India v England, 5th Test, Chennai, 16-20 December, 2016

Basil wrote:

lardbucket wrote:I think India will look to score their next 100 or so quickly, declare an hour before stumps tonight, and then move in for the kill.

I can't see an exhausted, demoralised England team already packed for the flight home surviving the challenges of day 5.

Quite.

Can't see it. Englands batting is not that inept....is it? I mean they scored 400+ in the first innings.

I'd be surprised if they make 200 or survive 90 overs in their second innings, with no win to play for, with Ashwin and Jadeja rampant on a day 5 skiddy deck, and with 7-8 screaming close-in fielders appealing for everything.

It's almost exactly the same scenario as Mumbai. India are well ahead right now, and just need to get as big a lead as possible by 3:30. Hubris and all, but I'd back the Indian spinners to get 10 wickets in 90-100 overs (or more given India's usual over rate) in the last innings, and try whatever chase remains.

As an aside, regarding attendances, if I'm correct, three stands are closed due to a conflict with the local municipal corporation.

Just waiting for Nair's 300...

A great knock. Broad has been under bowled. Love watching him get ground down.

tricycle wrote:Just waiting for Nair's 300...

400

Triple century to Karun Nair

India 7/759

Big Dog wrote:

Basil wrote:

lardbucket wrote:I think India will look to score their next 100 or so quickly, declare an hour before stumps tonight, and then move in for the kill.

I can't see an exhausted, demoralised England team already packed for the flight home surviving the challenges of day 5.

Quite.

Can't see it. Englands batting is not that inept....is it? I mean they scored 400+ in the first innings.

End of Day 4 pitch. Demoralised & knackered after 200 overs (or whatever it is) chasing leather. A crumbly team (esp in Indian conditions). They might get to 150.

This must be the end of Cook as captain.

PeterCS wrote:So, India's plan... ?

Accumulate until lunch (just 10-20 ahead of England), pick up the pace gradually after that, whacking 4s &6s in due course, get to a 200-220 run lead, stick England in for 10 overs, grab 3-4 flaky wickets and spin the rest out before lunch on Day 5? Something on those lines?

I was slightly optimistic (from an England point of view).

Well played, Mr Nair!

However feeble/enfeebled the opposition, a triple ton in a Test is always a feat of stamina as well as skill.

taipan wrote:This must be the end of Cook as captain.

Broad 2/80. Says enough about his captaincy this test.

Was he carrying an indisposition of some sort, perhaps? Or were his absences from the field just for pisses?


Anyway, longer term (i.e. short term for England), Anderson is the greater concern. Two injury gaps on one tour suggests the end is near, surely. It may just be a (bruised?) toe, but growing fragility apparent.

taipan wrote:This must be the end of Cook as captain.

Yep, I think the time has come.

WideWally wrote:Triple century to Karun Nair

India 7/759

FMD!!!

So Dawson will finish his Test career with both batting and bowling averages over 60; his batting average will be higher.

I'm guessing that this can't have happened very often?

lardbucket wrote:So Dawson will finish his Test career with both batting and bowling averages over 60; his batting average will be higher.

I'm guessing that this can't have happened very often?

Possibly Abul Hasan if he doesn't play again. Although his bowling average is higher than his batting average.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/player/373439.html

Dawson will get more games. At least he tries. I'm not saying he is the future of Pom cricket, now I Ron has become the encapsulated history, but he merits another go.

Won't happen, Horrie.

Last game of the series, and he's bowled poo. Rashid and Moeen will always be selected ahead of him.

Maybe. Sad reflection. .
Ali is at best a part time spinner and Rashid is often ratshit.

Moeen's figures are beginning to look quite respectable. Averaging mid-30s with the bat, and closing fast on 100 Test wickets when last I looked. Better than Carl Hooper?

lardbucket wrote:Moeen's figures are beginning to look quite respectable. Averaging mid-30s with the bat, and closing fast on 100 Test wickets when last I looked. Better than Carl Hooper?

32 with the bat and 40 with the ball. Bits and pieces?

About the same. Good comparison. I thinks Hoops owling ended up s rewing his batting. Cook has overused him as a bowler

And re Dawson, yep he bowled poo but no worse than the others. At least he put in, unlike Malfoy.

The Gavin Robertson of his era.