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***Official*** England in India

Furball

Evil Scotsman
I just noticed that India will now be playing 5 Tests in England from their next visit in 2014 onwards.

I'm all for making Test series' as long as possible so no complaints there, though it does seem that the authorities have missed the boat somewhat on that one, what with scheduling 5-match series' for the encounters directly after the sport's biggest drawcard has retired.
Reckon there's no chance of that series, or the one in 2018, being 5 Tests.
 

flibbertyjibber

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I really think Broad shouldn't be losing his place long term. I don't think he was fully fit here, and he bowled badly with a lack of penetration as a result, but he's still very much a long term prospect and a crucial cog in the Ashes plans IMO. I'd go with him to partner Anderson and Finn in NZ, but if he really isn't to it, I'd go with Onions. I wouldn't be too against Onions playing instead of Finn either.
I wouldn't have a problem if we announced now that Broad was to miss NZ away and come back fit and ready in April for Notts, same with Bresnan for Yorkshire. Go with Anderson, Finn and Onions with Woakes and Meaker as back up and the spin twins as the squad of bowlers for that tour.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
I really think Broad shouldn't be losing his place long term. I don't think he was fully fit here, and he bowled badly with a lack of penetration as a result, but he's still very much a long term prospect and a crucial cog in the Ashes plans IMO. I'd go with him to partner Anderson and Finn in NZ, but if he really isn't to it, I'd go with Onions. I wouldn't be too against Onions playing instead of Finn either.
Yeah, if he's fit he should play. He's by far more proven in Test cricket than Finn, who seems to play based on the pace he bowls in ODIs despite having consistently bowled 5-10mph slower in Tests. Onions is equally overrated, only it's by people who haven't seen him bowl for three years.

Both I'd accept in the side and certainly the squad but neither has anywhere near the CV that Broad has behind him. Broad's no doubt part of their long term plan as evidenced by being T20 captain & vice captain and should be back asap.

Bresnan I was obviously desperate to see come back into form in this Test but denial won't help him, it's not happening for him at the moment. Needs to target next summer. Another one they need to keep an eye on is Tremlett.

The only current player that I'm really not keen on taking is Patel.

My squad for NZ

Cook
Compton
Trott
KP
Bell
Root
Taylor
Prior
Bairstow
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions
Panesar
Bresnan if they take a 16th
 

Cabinet96

Global Moderator
I wouldn't have a problem if we announced now that Broad was to miss NZ away and come back fit and ready in April for Notts, same with Bresnan for Yorkshire. Go with Anderson, Finn and Onions with Woakes and Meaker as back up and the spin twins as the squad of bowlers for that tour.
Yeah, I could live with that. But I certainly don't want to be going into the Ashes without Broad as I think we'll be poorer if we do.
 
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Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Yeah, if he's fit he should play. He's by far more proven in Test cricket than Finn, who seems to play based on the pace he bowls in ODIs despite having consistently bowled 5-10mph slower in Tests. Onions is equally overrated, only it's by people who haven't seen him bowl for three years.

Both I'd accept in the side and certainly the squad but neither has anywhere near the CV that Broad has behind him. Broad's no doubt part of their long term plan as evidenced by being T20 captain & vice captain and should be back asap.

Bresnan I was obviously desperate to see come back into form in this Test but denial won't help him, it's not happening for him at the moment. Needs to target next summer. Another one they need to keep an eye on is Tremlett.

The only current player that I'm really not keen on taking is Patel.

My squad for NZ

Cook
Compton
Trott
KP
Bell
Root
Taylor
Prior
Bairstow
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Onions
Panesar
Bresnan if they take a 16th
Good post overall.

The only thing I'd question would be the logic in taking two reserve batsmen and only one reserve seamer, assuming they take 15. If they want to hedge their bets with the spot you've given to Taylor then Woakes is a good option, although the fact that he'll be in New Zealand if required anyway means it's probably not all that necessary.
 

