***Official*** England in India

[marc71178]

Says more about how dire the IPL is really.

[Cabinet96]

Originally Posted by Y Pathan 94.37

Napier's bowling touches on 90 MPH that coupled with his ability to hit a long ball make it a real mystery why England have not decided to go with a batsman of his undoubted stature based on SR he was signed by Mumbai Indians! Not many guys in the England team managed a gig in IPL so it says a lot about his stature in the game!

I supposed Luke Wright should come in for captain Cook as well?

[Viscount Tom]

You can see why the 8-0 thrashing happened if that's how the squad was decided... although it does explain how Raina got picked sort of.

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, well they certainly don't go on the Ranji averages. Maybe it's the strike rates.

[Y Pathan 94.37]

Originally Posted by Viscount Tom

You can see why the 8-0 thrashing happened if that's how the squad was decided... although it does explain how Raina got picked sort of.

Raina is a quality T20 player and at home in tests will be tough for England to bowl at! As I say you can only respect Yusuf's selfless approach to the game! He acknowledged that test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport! But far from wanting to change his game he said that if India need quick runs then he would be the ideal declaration batsman!

I salute this approach it is totally positive looking for victory not trying to grind out a draw!

[Jono]

Not enough exclamation points in that post I reckon!

[LFD]

Originally Posted by Cabinet96

Patel is a top 7 batsmen, not a player primarily to get wickets.

If you went in with Panesar over Patel, you'd have Bres at 7 and Broad at 8. For a side whose main concern is their dodgy batting in Asia, that's a heck of a long tail.

I'd rather the latter.

I know Patel got a century the other day, but usually his batting is awful. Don't fancy him sticking around long at all.

I like to pick the better spinner and that is clearly Monty.

Patel slightly strengthens the batting, but the main job of the spinner is to take wickets!

[Woodster]

The main selection dilemma for England does appear to be Samit Patel or Monty Panesar.Obviously we know Monty is the superior spin bowler, but I'm not entirely sure either of them will have a massive impact with the ball, Monty may well get through many more overs but we know how adept the Indians are at countering top class spin bowling, so I don't think either will really stretch the hosts.

Patel has done all he can in the tour games, and with runs behind him in these conditions, I think gives him the edge in his selection for this game, also the need to score big runs will be vital in this series and I always like the look of a deeper batting line-up.

I still have reservations over how fit Patel actually is, and also if he can score serious runs against the better teams, but I also think he has earnt his place for the first Test.

[Viscount Tom]

I think despite his larger size Patel's probably still the better fielder than Monty.

[Y Pathan 94.37]

Originally Posted by LFD

I'd rather the latter.

I know Patel got a century the other day, but usually his batting is awful. Don't fancy him sticking around long at all.

I like to pick the better spinner and that is clearly Monty.

Patel slightly strengthens the batting, but the main job of the spinner is to take wickets!

Agree that Patel's bowling is likely to be canon fodder for our batters! But then again we are the best players of spin in the world! Even Warney at his best struggled! So a specialist like Monty is unlikely to make a huge difference to England's cause! You are better off going with Patel on the basis that he has a better strike rate! I don't see him sticking around too long but a quick 20 or 30 at a run a ball is what England are going to need! If Napier was In the squad none of this would have been an issue!

But England have to make the best of the situation they are in I suppose!

[Woodster]

Originally Posted by Viscount Tom

I think despite his larger size Patel's probably still the better fielder than Monty.

Yes would absolutely agree with that. Panesar is still a liability in the field, and Patel does at times looks like a decent fielder. Am actually looking forward to watching Patel very closely in this series, in all aspects of his game.

[Neil Pickup]

If you mention Graham Napier again you get an infraction.

[Y Pathan 94.37]

Originally Posted by Neil Pickup

If you mention Graham Napier again you get an infraction.

Why? The big Essex man is a quality batsman who I think should be in the England test squad! How is mentioning the name of a player who I respect and on the thread of a series I believe he should be playing in worthy of an infraction?

[Neil Pickup]

When you continually bring it up, unjustifiably and out of context - as the probability of Napier ever playing Test cricket for England is effectively zero - it is repetitive posting and damaging to forum atmosphere.

[flibbertyjibber]

Picking Napier is a cunning plan. As cunning as one from Baldrick I think, only you don't shovel **** you type it.