29 runs taking off the last 11 balls, hitting 3 FOURS off Maclaren and bludgeoning Dale Steyn for 2 FOURS and a SIX amongst a two and a one.
If you are the best team in the world, and you are playing your biggest challengers by a country mile then you might as well win with a grace and style befitting the title.
England were under the cosh a few days ago, not least because South Africa are an excellent cricket team, worthy challengers, and yet we have settled, and now are piling the pressure back on them.
One match to go and I fully expect England to win 3:1.
With KP, Jonny Bairstow and a host of others waiting in the wings ( not least Swann and Broad) we can look forward to plenty of years of good competitive cricket.
Question - What on earth are we to do with Mr Bopara who is bowling superbly and batting as he always has, rubbish???
2:1
posted on 2/9/12
and anyway I had maintaned that England losing that 1 odi match doesnt make a difference. They have been very consistent and are still consistent.
posted on 3/9/12
India away is our hardest test. Has been for years. The last 2 or 3 visits I have got up to watch on TV at 3am thinking I know we will lose this game. India had a golden generation of players - Not just the Sachins, but lads like Pathan who could come in at the end and smash the ball to the Ghanges.
They don't have that feel about them anymore, yet still should be respected in their own country. Their main players now are Kohli, Raina, Dhoni and Zaheer for me.
Regarding Kieswetter, he is decent - Certainly more suited to lower order rather than opening as can't handle pace - remember Brett Lee? I just prefer both Bairstow and Buttler and feel it would be better to get one of them in the team.
Stokes is a great shout. This season his batting has tailed off though. Last season he was immense before he got injured. I really like him. Both he and Woakes are genuine all rounders I hope to see in the full England set up now.
posted on 3/9/12
India fans - What are yiur views on the current team? This Ashwin is starting toblook a very handy player. How is Yadav developing?
posted on 3/9/12
Love how Kieswetter ended the game with that glorious SIX off Steyn
DOMINATION
posted on 3/9/12
yh yorkie I think our batting is a concern bar, dhoni, pujara and kohli. dont see the rest improving overnight especially with their no tests before India england series.
Ashwin is a gd bowler and batsman. I would pick him over harbhajan any day. he certainly spins the ball more than bhajji.
yadav is a gd bowler bt needs to bowl consistent line.
zaheer has lost it. he need to go ASAP. he will be a burden for India ow.
posted on 3/9/12
Viru - That is sad to hear about Zaheer. One of the worlds best bowlers on his day. Who would replace him - Ishant? Where is Prem Kumar, he was excellent in England. Not only for his ability but character.
posted on 3/9/12
zaheer has lost his flair after the injury. and I see him getting a chance for England series. we dont hv a back up atm. praveen kumar doesnt have pace to cause troubles in Indian conditions so he has no chance of playing here.
wouldnt pick ishant at any cost. he needs to prove that he can pick wickets and not just bowl 85mph.
also with zaheer, even though he isnt picking wickets he is useful to the young bowlers. he guides them well, so I guess India will hang around with him for 1 year.
main concern though is our batsman. our top 3 are in awful form and dont even look like they are coming back in form with the way they are playing.
gambhir 42 innings without a 100
sewhag 29 innings without a 100
tendulkar 24 innings without a 100.
this is imo is a big concern.
cant expect kohli and dhoni to bail India out all the time they are 64-4.
Though im really happy for pujara and kohli. they have earned their place, and should have it for the whole england series.
posted on 3/9/12
viru,
Our record in India for a long time and our frailties against good spin bowling suggest it will be a long hard slog this Winter but on recent tours against stronger Indian sides than this I don't think we've been that bad. Last time Sehwag settled the series in a session and if I'm right we drew the one before that.
Whilst I don't expect us to win I honestly think we can be competitive. Not having a dig but this is perhaps the weakest Indian batting unit I've seen in a long time. As you point out your top order has been flakey for a while with no big scores and Tendulkar is looking his age now. Kohli looks a player and needs to be batting higher than 5 for me. NZ's quicks gave you some serious problem and it will only get harder. Whilst your spinners will be an obvious threat the quicks dont convern me at all. The pitched will be crucial, expecting a dustbowl somewhere.
Similarly, we look like we'll be without our most influential player and our own Test form has hit the rocks this past year. Add to that a new captain at the helm and there's uncertainty for both sides. Could be interesting.
posted on 3/9/12
Amazed at that Ghambir stat. About 5 years ago I thought he would become the worlds best opener.
posted on 3/9/12
gambhir in jan 2010 averaged 57, and now now just 44. he has gout in similar fashion most of the times and dont know why he is still not working on that.
Thats what I have maintained gallop. England will certainly play spin better than NZ, and I dont expect to see dustbowls for all the matches. It would be tough for India if we have a pitch like banglore. and swann will be 10 times better than jeetan.
Really looking foward to see how Indian trio will do. though I have a feeling gambhir could well be dropped.
and I see bhajji back for this series, so ojha will miss out.
Tbh both teams are balanced. cook, bell, trott are all out of form, and for India sehwag, gambhir and tendulkar are all out of form. So lets see how they'll do.