England v India, 5th Test, The Oval, 15-19 August, 2014

Changes?

Kohli out, promote Ashwin to number 5 or 6.

Who comes in for Broad for England? Finn, I guess.

Is Broad definitely out? If his knee can hold up for one more test, then a broken nose is unlikely to keep him out. They'll probably be unchanged. The only change they might consider is Finn for Woakes.

I think Broad's knee and nose might (together) be a good reason to rest him! With the series safe, it's a good chance to have a look at Finn. With the Bannies such a ragged band, you could probably call up Gareth Batty and run through them twice for double digit totals. They must be homesick. No doubt furry can arrange a warm welcome for them on their return?

The series isn't "safe", we're only 2-1 up... still, we beat them over there last time out so have retained the Anderson-Jadeja Shield or the Jellybean Cup or whatever it's called... yes India look shot but so did England earlier in the summer, we can't be complacent yet.

I'd like to see Finn play, but it's not the time for random one-off Oval picks we've seen in years gone by. We won't find out anything about, say, a new opening batsman in one match when we don't play Tests again for 7 or 8 months after it.

I think I would have Finn in the side for either Jordan or Woakes: probably for Woakes as I don't think he has much to offer as a test bowler. This assumes, of course, that Broad is fit enough to play.

Robson will play - but this might be last chance saloon time for him

After this it's no Tests for 8 months, followed by potentially 17 in the following nine according to one article...

There will be some casualties along the way you would think - that is an absolutely insane schedule.

A few teaspoons of HTFU may be required.

April 2015: 3 v WI (away)
May-June: 2 v NZ (home)
June-Aug: 5 v Aus (home)
Oct-Nov: 3 v Pkn (away/UAE)
Dec-Feb 2016: 4 v SA (away)

Anyway, unchanged England squad for the Oval - they're hopeful on Sturat, Finn and Stokes remain in contention but Plunkett still unfit and Kerrigan not included. And sensibly no tinkering with the top order given it's JAMODI stuff until April after this.

Yeah, I doubted England would change much - the only possible change will be the third/fourth seamer - if Broad is fit, it's whether they want to change one of Woakes and Jordan - most likely Woakes.

India, on the other hand, they haven't really got much of a clue. I'd personally get rid of Jadeja, he offers very little to the team. I'd only go in with four bowlers - I'd probably reinstate Shitcar, the Oval is usually belterrific, so he could FTB some quick runs. I'd stick Gashbir down the order, where India should've picked him before (at least in the SubC).

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Gambhir
Rahane
Dhoni
Ashwin
Kumar
Sharma
Pankaj

I'd personally cautious of writing off India, or more to the point writing on England. People have short memories, we were in complete disarray two Tests ago and as soon as we're put under the pump, we crumble. The same deficiencies are still there - we've just been lucky that Haircut 200 have decided to stop bowling like twats.

Dhawan to Gambhirand possibly to Dhawan again. What a shower of shit... get Mukund or someone back into the side and Tiwary if this team needs some middle order restoring.

Ashwin to open the batting (at both ends) and the bowling (at both ends).

And what chance Coaly actually getting past 10 on a quickish Oval deck?

T-E Kohli has been total waste this series...and the 1st drop has changed his name to Spaghetti Puttensca...claerly anyones on a pitch outside Banindia

Don't care who else bats or bowls for India, Rain has to play.

furriner wrote:Don't care who else bats or bowls for India, Rain has to play.

Although given the form of anyone playing for India, even rain will not turn up completely and we'll get overcast conditions.

Probable Indian side: 11 qunts.

Thank god i missed the match over the weekend otherwise i'd be looking for a new TV. Might not be so lucky this weekend.

Henry Nolonga wrote:Probable Indian side: 11 qunts.

Thank god i missed the match over the weekend otherwise i'd be looking for a new TV. Might not be so lucky this weekend.

Dhoni isn't playing?

Henry Nolonga wrote:Probable Indian side: 11 qunts.

Thank god i missed the match over the weekend otherwise i'd be looking for a new TV. Might not be so lucky this weekend.

Watch it at the mother-in-law's house just in case.

Henry Nolonga wrote:Probable Indian side: 11 qunts......

  

Henry Nolonga wrote:Probable Indian side: 11 qunts.

Simple but oh so effective. I almost reverse flushed tea out my nose.   

Henry Nolonga wrote:Probable Indian side: 11 qunts.

Probable England side : 11 hard-ons. Ready to oblige.

At this stage even flaccids are enough

Merlin wrote:

Henry Nolonga wrote:Probable Indian side: 11 qunts.

Probable England side : 11 hard-ons. Ready to oblige.

NOPE. Probable England side: 11 qunts.

It's qunt v qunt, then