India v England | 4th Test | Ahmedabad | March 04 -08 | Pre-match Discussion

[MenInG]

Jasprit Bumrah released from India’s squad

Jasprit Bumrah made a request to BCCI to be released from India’s squad ahead of the fourth Test owing to personal reasons. Accordingly, the fast bowler has been released and he will not be available for selection for the fourth Test.

There will be no addition to India’s squad for the final Test.

India’s squad for the 4th Test: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Md. Siraj, Umesh Yadav

https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2021/ne...-india-s-squad

[Markhor]

Bairstow must go. Never seen a top order batsman out LBW and bowled as much as him.

Stokes' issues against spin is a major issue too, and he bats at 5 where your best player of spin normally ought to bat. However he's obviously not going anywhere and ENG don't have many reserve batsmen.

As for the bowling, if it's another dry turner then Bess surely must return. ENG may feel he lacks control but they boxed themselves into a corner as there's no other specialist spinner besides him and Leach.

[OMB]

England have made mistakes in their team rotation policy as well as in final 11 selection. Team management has to be be blamed and not players alone for their poor showing in last 2 tests. They have to go back to basics when it comes to batting. The toss and pitch will be what they are and neither are in England's control. I guess they have learned their lessons (at a high cost ) and we will get to see better English performance. Yes, Bairstow must go and Bess should be in.

Bumrah absence will not have major impact as India have enough good pacers and anyway it will be a spin friendly track.
Kohli is looking good for high score. but have to question what is his deputy Rahane contributing? India should send Ashwin higher up the order and could try Mayank .

[Robert]

Truth to tell, I have lost interest in the series, which is something I have not felt before.

It doesn’t matter who England pick. We know what the wicket will be like, and we know what the result will be. I would almost prefer England to forfeit the match and come home.

[jeeteshssaxena]

Ok the pitch wasn't good, yes it was a turner but atlast both teams play on the same pitch.
I am damn sure Ravi Shastri and company won't run away or mouth off if you serve them green mambas.

Cricket fans can whine about the match not being good for test cricket but
England cricket team should just shut their mouths for the embarrassing display of cricket skills. If India skittled for 81 runs i would blame them even if the pitch was horrid.
The fact that english cricket team has the guts to blame the pitch and not their batting shows their mentality.

Go run away, forfeit the match, test cricket is not for sissies.

[Manunited18]

Truth to tell, I have lost interest in the series, which is something I have not felt before.

It doesn’t matter who England pick. We know what the wicket will be like, and we know what the result will be. I would almost prefer England to forfeit the match and come home.

Can't believe the likes of Gavaskar was defending the wicket

[Saurav]

Truth to tell, I have lost interest in the series, which is something I have not felt before.

It doesn’t matter who England pick. We know what the wicket will be like, and we know what the result will be. I would almost prefer England to forfeit the match and come home.

Why can't England compete on such wickets?India won on greentop in Lords 2014

Eng themselves won on turners in 2012

[Ted123]

England posted almost 600 runs in first test, in this test all teams struggled to get to even 150 runs in any inning and Indian posters here want to tell us it was not a poor quality pitch lol.

The current Indian team will only be remembered for winning home matches on rank turners whenever a strong team tours India.

But when weaker team tours, they will start producing balanced pitches just to show that their seamers could rip apart weak teams like Bangladesh and Windies at home.

Just look at the stats of how many wickets their so called no.1 pacer has taken in this series.

[Saurav]

England posted almost 600 runs in first test, in this test all teams struggled to get to even 150 runs in any inning and Indian posters here want to tell us it was not a poor quality pitch lol.

The current Indian team will only be remembered for winning home matches on rank turners whenever a strong team tours India.

But when weaker team tours, they will start producing balanced pitches just to show that their seamers could rip apart weak teams like Bangladesh and Windies at home.

Just look at the stats of how many wickets their so called no.1 pacer has taken in this series.

