England V India

DONADO said:
Both of the decisions were made with attack in mind..and I for one don't mind that at all.Its high time the way we play the game here changed...and now it is, for the better as far as I can tell.

The decision to bat second backfired yesterday but the bowlers redeemed themselves today and if we had had any fielders on the ground the English would've been bowling by lunch at us.And our 5 batsmen have no excuse for putting up the show they have this series...they are all of the highest class(except Jaffer) and should have scored many more against their depleted attack.
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There is a balance between attack and defence - Sehwag has been having a torrid time of late as have Sachin - Jaffer has done really well in the series, today's dismissal was a tad unlucky - although I agree he does not have the same class as others...he grinds out his runs, and all teams need a player like that.
 
On a side note: Two of the best batsmen of our times (Sachin/Lara) have scored 70 runs in seven innings.
 
Are we seeing India's love affair with Sachin coming to an end?

I was shocked to hear the maestro being booed off the field no matter what his contribution to the test series, I hope it was just frustration...
 
Sultan said:
Are we seeing the India's love affair with Sachin coming to an end?

I was shocked to hear the maestro being booed off the field no matter what his contribution to the test series, I hope it was just frustration...
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I think people should show a bit more faith in the guy. It wasn't long ago since he broke the record for number of Test centuries, he still has it.

On the other hand, he's been around for a very long time and is getting older, like with other sportsmen, sometimes you lose your focus or desire. Perhaps its just bad form, we'll see.
 
Sultan said:
It's a travesty Udal is ahead of Keedy in the England team...
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We usually take a left and a right armer. Keedy is a left armer, Udal is an off spinner.

Udal was picked for his experience and he took a load of wickets last year. With hindsight, who would have been a better choice as backup off-spinner?
 
Sultan said:
Are we seeing India's love affair with Sachin coming to an end?

I was shocked to hear the maestro being booed off the field no matter what his contribution to the test series, I hope it was just frustration...
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I did post here a while back that I thought Dravid was No 1 but Vijay wasn't having it....
 
Sultan said:
On a side note: Two of the best batsmen of our times (Sachin/Lara) have scored 70 runs in seven innings.
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It happens. Lara's been poor as well. Its just the expectations.. these guys peaked earlier than the likes of Ponting and Dravid, thats a factor as well.

You're right about the decision to field first. Our captain and management are agressive and modern in their thinking, but this was just simply poor judgement. But it happens, we only need a draw and one big innings could do it. The 5 bowlers format is the way IMO, unless conditions and situtions demand otherwise.

About Sachin, he's not as loved as he used to be. Its natural, memories are short and with Dhoni and Pathan coming along providing more entertainment people forget the past. I think everyone here acknowledges the fact that hes past his best. I just hope his career doesnt end the way Ganguly's did.

Surprisingly hes been brilliant in ODI's of late. Was awesome agianst Pakistan recently. These days i think its a case of agression, when he isnt he gets bogged down and struggles.
 
arnie sidebottom said:
I did post here a while back that I thought Dravid was No 1 but Vijay wasn't having it....
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Spoony thinks Dravid is a glorified Collingwood.:lol:
 
amolbhatia100 said:
The 5 bowlers format is the way IMO, unless conditions and situtions demand otherwise.
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India's bowling is looking good and balanced after years of trying, and the need of the hour is to get the batting sorted out - the 5 bowler scenario is fine if the batsman are in top form - which is not happening at the moment.
 
Disgraceful reaction by Mumbai fans. Booing the legend. Shouldn't have expected better from those shithouses.
 
I didn't think the decision to field first was completely flawed. Dravid probably believed

1) the pitch would help his bowlers knock over 3 of the top order in the first session and

2) with England's propensity for losing lower middle order wickets quickly he might have reasonably hoped to get us for 200-250

Giving 2 or 2 and a half days for India to get the best of the pitch and bat us completely out of the game.

He was, almost inevitably, proved right on the second point, but fortunately Strauss and Shah dug in on day 1.
 
arnie sidebottom said:
Are we sure about that? Sounds absolutely incredible to me.
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Just heard it on the news. Its not a complete shock. Its happened to Gavaskar, he himself mocks it, but it is sad. We really dont know how to value these legends.
 
He was more worried about India collapsing for under 200 on a pitch that has bounce for English pacemen. India have have bowled out early on many occassions while batting first on Mumbai pitch. More defensive decission than attacking IMO.
 
crappycraperson said:
He was more worried about India collapsing for under 200 on a pitch that has bounce for English pacemen. India have have bowled out early on many occassions while batting first on Mumbai pitch. More defensive decission than attacking IMO.
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Interesting...didn't realise that - cheers.
 
Time for Jimmy Anderson to perform then a quick century from Flintoff who then goes onto take 5 second innings wickets (Anderson gets the others) so Lancashire save the day and win the test match for England. On the other hand.................
 
India still can't catch.

Tendulkar is not as good as Lara, but is still quality, doesn't deserve the booing.

Hoggard has been excellent all series and Anderson bowled a lot better than I thought he would, GG would be proud.

Dravid is just pure class.

I liked the way Shah went about his play, even if his technique is a bit flawed.
 
Watching it on Sky, the stream 2 or 3 pages back should still work though.
 
England can't catch either.

Dravid dropped, easy catch, keep Prior away from the wicket keeping job.
 
Anderson gets Dravid!!

Great catch from Jones flying down the leg side.

Game on!
 
feck thats torn it. Just hope the tail does what its been doing for the last few tests and shows a bit of a wag. Any lead less than a 100 runs and we have a chance of saving this test.
 
fecked.. we'v really messed this up. What a spineless batting performance. Now looking back i think Sultan was right, in a match you need just a draw, picking an extra batsman was ther right choice, especially since it was evident a few key players werent at the top of their game. Dont know how were going to get out of this TBH.
 
England may still feck things up.

However, in your position, I'd probably admit defeat, this early.

I can't see you batting out nearly two full days.
 
What do people here think about Dhoni's dismissal?
Atherton and Gower seem to think the third umpire got it wrong whereas Srinath thinks it was out. Iv got to agree with the former, IMO the 3rd umpire got it horribly wrong.. as the law states, the bails have to be completely dislodged, and in this case when that happens(not when the ball his the stumps) Dhoni has made it in.
 
Spoony said:
England may still feck things up.

However, in your position, I'd probably admit defeat, this early.

I can't see you batting out nearly two full days.
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170 odd run lead for sure. With almost 2 hours to bat today. England should have a lead of 250 minimum by today itself. First session tomorrow and half of the second, should make it 400. No matter what, unless weather intervenes or some one seriously fecks up, were going to have to bat out a day and a session atleast. And i cant see that happening with the way wev batted here. Doesnt look good at all.
 
Dhoni wasn't out. The bails weren't dislodged. Well, put it this way, it wasn't conclusive from the video evidence we were given.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
What do people here think about Dhoni's dismissal?
Atherton and Gower seem to think the third umpire got it wrong whereas Srinath thinks it was out. Iv got to agree with the former, IMO the 3rd umpire got it horribly wrong.. as the law states, the bails have to be completely dislodged, and in this case when that happens(not when the ball his the stumps) Dhoni has made it in.
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Not out.

We've fecked this up.Completely.
 
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