Fourth Test: India v England, 8-12 Dec.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Leach took 6-1-7-3 today.

Hadn't noticed Tom Curran got 5-16. And made 40.

Four day game with Afghanistan coming up.

Should have started a thread for this.

[m@tt]

Leach took 6-1-7-3 today.

Hadn't noticed Tom Curran got 5-16. And made 40.

Four day game with Afghanistan coming up.

Should have started a thread for this.

Only a matter of time before a Curran makes the England team. Probably Tom first though I think most see Sam as the better player in the long-run (being a left-armer helps). Finn's the man at risk in terms of a squad place.

[m@tt]

I see Bayliss is calling for positivity again, unfortunately his batsmen interpret that as go out and score quickly which in tests is not always what's required. He seems like someone who would treat a case of a dug overdose with a good sniff of cocaine. Maybe he wants these tests used as preparation for next years champions trophy.

Taken without context, the headline "Bayliss calls for more positivity" can sound like poor advice. Though to quote him...

"When we have been a little bit more defensive, we look like wickets waiting to happen. As soon as we're a little bit more positive, rotating the strike and hitting a boundary when the opportunity comes, it puts pressure on the opposition."

... it doesn't sound so bad. I don't believe he's calling for out-right aggression, though I think most posters see this.

And to quote Dobell (as I took the above quote from his article)...

"We all know what Bayliss means, of course. He means that bowlers can be hit off a length or close fielders pushed back. He means that, if batsmen can make the bowlers' lives uncomfortable, they are unable to go on the attack and batting becomes more straightforward."

I think the argument makes a lot of sense and the talk of playing with the bowlers length and the location of certain fielders is made by plenty of players too. For instance, hitting an attacking shot to push a fielder back so that it creates a repeat opportunity for a low-risk single.

Unfortunately individual players seem to be making too many poor decisions - and the attacking shots always look so much worse when they don't come off. As you say hope, the batsmen seem to be interpreting it wrong. And whilst we can use the spin-friendly conditions as mitigation in this series, this criticism is hardly new - we saw it against Pakistan too and before.

Hopefully the players will learn - to be fair to them, I'd say both Bairstow and Stokes have shown huge improvements in their batting compared to the tour of the UAE, even if more is needed.

And hopefully we'll find the right balance - I'm not sure we do at the moment (12 months ago I think we did have a better on-paper mix of graft and attack, though in practice Compton struggled to rotate the strike and Taylor showed promise but ultimately never got the opportunity to crack Test cricket).

It will be interesting to see how Jennings gets on. If he makes it, he could bat at 3 when Hameed returns with Root moving to 4 (possible with captaincy as well). In theory that sounds a bit more balanced.

[Dr Cricket]

Seems like Reg Dickinson got some work to do now.
Tamil Nadu Chief minister had an heart attack yesterday and is in critical conditions.
Chennai hosting the 5th test.
So far no trouble but they prepared anti riot police just in case.
http://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/wit ... rt-1633935

[Alviro Patterson]

Leach took 6-1-7-3 today.

Hadn't noticed Tom Curran got 5-16. And made 40.

Four day game with Afghanistan coming up.

Should have started a thread for this.

Only a matter of time before a Curran makes the England team. Probably Tom first though I think most see Sam as the better player in the long-run (being a left-armer helps). Finn's the man at risk in terms of a squad place.

Tom Curran is the real deal, I reckon he won't have too much problem transitioning from domestic to international cricket. If anything being under the guidance of Team England would prevent Tom from being burnt out as Surrey tend to over bowl him.

[Dr Cricket]

more information on Hameed coach and his time in india and his letter to the coach.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/co ... 70481.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/conte ... 70476.html

[rich1uk]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

[Gingerfinch]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

Similar to me saying I was coached in Spain, after playing Football on Barcelona beach!

[rich1uk]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

Similar to me saying I was coached in Spain, after playing Football on Barcelona beach!

if southgate reads this you will be in the next england squad

[Gingerfinch]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

Similar to me saying I was coached in Spain, after playing Football on Barcelona beach!

if southgate reads this you will be in the next england squad

Until he sees me play!

[rich1uk]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

Similar to me saying I was coached in Spain, after playing Football on Barcelona beach!

if southgate reads this you will be in the next england squad

Until he sees me play!

just tell him you are paul scholes coming out of retirement

[Dr Cricket]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

isn't that the same thing as some players playing county cricket for few weeks.

[rich1uk]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

isn't that the same thing as some players playing county cricket for few weeks.

are you comparing the standard of county cricket to an under 15s game in india ?

[Dr Cricket]

and dont those articles confirm exactly what M-S and myself were saying

he got a few weeks coaching and played in a couple of games

useful but hardly career defining

is not exactly few weeks though is it considering he done 3 spells of it in india.

[Dr Cricket]

Hameed must clearly think it is worthwhile if he wrote this.
"To Paradkar Sir, thank you for all your relentless efforts, dedication and hard work and of course your insight and expertise, knowledge over the last month. I have no doubt I have developed my game a lot under your watchful guidance and I have learnt things from you that I will use throughout my career."