Cricket

[TheGayTent]

Monty isn't playing because the selectors are twats.

Disagree about Bresnan though. If the ball isn't going to swing - which is wont bar reverse swing when the ball's old - then Bresnan is a good option, he hits the deck hard rather than kissing it or skidding it - which should prove more fruitful. Besides who else would you pick given Finn's fitness.

I would pick the same team but swap Monty for Patel. Then again, Patel wouldn't have made my squad.

[kaosmark2]

Monty isn't playing because the selectors are twats.

Disagree about Bresnan though. If the ball isn't going to swing - which is wont bar reverse swing when the ball's old - then Bresnan is a good option, he hits the deck hard rather than kissing it or skidding it - which should prove more fruitful. Besides who else would you pick given Finn's fitness.

I would pick the same team but swap Monty for Patel. Then again, Patel wouldn't have made my squad.

I see your point about Bresnan, but I'd have gone with 3 spinners, and have gone with another full-time spinner rather than Patel in the squad. In the conditions I think you could get away with 2 quicks. Swann bowled 32 of the 90 overs today and needs support from another spinner, and someone else to come in when he needs a break.

I'd stop drop Patel before dropping Bresnan though.

[TheGayTent]

Nice idea, but I don't think there's any point in playing a 3rd spinner if we haven't got a decent option.

I think 2 spinners is the right option with KP quite capable too of throwing a few down to allow a bowler to change ends of as an attempted partnership breaker.

[kaosmark2]

Borthwick's been doing well in county cricket hasn't he? I don't follow it that closely, certainly not enough to make many comments, but it'd have been nice to give a young spinner a chance in sub-continental conditions. And I'd have been OK with trying to use Patel as a controlling spinner and allowing Monty and Swann to switch around to get a wicket.

2 proper spinners + KP would be fine if we had a proper 2nd spinner and gave KP a bowl. I know we're only one day in but the selection of Patel seems crazy, and KP didn't even get 1 or 2 overs just as a trial. Given his bowling in the 2nd test against the Saffers I'd have thought he'd have been worth a brief go today.

[TheGayTent]

Think Borthwick's 2012 didn't stand up to his performances in 2011. Then again, with the weather the country had this summer, the pitches were very seamer friendly and definitely not leg spinner friendly.

[kaosmark2]

Trott's poor form continues.

Have to hope our batting can hold out to avoid the follow-on and secure a draw. Virtually no chance of winning it now.

[TheGayTent]

I had a bet on 4-0

[kaosmark2]

I had a bet on 4-0

To India I assume?

I'm hoping for 2-1. I don't think winning the series is realistic, but getting a win and a draw would be commendable given a change of captain, loss of an opener, and playing away from home. I don't think their bowling attack is that scary, it's just how comfortable our batsmen are. It should be possible to play ourselves in.

Realistically, I think 3-0.

[TheGayTent]

We just can't play spin. Big fat full stop.

191ao

[kaosmark2]

Good from Cook and Prior, but everyone else has disgraced themselves. Broad and Bresnan once again looking better than the top order against sub-continental spin.

Patel's proven with in the field, with bat and with ball how crap he is now. Hopefully that'll be the last Test he'll play.

[kaosmark2]

Not quite finished, but optimistic times in this 2nd Test. Cook's been magnificent all series and wonderful from KP. Monty proving the craziness of the selectors. Completely dominant today.

I've still got worries over our batting though, Cook, Prior and KP are the only ones to have made a real contribution. Compton's not been atrocious, nor Patel, but they've not made significant scores either. Trott's been awful, and didn't impress against the Saffers either. I'd quite like to see Root open and Compton down at 3 where he plays for Somerset, but taking another experienced batter out of the lineup would be a big gamble. Don't rate Morgan really but still a better option than Patel. Big questions over Broad's form, Finn can take wickets anywhere but that'd be a long tail with Monty in.

[Ed209]

Just bought my ticket for the second day of the Ashes Oval test match in August

[kaosmark2]

Just bought my ticket for the second day of the Ashes Oval test match in August

Lucky bastard!

Can we drop Patel yet?

[Ed209]

you'd think it was time wouldn't you? 19 with the bat, 135 with the ball. Not setting the world alight is he. Maybe the 33 in the last match will see him through the rest of the series though. Can't imagine selectors will be too keen to change things around that much considering how things have gone in the last couple of tests

[TheGayTent]

Just bought my ticket for the second day of the Ashes Oval test match in August

Have fun.

I gave the oval a swerve this time - the ticket arrangements for made it a no goer. Doing Trent Bridge instead.

[TheGayTent]

My prediction for the Indian series was massively wrong. Think I over estimated India's quality.

Thankfully!

[kaosmark2]

you'd think it was time wouldn't you? 19 with the bat, 135 with the ball. Not setting the world alight is he. Maybe the 33 in the last match will see him through the rest of the series though. Can't imagine selectors will be too keen to change things around that much considering how things have gone in the last couple of tests

I suspect it will sadly. I can tolerate his batting as it's passable, his bowling is very clearly not test-standard, and he's the worst fielder we have. Monty's fielding has improved a lot in the last few years, Patel's poor fielding probably costs as many runs as his batting earns.

[abdoujaparov]

Have fun.

I gave the oval a swerve this time - the ticket arrangements for made it a no goer. Doing Trent Bridge instead.

I'm going to Trent Bridge too - on the Saturday I think (cant actually remember - better check!).

[Gre]

Picked up a couple of tickets for the Oval this morning And hopeful for the Lords ballot (if a little scared about how much that could cost).

[kaosmark2]

Finn probably out for the 4th Test. Puts a downer on prospects, I certainly can't see it being as easy as the last two, India will want to prove something.

Personally, I'd like to see both Tredwell and Bresnan come in, get Patel out and go for a proper 3-spin, 2-seam attack. Bresnan's at least as good with the bat as Patel and is at least a reasonable bowler. Harsh on Onions but Bresnan gets a bit more bounce and is excellent at keeping an end tight.

[TheGayTent]

Difficult situation for Joe Root to come into.

[Ed209]

Difficult situation for Joe Root to come into.

did brilliantly though.

Edited December 13, 2012 by Ed209

[TheGayTent]

did brilliantly though.

Agreed. KP and Prior deserve credit too.

Bad performances from Bell and Dharmasena

[kaosmark2]

Bell's been in awful form since we thrashed India 17 months ago. How long should he get to play himself back into form before he gets dropped?

Excellent play from Root and excellent selection. Very tense situation right now, hard to know whether it's good or bad until we see what level of control our bowlers can claim. Worrying thing is that the wickets weren't due to good balls, just stupid batting (or umpiring).

[TheGayTent]

Bell's been in awful form since we thrashed India 17 months ago. How long should he get to play himself back into form before he gets dropped?

He deserves more time in my eyes.

Cook went through a similar run of form in 2010. There was a lot of talk of dropping him. He was terrible in the home series against Pakistan. It wasn't until the 5th test of that summer until he got a half century. The century he got prevented him from being dropped. Had he have been, history, and the ashes in Australia at the end if that year may well have been different.

Besides, with so many inexperienced players in the squad and batting line up at the moment, it'd be surprising if they dropped one of their most experienced players.