imply that England have been winning everything else home and away? The fact of the matter is England were drubbed 3-0 by Pakistan in the UAE and 2-0 in England by Prior's compatriots lest we forget.

Based on this how can he call it a final frontier? It is like saying you want to complete the hardest level on a video game when you cant even get past the level for beginners that is the reality of the situation.

[Howe_zat]

I must have missed the bit when India drafted Ajmal and Warne from 2005 into their side

[BoyBrumby]

So you're saying it's a piece of piss to win in India and stiffer challenges lay ahead?

Fair dos.

[Kohli_fan]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

So you're saying it's a piece of piss to win in India and stiffer challenges lay ahead?

Fair dos.

Err no if you read what i said! it is the hardest tour in Cricket, but you have no business calling it the final frontier if you are getting hammered home and away in other series!

Australia were winning everything home and away so of course winning in India was the final frontier for them, England even if they did pull of a huge upset it would be an abberation as the losses they have taken over this year have shown they couldnt beat SA at home or Pak on neutral grounds

[Contra]

Originally Posted by ViruTheBest

Still the best batting outfit in the world I do believe.

LOL no

[Viscount Tom]

I'm still trying to wor out how India's batting line up could be considered top when the SL and SA both have the more solid line ups at the moment.

[Howe_zat]

Given that Matt Prior also hasn't won a Test match in the USA, in Japan or on the Moon I think we can put this one down to artistic license and move on.

[doesitmatter]

Historically, England have had a piss poor record in the Sub-continent and winning in India(being this powerful cricketing nation) would give the England team the credibility to call themselves the top test nation of this period..Probably the reason behind Prior calling it as the Final Frontier...

[ViruTheBest]

Prior may see it as the final frontier for an absurd reason but for me it's just "business as usual." We have done well versus England for a long time in India. So we just have to replicate that.

The series shouldn't receive such attention as Mr Prior is trying to make out. It is not a final frontier in that sense.

[ViruTheBest]

Originally Posted by Viscount Tom

I'm still trying to wor out how India's batting line up could be considered top when the SL and SA both have the more solid line ups at the moment.

I said possibly with the exception of SA.SL's batting is far from solid. Apart from Sanga and Jayawardene the rest are not that threatening. Also look at their players stats abroad outside the subcontinent, not amazing batting averages.

[grecian]

I think Prior is getting Tour of India mixed up with the fifth Star Trek movie, it's an easy mistake to make.

Both are likely to be a miserable experience for me watching though....

[Viscount Tom]

But who exactly is threatening in India's line up?