5th Test (The Oval) - 31st July to 4th August

[capt_Luffy]

Already at the Final Test, huh. Before the series began I really wasn't expecting it to be this Good, and yeah, not this flat as well. Now England leading going into the last, let's see whether we can draw our 2nd Series amongst the last 3 in England, or the widespread prediction pre Series comes to fruitation....

What changes would you rather prefer in the team? Pant is likely going to miss out and Jurel is the perfect replacement, and just hope Bumrah persists. NKR likely to strengthen the batting (too long a tail in the 4th) and might just try out Arshdeep, can't be much worse. Harsh on Kuldeep, but hard to fit him. England don't think are likely to make any changes here.

 

[centurymaker]

Reddy is out of the series by the way.

Prasidh was left out for Kamboj. So that tells you Prasidh's not in the scheme of things. Kamboj and Thakur are currently trundlers so they won't feature for sure.

So Kuldeep is pretty likely to play at last. Plus Sundar and Jadeja have proven themselves with the bat and shown that India doesn't need to bat till 8.

 

[social]

India has to pick Kuldeep

Picking some random, very ordinary seamer in front of him isn’t working

 

[honestbharani]

Kuldeep
Akashdeep
Arshdeep
Bumrah/Siraj

wont be the worst 8-11 we have had this series either. So not so bad from that perspective. The real worry is if Siraj is also knackered. Then we most likely get Prasidh Krishna.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Already at the Final Test, huh. Before the series began I really wasn't expecting it to be this Good, and yeah, not this flat as well. Now England leading going into the last, let's see whether we can draw our 2nd Series amongst the last 3 in England, or the widespread prediction pre Series comes to fruitation....

What changes would you rather prefer in the team? Pant is likely going to miss out and Jurel is the perfect replacement, and just hope Bumrah persists. NKR likely to strengthen the batting (too long a tail in the 4th) and might just try out Arshdeep, can't be much worse. Harsh on Kuldeep, but hard to fit him. England don't think are likely to make any changes here.

Reddy is out of the series, but to be fair, I don’t think he’s much of a miss. Aside from Jurel coming in for Pant, I don’t envisage any changes to your batting, I’d go for a few in the bowling department though

India
Jaiswal
Rahul
Sudharsan
Gill
Jadeja
Jurel
Washington
Kuldeep
Akashdeep
Arshdeep
Bumrah

Might be a bit of a risk to play Bumrah, but if anyone is worth it, he is, and I think Siraj needs a rest

England:
Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Stokes
Smith
Dawson
Atkinson
Woakes
Tongue

Not completely sold on Tongue, but Archer wasn’t the same as Lord’s and I’d be shocked if he plays 3 in a row (this is where Wood would have come in handy, not that I think many of us really thought he’d be available). Atkinson hardly pulled up any trees against the Somerset second XI, but Carse was toothless and looked as though he needed a rest, all things being equal I wouldn’t pick Woakes but he was possibly our best bowler outside Stokes (not saying much!). I love the Ahmed brothers, I think Rehan could be our next all-rounder once Stokes retires, but I’d be shocked if he gets a go just yet

 

[centurymaker]

Expecting the following XI-

Jaiswal
Rahul
Sai
Gill
Jadeja
Sundar
Jurel
Kuldeep
Arshdeep
Akashdeep
Siraj / Bumrah

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

India has to pick Kuldeep

Picking some random, very ordinary seamer in front of him isn’t working

He’s also no worse a batter than Thakur, who was supposedly picked for his batting prowess

 

[Johan]

can India really afford to play Bumrah here? Only a few days break, and you'd assume England would ask for a faster and bouncier pitch but they have been asking since the first Test and that is simply not manifesting, Bumrah was bowling well below his normal here, what is it is another absolute road and he has to bowl dozens of overs a day?

 

[capt_Luffy]

Already at the Final Test, huh. Before the series began I really wasn't expecting it to be this Good, and yeah, not this flat as well. Now England leading going into the last, let's see whether we can draw our 2nd Series amongst the last 3 in England, or the widespread prediction pre Series comes to fruitation....

What changes would you rather prefer in the team? Pant is likely going to miss out and Jurel is the perfect replacement, and just hope Bumrah persists. NKR likely to strengthen the batting (too long a tail in the 4th) and might just try out Arshdeep, can't be much worse. Harsh on Kuldeep, but hard to fit him. England don't think are likely to make any changes here.

