England v India, 4th Test, Old Trafford, 7-11 August, 2014

Brass Monkey wrote:I wouldn't say he's done that, but I doubt we'll bother choosing anyone for quite a while - probably the 4th Test of the Ashes when he's got tonked to f*ck in the first three. Reckon he'll fare well in the Windies.

I'm not too worried about his batting, overall. It was a Jaffa that got him really. I'm actually more concerned that when he's set, he gets a little loose in his strokeplay. He's got to keep his concentration like he did against SL in that exceptional innings.

Hmmm. I was more worried about the fact that even Kumar, at 75mph, troubled him with the short ball.

He doesn't seem to have much of a clue. There's a talented batsman in there, that's obvious, but he's going to get peppered to f*ck against Australia, like a hapless tailender.

Never mind. Turn him into a spinner. Bat him at eight or nine. Everyone wins.

Dhoni - is a complete nutjob as captain, India will amount to ****** all in test cricket until he concentrates on white ball bollocks

As with England though, not sure who the other candidates are now all the other senior players have departed.

Could Dhoni even keep his place as a non-keeping, non-captaining specialist batsman? That's the one area he's shown more fight than most of his team-mates at least.

Oh yeah, and the future of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli, now averages less than the number 8.

Good to see England winning a Test with two and half bowlers. Can this Chris Jordan experiment end now please? England totally dominating and he's going at five and a half an over. I'm struggling to think of a worse pace bowler to play for England outside of the one Test wonders in the last twenty years. Suggestions welcome, maybe McCague? As one TMS correspondent put it, he runs up to the wicket like a three legged rabbit. He does seem to be one of the few England players who can take a slip catch though, maybe that's keeping him in the team.

He's clearly got something there to work with though - someone with raw wicket-taking ability can learn control, whereas Woakes for example just seems to lack that X factor to take wickets at the highest level. Not sure you can play him and Finn in the same team at the moment though. We'll have to when Anderson and Broad are finished though, unless you have any other good suggestions...

Chris Woakes looks like a young Alan Partridge. And I just can't see beyond that.

Back of the net.

I've always thought his name sounds like a radio DJ as well... "wake up to Woakesy on Hot Rockin' Fab FM" or something like that...

"Big Yellow Taxi there by Joni Mitchell, a song in which she complains that they 'paved paradise to put up a parking lot' - a measure which actually would have alleviated traffic congestion on the outskirts of paradise. Something which Joni singularly fails to point out, perhaps because it doesn't quite fit in with her blinkered view of the world. Nevertheless, nice song."

Wow, all over??!! Dello called it. The Bannies won their "series in the 2nd Test. That was their Everest, the rest of the series doesn't matter.

On paper, it looks a lame lame effort by India. No Broad and they still get rolled for a paltry 161. Deary me.

Worst.tourists.ever!!

Anywho, well done England. On to The Oval to put the cherry on top.

eowyn wrote:Not bad. I agree with Dello, India have given up.

Bloomin' hell. What an abject performance. BAN INDIA.

Shit a brick - lame for the Bannies.

Mitchell Johnson et al are smirking.

I think someone's already made this comment, but By Warnie I hope the rain in Manchester is of Biblical proportions for the next two days, so that the Indians and all the Dhoni-T20 fanboys can dwell on their abject ineptitude and inability to survive even ONE session against Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, and Jimmeh Anderson.

Oh, and Chris Woakes. Not sure how I forgot about him.

Dello wrote:"Big Yellow Taxi there by Joni Mitchell, a song in which she complains that they 'paved paradise to put up a parking lot' - a measure which actually would have alleviated traffic congestion on the outskirts of paradise. Something which Joni singularly fails to point out, perhaps because it doesn't quite fit in with her blinkered view of the world. Nevertheless, nice song."

Is that Woakesy of Radio Caroline?

What an insipid effort from India regardless of how well England might have performed!

Is it raining yet?

beamer wrote:As with England though, not sure who the other candidates are now all the other senior players have departed.

Could Dhoni even keep his place as a non-keeping, non-captaining specialist batsman? That's the one area he's shown more fight than most of his team-mates at least.

First time in an era he's done that overseas.

Shouldn't take much to replace him.

Woeful from India, efficient from England. Dhoni really does have to go as captain. The problem is that his successor Kohli is woefully out of form and struggling to hang on to his place in the team.

lardbucket wrote:Oh, and Chris Woakes. Not sure how I forgot about him.

I was at his debut test, did you know? The potential was clear even then.

tricycle wrote:Is it raining yet?

Not in New Deli it isn't.

And congratulations England. Three days. What a show.

Does "legacy" not mean anything to all those international cricketers that basically live for the easy money of T20??

Nobody will remember that Coaly was an ace clown cricket player. To SRT's credit, he always gave 100% for India in the Test arena. Not sure I can say that about many (or any) of these jokers.

I feel for my Indian Test loving colleagues.

I think it all stems from Dhoni. He tolerates too much shite. Fletcher's just in it for the money, and therefore doesn't want to rock the boat too much ala Greg Chappell.

We saw the same stuff from India in 2011/12 against England and Australia away from home.

furriner wrote:

tricycle wrote:Is it raining yet?

Not in New Deli it isn't.

And congratulations England.  Three days.  What a show.

And that with two sessions washed out.

It's dry for now in Pune. Buckets down when I commute though.