West Indies V India 1st Test Thread

[Duty281]

So tomorrow at 16:00 BST the 1st of 3 Tests begins. I'm not seeing anything other than a 3-0 victory for the Indians unless the weather gets in the way. Preview is below:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-india-2011/content/current/story/519581.html

This game is live on SS1 Red Button for UK Viewers. Thoughts?

[sonic_boom10]

India should win but got a few issues.

Only Ishant and Praveen Kumar are full fit. Munaf has an elbow problem and Mithun isn't gonna get there in time.

M Vijay hurt his hand and is doubtful.

3 debutants for India - Mukund, Kohli and Praveen Kumar.

[GG]

Apparently, Partiv Patel could play as a specialist batsman and open if Vijay isn't fit. I would have included Rahane in the squad rather than Partiv but I guess it was easier to include Patel because he was already in the Caribbean.

[sonic_boom10]

Apparently, Partiv Patel could play as a specialist batsman and open if Vijay isn't fit. I would have included Rahane in the squad rather than Partiv but I guess it was easier to include Patel because he was already in the Caribbean.

Rahane's not an opener, so MS and Fletch wouldn't have gone that way.

[msp83]

Abhinav Mukund is a defenit prospect, and it will be interesting to see whether Virat Kohli will be able to continue his good work in the ODI game to the highest level right away.

Will it be Badrinath or Raina who would play? Think Badrinath, despite his failings, should get one last chance. Raina not only didn't score runs in the ODIs, but unlike Badrinath, he just looked so irresponsible with stupid shot selection.

The bowling though is a major worry. whenever Zaheer doesn't play, the Indian bowling ends up losing the edge. Hopes Ishant can take on the responsibility, and come up with the goods. On a lively pitch it will be dificult to go with 2 spinners. And Praveen Kumar is a kind of a new ball specialist only.

[msp83]

As far as the West Indies is concerned, yet again they are without their best player who is not selected because of stupid administrative problems.

Their captain doesn't merit test selection over someone like Fidel Edwards, but they have to go that way, because of the stupid good for nothing WICB. from here on, one can only hope Sammy uses a bit of head while batting, and at least do a containing job with the ball. he was horrible and irresponsible with the bat, and ok with the ball in the Pakistan series, but I don't think his offerings would trouble Dravid Laxman and co by much.

Will they go for an all pace strategy though and play Fidel in place of Bhishoo? remember Chris Gayle is not there to offer some decent partime backup spin.

[activereactive]

What is the point of introducing Abhinav Mukund, when the process of introducing Pujara is not yet complete???
stuff the BCCI

[Guest]

gonna b an inresting series

[GG]

Apparently, Partiv Patel could play as a specialist batsman and open if Vijay isn't fit. I would have included Rahane in the squad rather than Partiv but I guess it was easier to include Patel because he was already in the Caribbean.

Rahane's not an opener, so MS and Fletch wouldn't have gone that way.

partiv isn't either

[Guest]

relle looking forward to watching this series

[GG]

windies leaving out roach!

teams: WI - Simmons Barath Bravo Sarwan Chanderpaul Nash Baugh Sammy Rampaul Edwards Bishoo

Ind - Mukund Vijay Dravid Kohli Laxman Raina Dhoni Harbhajan Mishra Praveen Ishant

[Mad for Chelsea]

WI have started well, couple of early wickets to Rampaul, though Dravid and Laxman are building a bit of a partnership here. Sammy really shouldn't be in this side should he? Replace him with Roach and you have a pretty decent eam I reckon...

[Mad for Chelsea]

Hmm 4 wickets down before lunch on a flat pitch, maybe the Indian batting reserves aren't as good as we've been told...

[msp83]

The pitch looks like one that will crack sooner rather than later. from that point of view India's move to bat first is logical. but the lack of experience has shown, 4 wickets down at lunch.