First test wasnt pink ball

Yes its tougher than that pitch and rightly so.That was a patta for first 3 days favouring team winning toss.Here Eng won toss

Current Indian team will be known for winning series in Aus and specially Gabba

[Hasan123]

Expecting a lot of changes from England again. Bess will need to come back in as the pitch won't change that much. Bizarrely he is the only other spinner in the squad so poor squad selection there. Potentially 1 of Anderson or Broad could come out. Pope could also be replaced due to looking clueless so far .

India will probably only replace Bumrah.

[RamLakhan]

The thing that Leach is the only potent spinner in their entire country (and Bess is the next best) shows how much importance they give to various dimensions & facets of cricket...! If they are feared of playing in spinning conditions & against spinners then they should prohibit themselves from visiting these places and also stop inviting Asian teams to their country (instead of sharing sarcastic smiles over their glories on green-tops! And didn't they even enjoy the success against weak Sri Lankan team as well recently? So they had no issues there!)

India (so called land of graveyard for fast bowlers) at least has 5 to 10 pacers who can bowl their heart out and compete in SENA countries... But these countries have no interest in preparing spinners (or rather don't have talent to produce them)! And their batsmen are ****** off (actually scared) to play on these pitches! Whereas our batsmen are eager to play on any kind of pitches (so-called HTB Rohit Sharma at least shows immense interest in playing test matches overseas even if he fails!)

[Mesozoic]

The current Indian team will only be remembered for winning home matches on rank turners whenever a strong team tours India.

What a load of rubbish! Atleast do some research before spouting such nonsense...

Before this series, the only "rank turner" we produced since 2015 was against Australia in Pune and we freaking lost that game. Please check the scorecards when England, South Africa and New Zealand (assuming these are the top teams) last visited India.

[The lone Ranger]

England posted almost 600 runs in first test, in this test all teams struggled to get to even 150 runs in any inning and Indian posters here want to tell us it was not a poor quality pitch lol.

The current Indian team will only be remembered for winning home matches on rank turners whenever a strong team tours India.

But when weaker team tours, they will start producing balanced pitches just to show that their seamers could rip apart weak teams like Bangladesh and Windies at home.

Just look at the stats of how many wickets their so called no.1 pacer has taken in this series.

Let batsmen work hard for every run atleast for a few matches instead of bulking up their averages on flat tracks.

Atleast Pitches like these don't give any unfair advantage to teams who bat first.

As for how the current indian team will be remembered. Don't worry, they will be remembered for winning back to back series wins in Australia where some teams couldn't even draw a single game over the last 30 years.

Indian team doesn't care about the opponent whether they are weak or strong when they play them in india because every team is weak for them at home.

And you don't have to lie to promote your agenda, India rarely produce rank turners. They provided 5 flat roads to England last time and 3 flat roads (1 Turner) to Australia and again 3 flat roads to South Africa when they toured india last time.

Can only imagine how much pain you must have gone through during India's series win in Australia lol.

[The lone Ranger]

wondering now no one is talking about "win toss and win match" and preparing turners will backfire the home team

[Robert]

Why can't England compete on such wickets?India won on greentop in Lords 2014

Eng themselves won on turners in 2012

Sure, on standard slow turners, not a track with Moon craters on the morning of day two which not even King Kohli could bat on.

Lord’s 2014 lasted five days not two. As I have pointed out many times it was green for one day and brown for the other four as strong sun killed the grass. The England bowlers were so unused to getting a green wicket after years of puddings that they didn’t know what to do with it and bowled too short. So India got a score. Then Ishant gave a heroic performance on the dead fifth day track to win the match. It was an ok wicket for tests. Several batsmen got a score, and Ishant bent his back and eventually got wickets.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...full-scorecard

[Robert]

The thing that Leach is the only potent spinner in their entire country (and Bess is the next best) shows how much importance they give to various dimensions & facets of cricket...!)

