India v England, 1st Test, Ahmedabad, 15-19 November, 2012

Like I said before, why play either Compton or Root if their form doesn't warrant it? Bairstow deserves to keep his spot after Lord's and his century in the warm up match, and Samit is SamFOHL. They should both be picked. Bell could open, and might even have half a chance against the newer ball before he sh*ts himself against the spinners. I remember him opening in India back in 2006 and doing alright.

If Root and Compton aren't among the best six batsmen, then don't pick them just because they're specialist openers. Doesn't mean a lot in India.

Root is among your best six..Sacrificing your best batsman - Bell - is not a sensible call

Ian Bell?

Aye, I mean, we'd all like a weak-kneed little girl to open the batting. Why not?

Yeah, let's wheel in that flea-ridden, dyspraxic, half-blind macaque I saw in the zoo to partner him.

In fact, why not just stick an empty pizza box in at #1.

Actually, why not just ask for a series forfeit and they can all play Mousetrap for 5 weeks...

Brass Monkey wrote:Ian Bell?

Aye, I mean, we'd all like a weak-kneed little girl to open the batting. Why not?

Yeah, let's wheel in that flea-ridden, dyspraxic, half-blind macaque I saw in the zoo to partner him.

In fact, why not just stick an empty pizza box in at #1.

Actually, why not just ask for a series forfeit and they can all play Mousetrap for 5 weeks...

C'mon Danny...england is not that bad...you flogged the bannies last time and they have gone backwards since...maybe chef could open with a margherita

Meh, say what you want about Bell- He has 16 more test hundreds than Root and Compton combined. And Root and Compton have scored a combined total of 29 runs in three innings so far on this tour. Times are so desperate that it could come down to either a pretty 30 from Bell before chipping meekly to cover or a 20 ball rabbit-in-headlights duck from either Root or Compton.

horace wrote:
C'mon Danny...england is not that bad...you flogged the bannies last time and they have gone backwards since...maybe chef could open with a margherita

We used to have a bowling attack that kept us competitive. Now all we have is three Indians and an exponent of the dead grenade style of bowling.

Henry wrote:Meh, say what you want about Bell- He has 16 more test hundreds than Root and Compton combined. And Root and Compton have scored a combined total of 29 runs in three innings so far on this tour. Times are so desperate that it could come down to either a pretty 30 from Bell before chipping meekly to cover or a 20 ball rabbit-in-headlights duck from either Root or Compton.

Oh no... don't get me wrong; Ian Bell - he'th, well, gosh, he'th jutht thuper thweet.

Brass Monkey wrote:

horace wrote:
C'mon Danny...england is not that bad...you flogged the bannies last time and they have gone backwards since...maybe chef could open with a margherita

We used to have a bowling attack that kept us competitive. Now all we have is three Indians and an exponent of the dead grenade style of bowling.

hmmn...maybe donkey kong could make a come back as English donkey drops

..that said the bannies are especially woeful and falling apart

horace wrote:
hmmn...maybe donkey kong could make a come back as English donkey drops

..that said the bannies are especially woeful and falling apart

I just think it's all too much for us. Can even see Viru and Gashbir getting runs - that's how bad it's got.

Broad now looking an unlikely starter. When was the last time he was truly fully fit, I wonder? Meaker to make his debut then? Nah, I bet they play it safe and play trundler Bresnan.

Henry wrote:Broad now looking an unlikely starter. When was the last time he was truly fully fit, I wonder? Meaker to make his debut then? Nah, I bet they play it safe and play trundler Bresnan.

Lady Di is england's riposte to our Schoolgirl...complete with the trembling bottom lip that you could carve steaks off...that said I think Watson is worse...perhaps the most over rated Test cricketer of this era

horace wrote:

Henry wrote:Broad now looking an unlikely starter. When was the last time he was truly fully fit, I wonder? Meaker to make his debut then? Nah, I bet they play it safe and play trundler Bresnan.

Lady Di is england's riposte to our Schoolgirl...complete with the trembling bottom lip that you could carve steaks off...that said I think Watson is worse...perhaps the most over rated Test cricketer of this era

Horrie, finally you're on to something. Watson's T20 and ODI exploits have falsely enhanced his image as a test player. At test level I actually think he's a better bowler than batsman.

schoolgirl has just 2 test tons to his name

Brass Monkey wrote:Zaheer just doesn't seem hungry enough, in the competition stakes that is.

He's had his share, he is a donkey after all.

will england drop swann? or is that not possible?

Zaheer named in the India squad. Harbhajan in the squad too. Shit time to be Ojha. Vijay in the squad too, FFS.

Harbhajan must treat Dhoni's c*ck reeeeeeeaaalll well. When was the last time he took a wicket? 2009?

He can slap the asses well.

What was the logic in recalling that twat Bhajji back? Did Ashwin suddenly lose form overnight? Or did Ojha get arrested for murdering someone?

Neither of them has been dropped. But Bhajji been selected. Badri and Raina were dropped.

bhajji/zaheer/vijay

w/t/f

No they haven't been dropped. But bringing in a third off spinner for a leggies is senseless. And having him will only tempt the biased twat Dhoni to play his friend at some stage and 'rest' a performing Ojha.

umm, ojha is leftie, bhajji rightie. not like for like

Isn't plain obvious? Bhajji ruined us in the T20I - so why wouldn't he do it in Test cricket? Duh.

Brass Monkey wrote:Isn't plain obvious? Bhajji ruined us in the T20I - so why wouldn't he do it in Test cricket? Duh.

If he can cause that much difficulty in 4 overs imagine the problems he will create in 30 overs.