Cricket

India selectors typically measured for 2nd Test at Edgbaston. :face_with_peeking_eye:

England win the toss and bowl. Or chase as it is now known.

Bruce

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Yes, there are one or two who are definitely misfiring , and one or two noticeable omissions

Washington Sundar is an interesting choice, not many Tests and took quite a bit of tap against Australia. Are they looking for the bowler who strengthens the tail and hoping England’s spin frailties kick in? (I was out all day so missed the commentary.)

The Indian pundits were unimpressed. They were unhappy the young No.3 got dropped after one match and that replacing the ‘fit but unavailable’ Bumrah and the other pace bowler with all rounders was hardly a positive move. We shall see of course.

I didn’t see much today but get the impression England bowled well enough except for the expensively erratic Josh tongue again. Not much in the wicket for anyone. Bit like D1 of the last Test, except people have stopped complaining about winning the toss and inserting India.

Bruce

Another 6 draws with the Kookaburra in the CC.

Good game to win this…

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I’m remaining a solid naysayer when it comes to bowling first on good wickets in good weather. Makes no sense to me.

England got out of jail in the first match due to India not being able to catch.

Happy to be proved wrong but teams do not win many tests letting the opposition get 500 or 600 in the first innings.

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This match doesn’t look like being the exception.

If the wicket looks ok better to bat first and tire the opposition out, as India have done.
I hope we don’t expect to chase high scores against the Aussies as it will play into their hands.

Australia have their own issues. Struggling to find a reliable top 4. 95 for 4 v WIndies in the Caribbean. Is Cam Green really atop order batter?

Everyone jumping in again at England. Stokes pretty much always bowls first in England, and has done OK with that

Admittedly a bad start though!

Can we just acknowledge Shubman Gill’s fantastic innings too?

Bruce

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Indeed, we should, and the way he want about things, especially early doors. I’m beginning to wonder if some of England’s top order need to be locked in a room with Sir Geoffrey Boycott, as the lack of patience and technique are worrying, especially Pope.

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Nobody deserves that.

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I’m not jumping in at England I’m suggesting it’s better, sometimes, to play the percentages bearing in mind the current heatwave.
Don’t forget if India had held their catches in the first test it would have been a totally different game.
By next winter I’m sure Australia will have sorted their batting out and their bowling will be as impressive as ever.

The percentages at Headingley say ‘bowl first’. They did. Edgbaston is 50:50 according to the stats.

If England had got a couple of umpire’s call lbw on the first morning this would be a different match. That is how it goes.

I just feel we are quick to criticise England. They have bad days/matches but just go back 3-4 years. They were dull, conventional and losing. What entertainment the McCullum/Stokes regime has given us.

Bruce

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The factor I don’t think they considered is the weather.
Firstly it will be more draining and Stokes said he was drained after the first test. Secondly the recent excessive heat will more than likely cause the wicket to deteriorate more than at Headingley as the game progresses.
Having seen the end of today’s play I think the weather has affected our players.
I’m all for Bazball but we shouldn’t lose sight of other factors.

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A humdrum, tired bowling attack and a dominant display of batting by India, who didn’t succumb to the rapid loss of the lower order witnessed at Headingly. The Indian captain played a blinder and England have it all to do.

Putting them in on that pitch is madness !

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I’m not sure that the English team have learnt about percentages …

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And yet India could easily have been about 50 for 3 yesterday with different umpiring* decisions. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.

*Not knocking the umpires by the way. I am a great fan of umpire’s call

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I’m not sure they don’t :thinking: :grin:…as a Test team to be almost 4-down by close after only ~20 overs is an appalling waste of a decent strip. Different innings, same issues with some of the top order.

I’m wondering how England would cope with less batsmen-friendly strips although, from touring, I think we already know the answer to that.

I agree on the ‘entertainment & excitement’ bit (at least at home), but it’s the waste of talent and absence of application at times which is so disappointing.

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A Indian score of almost 600 first innings left only 2 likely results I think - the draw or an Indian victory. England’s start on day 3 makes even the draw look unlikely I fear. But we live in hope. 388 to avoid the follow on I believe.