100% agree with you Gallop, As India have proved in the first two tests, preparation is very important, and they have been chronically unprepared, and unacclimatised to the conditions, and i doubt that a two day game at north hants will change that. Sehwag is in an even worse position in this case, not having batted at all since may, and not in tests since jan. also, maybe sehwag might become a little caustious, considering he won't want to do his shoulder in again just after it's healed up.
In short what i'm saying is i doubt that Sehwag's return will change a great deal for india. it may well help balance the batting line up, but i doubt also that that will make any major difference.
This is the guy who put IPL ahead of India but the Indians still worship him.
Sadly, most (not all) Indians with worship who the BCCI PR machine tells them to worship.
In the words of Flavor Flav: 'Don't, don't, don't believe the hype.'
The Indian team should have least played 2 - 3 warm up games before the test so that the players get used to english conditions.
Very poor prep from the indians.
I'd play him.
This bloke is likely to walk in and smack a few around and score runs even after a layoff. His style is obviously risky especially against the swinging ball but it's him or Munkund.
You have a good point Ginger. It can't get any worse for them at the top of the order.
I agree with Ginger.I dont rate him that highly in these conditions.But the recent past suggests that England for some very strange reason dont bowl well at attacking openers.
Watson did well in 2009.
Tamim was splendid in 2010.
And it was Dilshan earlier in the summer.
And Sehwag is a miles better opener than either of those 3 atm.(Tamim may develop into a better opener though but atm Sehwag is clearly miles ahead).
So if he is off to a flying start I fearStrauss will go into defensive method too early.And Sehwag would love that coz he can manipulate the field really well.The reason why he failed in SA was they kept attacking him.Even if they were hit for a few boundaries they kept going after him.They were trying to get him out and in the end Sehwag's technique was exposed.I doubt whether we would keep attacking him if he gets off to a start.Obviously its hard to criticise Strauss' captaincy atm but thats the fact.Strauss goes into defensive method too quickly.If we dont attack him early he will score big big hundreds.We must remember that we have to get him out when the ball is new and hard and when the bowlers are fresh even if that means going for a few runs.The last thing we want is Sehwag well set at the crease when Swann comes on to bowl.Sehwag is an extraordinary player of spin.He has made mincemeat of Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling whenever he has faced him in the past even in Murali's prime.So I fear the absolute worst for Swann if he has to bowl to a well set Virender Sehwag.
If England bowl a good line and lenght at sehwag.with him having an open stance on the backfoot playing away from his body. Either he will keep creaming the ball through the covers or he will knick off. Defending is'nt one of his strong suits.
It really wouldn't surprise me if he pulled up in either the tour game/ or Edgbaston Test such is the way India's tour has went so far regarding injuries.
There's no doubt however IMO that a less than ready Sehwag will play in Birmingham regardless of how he gets on in Northampton.
The return of Zaheer and the arrival of Sehwag will certainly lift the spirits of the Indian players but it will also concentrate the mind of the England players and remove any chance of complacency.
I just hope England put in a third man fo Sehwag as he tends to make a lot of runs over the top of the slip fielders.
I just hope England put in a third man fo Sehwag as he tends to make a lot of runs over the top of the slip fielders.
-------------------------------
He does but that's if we bowl short. Our bowlers will hopefully pitch up to him. Still, having a third man is always good.
ginger I was visualizing Tremlett in particular, bowling his back of a length deliveries outside off, with Sehwag caught at third man as I've seen happen.
I recall Sehwag holing out to the third man area in the first Test of their tour to SA from a Steyn outswinger that Sehwag through everything at so it would be a good idea as he can be caught down there when its pitched up.
However he goes that hard at the ball he tends to miss everyone...
Yes galloping, I would still have a third man fr Sehwag and for any batsmen.
Hope
Do you think Tremlett will play?
Ginger
He should IMO but the selectors will pick Swann.
The received wisdom among the pundits seems to believe Tremlett will return, either in place of Bresnan or in a 5 man attack. I think you know by now my opinion of both of those ideas.
shanky
I know you would ans Strauss
I say "pick your best bowlers".I dont think Swann is a better bowler than Tremlett.
hopeforthebest: Surely this is the sort of selection dilemma we have been craving for in the last 20 years. Too many strong players to fit into 1 side.
I can't for the life of me see how they can leave Bresnan out after his performance at Trent Bridge... He's the man in possession now and sadly for Tremlett thats the way it should stay.
I like variety.
We'll give this conversation a miss, Shanky >ok>
When do we know if Trott will be passed fit?
They will hang on to the Trott decision until the last moment.
On Sunday I think.Lets hope he is fit.The prospect of Bopara and Morgan batting at 5 and 6 for England in a Test match is something which fills me with dread.
What about your mate, Taylor?
I cannot see the point in bringing Bopara back for what could be one match and I really hope, the selectors agree.
I would be happy with five bowlers or even happier with Taylor or any other young batsmen.
I hope Trott can play but as I said yesterday his batting maybe fine but can his shoulder stand up to the intensity Flower demands in the field.
I hope Bresnan keeps his place as I've oft repeated but it will be a close call, as bowling ability seems to be judged in feet and inches at the moment.
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Virender or Surrender?
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posted on 4/8/11
100% agree with you Gallop, As India have proved in the first two tests, preparation is very important, and they have been chronically unprepared, and unacclimatised to the conditions, and i doubt that a two day game at north hants will change that. Sehwag is in an even worse position in this case, not having batted at all since may, and not in tests since jan. also, maybe sehwag might become a little caustious, considering he won't want to do his shoulder in again just after it's healed up.