Dan

Hall of Fame Member
Good post overall.

The only thing I'd question would be the logic in taking two reserve batsmen and only one reserve seamer, assuming they take 15. If they want to hedge their bets with the spot you've given to Taylor then Woakes is a good option, although the fact that he'll be in New Zealand if required anyway means it's probably not all that necessary.
That was my immediate reaction too - Woakes for Taylor.
 

Cabinet96

Global Moderator
Series ratings:

England:

Alastair Cook - 9. Changed the course of the series with his ton in Ahmedabad and lead from the front in Mumbai and Kolkata. Will go down on par, if not better, than his Ashes heroics, especially if you throw in captaincy and winning in India for the first time in 28 years.

Nick Compton - 6. One of England's main issues in the last year has been the lack of solid foundations at the top of the order. While Nick Compton didn't make any huge scores, he crucially provided a solid foundation and shielded the hit and miss middle order form coming in early, something which didn't happen in the UAE. As a debut series, he can be happy with his work.

Jonathan Trott - 5. A shocking start to the series, recovered well at the end in Kolkata and Nagpur. Questions still remain over his ability on tracks with more than a little bit of turn, but his form is arguably back.

Kevin Pietersen - 8. Played one of the great knocks by an Englishmen (I know, I know) in Mumbai, and hit crucial fifties in Kolkata and Nagpur. Overall a bit of hit and miss, but throughout the series, particularly in Mumbai, he showed why Cook was desperate to get him back in the side, and why he is regarded as not only one of the best batsmen at the moment, but one of the best batsmen of the modern era.

Ian Bell - 4. Was atrocious in the first and 3rd tests, but played an important knock in Nagpur to save both the match and his place in the side.

Samit Patel - 4. Can consider himself a tad unlucky with a couple of decisions and his dropping, but he'll be disappointed he didn't do better with his chance.

Joe Root - 7. Showed immense application on debut when England were stuttering. And to think I wasn't even in favour of his place in the squad.

Matt Prior - 8. Continued to impress with contributions with the bat and was solid with the gloves. Took the role of vice-captaincy in the last two tests, and has become one of England's most important players.

Graeme Swann - 8. Performed throughout the series, even if he didn't have the big hauls that Monty got in Mumbai. A valuable 50 as well in Nagpur. Will probably remain the number 1 spinner for New Zealand and the Ashes

Stuart Broad - 1. Questions over his form and fitness meant he fell from vice-captain and key player, to bench warmer in two tests.

Tim Bresnan - 2. Awful in Ahmedabad. Better in Nagpur but lacked the potency of Anderson. Has lost a lot of his pace and nip since elbow surgery.

James Anderson - 8. Struggled for impact in the first two tests when England lost and the spinners took all the wickets in Mumbai. But his performances in the last two tests were reminiscent of the Ashes and a brilliant effort in unfavourable conditions.

Steven Finn - 5. Performed well in his only test, and showed pace and reverse swing. Will make the team for New Zealand after being the second best seamer on tour. Questions remain over his fitness, however.

Monty Panesar - 8. Along with Cook he helped chance the course of the series in Mumbai. He fell away a little bit at the end, but remained consistent and never leaked runs.


India

Sehwag - 6. His series was actually one of the bright spots for India in my opinion. A brutal ton in Ahmedabad and looked good in Kolkata.

Gambhir - 5. One of India's more consistent batsmen throughout the series. The failure to convert starts stopped him form having a really good series as well. Ditto running out the other two best batsmen in Kolkata.

Pujara - 8. Secured his place as a potential great with brilliant 100's in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. A huge bright spot for India in the long run

Tendulkar - 3. A horrid series for the great man. Is time finally catching up with crickets longest and most consistent performer.

Kohli - 4. Started terribly, but hit a crucial ton in Nagpur. No reasons for his place in the side to be under pressure.

