***Official*** England in India

[Contra]

The upcoming series is probably the best chance Aussies have got of beating India in India after a long time, however many problems Aussies have, India are waaaaay worse off.

[Contra]

"Nagpur - Rise (2008) and Fall (2012) of Dhoni!"

So true lol. To think 4 years ago Dhoni made one of the best decisions captain wise with that 8-1 field to regain the momentum.. it's come a full circle for MSD.

[centurymaker]

"Nagpur - Rise (2008) and Fall (2012) of Dhoni!"

So true lol. To think 4 years ago Dhoni made one of the best decisions captain wise with that 8-1 field to regain the momentum.. it's come a full circle for MSD.

lol yea

[Howe_zat]

Was just going to ask, given Dhoni's history in tight potential chases, what would he do if Cook did decide to declare now for giggles?

Now, they'd bat semi-cautiously until just after tea and then go for it. They can't not go for it at some point because of the series scoreline. That excludes Sehwag, who'd get 32 (29)

[Spikey]

Benchy you can get $510 on India to win the test if you're still interested.

#neverwrong

[centurymaker]

Yeah I dunno. Not that confident, Clarke and Hussey aside.

Looking at the bowling, it's pretty inexperienced in India. Siddle wil be hugely important for us there. Hilf, I don't think he'll swing it. Patto is unknown, but if you bwol 140 plus and straight you're always a chance. Forget Harris. Starc - who knows? Forget Johnson. They could do worse than pick Dougeh, but he seesm out of contention for being Dougeh. Wonder if Cummins will be fit? If he is, do they risk bowling him on flat decks or do they save him for the Ashes? Forget Bird in India - trajectory and method is all wrong.

I'd like to see some 6'8" **** who bowls wicket to wicket on a fullish length. Be perfect. You just don't get many Garners and Ambroses come along though. NCN bangs it in at pace as quick as anyone around here atm.

i think aussie batsmen will do fine.

if india don't drop at least 2 of their batsmen after this game then i can't see aus losing the series, 1-1 worst case scenario

[theegyptian]

Trott average 50 again.

Who gets this MOTM? Anderson? Maybe Trott but it's a bit of a overstatement to call this a matchsaving century. Kohli?

[GIMH]

Was just going to ask, given Dhoni's history in tight potential chases, what would he do if Cook did decide to declare now for giggles?

England series ratings (I reserve the right to change them in the event of any bizarre happenings in the final half day)

Cook - 10. Better than his 10-11 Ashes for a variety of reasons, even before you consider he's captaining us to a ****ing series win in India.
Compton - 6. Had his moments, worth another crack.
Trott - 8. Place was being questioned early on but has got better and better culminating in this knock
Pietersen - 8. Not on top form the whole time but played the series-defining innings. Reintegrated.
Bell - 5. Has done enough to keep his place, for now.
Root - 8. Couldn't have asked for much more from a debut innings.
Patel - 4. Unlucky with decisions but not Test standard.
Prior - 8. Batting has been vital, has had better series with the gloves.
Swann - 8. Stood up when needed, still a key player for us even though some had started to write him off.
Broad - 1.
Anderson - 8. Reminded us all how good he is.
Bresnan - 3. Awful in the first Test, forgettable in the 4th.
Finn - 5. Had his moments.
Panesar - 8. Worthy of his place and did enough to mean an injured Swann wouldn't be the disaster it might have been seen as a year ago.

[Jono]

"Nagpur - Rise (2008) and Fall (2012) of Dhoni!"

So true lol. To think 4 years ago Dhoni made one of the best decisions captain wise with that 8-1 field to regain the momentum.. it's come a full circle for MSD.

Holy ****!

[centurymaker]

England series ratings (I reserve the right to change them in the event of any bizarre happenings in the final half day)

Cook - 10. Better than his 10-11 Ashes for a variety of reasons, even before you consider he's captaining us to a ****ing series win in India.
Compton - 6. Had his moments, worth another crack.
Trott - 8. Place was being questioned early on but has got better and better culminating in this knock
Pietersen - 8. Not on top form the whole time but played the series-defining innings. Reintegrated.
Bell - 5. Has done enough to keep his place, for now.
Root - 8. Couldn't have asked for much more from a debut innings.
Patel - 4. Unlucky with decisions but not Test standard.
Prior - 8. Batting has been vital, has had better series with the gloves.
Swann - 8. Stood up when needed, still a key player for us even though some had started to write him off.
Broad - 1.
Anderson - 8. Reminded us all how good he is.
Bresnan - 3. Awful in the first Test, forgettable in the 4th.
Finn - 5. Had his moments.
Panesar - 8. Worthy of his place and did enough to mean an injured Swann wouldn't be the disaster it might have been seen as a year ago.

think you have been a bit generous to a few of the batsmen there.

india-

gambhir- 3 (minus 1 for running out sehwag and pujara last match)
sehwag- 3 (nothing besides that 100 in test 1)
pujara- 7.5
tendulkar- 1
kohli- 3.5
yuvraj- 0
jadeja- 3
dhoni- 2 (**** captain)
ashwin- 4 (mostly for his batting)
ojha- 5 (bowled ok most of the series)
ishant- 3.5
zaheer- 3
harbhajan- 0
chawla- 1.5

After doing the ratings, it seems like india are lucky to have only lost 2-1

[Xuhaib]

what do Indian fans make of Ashwin his series average of 53 with the ball flatters him as he had few cheap wickets last game. Quality with the bat but I am afraid thats not his job tbh.

[centurymaker]

Trott average 50 again.

Who gets this MOTM? Anderson? Maybe Trott but it's a bit of a overstatement to call this a matchsaving century. Kohli?

no one tbh.

it's bascially been a **** test match.

[theegyptian]

England series ratings (I reserve the right to change them in the event of any bizarre happenings in the final half day)

Cook - 10. Better than his 10-11 Ashes for a variety of reasons, even before you consider he's captaining us to a ****ing series win in India.
Compton - 6. Had his moments, worth another crack.
Trott - 8. Place was being questioned early on but has got better and better culminating in this knock
Pietersen - 8. Not on top form the whole time but played the series-defining innings. Reintegrated.
Bell - 5. Has done enough to keep his place, for now.
Root - 8. Couldn't have asked for much more from a debut innings.
Patel - 4. Unlucky with decisions but not Test standard.
Prior - 8. Batting has been vital, has had better series with the gloves.
Swann - 8. Stood up when needed, still a key player for us even though some had started to write him off.
Broad - 1.
Anderson - 8. Reminded us all how good he is.
Bresnan - 3. Awful in the first Test, forgettable in the 4th.
Finn - 5. Had his moments.
Panesar - 8. Worthy of his place and did enough to mean an injured Swann wouldn't be the disaster it might have been seen as a year ago.

I thought Finn bowled pretty well in the test he played and was pretty unlucky on the first day. I'd give him 7.

Bell lucky to get 5 even with this innings.

[GotSpin]

Ass kissing of Jono a few pages back was cringe worthy to say the least, embarrassing more so.

[Cevno]

what do Indian fans make of Ashwin his series average of 53 with the ball flatters him as he had few cheap wickets last game. Quality with the bat but I am afraid thats not his job tbh.

Yep, been massively disappointing with the ball after the first test.