India in England 2014, Tour Preview Thread

[msp83]

First topic message reminder :

India's tour of England starts in July, and they are playing a 5 test series after more than a decade. The selectors have announced a large 18 member squad for the test series.
MS Dhoni (Captain WK), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishwar Pandey, Ishant Sharma, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Pankaj Singh
In: Gautam Gambhir, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Pankaj Singh
Out: Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ambati Rayudu.
Lets debate the possibilities, combinations and permutations.

[msp83]

Cook has a pretty good record against India even when India could put together bowling Attacks worth the name in spinning conditions. Without spinning conditions and without Zaheer, this bowling unit should be meat and drink for English batsman, particularly if Ishant Sharma plays.......

[msp83]

And what on earth is India's bowling coach is doing? He should at least help Sharma fix his no-ball problem. If by some accident he gets a wicket, there is every chance that it would be of a no-ball, the guy is averaging a no-ball an over. India should have sacked the bowling coach Joe whatever, long time back

[KP_fan]

Derbyshire scoring 326-5 at the end of the day. Ravindra Jadeja took a couple of wickets, but no stand out performance from the Indian bowlers.
Ishant Sharma managed to bowl 9 no-balls in his 12 overs.

the report shows India is treating these to find rythm and like net sessions

one of the Derby players said...it looked like in every session Indians had a different team.

it might be the mindset, and goal for the Indian bowlers was to try a few things to see what works for them

We really need to see what they do in T1 to judge them

sami has a mild calf strain and reported he will be OK........and Kuwar + Ishant are given to the other 2 bowlers

[msp83]

If they play bloody Ishant, no matter what Pujara, Kohli and Rahane can do, India would stand no chance. England will ran up 500+ totals regularly, and since they have a decent seam bowling unit, India won't be able to get pass 350-400 regularly.
5-0 on the cards?

[msp83]

KPF, the report also suggested that Ishant's no-ball count was limited to 9 only because of extreme kindness from the umpire.

[msp83]

Interesting, cricinfo's George Dobell thinks that the pitches for the series would favor batsman more than the seam bowler.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/content/story/756913.html

[GSC]

They did for the recent Sri Lanka tests.

TB usually comes down to swinging conditions in any case.

[msp83]

After a terrible show from the bowlers, now the 2 openers have failed. Not much going to plan for the Indians........

[KP_fan]

well however flat the pitches might be by English standards...they are still gonna be like the seamers friendly Mohali pitch in India.

and there will be swing from the atmospheric conditions.

but it's interesting to know there will be some spin....will make it easier for bhai to justify putting Rohit in the XI for his spin bowling skills

[msp83]

Half-century for Cheteshwar Pujara. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni batting at 5 as he did not get a hit in the last warm-up circus. India 127-3. No big score for Virat Kohli, another start though, 36 this time.
Its not so much the batting that worries me, its the bowling. In Pujara, Kohli and Rahane, there is some quality in the batting department, and if they all have decent returns and if at least one or 2 other chip in pir innings, the batting department can be reasonably taken care of. But I doubt the bowling unit will give the batsmen much of a chance really.

[KP_fan]

Batting is OK.....depth upto No.8 and even Ishant can hang around

Bowling will come out better than we are seeing here......they have been given license to treate these games as net-practise sessions....so the bowler are trying too much

[msp83]

A positive 46 from the Indian captain, of 56 balls. MSD being true to his word, trying to use every scoring opportunity that comes his way. Pujara among the runs again, retired on 81.

[msp83]

So England squad for the first test announced. Ben Stokes returns and it is a 13 man squad, meaning Chris Woakes is also retained.
Will Stokes come back right away? Chris Jordan most likely to miss out.

[msp83]

Stuart Binny batting a head of Rohit Sharma........ Indicator of something? Or is it the sign that along with Ishant, Rohit Sharma is a sureshot starter in the lineup regardless of performances?

[msp83]

Binny and Jadeja getting some runs, both into the 30s.

[msp83]

India finished with 341-6, Stuart Binny with 81 not out.

[KP_fan]

Binny gets India's highest score of the tour so far....my man Binny

[Gerry SA]

Looks like Ishant has finally been axed.

An attack of Shami, Kumar, Aaron/Pandey, Jadeja and Binny(looks like he's made the cut) looks pretty promising.

Shami brings the thunder, 140+kph. As does Aaron.

Jadeja is the best spinner. Kumar best swing bowler. Binny's in good form.

I'd consider Ashwin to open the batting if Vijay struggles.

[msp83]

Looks like Ishant has finally been axed.

An attack of Shami, Kumar, Aaron/Pandey, Jadeja and Binny(looks like he's made the cut) looks pretty promising.