Yuvraj Singh - 3. Him even being alive at the moment is something to be cherished, that he was playing cricket against England, is another great achievement in itself. However, he didn't look up to it, and was dropped for the 4th test. Will we ever see Yuvraj in whites for India again?

Dhoni - 4. Had a decent series with the bat, but losing at home for the first time in 8 years puts his job under serious pressure.

Jadeja - 5. Worth preserving with as an all-rounder. Kept it tight with the ball, and only had one chance with the bat.

Ashwin - 6. Bowled well in the first innings in Ahmedabad, but fell away with ball in hand after that. Batted very well throughout the series and could become a specialist all rounder in all forms.

Zaheer - 3. Could this be the end of India's spearhead?

Ojha - 6. India's best bowler by a distance.

Sharma - 4. Looked okay, but didn't take that many wickets. Anything changed?

Harbhajan - 2. Arguably should never have been recalled. Arguably never will be recalled again.

Chawla - 2. Complete passenger.
 

LegionOfBrad

International Debutant
Good post overall.

The only thing I'd question would be the logic in taking two reserve batsmen and only one reserve seamer, assuming they take 15. If they want to hedge their bets with the spot you've given to Taylor then Woakes is a good option, although the fact that he'll be in New Zealand if required anyway means it's probably not all that necessary.
If Tremlett could stay fit he would always be in my team. Just won't happen for him though i don't think. He was on twitter a few weeks ago saying he was just starting to bowl again after his latest set back.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
Good post overall.

The only thing I'd question would be the logic in taking two reserve batsmen and only one reserve seamer, assuming they take 15. If they want to hedge their bets with the spot you've given to Taylor then Woakes is a good option, although the fact that he'll be in New Zealand if required anyway means it's probably not all that necessary.
I've given Taylor the spot usually given to the reserve keeper seeing as Bairstow can keep.

The difference between 15/16/17 is entirely down to how many seamers they think they'll need, 5 is probably enough for what's a relatively short tour and I think I'd rather play Panesar before we get down to debuting Woakes.
 

theegyptian

International Vice-Captain
Don't take Bres to New Zealand but to get rid of Broad as well would be poor form. If you go with no bres or broad the tail is going to be long and if you have an injury to swann you could have 4 no.11's playing. Broad's form has dropped off but you can't just castigate everybody who goes through a bad patch.

I'd daresay that Woakes was given a push to play domestic cricket in new zealand by ashley giles and in accordance with the ecb in that it would massively boost his chances of touring new zealand with the test squad- so with bresnan not doing anything chances are Woakes take his place for NZ.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
Sehwag - 6. His series was actually one of the bright spots for India in my opinion. A brutal ton in Ahmedabad and looked good in Kolkata.
He was atrocious in the field, both from dropping catches and gesturing towards the ball rather than chasing it. Big indicator of the overall problem, actually. Doesn't deserve more than Kohli at least.
 

flibbertyjibber

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Yeah, I could live with that. But I certainly don't want to be going into the Ashes without Broad as I think we'll be poorer if we do.
I'm not saying Broad to be dropped for the ashes, I want him in the team so resting him now and getting him fully fit is better than him playing on with various niggles. As it stands now i'd say Anderson,Broad, Finn and Swann for the ashes with Panesar to play at Old Trafford would be my first choice attack.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I've given Taylor the spot usually given to the reserve keeper seeing as Bairstow can keep.

The difference between 15/16/17 is entirely down to how many seamers they think they'll need, 5 is probably enough for what's a relatively short tour and I think I'd rather play Panesar before we get down to debuting Woakes.
You only picked four though, in your "if they picked 15" version. If they only picked 15 I'm sure they'd not bother with two reserve batsmen.
 

NasserFan207

International Vice-Captain
Find it really strange to be dropping an opener for doing his job.
Wasn't really suggesting he should/will be dropped, I just think he will fail as a test quality opener in his next few series.

More a prediction than anything, Compton has certainly earned a run in the side
 

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