India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[sussexpob]

Absolutely rubbish captaincy, how can you give him the single with mid on back..... you need one ball at woakes, cut his single off and get him on strike

[Arthur Crabtree]

All over! Well done to India.

Manly hug for Chris Woakes.

Hard luck to Gus Atkinson.

[sussexpob]

Hit that one... what an absolute banging yorker .

[sussexpob]

Well done to India, hard to feel too bitter about the final result when we have been treated to an exciting series, and one of the greatest finishes to a test in history. I don't think anyone would begrudge the 2-2 score, two evenly matched sides really. And its nice to see a great character like Siraj having his moment, while a few player looked tired in this series, he has kept steaming in to the end and bowling his heart out, what an effort by him.

It's that quality from Siraj that has broke England's back in the end. His last spell last night + his bowling this morning was bang on the mark, it suffocated a few players from England who had no answer to Siraj turning up the heat and cranking the pressure up. Tbf, had he got his rewards in the first session yesterday, we might have gotten this far... mind you, we might not have got here without his drop catch either, so it swings both ways.

[sussexpob]

As for England, the loss of this test match means the bazball era is still to have its signature series win, and the series opens up more questions for England about the direction they are heading in. Against a rebuilt India side at home, par would be a win. I think its fair to say the draw represents a failure at home to a team who historically struggle in England... but the debrief is for another thread.

[Durhamfootman]

didn't get them I see

a model lesson in how to take what should have been a 4-1 series win and drop your way to a 2-2 draw instead

well done India. For all that haven't seen a ball of it, it sounded like a quite remarkable series

I've just had it pointed out to me that India won the two tests that Bumrah didn't play in. I wouldn't have predicted that before the series started

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great result for India/poor result for England.

Both sides were fairly well matched in the conditions, which is a big plus for India as the way side.

Another negative outcome for Stokes/McCullum. And probably Key too. There is a buzz about England, but it's not generating good results.

[sussexpob]

I've just had it pointed out to me that India won the two tests that Bumrah didn't play in. I wouldn't have predicted that before the series started

Amazingly, this is actually a common thing for India in recent times. The stat, that I cant remember exactly, came up at Lords in discussion but showed when Bumrah plays throughout his career, India as a team lose more. As the comms agreed though, its one of those outlier stats that has no explanation - Bumrah is the best bowler in the world and can't be blamed for losing games. One of those completely random things I would guess.

[Red Devil]

Well done to India, hard to feel too bitter about the final result when we have been treated to an exciting series, and one of the greatest finishes to a test in history. I don't think anyone would begrudge the 2-2 score, two evenly matched sides really. And its nice to see a great character like Siraj having his moment, while a few player looked tired in this series, he has kept steaming in to the end and bowling his heart out, what an effort by him.

It's that quality from Siraj that has broke England's back in the end. His last spell last night + his bowling this morning was bang on the mark, it suffocated a few players from England who had no answer to Siraj turning up the heat and cranking the pressure up. Tbf, had he got his rewards in the first session yesterday, we might have gotten this far... mind you, we might not have got here without his drop catch either, so it swings both ways.

Indeed - brilliant series - one that will be remembered as an all time classic

India could have won 4-0 as both tests they lost they should probably have won. Similarly Eng could easily have won 4-1 so overall 2-2 feels about right I guess.

Who would have thought Ind wouldn't win with Bumrah but would win both tests he missed - would have got long odds on that at the start of the series!

[Durhamfootman]

perhaps other bowlers are subconsciously guilty of assuming that he'll do the work for them and when he isn't there they are more focused... put more effort in

[Red Devil]

My team of the series...

Duckett
KL Rahul
Shubman
Root
Brook
Pant
Stokes
Jadeja
Bumrah
Tongue
Siraj

Shows how balanced the series was I think

[Red Devil]

perhaps other bowlers are subconsciously guilty of assuming that he'll do the work for them and when he isn't there they are more focused... put more effort in

Definitely feels like that is the case with Siraj, and I think Akashdeep was desperate to make an impact when he first came in

[Arthur Crabtree]

Today maybe just edged Smith out a composite side.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well b0llocks. I really thought England would get over the line. As others have said, though, 2-2 feels like a fair reflection of a tightly fought series between two evey matched but flawed sides. Both teams had moments of brilliance, and both managed to drop their way out of what should have been wins.

Hats off to India for being so competitive. Coming back from losing several greats and taking a share of a tough away series.

England are not where they need to be for the Ashes. If they can keep everyone fit you feel as though they can probably Bazball their way to at least one test win in Australia, especially given Australia's current fallibility with the bat. But they have next to no chance of winning a five match series away against Australia's bowling.

[sussexpob]

England are not where they need to be for the Ashes. If they can keep everyone fit you feel as though they can probably Bazball their way to at least one test win in Australia, especially given Australia's current fallibility with the bat. But they have next to no chance of winning a five match series away against Australia's bowling.

You can already sense that the Australian media are cranking up the narratives into overdrive, seemingly taken aback at some of England's perceived arrogance, and still smarting over the Bairstow Lord's fallout. Australia is a tough challenge even when the media are relatively quiet, but I get the sense England are walking into a bear pit this time out. The players have to be prepared for the media and crowds to throw everything at them (and probably even literally), its going to be a really tough series, and from the moment they land everything and everyone will be out to get them.

England have to silence the crowd early, including the warm up game at Lilac Hill. If they start badly, they are going to be brutalised in the press out there.