Shami brings the thunder, 140+kph. As does Aaron.

Jadeja is the best spinner. Kumar best swing bowler. Binny's in good form.

I'd consider Ashwin to open the batting if Vijay struggles.

Gerry, what made you think Ishant is axed? Fat chance of that happening really!. Its a burden we have to carry!. No getting away, at least till the 4th test. He'll pick 4 wickets somewhere and stay in the side for the next couple of years in his usual mediocre ways!.

[msp83]

An early wicket for Bhuvneshwar. I'd still prefer Pankaj.
Binny gets a wicket, he has taken his chances it seems, though I still don't like the original selection. Can't rule out him playing ahead of Rohit Sharma in the eventual lineup.
Ishant a bit out of form, only 1 no-ball into his 4th over!.

[Gerry SA]

Looks like Ishant has finally been axed.

An attack of Shami, Kumar, Aaron/Pandey, Jadeja and Binny(looks like he's made the cut) looks pretty promising.

Shami brings the thunder, 140+kph. As does Aaron.

Jadeja is the best spinner. Kumar best swing bowler. Binny's in good form.

I'd consider Ashwin to open the batting if Vijay struggles.

Gerry, what made you think Ishant is axed? Fat chance of that happening really!. Its a burden we have to carry!. No getting away, at least till the 4th test. He'll pick 4 wickets somewhere and stay in the side for the next couple of years in his usual mediocre ways!.

Just from looking at his figures, some 20 no balls thus far in 2 warm up matches, and he's not getting the new ball.
Plus Ishant is useless with the bat.

Binny, Kumar and even Aaron can all add runs/hold up an end.

If Ishant plays I'll be pretty shocked.

[msp83]

Looks like Ishant has finally been axed.

An attack of Shami, Kumar, Aaron/Pandey, Jadeja and Binny(looks like he's made the cut) looks pretty promising.

Shami brings the thunder, 140+kph. As does Aaron.

Jadeja is the best spinner. Kumar best swing bowler. Binny's in good form.

I'd consider Ashwin to open the batting if Vijay struggles.

Gerry, what made you think Ishant is axed? Fat chance of that happening really!. Its a burden we have to carry!. No getting away, at least till the 4th test. He'll pick 4 wickets somewhere and stay in the side for the next couple of years in his usual mediocre ways!.

Just from looking at his figures, some 20 no balls thus far in 2 warm up matches, and he's not getting the new ball.
Plus Ishant is useless with the bat.

Binny, Kumar and even Aaron can all add runs/hold up an end.

If Ishant plays I'll be pretty shocked.

Gerry, no need to look at the no-balls to grasp the obvious reality that Ishant is not good enough to be picked for the test side, he has been mediocre after his first year in international cricket. But he it seems, would bowl more overs than anyone else in the nets, and since he holds no real threat, the batsman love facing him before game time, and so the management want him in the side always.

[KP_fan]

An early wicket for Bhuvneshwar. I'd still prefer Pankaj.
Binny gets a wicket, he has taken his chances it seems, though I still don't like the original selection. Can't rule out him playing ahead of Rohit Sharma in the eventual lineup.
Ishant a bit out of form, only 1 no-ball into his 4th over!.

it's looking more and more like......Binny will be the 4th seamer...he is a genuine swing bowler as is Kumar.

Shami and Ishant are more seam bowlers

[msp83]

Vijay getting a few runs, retired on 41. Rohit Sharma comes in at 4 to get a hit. Despite all that Stuart Binny did, Rohit has his place pretty much secured it seems.
Should have been Rishi Dhawan alright, but since Binny is the man selected, I think going in with him instead of Rohit is not a bad idea for the TB test where the ball is likely to do things. Sharma won't score much on such a pitch anyways, Binny can't be expected to do any better either. But the latter can bowl, and on such a track, he might come in handy.

[msp83]

India won their warm-up game against Derbyshire though win and loss are meaningless terms the way the match was designed. More importantly for India, Mohammed Shami managed to come through 11 2nd innings over and the concerns srounding his mile injury issues have gone away. Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane found some runs in the 2nd innings.
Across the 2 warm-up games, because the Indians took it non-seriously and did not play a proper FC game, their combination does remain rather unclear, at least from outside look in. The number 6 spot and the bowling unit, not sure there is enough clarity from these games ts to how to go about.
The only absolutely clear thing is that Ishant Sharma should not be played in this horrible form. But that obvious lesson will be brushed aside by the management. Rohit Sharma is also likely to play, though Stuart Binny might make the management think just a little bit before they eventually decide in favor of Rohit.

