India v England, 2nd Test, Mumbai, 23-27 November, 2012

So, the arse for Fat Sam?

The arse for Bresnan, Broad, and Bell.

If I had to get rid of three, it would be those... I just can't see Broadsnan getting dumped though. They's good at the lovins.

Well Finn at least HAS to play, and Jimmy has more credits remaining than those two.

If he's fit, yeah, actually, he'll probably replace Bresnan. He's got a knack of taking wickets, I just don't know if he'll make a great deal of difference. It's likely that the toss will have a deciding factor again.

Sam will get one more chance. Was unlucky last time around but is close to last chance saloon now. I'd tell Bell to stay at home, personally.

Based on his performance at Ahmedabad, I assumed he already WAS at home.

With the exception of Bresnan and Bell I’d be very careful with too many changes. IMO, these two should be replaced by Finn (if fit, or else Onions) and Morgan/Bairstow leaving Samit Patel in the playing XI. I’d keep Anderson in too as Bombay will have a lot more bounce. Bombay’s proximity to the sea will make the ball swing in the first session and maybe the last hour of play. The red soil is likely to aid the spinners during the hot part of the day (making Monty a must), so a balanced attack will call the shots on the first two days. I figure, after that the soil will take over making the ground more and more spin biased even in the morning session. I reckon the way to go for England in Bombay is 2 pacers and two spinners with at least two part time spinners.

Dhoni wants a rank turner from the first hour, but he’s clearly a very lucky jackass who underestimates what a Swann/Monty combo could inflict on an unbalanced Indian team with an aging and horribly out of form Tendulkar, a butter-fingered w/k who winces at the sight of a hard-ball thrown at him and a comparatively long tail. Personally I think Dhoni’s presence is being carried by 9 players in the team and its time to look for long-term options.

If I had my way, I’d go for:

ENGLAND – Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Morgan/Bairstow, Prior, Patel, Swann, Finn/Onions, Anderson, Panesar
INDIA – Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane/SRT (no prizes for guessing who’ll win there), Yuvraj, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zaheer, Ojha, Umesh Yadav

I'd say Bairstow well ahead of Morgan.

Be astonished if India made any changes.

mirchy wrote:With the exception of Bresnan and Bell I’d be very careful with too many changes. IMO, these two should be replaced by Finn (if fit, or else Onions) and Morgan/Bairstow leaving Samit Patel in the playing XI. I’d keep Anderson in too as Bombay will have a lot more bounce. Bombay’s proximity to the sea will make the ball swing in the first session and maybe the last hour of play. The red soil is likely to aid the spinners during the hot part of the day (making Monty a must), so a balanced attack will call the shots on the first two days. I figure, after that the soil will take over making the ground more and more spin biased even in the morning session. I reckon the way to go for England in Bombay is 2 pacers and two spinners with at least two part time spinners.

Dhoni wants a rank turner from the first hour, but he’s clearly a very lucky jackass who underestimates what a Swann/Monty combo could inflict on an unbalanced Indian team with an aging and horribly out of form Tendulkar, a butter-fingered w/k who winces at the sight of a hard-ball thrown at him and a comparatively long tail. Personally I think Dhoni’s presence is being carried by 9 players in the team and its time to look for long-term options.

If I had my way, I’d go for:

ENGLAND – Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Morgan/Bairstow, Prior, Patel, Swann, Finn/Onions, Anderson, Panesar
INDIA – Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane/SRT (no prizes for guessing who’ll win there), Yuvraj, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zaheer, Ojha, Umesh Yadav

But you've dropped Bell, Bresnan AND Broad! The three the others were suggesting.

Cook
Compton
Trott?
Pietersen
Bairstow I suppose: #5 is proving problematic
Patel
Prior
Swann
Finn (Onions)
Anderson
Panesar

Incidentally, is Mushie still working with England? Couldn't he be given the batsmen to work with?

And is Gucci still employed? What's he doing? Giving footwear and accessories advice?

Maybe switch Bairstow and Patel around, and tell Sam he won't be needed so much for bowling - send him into the nets with Mushie (or whoever is drawing a wage as Spin Consultant, England team, for the use of).

india won't have any changes, unless injury forces them to make any. this should probably be england's best chance for a win, unless the pitch is drastically changed like against aus in 2004

i'd be surprised if england don't play finn if he is fit. almost as surprised if they do play monty

PeterCS wrote:Incidentally, is Mushie still working with England? Couldn't he be given the batsmen to work with?

Oh yeah, he's working with us. In fact, apparently* KP was picking his brains all week, working with him all week.

So that helped. Alot.

His batting helped us a lot in the second innings.

flower was one of the best players of spin in the last 2 decades. can't seem to help the english batsmen either

Gooch was also good against India. Then again, how is a dustbowl, or a non flat pitch, replicated in practice? They seem to be okay in England.

Finn unavailable for the second test too

The New Chris Tremlett.

There's no way they'll play Meaker - haven't got the gumption.

Onions then?

Thanks very much. Mustard there too?

tricycle wrote:Onions then?

Good point. Maybe so. At least he should be able to keep it a little tighter than 'The Hair Bunch'.

Brass Monkey wrote:

tricycle wrote:Onions then?

Good point. Maybe so. At least he should be able to keep it a little tighter than 'The Hair Bunch'.

I'll wait till he shows his moustache. Or otherwise buys a razor.

tricycle wrote:Finn unavailable for the second test too

Feck, feck, feckity feck.

Cook
Compton
Trott
Pietersen (by default)
Bairstow (could be Morgan. Tough choice. Like choosing your favourite dog shit. Don't really back either, here)
Fat Sam
Prior
Broad (it won't be Onions)
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

I wish Finn was fit. I'd drop Broad if so.

I'd be very happy if India could perhaps leave the umpires alone. I'd also be happy if Broad acted his age, but I'm not confident of either actually happening.

They need to send out an SOS to Saj.

Dello would sign it.