England tour of India

[Arthur Crabtree]

Only about the same as England last time though, not many fewer. So England in the game.

[Red Devil]

Indian opening bowlers were bowling well and swinging the ball - Roy got lucky with a scoop that he edged over short third man. Then Kohli takes off Takur and brings on Chahal - he gets the wicket of Roy but tbh the white ball won't swing for long so surely you keep the seamers going for a few overs while it is swinging. Buttler gets a couple of sixes away and then nearly bowled by a beauty from Chahal

[Durhamfootman]

Now it's Buttler's turn to go ballistic

India were 24-3 after the PP, England have 47 already and there's still 5 balls to go

[Alviro Patterson]

England's bowling got a bit predictable at the end, regularly banging it in short at pace and all the batsmen needed to do is just get some willow on leather. Kohli's use of the feet and depth of the crease was just as impressive as some of the shots played.

[Red Devil]

Now it's Buttler's turn to go ballistic

India were 24-3 after the PP, England have 47 already and there's still 5 balls to go

Yes, very much England well on top here. Would take something spectacular for Eng to not win this now

[Alviro Patterson]

Malan seems to take a while to get going. I would think if England's World Cup plan is to load up with pace and bowl one frontline spinner, Root can come in for either Roy and Malan and not affect the top six.

[Durhamfootman]

Even with the loss of Malan, England seem happy to 'tootle' along.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Easy wins for the chasing side so far. If it always goes that way it's a bit of a lottery.

[alfie]

Easy wins for the chasing side so far. If it always goes that way it's a bit of a lottery.

Yes. It seems it might be a problem - day/night games , effects of dew ? We don't want all games decided by the flip of a coin. Then again you can't read too much into three matches in this very abbreviated format: these are two quite well matched sides and a few errors on either hand can swing a game very quickly. Next game might see the side batting first getting a decent start and turning it into something that will put real pressure on the chasing team - which just hasn't happened yet.
I doubt either of these teams is ever going to be too troubled chasing much less than 180 unless the pitch is giving the bowlers a lot of aid. Only needs one early batsman to come off with a rapid sixty plus and its game over - and there are plenty on both teams who are capable of such.

[Durhamfootman]

They're a good match up, these two teams. It would have been nice to have watched it

T20 is often viewed through the prism of batting and boundaries, but some of the bowling in this series has been exceptional by the sounds of it

[sussexpob]

Malan seems to take a while to get going. I would think if England's World Cup plan is to load up with pace and bowl one frontline spinner, Root can come in for either Roy and Malan and not affect the top six.

You are aware that Malan has the 7th best recorded SR in T20I history (when minnows/non test nation games are taken out the equation) along with the best bat average in the history of the game? Incidentally, Roy is just behind him in the SR league, and the 2nd quickest bat England have ever had.

I am not sure dropping either is that sensible.

[Alviro Patterson]

Malan seems to take a while to get going. I would think if England's World Cup plan is to load up with pace and bowl one frontline spinner, Root can come in for either Roy and Malan and not affect the top six.

You are aware that Malan has the 7th best recorded SR in T20I history (when minnows/non test nation games are taken out the equation) along with the best bat average in the history of the game? Incidentally, Roy is just behind him in the SR league, and the 2nd quickest bat England have ever had.

I am not sure dropping either is that sensible.

Malan's strike rate in the opening powerplay is 114.7 and 258 out of 801 career runs have been scored in those 1st 6 overs. This is a weak area if England are batting first in a subcontinent Day/Night match where dew plays a big part. It's worth bearing in mind that this years World T20 Final is to be held at the same ground as the current T20i series.

[bigfluffylemon]

That's because Malan doesn't open. If he's in during the powerplay England have lost early wickets, so there's good bowling, a tricky pitch, a need to consolidate or all three.

Malan is one of our best ever T20I players. If he gets in he scores big runs, fast. Would be insane to replace him short of catastrophic loss of form.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wood has managed to get back on the field today.

[Alviro Patterson]

That's because Malan doesn't open. If he's in during the powerplay England have lost early wickets, so there's good bowling, a tricky pitch, a need to consolidate or all three.

Malan is one of our best ever T20I players. If he gets in he scores big runs, fast. Would be insane to replace him short of catastrophic loss of form.

England only need to lose one wicket for Malan to come in.

Malan generally takes time to get going, which is not much of an issue in England or the Southern Hemisphere where conditions are more consistent all match long. If a no3 bat is wasting balls in the 1st innings, but a no3 bat in the 2nd innings is scoring more freely because of the dew, then that is where a game begins to lose.

Root is more suited to batting at 3 in the sub-continent for his general busyness, rotation of the strike and being a fine player of spin. England have batsmen at 1-2, 4 to 8/9 who can do the slogging.