England vs India 4th Test Debate

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England line-up:

1) Andrew Strauss (C)
2) Alistair Cook
3) Ian Bell
4) Kevin Pietersen
5) Eoin Morgan
6) Ravi Bopara
7) Matt Prior (WK)
8) Tim Bresnan
9) Stuart Broad
10) Graeme Swann
11) James Anderson

India line up:

1) Gautam Gambhir
2) Virender Sehwag
3) Rahul Dravid
4) Sachin Tendulkar
5) VVS Laxman
6) Suresh Raina
7) MS Dhoni (C,WK)
8) Amit Mishra
9) Ishant Sharma
10) Sreesanth
11) RP Singh

I've been surprised (and dare I say it, somewhat disappointed from an entertainment perspective) that KP hasn't unleashed the switch-hit yet.

I've been disappointed but not surprised by the recurring negative tactics from Dhoni. I think he has the makings of a terrific captaincy with some of his unorthodox field placings (leg-slip to Sharma, that weird mid-off position to Mishra early) but seems to go defensive very early on (I noticed this also in South Africa). I haven't seen that much of India's rise to the top, but has this been a feature?

They're completely throwing away this series. Bit sad really.

191 run partnership at nearly 4 an over. Thats how you take matches away from opponants.

Linebreaker wrote:They're completely throwing away this series. Bit sad really.

Wouldn't altogether agree there Linebreaker. India have been poor - and getting poorer - but this happens to teams when they're getting crushed by a stronger opponent
And I do think England have been exceptional this series.

I feel they're keeping some in reserve too Billy. All too easy.

When do we start talking about declarations? 35 overs to be bowled after tea should see us close around 400, maybe look to get to 500 by lunch on day 3 and declare?

They have been alfie but I've never seen India capitulate like this for a while.

This is simply superb by both Bell and KP. After India looked well in the game having taken 51/2 in the first session, these two have taken the game by the scruff of the knect and the Indian heads are falling again.

True India are really on their knees here. Think they've just been worn down over these Tests : they got in a couple of decent positions over the first two matches , only to see England take the games away from them (very quickly!)
Then they just got slaughtered at Edgbaston.
Throw in the constant injuries and the abuse they are copping from fans and pundits , and I reckon they just want the summer over...

Reminds me of some former England teams coming up against Australia

As I predicted, this is turning into another steamrollering for India. Only the weather can stop this series being a 4-0 whitewash.

Congrats to Bell on a superb ton and fingers crossed for KP to get his very shortly after tea.

When was, if ever, the last tme England whitewashed a decent side in a series?

Well done KP , another century this series.

That and yet another 200 run partnership for England

This must really hurt India. They have yet to get over 300 in 6 attempts here and England seem to do it at will.

Right so England v le Weather for 4-0 it would seem. I'm off for the day now.

2 wickets, that's all India will have to settle for today.
KP to get another double.

Sreesanth is getting some big movement out there with the new ball

Congrats to KP! He and Bell have been absolutely imperious.

What chance a double ton for each of them and England declare on 500-2?

I cant see both of these getting doubles dyre but 1 of them hopefully will. I would love to see a 300 partnership though :-)

I feel really sorry for all the good Indian fans. This is hardly what they (and most of us) expected. India have had some bad luck with injuries but in general have been totaly out classed by a very good England side.

Their confidence has been destroyed. I only hope that they come back in the ODI's

The 350 up for England. I can imagine that India would love a total score like this at least once on this tour

Sreesanths nasty side coming out again, making a fool of himself

eirebilly wrote:I feel really sorry for all the good Indian fans. This is hardly what they (and most of us) expected. India have had some bad luck with injuries but in general have been totaly out classed by a very good England side.

Their confidence has been destroyed. I only hope that they come back in the ODI's

Rumour is Sehwags asked to go home because hes still not happy with his shoulder. Dravid clealry didnt expect or want to be selected for the ODIs.
I cant imagine the depletd team will have much left in them to try significantly harder in those. The style of cricket will suit them better and its hard to imagine them being quite this bad, but I fancy Englands chances a hell of a lot more than I would have done 6 months ago.

