India in England, summer of 2021

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Underperformed Mayank has been brought in as back up for Rohit. Its disheartening for player like Panchal not getting picked despite being prolific scorer in domestic.Dravid & Co. is simply ending careers of performing domestic players by relying with the failures. 7000 domestic runs, 45+ avg, 24+ tons is failing against one 50+ score in last 3 overseas tests

[Kumar]

My guess is that team mgmt and selectors goofed up big time by not sending a reserve opener when KL Rahul was ruled out and they are sending him as a cover in case there are more covid cases. He is probably not going to be ready in time and is clearly not good in english like conditions (NZ) .

Mayank is the best opener for Indian conditions, but abroad his average of sub 30 does not pass muster. Just another case of team mgmt not going outside their comfort zone.

If i were to guess, Bharath will get his chance as opener and one of Vihari or Shreyas will not make the 11? Covid may have more plans!

[Rajkumar Sharma]

England’s Test Squad

Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings (wk), Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes (wk), Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Joe Root

[Rajkumar Sharma]

The biggest threat for India in England test matches has been the new commers, Bresnan in 2011 series, Moeen Ali in 2014, Sam Curran in 2018, Ollie Robinson & Craig Overton also troubled India in ongoing test series.Seeing this trend, Jamie Overton & Potts will be a more concern for India then Broad & Anderson

[Atithee]

I’m worried about Leach.

[ssp]

England are playing with real confidence under Stokes' captaincy. Our batting is worse than NZ, so my main hope is weather saving us. Can't see our bowlers rescuing the team after the expected failure of the batsmen.

Chances of rain are around 12-15% on most days, so looks unlikely that weather will be helpful.

[suresh]

England are playing with real confidence under Stokes' captaincy. Our batting is worse than NZ, so my main hope is weather saving us. Can't see our bowlers rescuing the team after the expected failure of the batsmen.

Chances of rain are around 12-15% on most days, so looks unlikely that weather will be helpful.

Where is PKB, our resident optimist to counter SSP, our resident pessimist?

[ssp]

Where is PKB, our resident optimist to counter SSP, our resident pessimist?

[Kumar]

On current form, India will loose by innings. This team is actually on the downward curve and may take while to bottom out. There is very few quality batsman in pipeline

[Rajkumar Sharma]

I remember Headingley test of 2002, when Ganguly on winning the toss put a brave call in batting first in a pitch which had more then plenty. Attack of Hoggard, Caddick, Tudor and Flintoff were looking ominous. Best of the cricket experts were expecting a collapse. India that time had two inexperienced opener in form of Shewag and Bangar. Bangar played around 200 balls for a 60+ score and nullified the shine of new duke as a result middle order posted big total banking on such calm & compusure innings of Bangar. We need Gill & Bharath to repeat that innings, show respect to the bowlers in first two session and give a stage to the middle order for posting big total.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Rohit Sharma ruled out from the 5th test after testing positive second time

[prasen9]

So it may be Bharat and Gill opening. Mayank does not really have the technique to play in such conditions. But, I hear that the pitches are a bit tamer now as the later part of the summer is on. We'll see.

Gill, Bharat, Pujara, Kohli, Iyer/Vihari, Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin/4th pacer (based on conditions), Thakur, Shami, Bumrah would be my XI. They will possibly go for Umesh or Siraj and not Thakur.

[Kumar]

Tamer pitches are actually the worst case scenario for our team.this means that our bowlers will also be ineffective in addition to our batsman failing big time.
Umesh for Thakur is probably not a bad idea, considering that Umesh has shown surprisingly better batting power.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

England Playing XI :

Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Sam Billings (wk), Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson

3 pacers, 1 spinner attack, seems the track which will assists the pacers and spin is just to give some rest to the pacers.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

As per weather forecast there is only 30% match happening in first two days about 50% in 3rd day
https://cricketaddictor.com/india-tour- ... -eng-2022/

We should'nt repeat our mistake of WTC Final. England playing XI is giving clear indication that pacers will have enough from the track. Will go with Gill, Vihari, Pujara, Virat, Iyer, Pant, Jadeja, Shardul,Shami, Bumrah, Prasidh