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

[Dr Cricket]

Very good day for the indian all rounder though.
all scored 50s and all contributed with the ball was probably a 3 man team today, technically all the bowlers did the batting and bowling today not sure if that has happened before in a day.

[Aidan11]

Good to see Batty in at 6.

After all he must have been picked for his batting...he's done nothing with the ball.

[rich1uk]

Good to see Batty in at 6.

After all he must have been picked for his batting...he's done nothing with the ball.

how batty has been used in this game i think justifies my comments about team balance

we picked someone for the sake of having 3 spinners even tho he wasn't actually needed

[hopeforthebest]

If Andy Flower or Peter Moores was the coach there would be cries of sack him but this part time coach Bayliss is teflon coated. He is a selector as well as coach so he bears more responsibility for the selection of the squad and the team that takes the field than anyone.

So far he's used the excuse that he doesn't know players in the county championship and got away with it, whilst at same time planning to once again miss the first weeks of next years games, instead being at home in OZ as he did before.

[rich1uk]

If Andy Flower or Peter Moores was the coach there would be cries of sack him but this part time coach Bayliss is teflon coated. He is a selector as well as coach so he bears more responsibility for the selection of the squad and the team that takes the field than anyone.

So far he's used the excuse that he doesn't know players in the county championship and got away with it, whilst at same time planning to once again miss the first weeks of next years games, instead being at home in OZ as he did before.

strauss made it fairly clear he wanted more importance placed on ODI cricket with the champions trophy next year and the world cup in 2019 both being at home

i think the improvement we have made in ODI cricket is covering him for whats happening in tests

in his defence as well i think its only the inclusion of ballance that was a poor decision, its not like he has alot of options for spinners

[Alviro Patterson]

England's tour scheduling going into a marquee test should be most scrutinised if anything. Can't expect England to realistically challenge if the tour of India contains zero warm up games, especially with a significantly changed side and the host nation hosted a 3 match series against New Zealand prior.

[hopeforthebest]

England's tour scheduling going into a marquee test should be most scrutinised if anything. Can't expect England to realistically challenge if the tour of India contains zero warm up games, especially with a significantly changed side and the host nation hosted a 3 match series against New Zealand prior.

That excuse works for the first or even the first two tests but this is the third test and they should be warmed up by now.

[rich1uk]

England's tour scheduling going into a marquee test should be most scrutinised if anything. Can't expect England to realistically challenge if the tour of India contains zero warm up games, especially with a significantly changed side and the host nation hosted a 3 match series against New Zealand prior.

That excuse works for the first or even the first two tests but this is the third test and they should be warmed up by now.

yeah its kinda hard to hide behind that excuse when our best performance was the first test in the series

altho i do agree with the principle of what AP said

[budgetmeansbudget]

Wasn't the Bangladesh tour the warm up?

Certainly more difficult pitches than in India.

[hopeforthebest]

I think with this squad a host of warm up games would hardly have helped. For a squad of quality the performance in the first test would have boosted their confidence but in fact it's gone rapidly down hill and one really must question the influence of the coach and his staff in this regard. Cook as captain cannot duck a big piece of criticism either. This pitch is not a minefield and the India bowlers are not bowling unplayable deliveries so being 4 down in the manner they've shown is in the head and heart and that's where the coach has influence.

[andy]

england clearly only went in with 3 spinners due to them being concerned about Rashid...Now he has proven himself to be more confident and settled as the series is going on..surely now time to leave Batty out, and bring in Ball or Finn..

[rich1uk]

england clearly only went in with 3 spinners due to them being concerned about Rashid...Now he has proven himself to be more confident and settled as the series is going on..surely now time to leave Batty out, and bring in Ball or Finn..

not sure if broad is going to be fit for the next test or not but he would be the obvious replacement for batty if he is

just a pity wood got injured again as he might have been useful in these conditions, we have seen shami be effective with the lower, skiddy type delivery and with the extra pace wood has as well then he would have provided some variety

but tbh with the personnel we have available its all a bit re-arranging the deck chairs on the titanic

[Dr Cricket]

Looks like the toss is being very crucial in this test match.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Could hardly have been a better day for India. While there might be some interest in the game for England if they can get a lead of 150, realistically it looks like the last two Tests will be a procession for India.

And there must be a chance that Haseeb's broken finger will keep him out of the rest of the series. What do England do from here? They could look to strengthen the batting by bringing in Ballance for a bowler. Or give Ansari and Duckett another chance? The only way England have an opportunity to get anything at all out of the series (not including winning) is by redrawing their squad for the last two Tests. That would be the kind of utter chaos and admission of failure reminiscent of Sydney 14. So I don't think it will happen, or even should. So Duckett will come in for Haseeb and Ballance for Batty, Broad for Woakes if fit.

The first two changes wouldn't be made with any sense of optimism. Just notionally, here are some potential changes, at least allowing England to make some assessment for further tours of Asia, and, briefly, stem the predetermined feel of the last two games.

Rayner for Batty
Leach for Ansari
Sam Curran for Finn
Malan for Ballance
B.Drummond for Haseeb.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Probably an opener will be called up anyway, and potentially a quick bowler if Broad is out of the next Test.