India V England 2021 Tour

Guess what, the next venue in Ahmedabad, has a variety of pitches, with red soil & black soil, similar to Chennai.

So what changes would you guys make?

^^ I'd replace Broad with Anderson. Crawley in (if fit) Burns out. Bairstow to replace Lawrence. 50/50 on Wood for Stone

It was always planned to bring back Archer if he's recovered.

(16-02-2021 22:01 )lovebabes56 Wrote:  So what changes would you guys make?

I guess Bess will come in for Moeen now he's gone home as he's not mentally right , looking like he just can't take the pressure of test cricket sadly

I think there were suggestions they was bringing in Wood back in as well. A shame for Moeen he is a brilliant spinner but I think it had been quite a few years since he played test cricket. It will be interesting to see who now drops out for Wood.

I think winning the toss for third Test is crucial now and making the right decision. If anything if Root wins the toss, he should seriously consider batting first, so that the players get some batting confidence back after the last game and getting good partnerships going. The opening pairing need to be scoring better as well, too ofgten out opening pair have been a weak link. I think the other thing is that they haven't had warm up games in between before the Test matches like they used to before on tour, it's been straight into the Test matches, and I think it's back home after the fourth Test.

If we can win this one the last Test would have so much hinged on it, particularly where the Test Championship (which I've not followed much to be honest and kept up top date with it), is concerned. However I have the feeling that IF we lose the third one I think it is likely we can't overtake India in the championship and they would be in the final (if it is the final), by my reckoning, even in if we were to win the fourth Test and square the series, I would imagine on the championship front at least, it would be too little, too late for us.

I would think for the most part, I would not be surprised if get something like the last pitch, but going back tothe pitch at Chennai would it be too late to make a complaint about that 2nd Test pitch if England were to make one?

^^
In the World Test Championship, India would only have to beat England by a minimum of 2-1 in the series, whereas England need a 3-1 result. That's not set in stone, there are other minor factors such as points docked for slow over-rate, which is what went some way in eliminating Australia from the final, along with the controversial postponement of the South Africa series. It show you, what a poor captain Tim Paine is to allow that to happen whilst playing India. It worth noting that Kohli is keeping a tight eye on their over-rate, as opposed to Root, who doesn't seem too bothered, probably because he knows we have little chance of qualifying. Generally Root is one of the worst offenders in terms of over-rate, far too many discussions, mid-over. As Bubble would say "GET ON WITH THE GAME"

So we've gone from an inexperienced expensive off-spinner, to an experienced expensive one & now , presumably back again. Interesting that England are now saying that Moeen's break was pre-planned in the same way as all of England's multi-format players,yet it is the first mention of it.
Root has had to make a personal apology to Moeen, for the clumsy way in which he broke the new, almost suggesting that Ali had acted alone in his choice to take a break.

Let’s not forget that Moeen was in Sri Lanka where he had COVID and but for that he may have played in the Tests there. He’s been in the bubble for quite some time now so I have no problem with him wanting a break. To accuse him of not being up to Test Cricket mentality as Winsaw did is in my view wrong.

Moeen is also only on a 1 day central contract and is I believe hoping to get picked up for the Indian Premier League which will mean another few months away from his family. Looks like he is prioritising trying to get selected for the World T20 in October in India particularly as he is unlikely to be selected for the home Test Series this summer or the Ashes in Australia later this year

^^ Root said yesterday he had gone home off his own back as was not feeling mentally right, then to day he's back out spinning it saying it was all pre planned total rubbish, Root told the truth yesterday now we are just getting ecb spin to try to cover everyone ass, don't fall for it mate, if it was pre planned then the games he was available for would have been announced before the tour started like it was for every other player who was planned to miss part of it ,