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*Official* 2nd Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 13 - 17 Feb 2021

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
Mo going home. Feels a bit odd dropping Bess now.
Indeed. One has to respect Moeen's wishes, and obviously we have no idea what's happening inside his head or his family circumstances, but it's hard to see him playing test cricket again unless there is a seriously good reason for him leaving the tour. I know that Root said otherwise, and quite rightly in a public press conference, but I'm not sure that I believe him. Not the first time that Moeen has withdrawn from test cricket, of course.
 

ParwazHaiJunoon

First Class Debutant
I have my doubts about the veracity of this match tbh. Some dodgy **** if you ask me. England players with IPL contracts mysteriously rested. India prepare a sandpit of a pitch, and then win a dubious toss that some esteemed pundits suggest that 'win the toss, win the game'. Kohli bowled then asks for referral? Maybe that wasn't part of the plan? Dodgy Indian umpires giving dodgy decisions in favour of India, then when the match is no longer a contest even things up to throw off suspicion. All very suspicious.
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Grapes are sour.
 
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Senile Sentry

International Debutant
Agree it should have been Rohit. Ashwin was obviously great, but Rohit's knock was more special in the match context and pretty much won the Test on Day 1.
Not really. Ashwin's 100 was one of the best ever on Chennai given the conditions and the state India were in at 106/6 in the 2nd dig. They could've folded up for 310-315 target which with a couple of cameos like that of Moeen would've have made the chase interesting. Couldve put some pressure eon debutant Axar as well.

Ashwin just ensured 4th innings was absolutely out of English reach. The English batsmen had really nothing but nets practise to look forward to.
 

MW1304

Cricketer Of The Year
Indeed. One has to respect Moeen's wishes, and obviously we have no idea what's happening inside his head or his family circumstances, but it's hard to see him playing test cricket again unless there is a seriously good reason for him leaving the tour. I know that Root said otherwise, and quite rightly in a public press conference, but I'm not sure that I believe him. Not the first time that Moeen has withdrawn from test cricket, of course.
He contracted Covid, and has been sitting on the sidelines, often in quarantine, for months. He's just got back in the team and is probably asking himself if all that time has felt worth it, and he's decided no. I don't think any of us can really question it.

The setup are being incredibly understanding about players' mental health, which I think should be praised.
 
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Senile Sentry

International Debutant
Moeen was badly utilised as a batsman on these pitches. He should have batted up the order, so should probably Root have as well.

Stokes proved to be a FTB in India and can't be really a specialist batting option here. Thats like India playing Hardik Pandya as a specialist batsman in test cricket. Also his stats were padded by not letting him bowl at all.
 

Pothas

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Indeed. One has to respect Moeen's wishes, and obviously we have no idea what's happening inside his head or his family circumstances, but it's hard to see him playing test cricket again unless there is a seriously good reason for him leaving the tour. I know that Root said otherwise, and quite rightly in a public press conference, but I'm not sure that I believe him. Not the first time that Moeen has withdrawn from test cricket, of course.
I am fairly certain that Moeen mentioned the possibility of going home after this Test before the series even started. Guess that unlike Buttler and Bairstow they were just keeping the options open, him getting Covid obviously complicated things as well.
 

theegyptian

International Vice-Captain
if this was a planned deprature, the ****s in media using the headline that mo 'chose to go home' is ****ing disgraceful when it has been different for others leaving
It sounds like it was planned but unlike the others it wasn't preannounced which makes Moeen look bad. Him getting covid did screw their plans, and it seems there has been some negotiation behind the scenes to try and get him to play the last two tests (and not play odi/t20s) presumably between root, silverwood, ali and morgan but Moeen (and maybe Morgan) weren't keen to change plans.

Whatever the thinking I have to agree that this is probably it for Moeen in test cricket. I don't see Root bringing him back now.
 

silentstriker

The Wheel is Forever
Man kohli clearly hates Yadav. He got 12 overs the entire game.

Daily reminder that three spinners are never necessary. Go with an extra batsman, or another pacer if you are worried about injuries.
 

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