England squad announcement for India tour delayed until...

India's squad for this series would appear to be pretty much set. Although I heard that 20 year old Harmeet Singh might be considered as the third spinner in the squad?

Don't think Harmeet would be rushed into int'l cricket though I'd have loved him to be in squad. At least that would've allowed Bhajji to remain in wilderness for some more months.

I read that Bell hasn't very happy reading record in India, less than 200 runs in 5 tests with 5 scores in single digits. As already he'd most probably miss the first test due to his child's birth. He might not be in good frame of mind for remaining tests.

Henry wrote:India's squad for this series would appear to be pretty much set. Although I heard that 20 year old Harmeet Singh might be considered as the third spinner in the squad?

Expecting dustbowls?

geebers...the Belf has a Belfette...who'd have thunk that?

Indian XI for the first test would be most probably same that played in 2nd test against NZ with the exception of FTB being eased out in favour of Rohit/Rahane. So thats how it should look like, come Nov 19.

Gambhir
Sehwag
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Rohit/Rahane
Dhoni
Ashwin
Zaheer
Ojha
Yadav/Bhajji

taipan wrote:

Henry wrote:India's squad for this series would appear to be pretty much set. Although I heard that 20 year old Harmeet Singh might be considered as the third spinner in the squad?

Expecting dustbowls?

Yes. And cries of "we've had our revenge" from delirious Indian fans who forget that their team collapsed in a heap on excellent cricket wickets in England last year, not the green tops they'd like to say they were.

Eng's pitches last year weren't greentops but they suited Eng's strengths very well. So, India is absolutely entitled to play to its strengths which is spin. And mind you, Indian pitches have done very well during last 2-3 seasons, assistance for both pace and spin. The pitch against NZ in the 2nd test at B’lore was one of the best wickets one could prepare for a test match, anywhere in world.

Coming back to Eng pitches, they were similar to what Indians have been receiving for their last few Eng trips with the probable exception of Edgbaston ('96) and Headingley (’02) and Nottingham (’07).

Only difference was the change in approach on each trip. Last year Indian team was pathetically under cooked for a trip as arduous as an Eng trip. But all credit to Eng. They were by far the superior team. That’s why success of SA last month showed how they could be the most worthy no.1s since the Aussies.

Coming to Bell, considering his frailities against spin won't it be a better idea to have him opening Eng's innings in tests now that Strauss is gone?

That's a fair call, SG.

Cheers, Skully.

Even though tests and ODIs are vastly different, he already opens Eng batting in ODIs so he might've got a fair idea of opening an innings.

Up until the UAE trip, Bell was considered one of England's best players of spin. Clueless against Ajmal in helpful conditions, but generally pretty good.

Still, Belf is very technically correct, so wouldn't be the worst pick to take Straws place.

Considering his 'experience' in India, would Morgan be played in the first test at least especially since Bell too won't be there?

If Morgan were picked ahead of Compton, it would be a big slap in the face for County cricket.

Up until the UAE trip, Bell was considered one of England's best players of spin. Clueless against Ajmal in helpful conditions, but generally pretty good.

IIRC, he didn't do too well against SL as well.

If Morgan were picked ahead of Compton, it would be a big slap in the face for County cricket.

Horses for courses, won't it be? In any case, Compton is a complete greenhorn for int'l cricket while Morgan has played test cricket before.

Besides, Eng would like to add some sort of experience to their already inexperienced batting lineup besides Cook, Prior and Trott.

One thing Eng should guard against is making Trott open in tests. After quite a while they've got a very good no.3 batsman and should not temper with his batting slot.

SG wrote:

If Morgan were picked ahead of Compton, it would be a big slap in the face for County cricket.

Horses for courses, won't it be? In any case, Compton is a complete greenhorn for int'l cricket while Morgan has played test cricket before.

Besides, Eng would like to add some sort of experience to their already inexperienced batting lineup besides Cook, Prior and Trott.

Morgan arguably looked the most baffled by Pakistan's spinners in the UAE. I think he's confused as to how to go about batting in the long form of the game.

Henry wrote:

SG wrote:

If Morgan were picked ahead of Compton, it would be a big slap in the face for County cricket.

Horses for courses, won't it be? In any case, Compton is a complete greenhorn for int'l cricket while Morgan has played test cricket before.

Besides, Eng would like to add some sort of experience to their already inexperienced batting lineup besides Cook, Prior and Trott.

Morgan arguably looked the most baffled by Pakistan's spinners in the UAE. I think he's confused as to how to go about batting in the long form of the game.

failure of the coaches?

SG wrote:Eng's pitches last year weren't greentops but they suited Eng's strengths very well. So, India is absolutely entitled to play to its strengths which is spin.

And then we will hear all the whining about why can't we produce fast bowlers.

i am not sure it will be as easy for india as people think

ahmedabad - usually very flat, with slow turn. might well see a draw unless england are particularly dire

bombay - will almost certainly have a result. traditionally a pacers deck, but they have produced the odd turner like in 2004. england's best chance for a win

calcutta - one of india's strongholds. should favour spinners more than pacers and should be india's banker

nagpur - like ahmedabad, usually just flat. only the 2 aussie tests have produced a result. could well be a draw unless its made into a turner

The One wrote:i am not sure it will be as easy for india as people think

ahmedabad - usually very flat, with slow turn. might well see a draw unless england are particularly dire

bombay - will almost certainly have a result. traditionally a pacers deck, but they have produced the odd turner like in 2004. england's best chance for a win

calcutta - one of india's strongholds. should favour spinners more than pacers and should be india's banker

nagpur - like ahmedabad, usually just flat. only the 2 aussie tests have produced a result. could well be a draw unless its made into a turner

Translation: They will all turn square after 10 minutes on day 1

one can only hope

taipan wrote:

SG wrote:Eng's pitches last year weren't greentops but they suited Eng's strengths very well. So, India is absolutely entitled to play to its strengths which is spin.

And then we will hear all the whining about why can't we produce fast bowlers.

It's not so much that India's strength is spin ... their spinners probably aren't better than England's ... but their batsmen do at least have an inkling of how to play it.