***Official*** India vs England 2021 General Discussion thread

[Senile Sentry]

Ah ****.

 

[Smudge49]

Is Axars general MO the same with the red ball as with the white? Because if so I can't see a bright future, similar to Jadeja but less accurate and generally just worse

Dunno how he bowls with the red ball, but can't see India playing both Sundar and Ashwin in the same XI. Pandya has also been picked in the squad, any chance he might play as an all-rounder?

 

[Kirkut]

I have a feeling, this is going to be a tough series. The touring side has 2 most mature bowlers in international cricket, Ben Stokes, Root, Bairstow, Buttler and many more.

 

[cnerd123]

Isn't Axar Patel more like a like for like replacement for Jadeja?

yes but Sundar's probably got dibs on the spin-bowling-AR slot after his performance in Aus. Can't see him being dropped for Axar.

 

[Prince EWS]

yes but Sundar's probably got dibs on the spin-bowling-AR slot after his performance in Aus. Can't see him being dropped for Axar.

It's an interesting one. Sundar is clearly the better player IMO but they might not want to go with two offies.

Maybe they'll go two quicks, Ashwin, Kuldeep and Hardik.

 

[honestbharani]

Sundar for Hardik

 

[cnerd123]

It's an interesting one. Sundar is clearly the better player IMO but they might not want to go with two offies.

Maybe they'll go two quicks, Ashwin, Kuldeep and Hardik.

yea but I think Sundar and Ashwin are sufficiently different enough as offies that they both can work in the same attack.

Realistically with Kuldeep too they have 3 spinner who spin the ball same way, so i don't think they can avoid that issue

 

[Shri]

can't have the poms bowling to a lot of right handers and settle into a rhythm and set plans

will play lefties over righties if they are comparable as players

 

[honestbharani]

can't have the poms bowling to a lot of right handers and settle into a rhythm and set plans

will play lefties over righties if they are comparable as players

Both Axar and Washi lefties

 

[Cruxdude]

I think Sundar cannot be dropped after that performance in Gabba. If it was Jadeja it makes sense but for someone who hasn't played a test ever, nope.

Also he looked as good as a specialist batsman in the first innings.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I think if Hardik is fit he has to play. Pant and himself at 6/7 is potentially lethal, and if he can bowl a few adequate overs then that's very handy. Probably give Bumrah a rest and get him fresh for the 2nd test

For the first test I'd go
Rohit, Gill, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Pant, Pandya, Ashwin, Ishant, Siraj, Kuldeep

 

[Salamuddin]

I have a feeling, this is going to be a tough series. The touring side has 2 most mature bowlers in international cricket, Ben Stokes, Root, Bairstow, Buttler and many more.

India should win if they are not complacent - they are the better team imo.

 

[JOJOXI]

For close followers of Indian domestic cricket is there anyone coming up in the Pandya mould? Not necessarily in terms of devastating batting but who can average about 30 with the bat, bowl as a 3rd seamer in Asia, 4th seamer overseas and average about 30 with the ball while easing workload of main seamers a bit. If so might be worth fast-tracking their development in case Pandya doesn't have an extended run of full fitness.

 

[Senile Sentry]

For close followers of Indian domestic cricket is there anyone coming up in the Pandya mould? Not necessarily in terms of devastating batting but who can average about 30 with the bat, bowl as a 3rd seamer in Asia, 4th seamer overseas and average about 30 with the ball while easing workload of main seamers a bit. If so might be worth fast-tracking their development in case Pandya doesn't have an extended run of full fitness.

Not that I am aware of. Also if anything, Aus tours indicated it is better to go with 3 full time pacers and Ashwin. And Jadeja as the 5th bowler than a 4th pacer. If 3 pacers can't do their job, hard to expect the 4th to do much.

 

[JOJOXI]

Not that I am aware of. Also if anything, Aus tours indicated it is better to go with 3 full time pacers and Ashwin. And Jadeja as the 5th bowler than a 4th pacer. If 3 pacers can't do their job, hard to expect the 4th to do much.

A fair point about 2 spinners with Jadeja and Ashwin both capable of batting so overseas should probably change to some pitches in England and NZ. Do think having a fully fit Pandya or replacement would still help in Asia although India will win most games in Asia regardless and if in pacer friendly conditions in England or NZ, 2 spinners is probably overkill and it would make sense to replace the 2nd spinner with either a batsman or a 4th pacer - like the Gabba win but with more batting depth as the 4th pacer will be able to bat too.

 

[Senile Sentry]

A fair point about 2 spinners with Jadeja and Ashwin both capable of batting so overseas should probably change to some pitches in England and NZ. Do think having a fully fit Pandya or replacement would still help in Asia although India will win most games in Asia regardless and if in pacer friendly conditions in England or NZ, 2 spinners is probably overkill and it would make sense to replace the 2nd spinner with either a batsman or a 4th pacer - like the Gabba win but with more batting depth as the 4th pacer will be able to bat too.

I won't be surprised if Jadeja continues to bat like he is, he will be valued as a full time middle order batsman - he has been value than any of the established Middle order batsmen anyway , allowing Pandya to be the allrounder player.

Sharma / Rahul
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Pant (wk)
Jadeja
Pandya
Ashwin
Shami
Ishant
Bumrah

 

[Senile Sentry]

I won't mind Jadeja at even no.5 honestly and Pant at no.6.

 

[honestbharani]

There are many trundler type allrounders but really no one as good as Hardik. Maybe if some of those trunders can actually hold their own as a top 6 batsman and the bowling is just a bonus, then it might work. 3D has potential but keeps getting injured. Dube has a lot of FC runs but does not look like he can bat overseas in Tests for any length of time, technique looks LO geared. Rishi Dhawan etc. also not quite good enough to score runs at the test level IMO.

 

[honestbharani]

I won't be surprised if Jadeja continues to bat like he is, he will be valued as a full time middle order batsman - he has been value than any of the established Middle order batsmen anyway , allowing Pandya to be the allrounder player.

Sharma / Rahul
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Pant (wk)
Jadeja
Pandya
Ashwin
Shami
Ishant
Bumrah

If we need to go down this route, I would rather go...

Gill/Rohit
Pujara
Rahane (vc)
Virat (c)
Pant (wk)
Hardik
Jaddu
Ashwin
Ishant
Shami
Bumrah

 

[Senile Sentry]

If we need to go down this route, I would rather go...

Gill/Rohit
Pujara
Rahane (vc)
Virat (c)
Pant (wk)
Hardik
Jaddu
Ashwin
Ishant
Shami
Bumrah

There is no way Gill continues to be an "Or" selection anymore. And no way is he replaceable by Sharma

Rahane is on his last legs, while the Aus series win invariably has given some more time, I fear his decline is more or less terminal as a batsman. He might give the odd chancy ones here or there but overall will continue to average in the lower 40s or late 30s which is not good enough.