I sympathise, it really is bad situation. Really looking forward to the Aussie tour. Should be a cracker. Reckon both sets of fans will be reasonably confident of a win. I know that Aus have done pretty well on ODI tours to UAE in recent times and I think we have better players of spin than the English.

Yep, Australia vs Pakistan is THE series I am looking forward to. But its test series, isnt it? Or just ODIs.
Pakistans tour to SL is another fascinating series to look forward to as well. Good times to be test cricket fans. ABdV and Co will be in action against Lanka also.
And I reckon Pujara and Kohli will stamp their authority as the best batsmen in world cricket after England series. Kohli will have 60'ish and Pujara 70 career average after 5 tests in England.

comment by Afridi14 (U2805)
posted 7 hours, 28 minutes ago
Duncan,

For teams such as India, eng and Aussies, 3rd probably isn't an acheivement... But for a team with no home games, no funds, no systems, no controls, no policies, no procedures, no direction and the most useless board ever seen in cricket history- put into context 3rd is a massive achievement.
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Isn't it the highest ever position?

Or have Pakistan reached 2nd before?

Still... Never thought I'd see the day when a team celebrated 3rd

Neon, they're not celebrating the fact that they're ranked #3. They're celebrating the fact that they're above India. Fickle fans, obsessed by their superior neighbours.

Pathetic.......

Get 1st spot, then come back with a celebration......

p.s. As its never happened..I guess they may as well jump up and down at getting the all mighty 3rd spot

Now we're have we said we are celebrating? Merely stated the reasons why it's an acheivement, India listed amongst others due to resources.... Poor India fans, think the world revolves around them... Then have the cheek to think we celebrate because we are above them.... We have a superior record vs India in tests and ODIS.... It's just normality - no great celebrations needed

LMAO..it needed a seperate article to highlight the fact Pakistan achieved 3rd

Its ok....I understand. Its 1 pace away from Pakistans highest ever ranking of 2nd.

Dont think you will get 1st anytime soon...probably in your lifetime....and the next,...and the next......of look teleportations been invented

WAIT!!!

Lets stop now...get your reply in if you want. Im not responding. This could go on, and probably ruin this thread.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Neon chatting 5£1t again....

The sky is blue.......

Today is Wednesday.....


What else is new??

Even if pakistani fans are celebrating 3rd spot, then whats wrong in that? In life, its good to celebrate every little things rather than to bemoan. Its called being positive. Pakistan, i think is only 2 consistent and 1 great batsman short of being the best team in the world. Their bowling can do well in all conditions.

Sheikh,

Very true, but I don't think anyone is celebrating and most pak fans know and acknowledge the terrible state we find ourselves in with this PCB... Just a few Indians getting touchy on here... Think their necks are hurting looking up.

Moving on..I dont thik we need every article highlighting Pakistans great rise to the summit of 3rd in the table.

What changes would England fans like ot see for the India series?

New Captain?
Drop a few batsmen?
Who woudl you bring in?

Moeen
Robson
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Plunkett
Anderson (c)
Panesar/Kerrigan

comment by Maяcо ЇL Faптa$тїcо (U1329)
posted 40 minutes ago
Moeen
Robson
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Plunkett
Anderson (c)
Panesar/Kerrigan
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Dropping Cook??

Surely he has done enough to justify a place.

I think if you take away the Captains armband, Cook will go back to what he does best...batting.

Also to add, Why Anderson as Captain?
Just based on experience, or do you think he is actually leadership material?

Least worst option of the potential candidates (Cook, Bell, Prior, Broad, Anderson)

Cook needs to go back to Essex and sort his technical flaws out, the test arena isn't the place to try and re-find form. Give him this summer off and recall him for the winter tour.

I have said it previously & i'll say it again - Cook will remain Captain for the test series vs India at the very least.

No point in dropping Cook & getting a new Captain.
The Test series starts in a few weeks time. If you are going to get a new Captain then the new Captain should be announced when the Test match is at least a month or so away so the new Captain has the time to prepare & plan the tactics/selection/media duties etc.

If Cook under-performs vs the series with India then he will be dropped (rightly) however i genuinely believe the test series vs India is Cook last chance to show/prove why he is a leader/captain of England.

If Cook fails then he deserves to be dropped.

As for selection - I think England need a front line spinner otherwise give more responsibility & trust to Moeen Ali when it comes to spin.

I think Jordan may have to go back to Sussex. He is not quite yet Test status. Jordan is a great ODI player.

Ben Stokes may come in.
Other than that - i cant see any other change.

If the series v India is lost (say India win the first 3 Tests) then Cook may well have to go.

As for spinners I'm not sure there is a proper one except maybe Monty and the reservations about him have been well gone over.

Blue Heaven (U8293)

posted 8 seconds ago

If the series v India is lost (say India win the first 3 Tests) then Cook may well have to go.

-----------------------

True however i cannot see India winning 1 test match vs England in England backyard & in English conditions never mind 3.

England will be seriously hurting after that dramatic loss to Sri Lanka.

England will come back seriously hard. They usually do when they under-perform in the first test series of the summer.

Also many India players have never played in a 5 test match series.
Playing in a 5 test match series is not all just about skill also but being strong mentally, emotionally & psychologically.

England also have the edge vs India in the tests over the last few years. This summer could also be Dhoni last tour to India. He personally needs to work very hard if he wants it to be a successful tour like it was for Sangakarra/M Jayawardene & Sri Lankans.

Kerrigan got 4 for today. I think he is the man. Attack of Anderson, broad, stokes, plunkett, kerrigan. Might be harsh but may not be a place for Ali.

The only good English spinner i know is Tredwell even tho he is well past it & not test standard despite making an unbeaten 50 in a losing cause for Sussex vs Durham.

comment by Bennythedip (U9359)
posted 32 minutes ago
Kerrigan got 4 for today. I think he is the man. Attack of Anderson, broad, stokes, plunkett, kerrigan. Might be harsh but may not be a place for Ali.
----------------------------------------------------------------------this is the attack we need, but surely we can't drop Ali !!! in fact the only 2 droppable batsmen on recent form are cook & prior, neither of whom 'can' be left out as it stands.

that innings from has certainly clouded things from a selection point of view, that's for sure!

comment by GrandeLicha! (U9988)
posted 26 minutes ago
The only good English spinner i know is Tredwell even tho he is well past it & not test standard despite making an unbeaten 50 in a losing cause for Sussex vs Durham.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
tredwell is crap in the longer format, in fact he's barely average in the shorter format! no no no no no!

riley and rafiq are better options as off spinners but the real choice has to be panesar or kerrigan.

Do England really need to play a spinner against India? India play spin quite well. I doubt the conditions in England are going to assist any spinner so I would just stick with Moeen Ali as the "spinner" and go in with a 4 man pace attack.