Are Englands bowlers or batters making it look easy?

The much hyped Indian batting lineup has not passed 300 in 5 innings, and in contrast England's batmen have posted 400+ in 3 of the 5 innings, and declared in another. The 2 sides look a class apart.

India have been used and abused by their board. They've been played into the ground and the petrol tank now reads empty.

Bit of both but mainly the bowlers. India are a disgrace to cricket at the moment. They have given up and are showing no fight, no energy. I swear that Bangladesh put up more of a fight last year and this India team are SUPPOSEDLY the no.1 team in the World.

Duty281 wrote:Bit of both but mainly the bowlers. India are a disgrace to cricket at the moment. They have given up and are showing no fight, no energy. I swear that Bangladesh put up more of a fight last year and this India team are SUPPOSEDLY the no.1 team in the World.

England's reign will be short and sweet. SL and Pak will destroy England.

There is only 1 team that can challenge England at the moment in away conditions. South Africa.

Duty281 wrote:There is only 1 team that can challenge England at the moment in away conditions. South Africa.

England go to SL with the mind set a drawn series is like a victory. SL is the toughest tour on the planet.

And I think the last time we played in SL was 2003. We got hammered in the last Test and lost the series 1-0. The difference now is England are about 11 times better and SL have lost Murali. I reckon 2-0 England.

Duty, last time England played in SL was 2007, when Broad made his debut. Lost the first test, the other two were drawn.

Admittedly, we are a lot better since then, having lost Harmy, Hoggy, Sidebottom, and having Bell, KP, Prior and Cook maturing and getting back into form.

Punter's Dodgy Digit wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Bit of both but mainly the bowlers. India are a disgrace to cricket at the moment. They have given up and are showing no fight, no energy. I swear that Bangladesh put up more of a fight last year and this India team are SUPPOSEDLY the no.1 team in the World.

England's reign will be short and sweet. SL and Pak will destroy England.

You talk some tripe, don't even bother.

Makrish wrote:Duty, last time England played in SL was 2007, when Broad made his debut. Lost the first test, the other two were drawn.

Admittedly, we are a lot better since then, having lost Harmy, Hoggy, Sidebottom, and having Bell, KP, Prior and Cook maturing and getting back into form.

Sorry my brain isn't working today. Your are correct but my point still stands

Punter's Dodgy Digit wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Bit of both but mainly the bowlers. India are a disgrace to cricket at the moment. They have given up and are showing no fight, no energy. I swear that Bangladesh put up more of a fight last year and this India team are SUPPOSEDLY the no.1 team in the World.

England's reign will be short and sweet. SL and Pak will destroy England.

We always hear this.

Every time eng do well we hear that the next team they face will tear them apart. It was said of Pak last summer, Aussie down under, then when they got thrashed it would be SL and India this year.

I think a bit of credit for a good team wouldn't hurt.

Punter's Dodgy Digit wrote:India have been used and abused by their board. They've been played into the ground and the petrol tank now reads empty.

Maybe if they didn't care more about the slogathon that is the IPL then they might have been more prepared for an important Test match series. Sehwag delaying an operation to play in the IPL and then miss 2 Test series just about sums up the general attitude I think.

I think it just shows unprofessional behaviour on Indian's part and shows just how hard England practice and prepare for each series. Cut England some slack, Punter, they've played the better cricket and that's what counts.

IPL is CRAP.

Don't underestimate confidence. This England team are very confident. They fear no one.

The best teams/players in sport build up momentum and consequently are tough to beat. Once they build up steam they are hard to beat.

E.g. The Aussies not too long ago in cricket, NZ in rugby, the 2002-3 England rugby team, Roger Federer,Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic currently in tennis.

I think India's main problems are very poor preparation and lack of strength in depth.

I actually think in a weird sort of way this hammering by England is a good wake up call.

India have been relying on their ageing stars like Tendulkar (38),Dravid (38) and Laxman (36) for too long.

The Indian team definitely need a shake up.

This England team has good back up especially in the bowling department.

I think the key to England winning, recently, has been that they've ground their opponents into the ground. SL got bowled out for 82 after two days in the field, India have been exhausted in all three Test matches having to field for two days straight, and the Aussies over the winter were forced to field while England accumulated.

Perhaps this is the key to England's plan - grind them down whilst accumulating runs, and hopefully they'll be too tired, mentally and physically, to put up much resistance.

Pakistan destroying England!

To be fair to England, you can only beat what is in front of you.

Over Australias period of dominance, who really challenged them? South Africa? (They will be our main challengers) India? (the less said about them the better!)

England are an utterly ruthless side, (which is something I've never seen in my lifetime.) They dont have "superstars" (regardless of what KP might think of himself.) They are a closely knit team who look out for each other and play for each other and are now very used to winning. They have very good openers in Strauss and Cook, superb No.3 in Trott, the enigmatic KP, the beautiful stroke player, Ian Bell and the worlds best wicket/batsmen in Matt Prior. The bowlers can all bat very well too, (aside from Jimmy Anderson.)

As for the bowling attack, Jimmy Anderson leads the attach brilliantly. Whilst not blessed with pace, he moves the ball in all conditions. Broad when on form, can be unplayable, Tremlett scares the cr@p out of batsmen with the bounce, pace and accuracy he manages, Bresnan is incredibly consistent and Swann, (although not great against India) can turn a match on its head.

England have great strength in depth...which is what the Aussies had for years. One man injured and another will come in and do the job.

When Zaheer Khan was injured, who was there to slot in his place? No one.
Praveen Kumar tries his heart out and is very likeable because of this. Is he a match winner? No.
Ishant Sharma bowls too wide and too short too often.

Englands detractors can bang on all they like, but we are No1 and deserve to be there. The biggest challenge will be staying there...with a tough tour to SL, and the Saffers coming up next year, time will tell whether we can...

India's bowling has lacked consistency. Kumar is the only man who has bowled well and with an intent. Their batsmen have all got in on occasions only to get themselves out.
I would give more credit to our bowlers.

Perhaps this is the key to England's plan - grind them down whilst accumulating runs, and hopefully they'll be too tired, mentally and physically, to put up much resistance.

This is what makes Test Cricket such a terrible game when you are under the cosh. The Aussies in particular did it to us for 20 years, the great Windies sides, too.

I've heard interviews with several England players suggesting they are trying to develop this ruthlessness. Showing every sign of succeeding, too.