***Official*** England in India

[SJS]

And? Doesn't change the fact that a 150 run chase on day 5 isn't easy work, it was a realistic target had we batted well in the second innings which we obviously didn't. But I don't think England bats are overly special, Cook aside I'd fancy the rest of this line up. It's India's abysmal batting that has let us down rather than our bowlers.

Agree completely with that last line. The rest is part conjecture part wishful thinking I am afraid . . .

[Jono]

Yeah I agree. No point with the ifs and buts, but I don't think the bowlers should be hung out to dry like they have been over the last few years. Batting has been awful in the last 2 tests.

[SJS]

In the five day game batsmen and bowlers both count. England's bowlers won the game as bowlers do and Indiam batsmen lost it as only batsmen can . . .

[Jono]

This test was an allround effort from England, everyone chipped in. Great performance from them.

[Agent Nationaux]

Congrats to all CW English fans, a well deserved win by England.

Feel bad for all the CW Indian fans, and as Smali mentioned there are some terrific blokes on here. Best of luck in the last game.

[GingerFurball]

2 points to Furball
3-3 in the centurion stakes
Swann and Ojha tied on most wickets
1-1 in series
.5 to me for KP's 186
.5 to me for Monty's 11 wickets

Furball 3-3 Jono

2 points to Furball for the win
4-3 me in the centurion stakes
Ojha has most wickets
2-1 in series (worst I can do is a share of the point)
.5 to me for Cook's 190
.5 to me for Anderson's 6 wickets

Furball 6-3 Jono

[centurymaker]

If Auntie Shanta had whiskers she would have been Uncle Shankar

no, she would've just plucked them out

i didn't know criticizing your team for their inept batting fell under the category of being a whinging bitch

if it does then calling others whinging bitches for doing so is whinging itself, isn't it? (complaining about others complaining)

[GotSpin]

Zaheer needs to get on the treadmill occasionally. Lazy ****

[BoyBrumby]

Ashwin averaging over 50 for the series now.

Batting and bowling...

[SJS]

no, she would've just plucked them out

i didn't know criticizing your team for their inept batting fell under the category of being a whinging bitch

if it does then calling others whinging bitches for doing so is whinging itself, isn't it? (complaining about others complaining)

Sorry mate you misunderstood. I was only referring to the futility of the if-but line of thought . . .

[Jono]

2 points to Furball for the win
4-3 me in the centurion stakes
Ojha has most wickets
2-1 in series (worst I can do is a share of the point)
.5 to me for Cook's 190
.5 to me for Anderson's 6 wickets

Furball 6-3 Jono

Ashwin robbed of a century is crushing.

[Daemon]

What the selectors will probably pick -

Gambhir
Sehwag
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Rahane
Dhoni
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ojha

2nd Seamer - If they do decide to drop Ishant, then I guess they'll pick Dinda who's been in the squad for the first three games, unless Yadav is fit.

I'd go for a similar side, except my 2nd seamer would probably be (if fit) Yadav, Praveen, Pankaj in that order. Would love to drop Dhoni for Saha or Kaul, but I don't want another captain to be a scapegoat for his failings.

[flibbertyjibber]

Cricinfo says Yadav out of Nagpur test.

[Garson007]

It's time for team India to take some responsibility and become accountable.

[Daemon]

Cricinfo says Yadav out of Nagpur test.

Oh dear. We might actually end up with a weaker attack than the third test then, with Dinda possibly coming in.