And the phrase “Mankading” is disgraceful and insulting a fantastic, all-round cricketer.

Honestly, its a non-issue. The law was enacted to ensure that the non-striker doesn’t get an unfair advantage. And he/she runs a risk of being run out, if decides to take that. Nothing new! Same as when the batter tries to “steal” a short single. The fact that Dean was so unaware of this law is the reason for her to be out anyways! We are discussing a professional cricketer here, rather than a weekend one ! I am amazed that instead of whining, why isn’t any one saying that this needs to be instilled in the players by the coaches? If you are a professional cricketer, you must be aware of the laws…period!

I won’t give up that easily on India. It will be a good contest. While England is definitely ahead, if India can make 275-300 in the first dig their bowlers will put England under pressure. I would though, take Ashwin over Shardul especially as the wicket is likely to settle down after initial spice. Ash will be more useful than Shardul.

If anything, India would have loved to play. This is the weakest England team they have faced in the old blighty. They had a great chance to win 3 tests in a series which we have never done in our history. It was all about weighing potential risk of finding infected players mid way through which wouldn’t allow the players to leave England till cleared of infection and putting IPL at risk. I reckon another thing is also that India was left with no physio. To play a five day test without one would have been too risky for the players. And most certainly, the players must have been mentally tired. This team has done a lot of travelling and staying in a bubble. Currently we are living in a lockdown in NSW and beginning to start feeling frustrated even in our own homes. I reckon it is easy to start blaming the players for leaving because I have paid money. Why don’t they dance to my tune? We will probably never understand their problems. Honestly, we should be thankful to all players (England side travelled to Sri Lanka and India in a more difficult time) for whatever entertainment we are getting in such a pandemic. Players could have simply pulled out. Whatever we are getting to see is a bonus so lets enjoy that instead of lamenting what we believe we are entitled to.

Taking a stand is fine. You can stop playing with them. Making others to accept that is a different thing.

Guys, don’t discuss politics with Indians (I am one!) We see politics in every thing. 😁
Indians are very sensitive about colonization. Significant part of our history course in schools was and probably still is, dedicated to India’s freedom struggle only. India has supported Afghanistan. I don’t know how that equation will work out. But sense one thing. India will support Afghanistan in ICC.

Sadly politics can’t be separated from sports because a nation’s government will expect the sporting organisation to uphold its ruling. However, I believe it is for cricket Australia and icc to shift out. Tim Paine was a bit premature in jumping into non – sports issue. He could most certainly say that he personally would not play against a nation who doesn’t uphold the values he holds dear. But to say what icc can do is a conjecture on his part and best left to Cricket Australia.

Very well written Arvind. Indeed this team has travelled better than any in the history of Indian cricket. Though I have to say this English batting side is not a great one and not winning this series could be a question mark against Kohli’s captainship. However, the way in which they have managed to wriggle out of tight corners (which was their own doing to some extent) and have not thrown in the towel after a big defeat, is the redeeming feature for me. For that, Kohli’s leadership (and probably Shastri’s contribution too) should be applauded. Still, I would say, Delhi is a little far; there is last test to be won. Let us keep our fingers crossed hoping that the batters will support their outstanding bowling unit!

Great post Seth. Though the newer generation batters especially, are never going to be similar to the older one. They grow up on limited overs diet, their technique and mind set are different; they go for their shots more often. I grew up and played in times when 4 runs an over was considered very quick. India has definitely done well because of their decent Ranji structure and most importantly, massive change in nature of wickets for the first class games. They are more seaming and bouncier; that’s the reason why there is an assembly line of pace bowlers coming into Indian team. To my mind, Australian cricket is struggling because they have continued to be bullish in refusing to “include” regional players and there by expand their pool of talents; something India have done brilliantly (or Dhoni wouldn’t ever have been discovered!). I have been lamenting that for a long time (I have been living down under for over 25 years now) and it pains me to see terrific talents stop at regional District First grade cricket or at best in Australian Country rep games. Admittedly it is hard in Australia due to distances to bring regional players under one umbrella but I believe Cricket Australia need another division of First class cricket to encourage regional players not to lose interest in the game at the age of 25 because they can’t move to the state capital cities. Another thing missing in Australian cricket is grass root coaching. While Australia has one of the best coaching set up, unfortunately coaching to juniors and club level cricketers is bot great as there are no academies. Only if you are selected to play rep cricket you get any kind of coaching. I believe a lot of talent is lost to other sports in regional Australia because they have lot better pathways than cricket, for the young one to follow.

I reckon what Virat says in the press conference may be slightly different to what he may be saying to his team mates in the dressing room. No good leader will bring his own player down in public; he may be wielding a cane in private. Focusing upon positives in defeats is not limited to him alone. He is far too direct to be a polly, to be honest. This is England’s worst team I have seen in last 50 years; but that is hardly his fault. In fact, I believe if he doesn’t win this series, I would suggest he shouldn’t be skippering India. So while I was fuming at the non-inclusion of Ash at the Oval, he proved all wrong by winning the test with his plan. That needs to be accepted and acknowledged. And the claim of “best in the world” is his opinion and he is entitled to it. Surely results from last two years have been great for the Indian team under him, which was always considered tiger at home, lamb abroad.

Jeff, Kohli will go with two spinners only and only if the wicket has substantially less grass and dry. If he didn’t play Ashwin on oval, I am not too sure Ash will get a game at old Trafford. SKY is a prolific scorer at domestic levels in all formats, and has been around for a while. He is very well organised batter. But to debut in swinging conditions in England will be tough ;having said that he couldn’t do much worse than Rahane. And if he settles in, the next test visit for India is another frontier that they would love to capture, South Africa where India haven’t won a series as yet. That will be in Kohli’s mind I am sure..

