England tour of India, Jan 25 - March 11

[andy]

So the side is named then:

Crawley
duckett
pope
root
bairstow
stokes
foakes (wk)
rehan
wood
hartley
leach

Initial thoughts are....hmm intresting....no real suprise with the batting line up, I'm very happy to see Foakes in there. For me he plays in all conditions, however I'm glad the selectors have seen sense and at least picked a specalist in these conditions....

The bowling attack is a different kettle of fish. I agree Mark Wood plays, especailly as i dont see Jimmy causing any problems in India given his struggles in the summer...was there room to squeeze Robinson in there though and play 2 quicks... reason i say it is, Wood's fitness is always a issue, and if he goes down we have no seam options at all.....its ridiclous stokes still isnt fit to bowl, what was the point of the knee op otherwise? I think people are over hyping Hartley...40 wickets in 20 f/c matches, for me Rehan and Leach with Root is more than enough spin options.....

[Arthur Crabtree]

Amazing that England go in with one pace bowler and only four bowlers overall.

[andy]

Very bold strategy!! Assuming root is the 5th bowling option but yeah not convincing at all to be honest....if rehan and Hartley don't settle then it could get very messy!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Or Wood gets injured!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder if England will open with two spinners and just bowl Wood with the old ball.

Typical high risk stategy by new England.

[Durhamfootman]

I read that Root might take the new ball

Bashir has his visa now ahead of the last 4 tests

[Durhamfootman]

I guess that India might go with 2 seamers, but then they have Jadeja and Ashwin who are both proven with the bat

[Durhamfootman]

Pitch is really, really dry, seemingly. Already people are questioning whether India need to, or should be, preparing a pitch with the potential for a 2 or 3 day test match

of course, sometimes journo's and commentators talk out of their hat. I guess we'll see if the pitch is as bad as everyone seems to be making out

[Arthur Crabtree]

England will be bowled out quickly, just a case of how many they hit while they survive.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I read England are still unbeaten in a series under Stokes...

[alfie]

Wonder if England will open with two spinners and just bowl Wood with the old ball.

Typical high risk stategy by new England.

Won't be surprised if spinners do open up - assuming the pitch is as they seem convinced it will be. If they've misjudged (wouldn't be a first !) they've got serious problems...

But as you say . "high risk" has been their policy ever since Stokes and McCullum took over. And fair to say it has given them some rather decent results , as well as producing a great deal of entertainment. So I'm certainly not going to condemn the decision even if it doesn't pay off this week. Won't deny I'd be a bit nervous about relying so totally on spin but I don't think this leadership group do "nerves" at all.

[meninblue]

Eng 102/3. Good start by India.

[bigfluffylemon]

Finding it hard to get excited about this series. Bazball or no, I can't see any way this England side doesn't get slaughtered here.

More than happy to be proved wrong.

[Arthur Crabtree]

...or is it?

Presumably a good toss for England to win. Given England's low expectations in India, that looks just about ok at lunch.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not so good now. Jonny Blameless and Honest Joe start the collapse.