England Cricket Thread 2011

[Villan For Life]

After the Laxman non-dismissal yesterday, Hot Spot is to undergo further testing:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2011/content/current/story/525466.html

Not sure how long the testing will take but use of it should be withdrawn until it's reliability can be established.

[Dante Lavelli]

Where would you rank this England team?
I think they're better than 2004 by some distance.

I was a bit too young to remember any of the Botham or Gatting teams.

[PaulWinch again]

Where would you rank this England team?
I think they're better than 2004 by some distance.

I was a bit too young to remember any of the Botham or Gatting teams.

Best I've seen to be honest, the balance is right and they are never out of games.

[VillaZogmariner]

To declare overnight would be idiotic. Basically bat until either all out or tea tomorrow. If we somehow stick around until tea we'll have a lead of over 600 - something India would not be able to achieve in 4 sessions. Priority should be to make sure we cannot lose the match.

As for the ranking of the England side, I'd say it's by far the best set up we've had (by that I mean current XI in this match plus the likes of Tremlett, Finn etc who are in the background) we've had in my lifetime of watching cricket (early 90s is the earliest I can remember).

[Dante Lavelli]

It is the strength in depth and balance that is so good about this squad. I'd guess that there is no single player who you could strongly say is the best "ever" yet collectively they compliment each other enormously.

Prior v stewart?
Broad v Flintoff
Cook v Atherton
Strauss v Vaughan

Close calls but I'd guess the ex players were individually better.

[villan from luton]

Prior has to be the best wicketkeeper/batsman around, his glovework has improved massively and always looks as if he is going to score runs. Bell was brilliant today, great to see a true Villan performing like that

[Bald Eagle]

Prior has to be the best wicketkeeper/batsman around, his glovework has improved massively and always looks as if he is going to score runs. Bell was brilliant today, great to see a true Villan performing like that

Hear hear. Dropping Prior from the 20/20 and the one day squad was a masterstroke. All his effort and energy is now applied to the test arena, and god it shows.

[olaftab]

Are we in for an overnight declaration or do we bat on tomorrow?

Bat till lunch get another 100 and job is as good as done. India will crumble  when they look at the size of the task ahead of them.

[Brend'Watkins]

To declare overnight would be idiotic. Basically bat until either all out or tea tomorrow. If we somehow stick around until tea we'll have a lead of over 600 - something India would not be able to achieve in 4 sessions. Priority should be to make sure we cannot lose the match.

I'd declare about an hour after lunch if we can make it that far.  We should be in a position where we will be 500+ runs ahead.  Do India try to win it from there with a day and a half remaining? it's a very tall order and not really achievable if England get men around the bat with our bowlers on form.  The game is set up very nicely.

[KevinGage]

Thankfully (though I don't want to be too presumptuous) the Bell fiasco doesn't ultimately look like it will be game changing.  India would be rightly livid if they ultimately lost their no.1 status due to it.

I hope that -as Dravid says- the players in the dressing room felt uncomfortable and Strauss and Flowers input was largely inconsequential.  Otherwise, it has connotations of the touring side being bullied into complying with the wishes of the hosts. England expects, and all that.

Plenty of questions about Asad Rauf, but was how close was the other umpire to the stumps?  Maybe I'm missing something, but it happened at that end, so if it was out surely he would have been well placed to see it? It did seem that from his body language -and that of a fair few of the Indian side it must be said- that the over was called and they were all simply trundling off for the end of the session.  It just doesn't sit right that Dhoni decided/ was coerciced into reversing the decision duriing the interval. Fair enough if he'd done it straight after the incident.

As for England, they look like they've come through another test of character. All out on the first day in bowler friendly conditions and a frustrating first two thirds of yesterday. Previously, when England won so many things needed to be in their favour; winning the toss, suitable overhead conditions, matchwinning contributions from star players et.c.  Now they're just a good, resilient allround side.

[Chris Smith]

The pitch has become a lot easier to bat on so we need to give ourselves enough time to bowl them out. Ideally score quickly tomorrow morning, bat them out of the game and then give ourselves 5 sessions to finish them off.

I think this is the best all round England side I've seen. If they keep their focus they can dominate test cricket for the next 5 years.

[Chris Smith]

Kevin, technically he was out the appeal was reversed due to the spirit of the game rather than the letter f the law. It's part of the reason why I love cricket, no other sport worries about that stuff. A crucial test match in terms of the series and the rankings but fair play still prevailed.

I said to my lad at the time that I reckon the senior players must have had a word, hats off to them.

[Bald Eagle]

The pitch has become a lot easier to bat on so we need to give ourselves enough time to bowl them out. Ideally score quickly tomorrow morning, bat them out of the game and then give ourselves 5 sessions to finish them off.

I think this is the best all round England side I've seen. If they keep their focus they can dominate test cricket for the next 5 years.

I dont think we will declare too soon. Watching all our Batsmen score runs comfortably we do not want to give their class Batsmen a chance. Saying that, our bowling attack is a street and a half ahead of theirs.

[Bald Eagle]

Kevin, technically he was out the appeal was reversed due to the spirit of the game rather than the letter f the law. It's part of the reason why I love cricket, no other sport worries about that stuff. A crucial test match in terms of the series and the rankings but fair play still prevailed.

I said to my lad at the time that I reckon the senior players must have had a word, hats off to them.

That 5 minutes after tea was pure theatre. Umpires , indian team getting a verbal kicking. Then out walks Bell. I have never seen a crowds mood change so quickly. Only cricket i tell ya,only cricket.

[KevinGage]

 

Kevin, technically he was out the appeal was reversed due to the spirit of the game rather than the letter f the law. It's part of the reason why I love cricket, no other sport worries about that stuff. A crucial test match in terms of the series and the rankings but fair play still prevailed.

I agree, to an extent.

I do think the umpires might have been a bit more decisive at the time too. They seemed as confused/ uncertain as the players.

Re. spirit of the game, it would have been nice to see Bell go up to Dhoni at the end of his knock and publicly acknowledge him, though maybe that would have been a bit too touchy feely.