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

Trott, KP, Bell and Patel have not been good enough. Trott is on a very downward slope at the minute as is Bell. Pietersen? I wouldn't worry about him. I wish the lot of them would spend some time with Chef.

This is quite a performance from Cook.

Almost AB (the real one) like.

C'mon Chef and Porsche-boy, keep going.

65 overs of spin in the second innings for only two wickets. Now to learn how to play the fast bowlers.

Feverish appeal #26553787 turned down...

Brass Monkey wrote:Feverish appeal #26553787 turned down...

That's the spirit of cricket award sealed.

264-5 at tea. Must admit, didn't think we'd get this far.

tricycle wrote:65 overs of spin in the second innings for only two wickets. Now to learn how to play the fast bowlers.

The funny thing is I don't think England have improved at all. This just isn't very good spin. These guys will be eaten alive outside the subcontinent, just like the rest of the India team. This is why I never understand home teams doctoring pitches. It's short-termism in the extreme. Australia were at their best when every home pitch had different characteristics. I know they had great players but surely this helped? Most teams nowadays are good at home, sh*t away. Wonder why?

I know in England, a turning wicket domestically is a crime punishable by death.

Aye, Chiv, as I know all too well. The pitch that produced Swann and Monty is now some sack of nothingness. Nothing too it whatsoever. We were sick of getting fined.

Under "Captain's Knock" in the Oxford would be a picture of The Eyeliner Kid. Great stuff.

Chivalry Augustus wrote:

tricycle wrote:65 overs of spin in the second innings for only two wickets. Now to learn how to play the fast bowlers.

The funny thing is I don't think England have improved at all. This just isn't very good spin. These guys will be eaten alive outside the subcontinent, just like the rest of the India team. This is why I never understand home teams doctoring pitches. It's short-termism in the extreme. Australia were at their best when every home pitch had different characteristics. I know they had great players but surely this helped? Most teams nowadays are good at home, sh*t away. Wonder why?

I know in England, a turning wicket domestically is a crime punishable by death.

Ashwin's been poor, but Ojha's bowled decently. No surprise that our lot would be tonk fodder elsewhere but that's usually down to a bollockless batting performance in swinging conditions followed by a somewhat less castrated effort with the ball (doesn't sound right).

The greentops here come when some team's desperate to earn points. Till then it's usually flat shit to score 600/3 on many times, even the dusty turners have reduced. Don't think Swann would've been nearly as effective a decade ago.

tricycle wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Feverish appeal #26553787 turned down...

That's the spirit of cricket award sealed.

I thought it was only the Aussies that did that?

Wow, I'm stunned. Chef's 150 hasn't been that badly received. It's just 50s and boundaries that are ignored.

Just quietly, Prior has become England's second best batsman, consistency-wise. Definitely the best number seven in world cricket.

Henry wrote:Just quietly, Prior has become England's second best batsman, consistency-wise. Definitely the best number seven in world cricket.

Prior - averaging 40 this year when all around him have been simpering like little bitches. About a third of his dismissals have been when going the tonk when nearly last man standing, as well. Legend.

Chivalry Augustus wrote:

tricycle wrote:65 overs of spin in the second innings for only two wickets. Now to learn how to play the fast bowlers.

The funny thing is I don't think England have improved at all. This just isn't very good spin. These guys will be eaten alive outside the subcontinent, just like the rest of the India team. This is why I never understand home teams doctoring pitches. It's short-termism in the extreme. Australia were at their best when every home pitch had different characteristics. I know they had great players but surely this helped? Most teams nowadays are good at home, sh*t away. Wonder why?

I know in England, a turning wicket domestically is a crime punishable by death.

Agree, the same attack looked ordinary in oz. Also when following on you can get exposed a bit. Also agree with Brass Monk about Prior. Maybe he can bat at #6 which increases England's options.

Oh of course... Matt Prior's 50 is met with a wall of no sound whereas some incredibly ungainly stopped single is met with fervent cheers.

Brass Monkey wrote:Oh of course... Matt Prior's 50 is met with a wall of no sound whereas some incredibly ungainly stopped single is met with fervent cheers.

It is the land of the IPL!

It's also unequivocal that it's the land of INDIA as well.

Thank fark it's better named than the big bash.

Brass Monkey wrote:Oh of course... Matt Prior's 50 is met with a wall of no sound whereas some incredibly ungainly stopped single is met with fervent cheers.

They'd be applauding 24*7 in earlier matches if 50s were cheered. Fatigue methinks, and a monkey painting is met with applause. Extrapolating that to fielding...

Red wrote:Maybe he can bat at #6 which increases England's options.

The top 5 are too shaky as it is and he's one of the better players at batting with the tail.

tricycle wrote:
They'd be applauding 24*7 in earlier matches if 50s were cheered. Fatigue methinks, and a monkey painting is met with applause. Extrapolating that to fielding...

This is Test cricket though. And these gents have just resisted your mighty attack.

So India are now looking at a scene where they could be facing some pressure chasing 150-200 runs even possibly? Like I said before always a bad idea to go for follow ons with 2 days and half to go. Batting half a day and getting close to 500 and putting Eng in for 2 full days on a wearing pitch against an unattainable target was always a better option.

Prior gets away with one, but very hard to call that pad-bat LBW it in real time IMO.

Batman wrote:So India are now looking at a scene where they could be facing some pressure chasing 150-200 runs even possibly? Like I said before always a bad idea to go for follow ons with 2 days and half to go. Batting half a day and getting close to 500 and putting Eng in for 2 full days on a wearing pitch against an unattainable target was always a better option.

England are still 16 behind and one wicket could mean a cluster. We'll see if it was the right thing this time tomorrow.