ECB isn’t really that powerful. ECB sets the schedule but the Counties make the wickets. Pitch inspectors will dock a CCC points if a wicket looks substandard. So what is produced is a set of puddings which hold up for four days. In addition, the LO matches are mostly played late in the season when people come to watch. The late season is when spinners do well, because the wickets have dried out in July and August. But now they are being used to bowl ten (or four) tight overs, rather than bowl twenty overs a day and learn to take wickets. Conversely, batsmen are not exposed to long spin spells with attacking fields.

Somerset CCC is bucking the trend with their Taunton turner, and so Leach and Bess have emerged.

[Bilal7]

Bairstow must go. Never seen a top order batsman out LBW and bowled as much as him.

Stokes' issues against spin is a major issue too, and he bats at 5 where your best player of spin normally ought to bat. However he's obviously not going anywhere and ENG don't have many reserve batsmen.

As for the bowling, if it's another dry turner then Bess surely must return. ENG may feel he lacks control but they boxed themselves into a corner as there's no other specialist spinner besides him and Leach.

England made such a blunder. I know he's been out of form but seeing how easily Moeen was smashing sixes against all three of India's spinners in the second test, they should have batted him at #3. Oh, an maybe not rotate him after two tests.

This would shield Bairstow and allow him to bat at #5, which is probably his ideal position. Stokes would also bat at his natural position at #6. Plus, England could play three seamers in every match + Stokes.

[Bilal7]

Can't believe the likes of Gavaskar was defending the wicket

Gavasker is a paid shill. It's no wonder.

[HitWicket]

Expecting a lot of changes from England again. Bess will need to come back in as the pitch won't change that much. Bizarrely he is the only other spinner in the squad so poor squad selection there.

Virdi, Parkinson and Crane are out there as backup and can be added to the squad if required.

[Saurav]

Sure, on standard slow turners, not a track with Moon craters on the morning of day two which not even King Kohli could bat on.

Lord’s 2014 lasted five days not two. As I have pointed out many times it was green for one day and brown for the other four as strong sun killed the grass. The England bowlers were so unused to getting a green wicket after years of puddings that they didn’t know what to do with it and bowled too short. So India got a score. Then Ishant gave a heroic performance on the dead fifth day track to win the match. It was an ok wicket for tests. Several batsmen got a score, and Ishant bent his back and eventually got wickets.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...full-scorecard

If the pitch had craters why did England play 4 seamers

Lords last 5 days because our batsmen were able to bat better,specially Rahane and then our bowlers were good enough to bowl on it too

Fact is Eng don't have good spinners or players like they had in 2012 which is why they won there

[Last Monetarist]

Fact is Eng don't have good spinners or players like they had in 2012 which is why they won there

I don't think that is up for debate at all. If Swann and Panesar were part of this England squad, I daresay the pitches would have been vastly different.

[Saurav]

I don't think that is up for debate at all. If Swann and Panesar were part of this England squad, I daresay the pitches would have been vastly different.

So develop these spinners instead of talking about pitch

India also used to get pacy tracks but it has reduced recently as our pace attack got better

[Last Monetarist]

So develop these spinners instead of talking about pitch

India also used to get pacy tracks but it has reduced recently as our pace attack got better

The bigger issue is the batting, I doubt even Swann or Panesar could have made much difference in Ahmedabad if the batsmen aren't even good enough to score 150.

The criticism of the pitch at Ahmedabad is still valid despite the ineptitude of the England batsmen. Any whataboutery from Indian fans is squalid.

[Saurav]

The bigger issue is the batting, I doubt even Swann or Panesar could have made much difference in Ahmedabad if the batsmen aren't even good enough to score 150.

The criticism of the pitch at Ahmedabad is still valid despite the ineptitude of the England batsmen. Any whataboutery from Indian fans is squalid.

The criticism was there for last Test where Indian batsmen did well

Here yes everybody failed but it is also due to pink ball.I'm sure we'll see a longer Test on same pitch in 4th Test

[Last Monetarist]

The criticism was there for last Test where Indian batsmen did well

Here yes everybody failed but it is also due to pink ball.I'm sure we'll see a longer Test on same pitch in 4th Test

I didn't agree with the criticism of the pitch at Chennai. That was a perfectly good test surface, especially if Ashwin could score a test century on it. Any gripes were totally unwarranted.