Dravid is out there, and it was his efforts in both innings that helped India win that test 5 years ago. significantly, he's looking to score of every available opportunity, Dhoni and co should give him good support.

[msp83]

if Gayle and Roach also come in place of one of the batters and Sammy, this WI team can be a pretty decent unit.

[Mad for Chelsea]

I'm with you msp, batting first was the right move, the pitch won't get any better I don't think. What's let them down is the inexperience of their batting line-up, and the lack of decent preparation (no warm-up games?)

[Mike Selig]

Vijay played a loose shot, hungover from one-day cricket still.

Wasn't impressed with Mukund, played away from his body several times before getting out, but it could be down to nerves. However his planting of the front foot before the ball's been delivered means he'll struggle against quality bowling I reckon.

Laxman played a loose shot (particularly first ball) and then Kohli got a good one.

Haven't seen the wickets since lunch. Looks like Harbajhan's going to have a bash, but not sure I give him that long against Bishoo...

[hokeye_on sticky wicket]

151/6 India in spot of bother!
Harbhajan to the rescue! And a leading scorer for Indian Test team!

[sonic_boom10]

Some very ordinary batting by India vs a very ordinary bowling attack.

[sonic_boom10]

Apparently, Partiv Patel could play as a specialist batsman and open if Vijay isn't fit. I would have included Rahane in the squad rather than Partiv but I guess it was easier to include Patel because he was already in the Caribbean.

Rahane's not an opener, so MS and Fletch wouldn't have gone that way.

partiv isn't either

Partiv has opened in ODI's and in A team tours, so he knows how to open.

[sonic_boom10]

One gripe for me is how the hell can Mithun not get to Windies in time?

If Praveen and Munaf would've gone done injured, would India have opened the bowling with Ishant and Kohli?

[GG]

Is that Harbhajan or Sehwag?

[Guest]

harbajhan in better form with bat then ball.

[sonic_boom10]

harbajhan in better form with bat then ball.

Didn't you know he was secretly India's next batting superstar.

Bowling was just a decoy

[Mad for Chelsea]

a cunning plan that sonic

India eventually all out for 246, they'll be not too displeased with that as it looked like a whole lot less than that at one stage, but it's still a poor effort on a decent enough pitch.

WI lost their way a bit during that partnership between Harby and Raina, and Bishoo got smacked around a bit, buthe'll learn from that.

[msp83]

Harbhajan does fancy himself as a bowling all-rounder. Although his bowling is not on top consistently, his batting over the last year and half, is pretty much in working order. Moreover, his runs usualy come when India need them the most. anyone remember the 3rd ODI. There also India had lost more than half the side before reaching, but Bhaji, in the Campany of Rohit Sharma saved the situation.

But I hope Harbhajan takes this confidence to his bowling as well. His runs are always welcomed, but Bhaji has to deliver with the ball, particularly as India's one real world class bowler is not available.

[msp83]

It was a fine day of test cricket. The batting and bowling may have been ordinary at times, but the action was gripping. Wickets upfront, a bit of a fight from a very experienced hand, a leggy on top of his game, picking up 3 big wickets to rattle the opposition, then a superb counterattack, hostility and pace against the lower order, and somefight at the end as well. The Day had it all.

[msp83]

A few more obvious points for the West Indies as well. It was ones again proved Sammy their captain being there in the side makes it hugely unbalanced one. He's not good enough to bat in the top 6, and He's not among the 4 best bowlers in the West Indies. If the team has to find balance, he has to go, there is no other way.

What was Fidel Edwards doing all these while? He bowled with lots of fire throughout the day, although earlier in the day he struggled with his length and line a bit. More match time he should have had, and he should have been playing some of the ODIs. It proves the WI management has no clear thinking, no sense of direction.

Good learning experience for Devendra Bhishoo. Even the great Shane Warne got tonked by the Indians in his first test, and that was just the beginning. In that respect, Bhishoo can be feel better, he really did trouble the top order, and Dravid, Laxman and Dhoni are big names in world cricket. Hopes he learns from the experience, and learns quickly.

