Fourth Test: England vs India 2018

[meninblue]

Shastri will somehow still try to convince that things are great. Offcourse there will be some 150 plus knocks by few batters against WI and he will thunder again "Where are the experts" like he did after the odd win in SA. Cheerleading will help him keep this job even after failing to solve the perenial issues. Won't be surprised if he tries to justify yet another series loss. The talk of CoA asking questions to Shastri and Virat is probably a eye wash to pacify the anger amongst Indian fans and media. Not really expecting much from that meeting.

[meninblue]

The problem for me is that we knew even last year that we will fail to win in SA and England this year and it has happened that way in both series. There is so much of predictability.

The good predictable thing is we know the same Indian team will be Lion in jungle once home series starts. Which is what I am eagerly waiting for.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hmm. It wouldn't take a huge quantum leap for India to have won a very slightly different alternative destiny. India could have won. England (for example) couldn't have won in India last time and would have lost a hundred out of a hundred different realities

[Durhamfootman]

Not sure that was hitting the stumps either!

I had to rewind to see why he was given out, and I'm still none the wiser

there you go... Kohli used up a review when he must have known the ball didn't hit his arm. Rahane used up a review in desperation and England picked up the wickets of Sharma and Ashwin with balls that didn't (Sharma) and probably wouldn't (Ashwin) have hit the stumps

hey ho......

England are even worse at it

[Durhamfootman]

as are the umpires incidentally.... they reviewed a catch taken 6 inches above the ground to see if it carried

ridiculous

[Durhamfootman]

I still have no idea why Curran didn't bowl more

[Arthur Crabtree]

Captains and batters sometimes seem to use the DRS like a joker, as if it can be strategically enforced to give them a decision at a key time, utterly independent of whether a mistake was made by the umpire.

England can't afford to lose Root, so he refers his decision. They've got to get Kohli, so they use their referrals up against the Indian captain.

[backfootpunch]

Hmm. It wouldn't take a huge quantum leap for India to have won a very slightly different alternative destiny. India could have won. England (for example) couldn't have won in India last time and would have lost a hundred out of a hundred different realities

While that is true

The conditions have helped India in a couple of the matches, the Edgbaston test and this one both offered a good amount of turn

When will England ever go to India and have conditions that at least for part of the game suit their bowling

The baffling thing is that India played 1 spinner in the two tests that offered turn and played 2 spinners in the test that offered the least amount of help to that style of bowling

But yes England will get hammered against any competent side in Asian conditions, which is why I enjoyed what Nasser said after the game when he was bringing the other pundits back down to reality talking about how our team is good in England but rubbish elsewhere

[Arthur Crabtree]

But yes England will get hammered against any competent side in Asian conditions, which is why I enjoyed what Nasser said after the game when he was bringing the other pundits back down to reality talking about how our team is good in England but rubbish elsewhere

England's top six hasn't made a ton in this series yet. That's how good England are in their own conditions. Can't believe the commentators have been bragging about how good England are.

[backfootpunch]

You really have to question why jadeja didn't play this test, when you have such a good spinner not playing surely there is no reason to play a half fit ashwin in a must win game

[backfootpunch]

But yes England will get hammered against any competent side in Asian conditions, which is why I enjoyed what Nasser said after the game when he was bringing the other pundits back down to reality talking about how our team is good in England but rubbish elsewhere

England's top six hasn't made a ton in this series yet. That's how good England are in their own conditions. Can't believe the commentators have been bragging about how good England are.

Definitely the worst top order England have ever had, the last couple of years have been a farce really

There hasn't been a single batsmen who has been picked who looks remotely good enough to average 40+ in tests

It's getting to the point where I'd settle for someone who averages mid 30s to just take the shine off the new ball for the lower order ala Nick Compton

[Arthur Crabtree]

England's top six has made four fifties in the series. That's in 43 innings.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm guessing there will be no changes for the next game.

My inclination is they should leave out Bairstow (partly for his own sake) until he's fit.

I'm guessing they'll give Jennings another go and Cook isn't seriously likely to be dropped.

The press are suggesting Root will go back to four so there may be a chance Vince will play.

[backfootpunch]

I'm guessing there will be no changes for the next game.

My inclination is they should leave out Bairstow (partly for his own sake) until he's fit.

I'm guessing they'll give Jennings another go and Cook isn't seriously likely to be dropped.

The press are suggesting Root will go back to four so there may be a chance Vince will play.

Moving moeen to 3 suggests to me they will pick another batsmen and move root to 4

I'd guess Rashid makes way

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cook/Jennings/Vince/Root/Bairstow/Stokes/Buttler/Moeen/Curran/Broad/Anderson

Paradoxically a lot of batting and not much batting.