India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[andy]

Bashir gets pant! And he deserves that wicket too!

[sussexpob]

My point is we do not have a good team. There are players who do not deserve to be there are actually in playing 11. There are various reasons to it and it reflects on poor strategy in selection and development of players in last 5 years. If you feel that the players in this playing 11 are good, I would like to know who are the players worthy of place in this Indian test team according to you.

No elite sporting side can lose more than half of its best players over a year, and expect to instantly hit the highest level of performance. India are in a generational transition, you need to give players time and a bit of experience to find their level, and EVEN IF they are the next players who are going to become legends in the future, they will naturally not be at that level until they gain experience.

Tendulkar was still averaging in the 30s in his 4th test year. Laxman was an absolute car crash early in his career. Sehwag averaged in the 30s after 15 tests. Dravid didn't score a hundred in his first year in test cricket..... Even the best players ever need time.

Did anyone batting from the Australian mega side of the 2000s not get dropped at some stage?

[meninblue]

Haven't watched any ball of this innings but it is good to see on scorecard that we have two centuries in an innings when Yashasvi has failed. Rishabh Pant is another one who will someday get into the category of Yashasvi and Jasprit in the test format. He is well posied to have his name high up in Indian test cricket history. Two centuries in England test in both innings is outstanding. Yes, there is no Jimmy, no Staurt Broad, no Swann and the wicket was flat with bowlers not probing batsmen enough, still it needs lot of fitness, stamina and endurance to score that many after that accident. His resilience is simply outstanding. Recovery was the key, he showed that in Austrlaia series and now he has showed he is back to test match fitness in thsi test as well. Runs are important and he have scored those as well. So happy for him.

[sussexpob]

I mean, right now if this is a real low point for Indian test cricket, then life is pretty good. I am not saying they are a perfect side, or even a notably good one... But Jaiswal looks like he's the next superstar of the game. Pant increasingly looks like a standout keeper batter... you have the best bowler arguably ever to have played. And you get the feeling at some stage Gill will mature and become a batting wrecking ball.... Yes, there are question marks, but the new players may step up with time. Give them a chance.

After two consecutive tours where India have lost two matches by an innings and god knows how many, they have a big chance to win this test.

[meninblue]

I mean, right now if this is a real low point for Indian test cricket, then life is pretty good. I am not saying they are a perfect side, or even a notably good one... But Jaiswal looks like he's the next superstar of the game. Pant increasingly looks like a standout keeper batter... you have the best bowler arguably ever to have played. And you get the feeling at some stage Gill will mature and become a batting wrecking ball.... Yes, there are question marks, but the new players may step up with time. Give them a chance.

After two consecutive tours where India have lost two matches by an innings and god knows how many, they have a big chance to win this test.

I already mentioend in one of the last three posts that Yashasvi, Jasprit and Rishabh are the 3 deserving ones. Totally agree about these 3 names.

Don't think Shubman has that quality which says he is class player (in test format). Anyways Shubman and KL Rahul have got a long rope already and we are still trying to develop them after 50 plus tests experience iirc. KL Rahul is past 34. How much more chance he needs and upto what age in a physical sport like cricket where most of the batsmen start failing at this age. Over investing time in some players is one of the reason why other batsmen could not be looked at in last many years.

[sussexpob]

I have no idea what Nair is doing out there. India need to push this game on, and he's batting like Mark Richardson....

[andy]

Odd tactics from India here....surely if you know Bumrah is only going to play 3 tests then the ones he is playing you need to push for the win.....the way they are playing suggests there is no end in sight....

[meninblue]

Usually the first test of the test series after the IPL , especially in countires like England, SA, NZ, Aus is a big worry for India. And here we are in a nice position. Having said that although the lead is 326, the innings can also end at 360 as has happened in collapses. The match is far from over.

[andy]

Carse gets Rahul for 137! Jadeja new man in bound to be quicker run scoring now

[sussexpob]

Rahul goes for a well played 137....

India won't mind that wicket though, ball got big on Rahul. Evidence of some uneven bounce creeping in

[andy]

Woakes gets nair!! Collapse on?

[sussexpob]

Woakes puts Nair out of his misery,,,,

[Arthur Crabtree]

Presumably a match winning stand from Pant-Rahul. Or at least ensuring they shouldn't lose. But looks like they have lost impetus since. India should be pushing for a declaration.

[sussexpob]

Pretty clear India are playing not to lose right now. Content to let the overs slip by .... can't see them declaring.

Thaker gone... not going to get a choice at this rate anyway

[andy]

Thankur next to go! Tongue snicks him off!! India not going anywhere and losing wickets in a hurry....baffling tactics