Yes, the ball exacerbated the issues with the pitch at Ahmedabad, but it was incompetence on the part of the groundsmen to not prepare a surface with the pink ball in mind.

[Saurav]

I didn't agree with the criticism of the pitch at Chennai. That was a perfectly good test surface, especially if Ashwin could score a test century on it. Any gripes were totally unwarranted.

Yes, the ball exacerbated the issues with the pitch at Ahmedabad, but it was incompetence on the part of the groundsmen to not prepare a surface with the pink ball in mind.

Everybody is new and still trying to adjust to the ball.India got 36 all out,Eng got 57 all out v NZ,there were other 3 day games as well

Maybe its the ball itself that needs to be looked at.The extra lacquer makes it tough to play

[RamLakhan]

I didn't agree with the criticism of the pitch at Chennai. That was a perfectly good test surface, especially if Ashwin could score a test century on it. Any gripes were totally unwarranted.

Yes, the ball exacerbated the issues with the pitch at Ahmedabad, but it was incompetence on the part of the groundsmen to not prepare a surface with the pink ball in mind.

It was absolutely a new experience (India hosting just 2nd Pink Ball test and first one against a Top team!) I hope there will be much improvement next time!

[Markhor]

Everybody is new and still trying to adjust to the ball.India got 36 all out,Eng got 57 all out v NZ,there were other 3 day games as well

Maybe its the ball itself that needs to be looked at.The extra lacquer makes it tough to play

I think Ahmedabad was just a perfect storm of a pink ball that skidded on more than the red ball with its thicker lacquer, a real turner of a pitch and poor batting techniques. Any objective analysis must highlight all three factors.

Going forward, if we know the pink ball will confer additional help to the bowlers, then that should be balanced out with a decent batting pitch (with due regard for home advantage). Otherwise bat-ball balance is too distorted with combination of a pink ball, DRS, and a bowler friendly pitch which leaves fans short-changed after 2 day/36/58 all out type matches.

[CanadianG00se]

I think Ahmedabad was just a perfect storm of a pink ball that skidded on more than the red ball with its thicker lacquer, a real turner of a pitch and poor batting techniques. Any objective analysis must highlight all three factors.

Going forward, if we know the pink ball will confer additional help to the bowlers, then that should be balanced out with a decent batting pitch (with due regard for home advantage). Otherwise bat-ball balance is too distorted with combination of a pink ball, DRS, and a bowler friendly pitch which leaves fans short-changed after 2 day/36/58 all out type matches.

Team India have shown their concerns regarding pink ball D/N test. Just recently BCCI said they might not host anymore D/N test match. Pink ball is just too unpredictable in nature which is making difficult for batsmen. Pink ball is also difficult to sight under lights making it even harder to bat.

India might not play pink ball test anymore. Good riddance.

[jeeteshssaxena]

I really hope India prepare a flatty and destroy England.
Last time England toured India we gave a 4-0 phainta to them on flat pitches, i think they don't remember that. High time to remind them.
Eagerly waiting for next match.
Ashwin and Kohli are annoyed the next match will be a bloodbath mark my words.

[Hasan123]

Virdi, Parkinson and Crane are out there as backup and can be added to the squad if required.

Maybe worth trying 1 as it seems England don't trust Bess.

[Ahmed216]

I really hope India prepare a flatty and destroy England.
Last time England toured India we gave a 4-0 phainta to them on flat pitches, i think they don't remember that. High time to remind them.
Eagerly waiting for next match.
Ashwin and Kohli are annoyed the next match will be a bloodbath mark my words.

India really did think they'll destroy England on flatties like last tour but then 1st test happened. And India responded by preparing paddy fields and forced the viewers to watch some extremely ugly stuff. To a point that cricket fans have lost interest in this series

[jeeteshssaxena]

India really did think they'll destroy England on flatties like last tour but then 1st test.

One swallow doth not a summer make.

