3rd Test: India v England at Mohali on Nov 26-30

[rich1uk]

I still want to put it on record that I am annoyed that Duckett was dropped.

even as a big fan of buttler i am as well, maybe not annoyed but certainly disappointed, the guy earned his chance and even tho he has struggled deserved more than 4 games

only thing i can say in the defence of the management is they see how he has reacted to the games and his head might be down a bit

Considering how many times Balance has failed since his return and still kept his place, Duckett could be considered unlucky but it probably is wise to take him out and see if Buttler has anything to offer. All the talk that Buttler hasn't played any red ball cricket for months so is bound to fail is just an assumption rather than fact. Being one down in the series means England have less room to be generous to a failing player.

i dont have a problem giving buttler a chance tbh

i dont really worry at all about how much red ball cricket he has played, he is a confidence player and if his head is in a good place then for me thats the important thing

[Dr Cricket]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/conte ... 67731.html
pretty good article this.
"For all those who argue that the toss can sometimes decide a Test match, look no further than Perth, Hobart and Christchurch. There's talk of the toss being hyper-crucial in Adelaide too, so there goes the theory that it's only in Asia that the game is done and dusted before the first ball is bowled. The numbers don't lie."

[Dr Cricket]

Good signs for england, Athers and Nasser saying mohali quite cold in the evening so could be some movement in the morning, although depends on the pitch since can't remember the last time mohali actually helped the pacemen in test, it does help in ranji cricket though but BCCI do prepare more seam friendly pitches in Ranji trophy unlike international cricket.

[Dr Cricket]

bet the indian are hoping the cold shocks england players but not sure it would considering botham said when he played in india they had heaters when they played in the north and england played a warm up game in 2013 in sub zero temp.
Although I still don't believe it gets cold in Gujarat, don't remember it being cold when I was 8 or 9 at December although everyone says it does and mohali temperatures don't show it especially in the so called cold month a high of 22 and a low 7 doesn't sound bad.

Temp for the test is a high 29 and a low of 13 would have been 11 if they played next Thursday.
Shastri on comms said they were 1 month early for the real cold in Mohali.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Any changes afoot for India?

[Dr Cricket]

Any changes afoot for India?

Saha for partiv and maybe Jayant yadav for BK but that is conditions pending and how they think the pitch will play.
Basically what india do will give an idea of how the pitch will play if the ball seaming or swinging BK plays if not Yadav plays.
Doubt they will be grass in the pitch but not sure why the groundsman quiet so far which is quite unique since stories about the pitches generally leaks quickly in india, pretty much news of rajkot pitch was leaked a week before the game same with Vizag feels odd not to hear anything about the mohali deck so what are the groundsman hiding.
in massive series the groundsman likes to be heard in the news and media so feel odd for information not to be leaked so far.

Scrap that just found an article saying it is a normal deck but won't be helping england.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/i ... ozGsJ.html
“Vizag and Rajkot had warmer weather but winter is setting in here. The day temperature has dropped, so keeping in mind that India is playing, we will have a dry wicket with little grass so that it suits the home team’s game plan,” he said.
could be high scoring if the ball doesn't turn early, mohali not known for spin so if it doesn't spin on day 1 or 2 might not actually spin much even on day 5.
But the groundsman saying morning and evening session helping the pace men.
"“The morning and evening sessions are the most productive for seamers here. The morning dew and weather will also make sure that there is less wear and tear as compared to the other venues"
have to see how much though.

And in another article an BCCI spokesmen said plans for this series is to produce decks that get results but last 5 days or close to 5 days.
good luck groundsman getting a pitch that last 4 or 5 days and still helps ashwin on day 1 or indian bowlers.
Although to be fair they only got 1 pitch wrong out 5 so far.
interesting change of tactic from BCCI after the Bowling friendly decks from the past few years, guessing they don't want the doctored pitch tag so going for a more friendly good pitch that still makes india win most of the games.
I don't mind it really if bowlers could get wickets on day 1, although hate the Rajkot deck but wasn't a big deal in the context of the series with it being 5 test series would piss me off in a 2 match series or an one of test.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Saw about Parthiv but forgot. Saw him make his debut at 17 at Trent Bridge.

Read something about a connection between him and an England player but I can't quite remember it...

England need to keep calm. They're only one down and they sound a bit desperate,though mainly centring around Buttler's selection.

[Dr Cricket]

Was wrong arthur BK can replace Umesh Yadav in the team.
That would make india bat really deep as well.
Made me chuckle that Nasser changed his opinion on india tail, although not sure I would agree that it gives india option overseas outside asia since not sure Ashwin can bat at 6 or Saha in 7 and most of the pace men except for BK can't bat that well.
Shami is an old school slogger and number 9 looks high for him.
Think nasser was being kind to him in the video because in asia/India he bats at number 10 or 11 and for a number 11 he quite good or a number 10.

Although if Jayant Yadav impresses with the bat like he doing so far then maybe it gives india some balance but not sure 3+2 is that great unless Pandya is the all rounder.
Anyway india can think about that next december.

[Dr Cricket]

pretty good article on the myth of Mohali.
http://indianexpress.com/article/sports ... n-4392187/

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think most armchair watchers know what to expect from Mohali so it's hard to know why England are implying it will be a fast bowler's pitch. Though never take an ECB XI's words at face value. This might be a fiendish long term plan to discredit someone or other with a devilish Le Carre style plot.

[Dr Cricket]

Doesn't make sense either if they did believe the myth since they played at mohali twice although once they did get the team wrong in 2006 maybe can't remember it probably but pretty certain at the time they mentioned England got fooled by the grass or conditions and picked an extra seam bowler when it wasn't required.

[Dr Cricket]

Looking at the scorecard plunkett only bowled 11 overs got picked ahead of udal and the 2nd spinner.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Played three times. A&B played there in 08 (Freddie played in all three games) and struggled on a very flat pitch. Swann was more successful.

[Making_Splinters]

From the England batting coach

"To me, Jos Buttler is in the top five batsmen in the world in one-day cricket," Ramprakash said. "And that almost creates a problem with the amount of first-class cricket he can play. So, if Jos gets the nod we need to be understanding of that. He clearly has so much ability but through lack of opportunity it's been hard for him to develop and I hope that people realise that and don't set expectations too high because that's the situation he's in and we have to live with that.

Say's it all really

[hopeforthebest]

From the England batting coach

"To me, Jos Buttler is in the top five batsmen in the world in one-day cricket," Ramprakash said. "And that almost creates a problem with the amount of first-class cricket he can play. So, if Jos gets the nod we need to be understanding of that. He clearly has so much ability but through lack of opportunity it's been hard for him to develop and I hope that people realise that and don't set expectations too high because that's the situation he's in and we have to live with that.

Say's it all really

The way in which de Kock has become such a fine test batsman should be an inspiration to both Buttler and Hales. A year or so ago de Kock struggled to come to terms with teat cricket but now has developed into a fine player, I suspect he's improved his defence and shot selection skills.