England v India 4th Test, Old Trafford

First topic message reminder :

With the Anderson/Jadeja spat in the rear view mirror, we can all move on.

England name an unchanged squad, I'd be surprised if Plunkett didn't play, whether its at the expense of Jordan or Broad is the biggest question. Imagine they'll have planned on resting Broad at some stage.

If you guys want this to be more tightly moderated I'm happy to do it, the boxing board runs itself with Chris and Rowley, and I'll be on here during the test anyway. Remember though if you don't like something we have the report function, that alerts all staff to a post you want looked at.

Toss delayed. Drop of the old Manchester rain never did anyone any harm.

hampo171 wrote:If you guys want this to be more tightly moderated I'm happy to do it, the boxing board runs itself with Chris and Rowley, and I'll be on here during the test anyway. Remember though if you don't like something we have the report function, that alerts all staff to a post you want looked at.

I do think a relaxed style is the way to go and generally the board is fine. Just sometimes it does need the law laid down when some tend to overstep the mark into wumming territory. We all saw the tripe Gerry posts (thankfully I don't anymore).

Harmison seems to think Stokes has been sent to Wales to play for Durham instead.

No Finn return as England are unchanged.

Not sure I'd bat first in these conditions. Just favours the England bowlers.

Going to be good later though and rain expected over the weekend. Strong position if they can get through the morning.

Dhawan, Rohit and Shami dropped; Gambhir, Ashwin and Aaron in

It's a huge ask to get through the morning session in a decent position though, Anderson will have his tail up and should be getting the ball to go around corners. I'm hoping this goes to the 5th day as I'll be heading up to watch the end.

Don't think England will mind a great deal about losing the toss.

Good morning to bowl, but the same was said at Lords.

Should be some nip for Anderson and Woakes and pace for Broad and Jordan. Need to get it right though.

Unbelievable.....Dhoni made ALL the right changes.....and got the team spot on...just as I would have liked.

I am especially impressed with retaining Pankaj and dropping Shami...none of that experience c.rap to retain non-performers.

this is an attcaking side...two really quick bowlers....one highest quality almost extinct breed of swing bowler.....2 spinners.

Won the toss.......and did the right thing by electing to bat first....transferring the pressure of chase on Eng and benefit of 2 spinners bowling in the 4th inning on us.

Now only the batting doesn't crash in heaps is what we hope.....320+ will keep us in the game

Do you have any concerns over Ashwin KPF? Averaging 79 outside of India is dreadful for a so called world class spinner.

Nothing like playing England to lower a spinners average

and Eng has missed a trick....or two actually...how can you keep Jordann in after his show when you have Finn like bowler ??

And how can they keep Stokes out who is a specialist bowler mentality bowler for a part-timer mentality Woakes

BUT

seeing India's own predicaments and mess-ups in selections...I undertsand inside the decision making situation can mess up through over analysis and some personal likes.

hampo171 wrote:Do you have any concerns over Ashwin KPF? Averaging 79 outside of India is dreadful for a so called world class spinner.

No body considers him a world class spinner in India...and so low is the expectations that a part-time Jadeja is considered just as good....plays ahead of him.

he needs conditions...to assist...and may be more potent in the 4th inning.
He claims he has learnt from his less successful endeavors overseas......and now will try to bowl will more revs and faster to get something out of pitch when unresponsive.

we will see.

Finn isn't ready for a return, seemed more like a pat on the back to boost his confidence like Kerrigan, showing them they're still in the selectors thoughts.

I possibly would've gone with Stokes over Jordan, if Jordan settles down he has the pace to be effective on this pitch too mind.

Thought Woakes bowled well enough to get another go.

anderson on the money as usual.....he and braod are the only real threats......Moeen's wickets notwithstanding.

Good decision by Broad to play through his injuries and go for a surgery at the end....this is an important series and effectively Eng's attack is two man.....rest of the bowlers are all defense and stock

I agree GSC, Woakes was very unlucky not to pick up a wicket or two. Buttler will have some sore fingers for a few overs now.

well pitch misbehaves...one stays low and and the otehr almost jumps off the length......hope pitch settles else these are not good signs

The Gambhir experiment fails then.

Some late swing for Anderson. Tricky session ahead for the openers

Broad removes Gambhir for 4. 8-1

eugh, terrible looking shot from Gambhir and England have their first. Broad has bowled very well so far, making Gambhir play at everything, and the Indian opener pokes one straight to Root at gully.

England with the early strike, looks like a bit of life in this pitch.

Gambhir continues where he left off in 2011.

can see at least 3 wickets this session

These 2 have the temperament to grind through this session. Might have to, to protect the middle order a bit.

he looked likely last over and now.....again instead of offering a staright bat or leaving it Gambhir tries to turn closing the face of the bat.

This was the only decision that I was 50-50 in my mind......to leave out a Dhawan begining to get to terms.....or bring acold Gambhir

Broad gets Gambhir about the same time Anderson would have expected to get Dhawan...

Not much change there then   

I actually like the Indian changes : Ashwin hasn't a great overseas record , but at least he brings some more attacking intent to the bowling. And Aaron has a bit of pace and can hardly be less effective than Shami.
Did think England would change Stokes for Jordan , but it seems they prefer to stick with a winning side.
Some swing about ...

Oh dear! 8-2, this could be a very poor decision.

...just enough swing for Jimmy to remove Vijay !

Great start England.

and another! Anderson finds pretty much the perfect outswinger, making Vijay play, leaving him late and the edge goes straight to Cook at slip. Beautiful from Anderson, India in trouble early.

KP_fan wrote:
This was the only decision that I was 50-50 in my mind......to leave out a Dhawan begining to get to terms.....or bring acold Gambhir

Ah, the view of the armchair selector/captain.

Around 10 minutes before the game started you said and I quote

"Dhoni made ALL the right changes.....and got the team spot on...just as I would have liked"

Oh dear oh dear oh dear, I said this was the wrong decision, 8-3!

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH Jimmy Jimmy!

can see why India wanted him out of the series

Anderson is on fire... The band's tuning up

well 300 is what they need to scamper and scrap from here.....they bat until No.9 and aaron can also throw the bat a bit.

ball is carrying easily and quickly to slips and Gully so in that sense the pitch is good......not as much swing though

Superb start for England!

Oh James you wonderful, wonderful man. Three down in twenty-five minutes!

And again ! Perfect outswinger ...goodnight Kohli ...

8/3 .

Dhoni wondering about the decision to bat first ?

Kohlis due a score, but not today

Yeahhhhh

Oh my dear! 8-4, KPF do you still think batting first was the right choice?

England to bat by lunch at this rate.

fourth wicket without a run being added. Full from Broad, maybe a hint of swing, and Pujara edges to Jordan in the packed slip cordon. 8-4!

Four down!!!!

My brain can't quite compute. O Happy Day!

Poor batting in the face of rather ordinary bowling.

It's a bit of a shame commentators don't at least make an attempt to keep abreast of the latest In sports science.

Overcast does not equal swing. Lets remove the old wives tales

Gerry SA wrote:Poor batting in the face of rather ordinary bowling.

You'd be saying the exact opposite if SA had done this. Nothing wrong with how England have bowled, got the ball to move and the Indians can't cope with the moving ball. Saying that, England could bowl them out for less than 50 and you'd criticise them.

Another good take from Jordan, as well, for the fourth.

Dhoni batting after half-hour of a Test: one is most amused.