[Ted123]

What a load of rubbish! Atleast do some research before spouting such nonsense...

Before this series, the only "rank turner" we produced since 2015 was against Australia in Pune and we freaking lost that game. Please check the scorecards when England, South Africa and New Zealand (assuming these are the top teams) last visited India.

Pune and Bangalore both were rank turners in that series. The only difference was Pune was officially declared poor.

SA was an awful side in 2019 lol, even Hasan Ali ran through them and we whitewashed them 2-0 recently.

I suggest you check your facts.

2 rank turners Vs SA in 2015.
2 rank turners Vs Aus
2 already in this series after Anderson and Archer ran through your overhyped batting lineup on a flat wicket

But come the Windies, weaker Saffers side, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Kohli and Shastri unleashes the fierce pace attack lol.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Lol at Bumrah. He keeps taking rest. He didn't even bowl much in the 3rd test as well. My respect for Srinath always goes up whenever I see players like Bumrah who keep running away from national duties but are always available to play in Pyjama League.

[jeeteshssaxena]

Pune and Bangalore both were rank turners in that series. The only difference was Pune was officially declared poor.

SA was an awful side in 2019 lol, even Hasan Ali ran through them and we whitewashed them 2-0 recently.

I suggest you check your facts.

2 rank turners Vs SA in 2015.
2 rank turners Vs Aus
2 already in this series after Anderson and Archer ran through your overhyped batting lineup on a flat wicket

But come the Windies, weaker Saffers side, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Kohli and Shastri unleashes the fierce pace attack lol.

What about india vs england 2016, ind vs nz 2017......?
Please don't cry, it's ok. Losing a series in India shouldn't even hurt.
When you tour India you Lose. That's a given..

[jeeteshssaxena]

Lol at Bumrah. He keeps taking rest. He didn't even bowl much in the 3rd test as well. My respect for Srinath always goes up whenever I see players like Bumrah who keep running away from national duties but are always available to play in Pyjama League.

Why should we use our premium pacer on pitches suitable to spin bowling.?
Bumrah should be wrapped in cottonwool and bcci should only use him when it's necessary.
Archer, Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Boult also pick and choose which series they want to play.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Why should we use our premium pacer on pitches suitable to spin bowling.?
Bumrah should be wrapped in cottonwool and bcci should only use him when it's necessary.
Archer, Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Boult also pick and choose which series they want to play.

If that means keeping him away from IPL also then I am with you on this.

[jeeteshssaxena]

If that means keep him away from IPL then I am with you on this.

Yeah sure, I don't care if he plays there or not.
You can give him a million dollar check and he won't play for sure.
Cummins, Boult, Rabada etc etc all skip less important bilateral series and participate in ipl.
BCCI can't force Bumrah to leave IPL, it's his personal choice BcCi has no control over it.

[Hyperion66]

Truth to tell, I have lost interest in the series, which is something I have not felt before.

It doesnÂ’t matter who England pick. We know what the wicket will be like, and we know what the result will be. I would almost prefer England to forfeit the match and come home.

Excellent!!

Sincerely hope your team is feeling the same amount of hopelessness and despair as you. This is exactly what I always wanted Indian team to achieve at home, ruthlessness of Cosmic proportions where crushing the opponent on the ground is simply not enough, we need to completely break them on a psychological level and destroy any sort of fighting spirit they may have left.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Yeah sure, I don't care if he plays there or not.
You can give him a million dollar check and he won't play for sure.
Cummins, Boult, Rabada etc etc all skip less important bilateral series and participate in ipl.
BCCI can't force Bumrah to leave IPL, it's his personal choice BcCi has no control over it.

IPL comes under BCCI isn't it? It will look pretty foolish of BCCI to wrap him in a cottenwool and rest him for internationals but let him play in a useless tournament like IPL which has served no purpose to Indian LOI performances in big ICC tournaments. The way he keeps taking rest from Internationals it makes me respect a bowler like Javagal Srinath more. He used to continuously gave his all for India in every condition and never complained. These guys have abs, muscles and money but are chicken hearted and too sensitive. Pandya is in the same boat.

