England's Tour of India 2012

(16-11-2012 10:23 )cosmonaut Wrote:  England are reluctant to play Panesar because he's a rabbit in the batting order, whereas Bresnan can contribute valuable runs. What happened to playing your best bowlers for the conditions? India have declared at 521/8 and 7 of those 8 wickets were taken by spin. Patel and Pietersen bowled 39 overs between them.

I rest my case .(and virtually everyone else's ,apart from the England selectors .)

I assume the final 11 is decided by Andy Flower. I say this because I read somewhere the other day (forgotten which paper/writer) that he was probably in need of a break and should miss a tour as the writer felt Andy Flower was "feeling the pressure of too much cricket, just the same as certain players do". A bit strange to me but the writer must see something.

England 1st Innings 191 all out 110-0 2nd Innings after India enforced the follow on.

England have an outside chance of escaping with a draw.With a 10
run lead with only 5 wickets left.Cook 168 not out,Prior 84 not out need to extend their 141 stand on the final day.

England could only manage to set India 77 to win which they knocked off in 16 overs with Swann taking the only wicket of Sehwag.EarlierPrior made 91 & Cook 176 followed soon after,with them went any realistic chance of setting India a target that could trouble them.

India now have a 21-4 win loss record in their last 39 Tests at home, going back 8 years. England now have a 2-12 win loss record in Asia (excluding Bangladesh) in 23 Tests since December 2001.

I predict England will now pick 2 recognized spinners for the remaining 3 tests,now the horse has bolted.Same old story really .

Bairstow to come in for Bell.

Panesar in for Patel.

They would be the two changes I would make for the next test and hope we bat first.

With Bell missing England will be reluctant to pick 5 batsmen & five bowlers with Prior at 6.Bresnan has occupied the crease,but 7 is too high,could drop him or Broad & bring in Monty.Patel plays spin well & got 2 bad decisions,deserves another go.Big fan of Bairstow,but maybe Morgan would cope better.

2nd Test from Mumbai,India win the toss & elect to bat. Making one chance with the injured Yadav being replace by Harbhajan.England replace Bell on paternity leave,with Baistow.Monty coming in for Bresnan.