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

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bothan played one game in Pakistan and seven in India.

[meninblue]

One down. Early wicket by Ishant

[Dr Cricket]

Why would anyone change and remove the red soil and put some crap soil instead, then again no surprise I found that in the past the curator had no idea what they wanted from indian wickets or what they are doing.
Wow that is a massive difference from 2013 to now.

to improve drainage probably

would be a weird reason if it was considering chennai got a good drainage system anyway.

what other reason would they have for doing it ?

the reddish soil tends to have a bit more of a clay content that makes drainage slower, so they replace it with a more sand based soil to improve it

Think I read earlier in the 90s/naughties they removed the red soil and started to bring soil in from Australia to make the pitches.
not sure they changed it for the drainage but because they wanted more pace and bounce in the wickets which is more ironic considering the red soil had more pace and bounce than the other soils.

Edit think only one red soil actually remains in india if chennai doesn't have it anymore.
was very common as well in the past.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Commentators would often say when Warne/Murali/whoever turned a few past England batters that Tufnell/Giles/whoever, would be licking their lips. Never worked out that way though.

Jadeja making life difficult for Cook. But probably has no significance for Dawson.

[Dr Cricket]

jadeja gets cook again.
poor shot from him.

[rich1uk]

to me the big difference between ashiwn/jadeja and our spinners is just how good they are at varying their length and pace

and i dont think our batsman judge those changes in length in particular very well

cook out to a very wide delivery as well

[Arthur Crabtree]

Botham talking about the totally unprofessional way he prepared for games just ****** me off. Not just that he let everyone down and set a terrible example, but still, at the age of whatever, he thinks he looks cool by not caring, like a fifth former not revising for an exam.

Sir J's bunny. Cook goes.

[rich1uk]

if there was ever a time for moeen to make a case as to why he should be batting at #4 then today is the day

[Dr Cricket]

Root edges it to 2nd slip but no slip.
only had 1st slip and 3rd slip.

[rich1uk]

root gets away with one big time

if there had been a second slip there i think i would be watching rillington place on catch up to cheer me up after this start

[Arthur Crabtree]

Umesh could have done with a bit of luck.

[Dr Cricket]

Wow players with no internet must have been a fun few days.

[Dr Cricket]

Moeen also nearly gets out.
3 chances in 2 overs.

[rich1uk]

Wow players with no internet must have been a fun few days.

kinda wishing i had no internet or TV service atm

[Arthur Crabtree]

Six things England have learned from the tour.

Pick specialist spinners in Asia, not top order batters who bowl.
Moeen can't bowl fifty overs in an innings and bat at four.
Don't pick a tour party one series in advance.
Plan ahead and don't just throw a lot of stats at a tour place.
Cook isn't a better captain than he was, just Bayliss is a better coach than Moores.
Don't pick four pace bowlers in Mumbai.