Excellent summation Paul. To be honest this is the worst English batting line up I have seen playing against India at home since 1971. Root has to do a lot of pulling and the law of averages caught up with him. I have to disagree about Jadeja though. He definitely needs longer spells to get into optimal rhythm but he was a significant threat. I think he suffered from the need to focus upon the foot marks all the time in the second dig and try to bowl bit quicker. He couldn’t do that consistently but provided great support to the pacers. I can’t see him being dropped. Totally agree about Rahane, as much as I regret. I would play SKY (Surya kumar Yadav) at 5. Pujara must be having a nightmare about the word intent. It’s been the most used word in Indian cricket in this series with Che being the focus of that reference. If there was one match where a joint mom could have been given, it was here. Shardul deserved it, I thought more than Rohit, though the latter’s setting up the tough target was a key too. Look forward to Old Trafford and a few nights good rest before that.

Fights are a fuel to Virat’s captainship style. He is attacking captain; he struggles when opponents get on top. I have not seen him expressively aggressive against any team other than Australia. I believe English side made an error in trying to hurt Bumrah rather than get him out. The mistake was not in allowing him and Shami to take the game away from them by bat; it was in giving Kohli an opportunity to bring his aggression and unite his team behind him. All forgot that the celebrated Indian middle order has been failing; instead it was all about let us give it back. Even mostly placid Rahane was also very expressive on the field on the last day at Lords. This is the philosophy by which Kohli has always unified his team against Aussies. I have always believed; if you want to beat Indians, do not provoke them; be nice to them. Remember Zaher Khan and the jelly bean affair! If in doubts, ask Kohli’s good friend, Kane Williamson..😊

Brilliant! Thoroughly enjoyed. That kind of micromanaging philosophy will be very successful for under 14 teams. If you need that at test level there is something wrong with CA set up. Just wondering, BCCI will be looking for a new coach for Virat’s team after t20 world cup. They may make a great pair. What do you reckon Brett? 😁

Good observation Paul, about Jadeja. I personally feel he should bat at 6 in this series and let Pant come in at 7. I reckon, if Rahane doesn’t fire in this series I wouldn’t mind putting Jaddu at 5 even with SKY (Surykumar Yadav) coming in at 6. After a couple of series, SKY can take no.5 with Rahul at 3 long term.

Unless injured, I reckon Shami will play all five. He is perhaps the fittest of the lot. Bumrah may be given a break if India win the next two tests. Ishant’s inclusion, if at all, IMO, can be at Lords. However, with Shardul and Siraj both bowling well, it looks hard for Ishant to get in.

That’s why he is The Don!! 😂

Anyone who goes to England for the first time struggles. I remember Sunny Gavaskar’s first overseas series in England, after his scintillating debut in West Indies and he struggled to adjust to the conditions. Agree that Australian wickets are easier to adept than England or NZ. I reckon Gill has sufficient talent to get over the swing challenge; to learn to play late and under your eyes rather than in front and on the rise. He has compact defense which should be a help.

Very unfortunate. Agree, badmanners. Though, one thing that can still keep England in the game is Indian batter’s inability to adept and stop Anderson from taking wickets! After last night’s spell from Anderson, I hope for the sake of Indian team, it does not open up the old wounds!!

Anth, yes, unfortunately, Gill has sustained a shin stress fracture. out for 2 months at least. I see him at the top of order for very long time for India and KL Rahul to take #3 soon. Much as I love Pujara’s temperament, he is coming close to his use by date..

Paul, he batted at 6; didn’t open.

Find it hard to believe that the bowlers wouldn’t know. Probably they were not told what exactly would be done to the ball so that they can claim they didn’t know. Bancroft was dispensable, bowlers can’t be, if it got found out. One can argue that it was Warner who hatched it up totally on his own and convinced Bancroft to do the dirty work. However, to expect the bowlers not noticing the condition of the ball is hard to accept. Also, I find it hard to believe that the coach wouldn’t be aware of it at all. Both him and the captain were found to be the biggest weaklings in this saga. Its sad to see people pushing Smith to captain the side again. I don’t believe Australian cricket is so short of quality players and leaders. Great batsman, Smith. But Australian cricket deserves a better leader than him.

England will remain one of the teams to beat on the subcontinent. Their performance in just concluded ODI series in India was terrific. I reckon in Rashid they have a match winner. Mark Wood with his pace was quite impressive. With Archer, Curren and Stokes they have a decent balance. Their batting at the tip is explosive. Need a couple more finishes like stokes. I think the wickets we saw in Pune and Ahmedabad in the white ball series are like what we will see in the world cup also ; they definitely bounced more than I have seen before in India. Spinners will need to be very accurate and hope they blown in the first half. It will help to have a good pace attack. England definitely will have a chance if their batters don’t lose form by that time..

Conceding that this is highly subjective and especially in a low scoring and competitive series, my mom would be Ajinkya Rehane. After Adelaide 36 to turn the fortune of the team around with a series defining ton, loss of regular captain and a plethora of first choice players and most importantly, wicket taking bowlers; to nurse the new comers and get more than 100% out of them, was the toughest situation I have ever seen, that he faced. He showed how to make a lemonade when you are served a lemon in life.

I reckon, the recipe for India to win is to make runs. Their bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets on any wicket now. While Saha is not a bad bat at all, Pant is definitely a better choice. Pant is a batsman who feeds on his confidence going into the series, whatever may be the opposition, and that knock under the lights would have done that. I would definitely select him after that knock. As you rightly said, wicket keeping is not a great factor in that decision making.