Re: England tour of India, Jan 25 - March 11
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:05 am
Agree with DFM there . Rather than throwing it away - a criticism that might fairly have been levelled at some players in the previous two games ? - I think it more correct to say they were simply unable to stand up to some really excellent bowling (and late first innings batting) from a very good Indian team.
So more outplayed than guilty of poor tactics , on this occasion. Indeed I suspect another fifty runs would have been enough ; but apart from dropping Jurel on the third morning they didn't do a lot wrong in the field. And while the bats won't be happy with their efforts here , it is probably worth remembering that (apart from Duckett whose average of 42 owes a lot to one innings of 190 against Ireland) only Root in this team averages north of 37. A lot of stronger lists have been done over in tricky conditions in India in recent years.
I am disappointed England couldn't force an unlikely win on that quite gripping final afternoon ; because I'd have loved to see a decider in a series in which 3-1 is perhaps just slightly misleading . India have certainly been the better team ; but not as overwhelmingly so as we might have expected at the beginning. As for England , I think they do need to both continue to play without fear , as has been their recent mantra (it has brought them a decent measure of success , after all) ; but also try to refine their game situation management. Can't be easy , in the heat of very intense play at this level ; but knowing when to adjust your tactics at crucial points is an important part of the game - and it is one in which they have a mixed record . (SA 2022 : very good. Lord's 2023 : rather bad. And others each way) The more times you get it right the better...
Won't see much of T5 as away for the Folk Festival at Port Fairy ; but I've enjoyed these four matches , despite the end result
So more outplayed than guilty of poor tactics , on this occasion. Indeed I suspect another fifty runs would have been enough ; but apart from dropping Jurel on the third morning they didn't do a lot wrong in the field. And while the bats won't be happy with their efforts here , it is probably worth remembering that (apart from Duckett whose average of 42 owes a lot to one innings of 190 against Ireland) only Root in this team averages north of 37. A lot of stronger lists have been done over in tricky conditions in India in recent years.
I am disappointed England couldn't force an unlikely win on that quite gripping final afternoon ; because I'd have loved to see a decider in a series in which 3-1 is perhaps just slightly misleading . India have certainly been the better team ; but not as overwhelmingly so as we might have expected at the beginning. As for England , I think they do need to both continue to play without fear , as has been their recent mantra (it has brought them a decent measure of success , after all) ; but also try to refine their game situation management. Can't be easy , in the heat of very intense play at this level ; but knowing when to adjust your tactics at crucial points is an important part of the game - and it is one in which they have a mixed record . (SA 2022 : very good. Lord's 2023 : rather bad. And others each way) The more times you get it right the better...
Won't see much of T5 as away for the Folk Festival at Port Fairy ; but I've enjoyed these four matches , despite the end result