Fifth Test: India v England, 16-20 Dec (Chennai)

[yuppie]

Maybe bhaveshgor you could write some blogs about your thoughts?

That's a laughably good idea lol.

I'm an ideas man

But it might be the best place to put ideas into a coherent article and not flood the match day threads?

[Dr Cricket]

Maybe bhaveshgor you could write some blogs about your thoughts?

That's a laughably good idea lol.

I'm an ideas man

But it might be the best place to put ideas into a coherent article and not flood the match day threads?

Asked for it to move to Adi Virat captain thread.

[Dr Cricket]

Both teams given final warnings for their behaviour by the umpires.
agree with hault quite pathetic ICC were not strict earlier in the series especially with both teams with history.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2016 ... -anderson/

[Arthur Crabtree]

Other sites don't seem to have this.

[bigfluffylemon]

I can't find it either.

I'm not sure how much weight to give these historical rankings, given that most of them are hypothetical calculations on what rankings might have been for players who retired long before the ranking system was introduced. Where's Jim Laker on the all-time offspinner list, for example?

I think we can all agree though that Ashwin has had a magnificent couple of years. But for me, he's got to succeed outside Asia to be considered an all time great, whatever the rankings say. I'm not saying in every country - almost no-one has an unblemished record everywhere (Murali didn't do so well in Australia and Warne not so well in India, and they're both greats). But Ashwin hasn't really succeeded so far outside the subcontinent, largely because he hasn't had the opportunity (one fairly poor series in Australia has been pretty much it). That's not to say he won't succeed elsewhere, just that I won't regard him as in the same league as Warne, Murali, Underwood etc. until he does.

[Making_Splinters]

I'd agree with that, it's performances away from home in unfamiliar conditions that make a truly great player especially in the modern era where players get the opportunity to play in those conditions more often during their career.

India have been playing well of late, I'd go so far as to say that this team is unbeatable at home over a series, but if you're going to start talking about the all time greats then you have to go abroad and do that. No ifs no buts about it.

[Red Devil]

I'd agree with that, it's performances away from home in unfamiliar conditions that make a truly great player especially in the modern era where players get the opportunity to play in those conditions more often during their career.

India have been playing well of late, I'd go so far as to say that this team is unbeatable at home over a series, but if you're going to start talking about the all time greats then you have to go abroad and do that. No ifs no buts about it.

I think we are quite a long way from starting to compare with the WI sides of the 80's or the Aus era of Warne and McGrath!

However, India's dominance at home over the last 4 years or so is very very impressive. in terms of being world number 1 we only really need to be ok away from home to justify the number 1 tag given the dominance at home - we don't have to beat everyone away from home. If we manage to do that over the next couple of years then we really would be talking about an all-time great test side - for that to happen a lot rests on Shami, Bhuvi, Umesh and Ishant - as well as how effective Ashwin can be away from home.

[Dr Cricket]

They certainly got the potential to be the greatest Indian test team.
Although ganguly team a good shout but they didn't really have the bowlers to win games.
Dhoni team to passive.

[Dr Cricket]

Reckon India losing the test, pitch is damaged game could be a lottery could be a good toss to lose. Drying the deck by coal, hearing from someone they only doing this because the pitch is very damp and game could be called off if the game played tomorrow.
They really should shift the game or delay the start.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hard to believe that hovering trays of coal will dry the pitch out effectively, any more than exposing it to the elements, now the storm hs passed. Though as this is what they are doing I presume they've done it before, and therefore know what effect it will have.

It was thought that the first day would be lost, but it seems it will go ahead on time.

Only change that seems to be mooted for England is that Dawson will come in, presumably for one of Ball, Anderson or Woakes. Might be some surprises though.

Is it likely Shami will be back? Seems we won't see Rahane again. Shami, Mishra, Pandey and Ishant are still in the squad, according to cricinfo.

[hopeforthebest]

Hard to believe that hovering trays of coal will dry the pitch out effectively, any more than exposing it to the elements, now the storm hs passed. Though as this is what they are doing I presume they've done it before, and therefore know what effect it will have.

It was thought that the first day would be lost, but it seems it will go ahead on time.

Only change that seems to be mooted for England is that Dawson will come in, presumably for one of Ball, Anderson or Woakes. Might be some surprises though.

Is it likely Shami will be back? Seems we won't see Rahane again. Shami, Mishra, Pandey and Ishant are still in the squad, according to cricinfo.

Was it in India where running over hot coals in bare feet was used to test the courage of young men? Maybe the Opening pace bowlers should be prepared.

[Dr Cricket]

You just know England will pick 3 spinners with the 3rd spinner likely to do nothing and the pitch helping the fast bowlers.
Should be interesting test match if it helps the fast bowlers.
Should be a good test for the Indian team if they do win on a deck with help for the fast men.

[Dr Cricket]

Both sides won't be practicing till the test match.

[Dr Cricket]

Remember when I said 2 months ago that loads of players are not happy with the ICC punishment mostly because it is never applied equally, well England believe that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricke ... hment.html

no issues with the punishment but would like it to be applied all the time to all the teams.

[backfootpunch]

Remember when I said 2 months ago that loads of players are not happy with the ICC punishment mostly because it is never applied equally, well England believe that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricke ... hment.html

no issues with the punishment but would like it to be applied all the time to all the teams.

Kohli certainly seems to get away with a lot

Ball tampering in the same way faf was
Giving Stokes a send off
Now this

If the rules are there they should apply to everyone