England in India, February-March 2021

[PKBasu]

The pink ball definitely swings more, and that can upset batsmen's plans/techniques. Not just the 36 all out (India at Adelaide, pink ball under sunny skies) but England's 58 all out in NZ (Auckland, March 2018) are evidence that the pink ball gives a huge advantage to the swing bowlers.

[PKBasu]

Surprise decision to play Washington Sundar as the fifth bowler. We are going to be a bit short of bowling resources in the night sessions. But the early turn in the wicket explains why a third spinner was picked -- although I think Washi is the wrong spinner for this track. It should have been Kuldeep. My first preference would have been Hardik Pandya though.

[rajitghosh]

Shows a bit of Ravi Shastri-ish thinking in choosing Washington. Shastri got to play 80 test by being a below average batsman, an useless bowler and an equally useless fielder. Washington's bowling is definitely below average for tests nad he is at best an useful lower order batsman. If the idea was to be defensive and play an extra batsman they could have played Rahul or Hardik or Mayank. Even Hardik or Mayank could have contributed 5 overs with the ball. Irrespective of what happens in this series Shastri should go.

[srini]

Shows a bit of Ravi Shastri-ish thinking in choosing Washington. Shastri got to play 80 test by being a below average batsman, an useless bowler and an equally useless fielder. Washington's bowling is definitely below average for tests nad he is at best an useful lower order batsman. If the idea was to be defensive and play an extra batsman they could have played Rahul or Hardik or Mayank. Even Hardik or Mayank could have contributed 5 overs with the ball. Irrespective of what happens in this series Shastri should go.

I can understand any anger towards Shastri but let it not be misdirected at one of our Brisbane hero Shastri is Shastri, no comparisons ever, he can make it all time greats in terms of winning stats without ever doing a bit of coaching and just being the captain's Yes man

[PKBasu]

England's 4 pacers are going to relish bowling under lights this evening. Maybe India doesn't want to bowl England out too quickly

But what a start to Axar Patel's test career. 5-for on debut (in the second innings) and another 4/31 in the next innings already (including a wicket off the first ball he bowled at this new stadium).

[rajitghosh]

Pathetic batting by England though. The pitch is turning but has no devils in it for England to be in this situation. Most dismissals are lbw or bowled showing that you shouldn't play from the crease. Someone like Pujara may relish batting on this pitch.

[PKBasu]

Yes, but England have picked just one spinner (and perhaps Root to help out with part-time bowling). The pink ball's seam was quite pronounced by the 10th over, so it is going to seam viciously for the pacers too. Batting will be tough against them under lights. The Indian batsmen will need to be extra-cautious to survive and build big scores. Complacency will prove fatal.

[prasen9]

Sundar was the right decision. If you will keep two pacers anyway, then we are playing with one spot. Kuldeep's. What value did Kuldeep give in the last test. On a spinning pitch, having a 3rd pacer is useless. I had argued for Hardik before the game started because I thought the pitch would seam with the pink ball. But, given that it is a turner from day one, you go with your spinner who is the best bat. Washi. He provides cover if the two spinners are not doing well, or need a breather. And, he can contribute with the bat. Good decision. The only other decision that would have made sense would be to go with one pacer and introduce another batsman. Mayank? But, there you risk over-burdening your bowlers.

Gill looks a bit shaky. On Indian grounds, with these wickets, I do not know if Mayank would fetch us more runs. I suppose if we are winning, we can carry him a bit and give him the space to bat out of this shakiness. Rohit seemed more assured after the first 4-5 balls. He started moving one step towards the off-stump and then he could negotiate the swing better. Gill is also taking half a step. Cricinfo shows that both are 67% in control, which is a low number. Hopefully, things will get easier in the last session.

[PKBasu]

The seam was beginning to stand up after the 3rd over. I've played some cricket with the pink/orange ball, and it's quality was considerably worse than the red balls I played with (even in junior inter-school matches). This ball will not really last 80 overs. This is a shame. But from the viewpoint of batsmen and bowlers, the standing seam will help generate more deviation off the pitch -- so seam bowlers will be helped, and spinners in particular. There wasn't prodigious spin in the pitch, but there was a good amount of spin. Most of the wickets were obtained by the arm ball (or the one that doesn't turn much). Ashwin almost had Broad with a leg-break (which he bowls with his fingers, not his wrist, making it all the more difficult to read).

[prasen9]

Ollie Pope does not seem to be a very classy batsman. Obviously, I would have played Buttler in that slot but if he is not there, Dan Lawrence could be one who should be tried. He seemed more impressive than Pope in the last few matches.

Gill goes because of bad shot selection. Trying to pull from way outside the off-stump without getting in position. And, Pujara goes. We need to get to 212, at least a 100 run lead because we will be batting last on this pitch.

[PKBasu]

Kohli chops onto his stumps against Leach. India still in a good position, but need to pile on at least another 150 runs tomorrow -- and then bowl to England under lights!

[prasen9]

Yes, a lead of 125 should be the aim now.

[prasen9]

Why are we getting these extreme pitches? The Chennai first test pitch was like a batting paradise. But only for two days and then disintegrated rapidly to become quite hard to play in the fifth day. The Chennai second test pitch was like a 4th day pitch. As is this one. Can we not get something in between? A pitch assisting spin but not as drastically and stays the same for the entire test. Or at least 3-4 days. Or is that impossible to create? What about all these tests we had in the past on spinning pitches where things would get done in say 4 days instead of 3 days? Having said that, the last two pitches are better than the first test pitch. The first test pitch was a win the toss and get a huge advantage pitch. I hate those. The conditions should be about the same for all batters to the extent possible at least in the first innings and about the same in the second.

[Kumar]

If Kohl’s had managed to stay, it would have been an huge advantage!

chasing anything above 80-90 in last innings will be tough

I agree! We can’t have pitches that disintegrate on first day!

[PKBasu]

Motera always was a difficult pitch to bat on. In the first test there, only Gavaskar (90, starting with a sumptuous ramp shot or upper cut for four off Holding) and Dujon (98, batting with the bat Gavaskar used in the previous test at Delhi, where he made his 29th century) and Lloyd (68) got past 50 in the first innings. In the second innings, only Holding (58) did on either side!

If they had prepared a flatter pitch, it would have helped the pacers a lot on the first couple of nights.