India in England, 2018

[Sin Hombre]

I am assuming there is a lot of confidence in Ashwin recovering in the next week.

Shami's mediocrity in recent times will be a big challenge in the next test. We need him to do better.

[Sin Hombre]

I would prefer a Dhawan + Shaw opening in order to have a right-left combination. I am tired of Rahul giving his wicket away with loose shots.

Rahul's slip catching was excellent and was one of the biggest reasons for our win, the only drops were from Pant and Kohli. Given how bad the rest of our slips are, we are not going to jettison what seems to be finally a solid combination with him and Rahane.

[PKBasu]

That is a valid point. Shaw isn't as spectacular a fielder as some of the other youngsters who have come through in recent years. He also seems to field more in the deep than close in. So this may be a slight handicap for him.

[rajitghosh]

I would prefer a Dhawan + Shaw opening in order to have a right-left combination. I am tired of Rahul giving his wicket away with loose shots.

Rahul's slip catching was excellent and was one of the biggest reasons for our win, the only drops were from Pant and Kohli. Given how bad the rest of our slips are, we are not going to jettison what seems to be finally a solid combination with him and Rahane.

Rahul is basically a wicket keeper by training. So his slip catching is good. Even Karthik stood in the slips a few times when Dhoni used to keep. But Karthik's catching is bad.

[prasen9]

Maybe Keaton Jennings' last test. He is lucky that the weather is nice and the pitch looks flatish. Our bowlers should not let him revive his career. Get him early while the ball swings.

Good job getting Jennings early. Now, I hope we get him in the next innings cheaply too. We did away with Robson when he visited India. I think he is a better bat and should perhaps get a few more chances. Anyway, hope we do not revive Jennings' career in I2.

[Sin Hombre]

Kohli has now lost 9 of his last 10 tosses against England.

[ankit1407]

England 137-6, Sam Curran and Moel Ali has put up a good partnership after we had them 86-6

[Atithee]

Ali and Curran have been a barricade in India’s progress. What’s it about these lower order partnerships that India finds so hard to dislodge? We have some of our own too but not consistent and deep. Wish we were able to wrap these wickets quickly or at least match their contributions.

[prasen9]

Ball loses shine. Bowlers tire. Ashwin useless.

In all seriousness, we should bowl Ishant and Ashwin to choke up the runs and give our bowlers rest so that they are fresh to go tomorrow morning.

[ssp]

This Curran guy is a pain. He cost us the 1st test. He's doing another annoying job today. I think 200+ will be bad news if the pitch remains helpful for the quick bowlers. We always struggle with the lower order.

[Prashant]

England should have been playing Curran and Moeen all along, they just finally wised up.

[PKBasu]

Moeen and Curran are fine batsmen, but we shouldn't have allowed 86/6 to become 244/9.
Ashwin has been disappointing after the first test.

[ssp]

Poor stuff after tea. Curran whacking all the bowlers around too easily. I hope batting gets easier when we bat. England have got 80 too many after losing their top 6 so quickly

[Sin Hombre]

New ball is where wickets fall in a heap in these conditions in England.

You need a very fast aggressive chin music pacer to dislodge them afterwards.

[Sin Hombre]

23 byes so very poor from Pant