[Buffet]

I think Ahmedabad was just a perfect storm of a pink ball that skidded on more than the red ball with its thicker lacquer, a real turner of a pitch and poor batting techniques. Any objective analysis must highlight all three factors.

Going forward, if we know the pink ball will confer additional help to the bowlers, then that should be balanced out with a decent batting pitch (with due regard for home advantage). Otherwise bat-ball balance is too distorted with combination of a pink ball, DRS, and a bowler friendly pitch which leaves fans short-changed after 2 day/36/58 all out type matches.

I think putting a flatter pitch for Pink ball in the future should work because a Pink ball will do more than red ball. The mistake is putting a pitch with assistance for bowlers and a Pink ball making it worse.

[jeeteshssaxena]

Excellent!!

Sincerely hope your team is feeling the same amount of hopelessness and despair as you. This is exactly what I always wanted Indian team to achieve at home, ruthlessness of Cosmic proportions where crushing the opponent on the ground is simply not enough, we need to completely break them on a psychological level and destroy any sort of fighting spirit they may have left.

Really man...
I am ok with people declaring this pitch as unplayable or not suitable for test cricket but still both teams batted on same pitch, England even won the toss.
We played against SA on a deadly wanderers pitch where the batsman were getting hurt and not a single player from our side criticised the pitch. That's how a champion team behaves.

[Hyperion66]

Really man...
I am ok with people declaring this pitch as unplayable or not suitable for test cricket but still both teams batted on same pitch, England even won the toss.
We played against SA on a deadly wanderers pitch where the batsman were getting hurt and not a single player from our side criticised the pitch. That's how a champion team behaves.

Ignore the noise and enjoy the series bro, that's what I do.

[Saurav]

IPL comes under BCCI isn't it? It will look pretty foolish of BCCI to wrap him in a cottenwool and rest him for internationals but let him play in a useless tournament like IPL which has served no purpose to Indian LOI performances in big ICC tournaments. The way he keeps taking rest from Internationals it makes me respect a bowler like Javagal Srinath more. He used to continuously gave his all for India in every condition and never complained. These guys have abs, muscles and money but are chicken hearted and too sensitive. Pandya is in the same boat.

IPL is where Bumrah was discovered in first place

So it does have a purpose

[Mesozoic]

Pune and Bangalore both were rank turners in that series. The only difference was Pune was officially declared poor.

You need to brush up your knowledge on what's a "rank turner" and what's not before embarrassing yourselves. That Bangalore wicket was not a rank turner. It was dry and it had grip but nothing extravagant even though the scores were lower than Pune. And most importantly it had invariable bounce and Hazlewood picked a six-fer.....Umesh and Ishant were pretty much unplayable...so there you go.

Ranchi and Dharamshala were as sporting as they can get but India still dominated both the tests and eventually won the series so please take your "India wins only on rank turners against top teams" fake narrative somewhere else. You're only going to make yourselves look more and more salty and that ain't good.

SA was an awful side in 2019 lol, even Hasan Ali ran through them and we whitewashed them 2-0 recently.

Fair enough. So that means only England and New Zealand remain. And a single visit to Cricinfo will give you a pretty good idea about the type of wickets they got last time they visited before the current series....

But come the Windies, weaker Saffers side, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Kohli and Shastri unleashes the fierce pace attack lol.

Don't know what you're trying to eek out here. Indian pace attack has been the best in the world the last 3-4 years home and away. Would look extremely silly and desperate to take a dig at them now...

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

IPL is where Bumrah was discovered in first place

So it does have a purpose

It is also keeping him away from Internationals. It serves no purpose at all because we haven't won any big ICC tournament after 2013 CT.

[Ab Fan]

India expected XI:-

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Sundar
Ashwin
Axar
Ishant
Yadav

[Saurav]

It is also keeping him away from Internationals. It serves no purpose at all because we haven't won any big ICC tournament after 2013 CT.