KP and Bell continuing on their merry way.

Not that I condone that sort of behaviour, but I suppose a few of the Indian players must feel like Sreesanth after the repeated drubbings they've had to endure.

England 39 runs shy of being 400-2. Unbelievable.

I almost wouldn't mind India winning the ODI series, to salvage a little pride, but I agree with Seabiscuit that the Indian players just look completely shot.

How many one-dayers are there? England might need a game or two to adjust their batting style, but if they can, I fancy them to take the ODI series too (though not by a whitewash).

Yeah, i cant blame them for looking for any niggly injury to go home Peter.

This is demoralising stuff. KP and Bell are forming a partnerhip thats higher than any of their innings'. Thats got to hurt.

Unbelievable. Both KP and Bell on the verge of 150's and a partnership of 300. India are gone, i can honestly see them folding if the weather holds out.

Please for the love of god let me find where swamycricketananda has been hiding

Please for the love of god let me find where swamycricketananda has been hiding

Lol! I so wish he'd come back...but there's no chance while England are on a roll, (mores the pity).


KP and Bell both on 150. When was the last time 2 England batsmen scored double centuries in the same innings?

Didn't Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe do it once?

Double 150's for the lads. Brilliant effort

300 run partnership as well

Simply amazing

I think that we can now start talking about proposed declaration scores.

Tremendous switch hit from KP

eirebilly wrote:
Please for the love of god let me find where swamycricketananda has been hiding

Does anyone know what the record 3rd wicket stand for England against India is?

dyrewolfe wrote:

Please for the love of god let me find where swamycricketananda has been hiding

Lol! I so wish he'd come back...but there's no chance while England are on a roll, (mores the pity).


KP and Bell both on 150. When was the last time 2 England batsmen scored double centuries in the same innings?

Didn't Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe do it once?

Cn't remember Thorpe and Hussain doing it.
Can remember Mike Gatting and 'Foxy' Fowler doing it against India in India in the mid 80s.

dyrewolfe wrote:KP and Bell continuing on their merry way.

Not that I condone that sort of behaviour, but I suppose a few of the Indian players must feel like Sreesanth after the repeated drubbings they've had to endure.

England 39 runs shy of being 400-2. Unbelievable.

Sree was just like this last time they were over and were winning, hes just an unpleasent charachter. A bit of sledging and toughness is fine, but this kind of agression when youre gettting hammered is as embaressing as Broads temper tantrums. It doesnt really work when youre losing and rubbish, ask Mitchell Johnson


I wish England could bat lke this in ODIs.

Indias over rate down yet again ....could Dohni finaly get his long awaited ban? Certainly cant use wickets as an excuse.

Yeah the over rate is bad again but i can understand it. The whole team is demotivated and the desperately dont want England to get to that moral boosting 450 before close.

Woooaaahhhh Belly

2 sixes off Mishra for thos that cant see. Bell on the attack

350 run partnership up at 4.4 an over. Talk about taking the game away from the Indians, Tremendous stuff.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Oh KP!

So the partnership made it to the 350 mark but no further.

Brilliant innings!

Jimmy A coming in as night watchman.

KP out :-(

England now 447-3. Can't see them batting past lunch tomorrow. They'll want to get India in ASAP to try and compensate for time lost yesterday.

Simply a brilliant innings from KP though
He is currently the highest run scorer this series as well

Can Belly finally get that elusive double ton that his career deserves?

Just 20 runs short now of 400 runs in a days play

Entertaining stand between Bell and Petersen nearly matching the mighty Gooch and Gowers 351 decades ago.

What a day of test match cricket. Bell and KP were simply brilliant in taking the game away from India

Indeed. England once again utterly dominant thanks mainly to those two, though I suppose Strauss and Cook deserve a mention for negotiating a tricky couple of sessions when India looked threatening.

Brilliant from Bell today.

Very negative from Strauss to send in Anderson tho

Why negative Gregers? There were only a few overs to go and maybe Strauss thought that it was better to protect Morgan for a push early tomorrow instead of risk him tonight.