flat track bullies?

Lol.... Perhaps! But england have a much better bowling attack then in years gone by, so will be interesting to see how they bowl on a flat track to the masters of the flat track bullies!!

We just have to continue to bowl good lines and keep the pressure on.

You saw how much they wanted so score runs in the last game, chasing the ball and getting out.

No need to change anything, the psych battle has been won.

India need to put in a good performance in a dead rubber to salvage some pride.

!960 is 51 years ago, I had no idea you were old enough to remember so far back.
Perhaps you can tell us how many of this current England team were playing then.

Hopeforthebest,

Im nowhere near 51 and to be fair thats not the point of the article, I'm merely relaying facts and stats of englands performance at the Oval against subcontinent teams.... The last 51 years would suggest that subcontinent teams feel for comfortable playing at the oval as opposed to any other ground in england..... India therefore, might fancy their chances in the upcoming game.

The Oval pitches used to be fairly spin friendly with good bounce and carry, therefore i think a lot of the Sub Con teams did well here as their spinners could get turn and bounce which is not always the case in this country. Now days i think i'm right in saying you do still get turn, just not as much, but the bounce and carry is still there to aid spinners.

Interesting stat

Good stats and article afridi 5*

I would just say though - in the last 50 years Im not sure we have had an attack more equipped to bowl on an oval flat track - or a line up less likely to fold like a pack of cards for no apparent reason.
Also from an Indian point of view - I doubt they have ever arrived at the Oval with their confidence so shot.

I hope we bat first - but I always say that

Recent history suggests that the Oval has become a happy hunting ground for England.
Who the opposition is is irrelevant.

Dolly and lyd - Good points, that in mind, will be interesting to see how the indians play swann if there is some turn and bounce. this game may also give us a small snippet of things to come in the subcontinent with england due to play lanka, india and pak in the next 12 months....

Recent history suggests that the Oval has become a happy hunting ground for England. Who the opposition is is irrelevant.
_____________________________________
Last 10 years:

Played 10
won - 5 (None against subcontinent teams!)
Lost - 2 (one against subcontinet team)
Drew - 3 (two against subcontinent team)

Ok, oppostion is "irrelevant"....

In that period only Pakistan and Australia have won. Oz in 2001, Pakistan last year when Asif, Aamer and Ajmal were outstanding.
Where are India's Asif, Aamer and Ajmal?

Hope,

Like Ive already stated in the original article, i dont see the indians taking 20 english wickets, but i see them sneaking a draw if the pitch plays like it has over the years...... and if england win on a flat track, then the signs are good for the upcoming series in the winter

I count the summer of 2004 as the "modern England" beginning - Stats from all over would be interesting for the last 7 years

The Oval is a chance for India to salvage some pride, but I just don't know if they're up for the fight.

In the last test, only Kumar, who toiled away manfully, Dhoni, who played some nice attacking cricket (albeit in a lost cause, and his keeping was poor), and SRT in the 2nd Inns can take any pride away from the game.

Of course India have a chance of a draw. With their batting line up, the law of averages suggests they must come good some time.
They might even win if England's middle order commit hara-kiri as they have done in the past.
If I were an Indian fan I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

If India's batsmen perform to their pre-tour reputations, then a draw is likely. The oval seems to have lost some of the pace it had back when Devon Malcolm was taking a nine-fer, so it could be a high scoring draw.

The thing is I can't see India's bowlers being able to prevent England's batsmen piling up another large score, and the series so far suggests that India's batsmen give up the ghost once England have big runs on the board.

If they win the toss India's best tactic may be to bat first and try and put 500+ of their own on the scoreboard, and see what their bowlers can do when they have something to work with.

I still don't think that's *likely* to work... but it may be India's best chance in a desparate situation.

Even If India get 500+ if they bat first. It will take almost 5 sessions..Taking alot of time out of the test..The result will be more then likely be a draw. if they dont England will bat past them or on par. Making the 3rd innings inportant. If India collapse.England will win easily.

Look at history and we are going to cringe. Check out the past 2 years, that should put a smile on our faces. Who cares about what happened in 1960?

It should be a stern test but I back the top order to dust off the post-WC cobwebs and come good.They aint quitters these old pros.