IPL was there before 2013 too and gave us likes of Raina,Bhuvi etc which helped us win in 2011 & 2013

And we have made last four since.Losses were due to other factors

[Saurav]

India expected XI:-

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Sundar
Ashwin
Axar
Ishant
Yadav

Yes pretty much.Maybe can try Siraj ahead of Yadav

[Robert]

If the pitch had craters why did England play 4 seamers

Lords last 5 days because our batsmen were able to bat better,specially Rahane and then our bowlers were good enough to bowl on it too

Fact is Eng don't have good spinners or players like they had in 2012 which is why they won there

It wasn't cratered before the toss, obvo. England picked a side based on their experience under the lights at Adelaide.

Yes, both sides managed 250-350 at Lord's indicating that it was a fair wicket for both sides. At Ahmedabad the top innings score was 144 indicating that it was not a fair wicket for either side. If Root can take 5-8 then something is wrong. Cook, KP, Bell from 2012 - nobody would have scored any runs there.

[Buffet]

It wasn't cratered before the toss, obvo. England picked a side based on their experience under the lights at Adelaide.

Yes, both sides managed 250-350 at Lord's indicating that it was a fair wicket for both sides. At Ahmedabad the top innings score was 144 indicating that it was not a fair wicket for either side. If Root can take 5-8 then something is wrong. Cook, KP, Bell from 2012 - nobody would have scored any runs there.

One side lost 10 wickets and the other side lost 20 wickets to get the same runs. I won't look at runs or days to judge the pitch. It was not a good pitch and I will say that based on seeing how it behaved.

It ended in two days due to Eng being totally inept against spin and India collapsing in their first inning. Cook, KP, and Bell won't have gotten huge scores, but they would have tried to use their feet and do something.

It was not a fair contest by any stretch of the imagination. No one wants to see games like this. The pink ball should have a batting pitch and those games will last 4-5 days.

Does anyone know, how many Pink ball tests have lasted 5 days? % of 5 days with Pink ball?

[Last Monetarist]

One side lost 10 wickets and the other side lost 20 wickets to get the same runs. I won't look at runs or days to judge the pitch. It was not a good pitch and I will say that based on seeing how it behaved.

It ended in two days due to Eng being totally inept against spin and India collapsing in their first inning. Cook, KP, and Bell won't have gotten huge scores, but they would have tried to use their feet and do something.

It was not a fair contest by any stretch of the imagination. No one wants to see games like this. The pink ball should have a batting pitch and those games will last 4-5 days.

Does anyone know, how many Pink ball tests have lasted 5 days? % of 5 days with Pink ball?

The only two pink ball matches I remember that went the distance were the ones played in Dubai in 2016 (WI) and 2017 (SL). Both played on flat wickets incidentally.

[Saurav]

The only two pink ball matches I remember that went the distance were the ones played in Dubai in 2016 (WI) and 2017 (SL). Both played on flat wickets incidentally.

Even in those games,Pak got 123 all out in 2016 and SL got 96 all out in 2017

So some pattern is there

[Buffet]

The only two pink ball matches I remember that went the distance were the ones played in Dubai in 2016 (WI) and 2017 (SL). Both played on flat wickets incidentally.

Not sure, but I think this Pink ball had a more pronounced seam and allowed spinners to turn more. I think the same ball will be hard to play if the pitch had too much assistance for seamers as well. Not total flat, but relatively flatter pitch with Pink ball should provide 4-5 days for play.

[Saurav]

Not sure, but I think this Pink ball had a more pronounced seam and allowed spinners to turn more. I think the same ball will be hard to play if the pitch had too much assistance for seamers as well. Not total flat, but relatively flatter pitch with Pink ball should provide 4-5 days for play.

Or a slow pitch given the balls zips off quickly after pitching

[Last Monetarist]

Even in those games,Pak got 123 all out in 2016 and SL got 96 all out in 2017

So some pattern is there

Can't read too much into those collapses. There were some huge totals in those matches too, and the sides that lost almost chased down totals above 300 on Day 5.

