First Test: England v India at Edgbaston, 1-5 August 2018.

[bigfluffylemon]

Same old story.

Opening partnership broken early. Root out between 50 and 99. England get in a reasonable position then throw it away. Batting collapse.

No-one seems to know exactly what to make of this pitch. Looks like a reasonable test match wicket to me, something for both bowlers and batsmen who apply themselves, but you'll get punished for lapses. Whatever the nature of the pitch, England's score looks short of par.

[alfie]

Cook out eight times each to Ashwin and Ishant and seven times to Jadeja. Next is four (Zaheer). But the spin is all in the last four years, so it has increasingly become a problem. This is Cook's record of dismissals v India since the start of 2012.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... er_summary

18 times to spin and seven to pace. And that's an opening bat.

If I read that table correctly , he's averaged 51.7 in that period so probably not surprising the spinners are well represented in dismissals.

Recent overall record is another - more serious - issue , I think.

[alfie]

India should be happy with the day after losing the toss ; although I understand Kohli said he wanted to bowl anyway. England on the other hand might feel a careless run out has cost them a serious chance to make an imposing total on a pitch which - today at least - appeared to give both seam and spin bowlers a bit of help.
A lot depends on whether the conditions remain similar to morrow as I'd imagine Anderson and Broad could be a handful if the movement is still available. The backup bowling has a bit to prove yet though ...and I doubt Kohli , for example , will be as ready to gift his wicket should he get set.
Surprised India didn't take two spinners in ; today they maybe didn't need them : but the second innings might be a different story.
As for England the same batting weaknesses are evident. Really only three proper TEST bats and one of them failed so when neither of the other two went on to a hundred they're left scrapping for what the all rounders and hopefuls can scrounge. Lot being left to the bowlers again...

[bigfluffylemon]

Cook's England's most successful batsman in Asia, so I think suggesting he is weak to spin overall is a bit far-fetched. He's average over 40 against both Jadeja and Ashwin, and the fact that he's getting out to spinners rather than quicks suggests that he's getting through the first part of the innings specifically.

If anything, his biggest issue has been with nagging line outside off.

Recent form is the issue - but he's been getting weaker to both spin and seam in the last two years.

As an aside, really not impressed with Kohli giving Root the send-off like that. Yes, Root's celebration was a bit stupid, but given India-England series are not always the most civil of affairs, for one captain to be deliberately winding up another captain right at the start of the series does not set a good tone at all. Grow up.

[mikesiva]

Moeen and Jadeja should be playing IMHO.

I think both sets of selectors missed a trick.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cook out eight times each to Ashwin and Ishant and seven times to Jadeja. Next is four (Zaheer). But the spin is all in the last four years, so it has increasingly become a problem. This is Cook's record of dismissals v India since the start of 2012.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... er_summary

18 times to spin and seven to pace. And that's an opening bat.

If I read that table correctly , he's averaged 51.7 in that period so probably not surprising the spinners are well represented in dismissals.

Recent overall record is another - more serious - issue , I think.

Still the point stands I think, he's surviving the Indian pace bowlers and getting out to the spinners (long considered his comfort zone). And India got a spinner on early to him. I wasn't suggesting he was doing badly, though his last tour of India didn't go well.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ashwin's Test average surprises me at only 31. Karthik averages 27 at six. India don't have a 40+ averaging batter from 6-11. Rahane is off the boil. So there are some vulnerabilities in the India batting to exploit once the top order has been dismissed, sometime around Saturday.

Only one India bat averages over 44, King Kohli. VJ and Rahul are on 40. In terms of stats at least, this isn't the India batting of the fab four. Dhawan's average of 44 is excellent for an opener, but he has a poor record outside Asia.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Obviously, the England batting is worse, which is relevant.

[Arthur Crabtree]

India's batting outside Asia since 2015.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

Main observation is there isn't a lot of it. Rahane averages 70 but only one ton. Amazingly, VJ averages 21. And Dhawan 28. Only slight evidence, but it suggests yet again how much they rely on their captain. Pujara earned his non selection with an average of 20.

The bowlers have great records though.

[sussexpob]

Main observation is there isn't a lot of it. Rahane averages 70 but only one ton. Amazingly, VJ averages 21. And Dhawan 28. Only slight evidence, but it suggests yet again how much they rely on their captain. Pujara earned his non selection with an average of 20.

The bowlers have great records though.

The last away series of theirs I watched was the South Africa series, and to be fair on some of those pitches I wouldnt have expected 6 Bradmans to get to 300.....

[sussexpob]

Cook's England's most successful batsman in Asia, so I think suggesting he is weak to spin overall is a bit far-fetched. He's average over 40 against both Jadeja and Ashwin, and the fact that he's getting out to spinners rather than quicks suggests that he's getting through the first part of the innings specifically.

If anything, his biggest issue has been with nagging line outside off. Recent form is the issue - but he's been getting weaker to both spin and seam in the last two years

I think AC was making a point that fits with the last one quoted, BFL. That he isnt weak against spin, but his ability to play it is no longer as commanding, which as you add is part of a general decline. My own two pennies worth; I think Cook is now relying almost entirely on his mental doggedness. In matches where the bowlers dont challenge his technique, he will pull himself into the game and make scores. As soon as bowlers start to ask questions, especially early on, I dont think he really knows where his off stump is anymore. He isnt as capable of blocking the ball as he used to.

[sussexpob]

I dont think its even as easy as to say that nagging line outside off is where he struggles. I think its generally defending his stumps he has a problem with. I just checked to see if my suspicions are at all confirmed by data, and here's an interesting stat.....

In the first 8 years of his career, a bowler hit his stumps 7 times total. In the last 5 and a half, that goes up to 25. His proportion of lbws has gone up 15-20% in a similar amount of matches (although its a very rough guesstimate without getting a calculator out).

Its a simple case of him not having the technique to keep the ball out as well anymore.

[bigfluffylemon]

I dont think its even as easy as to say that nagging line outside off is where he struggles. I think its generally defending his stumps he has a problem with. I just checked to see if my suspicions are at all confirmed by data, and here's an interesting stat.....

In the first 8 years of his career, a bowler hit his stumps 7 times total. In the last 5 and a half, that goes up to 25. His proportion of lbws has gone up 15-20% in a similar amount of matches (although its a very rough guesstimate without getting a calculator out).

Its a simple case of him not having the technique to keep the ball out as well anymore.

Interesting stat sp, and indicative of the decline.

[Dr Cricket]

With India playing overseas now I always sense India getting all out under 50 or concending 550 when bowling.
Massive day for India, a very good day today can set them up for a test match win.

[sussexpob]

Im definitely tuning into hear Michael Vaughan commentate on Rashid bowling