[KP_fan]

I still can't digest Ishant will play ahead of Yadav
and that Yadav is not deemed among top 6 seamers in the country

[ShankyCricket]

I still can't digest Ishant will play ahead of Yadav
and that Yadav is not deemed among top 6 seamers in the country

No one can. Even if no Yadav, I am hoping against hope that one of Pankaj, Ishwar and Aaron will be picked ahead of Ishant.

[msp83]

Cricinfo reports that India are considering playing 5 bowlers. There is a chance that Stuart Binny might get to debut.

[ShankyCricket]

Cricinfo  reports that India are considering playing 5 bowlers. There is a chance that Stuart Binny might get to debut.

If Ishant is one of them, it'll be 3 and a half anyway.

[msp83]

At this stage, I'll gladly take Binny over Ishant. At least Binny will finish most of his overs in 6 balls rather than 8 or 9 deliveries!.
If they go in with 5 bowlers, then 4 seamers, Shami, Kumar, Pankaj and Aaron, with Ashwin in at 6. If they go with 4 bowlers, then Jadeja as the spinner, Shami, Aaron and Pankaj in charge of the seam bowling department.

[ShankyCricket]

At this stage, I'll gladly take Binny over Ishant. At least Binny will finish most of his overs in 6 balls rather than 8 or 9 deliveries!.
If they go in with 5 bowlers, then 4 seamers, Shami, Kumar, Pankaj and Aaron, with Ashwin in at 6. If they go with 4 bowlers, then Jadeja as the spinner, Shami, Aaron and Pankaj in charge of the seam bowling department.

Absolutely! MSD will go with Ishant and Binny though.

[msp83]

At this stage, I'll gladly take Binny over Ishant. At least Binny will finish most of his overs in 6 balls rather than 8 or 9 deliveries!.
If they go in with 5 bowlers, then 4 seamers, Shami, Kumar, Pankaj and Aaron, with Ashwin in at 6. If they go with 4 bowlers, then Jadeja as the spinner, Shami, Aaron and Pankaj in charge of the seam bowling department.

Absolutely! MSD will go with Ishant and Binny though.

Shanky, we can console ourselves with the thought that that is one Sharma less to worry about!.

[KP_fan]

At this stage, I'll gladly take Binny over Ishant. At least Binny will finish most of his overs in 6 balls rather than 8 or 9 deliveries!.
If they go in with 5 bowlers, then 4 seamers, Shami, Kumar, Pankaj and Aaron, with Ashwin in at 6. If they go with 4 bowlers, then Jadeja as the spinner, Shami, Aaron and Pankaj in charge of the seam bowling department.

ashwin is toothless as a bowler.....anyone like Rohit , Raina etc can bowl just as well ( or as bad)

[ShankyCricket]

Ashwin is a better batsman than Nohit though.

[ShankyCricket]

At this stage, I'll gladly take Binny over Ishant. At least Binny will finish most of his overs in 6 balls rather than 8 or 9 deliveries!.
If they go in with 5 bowlers, then 4 seamers, Shami, Kumar, Pankaj and Aaron, with Ashwin in at 6. If they go with 4 bowlers, then Jadeja as the spinner, Shami, Aaron and Pankaj in charge of the seam bowling department.

Absolutely! MSD will go with Ishant and Binny though.

Shanky, we can console ourselves with the thought that that is one Sharma less to worry about!.

Haha, we have to contend with the worse Sharma though and the one that is more likely to hinder our chances of getting 20 wkts.

[msp83]

Yes, there is no saving from that one!. All that we can hope for is that he'll bowl his way out of the side after the first test, or the more optimistic but less likely scenario of him having a decent series. But his one good series of the year is already done, in New Zealand!.

[Scrumpy]

Buttler called up as cover for Prior, but is he ready?
We know that Captain Cook doesn't think so but then again his judgement is a little off at the moment.

[KP_fan]

I do not like Butler, Warner, Gayle, Morgan type players...who can take the game away quickly.they feast of feeble Indian bowling.
we would prefer to have Prior fit and playing.

there is a lot of talk about the pitch being dry.....how dry?
How much will it assist spin?

if we play Binny we won't even have a part-time spinner.....unless Vijay and Rahane are asked to practice their leg-spin in the nets

[msp83]

You calling for Rohit Sharma, KPF?

[hampo17]

Buttler called up as cover for Prior, but is he ready?
We know that Captain Cook doesn't think so but then again his judgement is a little off at the moment.

I'd be telling Buttler to go out and play his natural game, he's at his best when he scores quickly and I'd hate to see the England coaching team try and change his style.

[Scrumpy]

They will, the England set up destroyed Compton.

[KP_fan]

You calling for Rohit Sharma, KPF?

no I am calling for Vijay to roll his arm over and practice in the nets

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