In short what i'm saying is i doubt that Sehwag's return will change a great deal for india. it may well help balance the batting line up, but i doubt also that that will make any major difference.
posted on 4/8/11
This is the guy who put IPL ahead of India but the Indians still worship him.
posted on 4/8/11
Sadly, most (not all) Indians with worship who the BCCI PR machine tells them to worship.
In the words of Flavor Flav: 'Don't, don't, don't believe the hype.'
posted on 4/8/11
The Indian team should have least played 2 - 3 warm up games before the test so that the players get used to english conditions.
Very poor prep from the indians.
posted on 4/8/11
I'd play him.
This bloke is likely to walk in and smack a few around and score runs even after a layoff. His style is obviously risky especially against the swinging ball but it's him or Munkund.
posted on 4/8/11
You have a good point Ginger. It can't get any worse for them at the top of the order.
posted on 4/8/11
I agree with Ginger.I dont rate him that highly in these conditions.But the recent past suggests that England for some very strange reason dont bowl well at attacking openers.
Watson did well in 2009.
Tamim was splendid in 2010.
And it was Dilshan earlier in the summer.
And Sehwag is a miles better opener than either of those 3 atm.(Tamim may develop into a better opener though but atm Sehwag is clearly miles ahead).
So if he is off to a flying start I fearStrauss will go into defensive method too early.And Sehwag would love that coz he can manipulate the field really well.The reason why he failed in SA was they kept attacking him.Even if they were hit for a few boundaries they kept going after him.They were trying to get him out and in the end Sehwag's technique was exposed.I doubt whether we would keep attacking him if he gets off to a start.Obviously its hard to criticise Strauss' captaincy atm but thats the fact.Strauss goes into defensive method too quickly.If we dont attack him early he will score big big hundreds.We must remember that we have to get him out when the ball is new and hard and when the bowlers are fresh even if that means going for a few runs.The last thing we want is Sehwag well set at the crease when Swann comes on to bowl.Sehwag is an extraordinary player of spin.He has made mincemeat of Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling whenever he has faced him in the past even in Murali's prime.So I fear the absolute worst for Swann if he has to bowl to a well set Virender Sehwag.
posted on 4/8/11
If England bowl a good line and lenght at sehwag.with him having an open stance on the backfoot playing away from his body. Either he will keep creaming the ball through the covers or he will knick off. Defending is'nt one of his strong suits.
posted on 4/8/11
It really wouldn't surprise me if he pulled up in either the tour game/ or Edgbaston Test such is the way India's tour has went so far regarding injuries.
There's no doubt however IMO that a less than ready Sehwag will play in Birmingham regardless of how he gets on in Northampton.
posted on 4/8/11
The return of Zaheer and the arrival of Sehwag will certainly lift the spirits of the Indian players but it will also concentrate the mind of the England players and remove any chance of complacency.
I just hope England put in a third man fo Sehwag as he tends to make a lot of runs over the top of the slip fielders.
posted on 4/8/11
I just hope England put in a third man fo Sehwag as he tends to make a lot of runs over the top of the slip fielders.
-------------------------------
He does but that's if we bowl short. Our bowlers will hopefully pitch up to him. Still, having a third man is always good.
posted on 4/8/11
ginger I was visualizing Tremlett in particular, bowling his back of a length deliveries outside off, with Sehwag caught at third man as I've seen happen.
posted on 4/8/11
I recall Sehwag holing out to the third man area in the first Test of their tour to SA from a Steyn outswinger that Sehwag through everything at so it would be a good idea as he can be caught down there when its pitched up.
However he goes that hard at the ball he tends to miss everyone...
posted on 4/8/11
Yes galloping, I would still have a third man fr Sehwag and for any batsmen.
Hope
Do you think Tremlett will play?
posted on 4/8/11
Ginger
He should IMO but the selectors will pick Swann.
posted on 4/8/11
The received wisdom among the pundits seems to believe Tremlett will return, either in place of Bresnan or in a 5 man attack. I think you know by now my opinion of both of those ideas.
posted on 4/8/11
shanky
I know you would ans Strauss
posted on 4/8/11
I say "pick your best bowlers".I dont think Swann is a better bowler than Tremlett.
posted on 4/8/11
hopeforthebest: Surely this is the sort of selection dilemma we have been craving for in the last 20 years. Too many strong players to fit into 1 side.
posted on 4/8/11
I can't for the life of me see how they can leave Bresnan out after his performance at Trent Bridge... He's the man in possession now and sadly for Tremlett thats the way it should stay.
posted on 4/8/11
I like variety.
We'll give this conversation a miss, Shanky >ok>
When do we know if Trott will be passed fit?
posted on 4/8/11
They will hang on to the Trott decision until the last moment.
posted on 4/8/11
On Sunday I think.Lets hope he is fit.The prospect of Bopara and Morgan batting at 5 and 6 for England in a Test match is something which fills me with dread.
posted on 4/8/11
What about your mate, Taylor?
I cannot see the point in bringing Bopara back for what could be one match and I really hope, the selectors agree.
I would be happy with five bowlers or even happier with Taylor or any other young batsmen.
posted on 4/8/11
I hope Trott can play but as I said yesterday his batting maybe fine but can his shoulder stand up to the intensity Flower demands in the field.
I hope Bresnan keeps his place as I've oft repeated but it will be a close call, as bowling ability seems to be judged in feet and inches at the moment.
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