**** forgot NKR is out.....

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

can India really afford to play Bumrah here? Only a few days break, and you'd assume England would ask for a faster and bouncier pitch but they have been asking since the first Test and that is simply not manifesting, Bumrah was bowling well below his normal here, what is it is another absolute road and he has to bowl dozens of overs a day?

I’d absolutely pick him but it wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t pick him, they have been very clear that he’s playing 3 of the 5 Tests, and now with them unable to win the series outright, that might give them a reason to rest him for the Asia Cup (if that’s even going ahead lol). Still, with how they battled over the last two days, I think they’ll play him

 

[Johan]

I’d absolutely pick him but it wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t pick him, they have been very clear that he’s playing 3 of the 5 Tests, and now with them unable to win the series outright, that might give them a reason to rest him for the Asia Cup (if that’s even going ahead lol). Still, with how they battled over the last two days, I think they’ll play him

well, if it's a road I think they might break him but we'll see

 

[capt_Luffy]

I’d absolutely pick him but it wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t pick him, they have been very clear that he’s playing 3 of the 5 Tests, and now with them unable to win the series outright, that might give them a reason to rest him for the Asia Cup (if that’s even going ahead lol). Still, with how they battled over the last two days, I think they’ll play him

I think the concern should be about his long term fitness. If him playing can result in another long term injury, I would rather rest him than risk destroying him altogether. But if not, I don't think even GG gives a **** about Asian ****ing Cup.

 

[govinda indian fan]

Bumrah bowled rubbish this match. Anyway england are gonna prepare another road. So better play kuldeep
Imo xi should be
Rahul
Jaiswal
Sudharshan
Gill
Jurel
Jadeja
Sundar
Kuldeep
Akashdeep
Siraj
Prasidh

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

I think the concern should be about his long term fitness. If him playing can result in another long term injury, I would rather rest him than risk destroying him altogether. But if not, I don't think even GG gives a **** about Asian ****ing Cup.

If you don’t care about the Asia Cup, when is the next series that you do care about? With the greatest of respect to the West Indies, he’s not needed for that, I know away series against South Africa are biggies one for you, but is a 2-match home series against them a big enough deal not to risk him for this? The T20 World Cup on home turf must be a big deal even if it just isn’t the same as the 50 over version

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Bumrah bowled rubbish this match. Anyway england are gonna prepare another road. So better play kuldeep
Imo xi should be
Rahul
Jaiswal
Sudharshan
Gill
Jurel
Jadeja
Sundar
Kuldeep
Akashdeep
Siraj
Prasidh

He bowled rubbish on day 2, but he did bowl better on days 3 and 4 even if his pace was down. Think even a Bumrah not quite firing on all cylinders is still your best seamer tbf, it’s just a question of whether it’s worth risking an injury to draw the series

 

[capt_Luffy]

If you don’t care about the Asia Cup, when is the next series that you do care about? With the greatest of respect to the West Indies, he’s not needed for that, I know away series against South Africa are biggies one for you, but is a 2-match home series against them a big enough deal not to risk him for this? The T20 World Cup on home turf must be a big deal even if it just isn’t the same as the 50 over version

Nothing before T20 WC really matters, kinda a shitty schedule ahead. That's why I emphasized on long term, I just don't want it to end with his career at jeopardy.

 

[mackembhoy]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1949556908316323992

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1949556908316323992

I don’t know how much criticism the bowlers deserve really, they’re flat decks that even Bumrah hasn’t got much joy out of at times, and they bailed us out at Lord’s on the one occasion that the pitch did offer some assistance, but at the same time, if Stokes can consistently make something happen when he’s supposed to be the fourth seamer, what does it say about the other three who can’t?

 

[Burgey]

Bumrah bowled rubbish this match. Anyway england are gonna prepare another road. So better play kuldeep
Imo xi should be
Rahul
Jaiswal
Sudharshan
Gill
Jurel
Jadeja
Sundar
Kuldeep
Akashdeep
Siraj
Prasidh

If Bumrah is fit he has to play ffs. You’ve got a series on the line.

England has just spent 140 overs in the field and have to back up in three days. Surely they’re the side which will be looking at rotating a bowler or two out of the team? I know OT was flat but Dawson not faking a pole on days four and five is woeful for a front line spinner.

 

[capt_Luffy]

If Bumrah is fit he has to play ffs. You’ve got a series on the line.

England has just spent 140 overs in the field and have to back up in three days. Surely they’re the side which will be looking at rotating a bowler or two out of the team? I know OT was flat but Dawson not faking a pole on days four and five is woeful for a front line spinner.

As an Indian fan, I suggest they play both him and Bashir at Oval.