[Guest]

suprsingly good say for the west indies

[activereactive]

India 246,
WE 34-1, this is going to be a fantastic test match, probably over inside 3 days

[Mad for Chelsea]

Given the way the ball was spinning yesterday already, WI really need a sizeable lead in their first innings, they have to be aiming at 400-plus IMO. Mishra bowled well yesterday I thought, looked dangerous. Harbhajan was poor though, too many balls allowed to spin down the leg side. When it's spinning that much, as an offie you need to pitch it outside off, not on the stumps, something he seems reluctant to do...

[activereactive]

I have gut feelings, India will take a lead of 60+ runs

[Mike Selig]

I'd be very surprised if the West indies win this. They lost it when Harbajhan came in and seemingly had a cunning plan to bowl short and wide to him. due credit though both he and Raina batted very well and it was a brilliant move to counter-attack.

Agree with msp83, Sammy shouldn't play test cricket. He's not actually a very good captain tactically either (although he appears to be a good man-manager).

the pitch is showing alarming signs of wear and tear and I don't think the West Indies have enough of a clue against spin bowling to chase down anything much beyond 120 so they'll need a reasonable first innings lead.

[Guest]

sarwan gone padding up lbw

[msp83]

Chanderpaul has been the tormentor in chief as far as Indian bowling is concerned.

Bharat has got a start, and Bravo, on his day can be elegant and effective. But I think Chanders is going to be the key wicket. He may not have been in the best of touch against Pakistan, but He always tends to choose India to hit form

[Mad for Chelsea]

Barath looking to be positive against Harbhajan, a bit disapointed Dhoni feels the need for a long-on though...

[msp83]

Praveen doesn't look like picking up a wicket unless he's gifted one by the batsman. Harbhajan continues to get his line mostly wrong.

Still, both batters living a rather chancy life out there, particularly Bravo.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Harby seems unwilling to toss it up outside off and tempt the batsman to drive against the spin through the covers, which on this pitch with the turn he's getting is what he should be looking to do. Appeal for bat pad against Barath. Not out, nowhere near it, though he did hit his pad so two noises...

[msp83]

Harbhajan is mostly bowling it on the stumps or outside leg. Don't think he's going to do much with that line of attack. To add to the problems, he's bowling too short, and rather flat.

There is nothing much one can do about, apart from tearing one's hair apart. The other options aren't much better either.

[msp83]

Ah what did I say? PK has me with egg all over the face!. an absolute ripper to get rid of Barath!.

[Mad for Chelsea]

that was a cracking delivery from Kumar, ends a promising innings from Barath, I liked the way he tried to be aggressive and get on top of the bowling. This field is too leg side heavy for Mishra, it's not encouraging him to toss it up outside off and invite the drive.

[msp83]

PK is on fire on debut. He's getting his swing going, but at the same time, the line and length are just spot on!.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Thought the Barath one was a lovely ball, the other two pretty poor shots (Bravo an indeterminate prod, Nash playing across the line) but he bowled a lovely spell to put India on top. Harby still not getting it right, and the last ball before lunch is spectacularly launched over long-on for six by Baugh!

[Guest]

i wonder if not using UDRS will come back to bite india on the backside

[hokeye_on sticky wicket]

Praveen Kumar suspended from bowling this inning by the umpire.

[Guest]

for running on middle of the pitch?

[hokeye_on sticky wicket]

Harbhajan 6 wkts away from 400 mark

[sonic_boom10]

If I was an Windies batsmen I'd be slightly concerned with the uneven bounce which was evident in M Vijay's 2nd innings dismissal.

[Mad for Chelsea]

If I was a Windies batsman I'd be concerned by how useless I was in the first innings (honourable exception of Barath)

[Corporalhumblebucket]

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