[Last Monetarist]

Not sure, but I think this Pink ball had a more pronounced seam and allowed spinners to turn more. I think the same ball will be hard to play if the pitch had too much assistance for seamers as well. Not total flat, but relatively flatter pitch with Pink ball should provide 4-5 days for play.

Yes, I agree. The SG ball is significantly different from the pink kookaburra that was used in those matches in Dubai.

[Saurav]

Can't read too much into those collapses. There were some huge totals in those matches too, and the sides that lost almost chased down totals above 300 on Day 5.

They don't suggest much in isolation but seen with other matches it offers a pitches

Even on a patta a team can be bowled out for low score with pink ball

That just makes it a game of luck

[Devadwal]

Bunch of cry baby . if you can't play spin then don't come to play in India . atleast whenever India lost a series abroad they don't make any excuse .

[jnaveen1980]

England posted almost 600 runs in first test, in this test all teams struggled to get to even 150 runs in any inning and Indian posters here want to tell us it was not a poor quality pitch lol.

The current Indian team will only be remembered for winning home matches on rank turners whenever a strong team tours India.

But when weaker team tours, they will start producing balanced pitches just to show that their seamers could rip apart weak teams like Bangladesh and Windies at home.

Just look at the stats of how many wickets their so called no.1 pacer has taken in this series.

1 big total vs 5 low totals. Not sure what you are talking about.

[jnaveen1980]

It wasn't cratered before the toss, obvo. England picked a side based on their experience under the lights at Adelaide.

Yes, both sides managed 250-350 at Lord's indicating that it was a fair wicket for both sides. At Ahmedabad the top innings score was 144 indicating that it was not a fair wicket for either side. If Root can take 5-8 then something is wrong. Cook, KP, Bell from 2012 - nobody would have scored any runs there.

May be you are over-rating your England side? THere is only one bonafide great batsman in that line up. Stokes vs Ashwin. It doesn't have to be a turner. Rest are all rookies.

[Justcrazy]

England Team selection was wrong If I was the management I would have played Leach , Bess and Moeen . All three.

Moeen in low scoring games was capable of hitting 30 - 40 quick runs the way he plays. It would have made a big difference. In the first innings after winning the toss England should have reached 180 at least. It was a complete lack of application.

[Saurav]

It wasn't cratered before the toss, obvo. England picked a side based on their experience under the lights at Adelaide.

Yes, both sides managed 250-350 at Lord's indicating that it was a fair wicket for both sides. At Ahmedabad the top innings score was 144 indicating that it was not a fair wicket for either side. If Root can take 5-8 then something is wrong. Cook, KP, Bell from 2012 - nobody would have scored any runs there.

You mean it was fine till toss.Then Eng won the toss and knowing India has to bat last,they cratered the pitch

Sounds fun

[MenInG]

Should India lose the fourth Test, they will be out of the race with Australia making it to the summit clash for which New Zealand have already qualified. India have to at least ensure a draw to make the final.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...roversy-972052

[OMB]

England Team selection was wrong If I was the management I would have played Leach , Bess and Moeen . All three.

Moeen in low scoring games was capable of hitting 30 - 40 quick runs the way he plays. It would have made a big difference. In the first innings after winning the toss England should have reached 180 at least. It was a complete lack of application.

This is exactly what I feel. We all know it was a disastrous selection from the captain and team management. No wonder Root keeps talking about challenge and pitch but not of blunders with team composition and batting mistakes.
They are a touring side but some in this English team have literally turned "tourists".

[Forward Defensive Push]

England should the following line up -

Crawley
Bairstow
Pope
Root (c)
Foakes (k)
Stokes
Woakes
Bess
Leach
Archer
Wood

Open with Bairstow. There's no swing on offer, so not sure if any specialist batsman is required! Ask him to go hard and make as many runs as he can till he lasts. Crawley looks really good so continue with him. Pope and Root are 3 and 4. Why is Pope coming at 6? He is too good to be left rotten there. Give him more responsibility.

Foakes looks the best batsman against spin in the side so have him at 5. He can hold one end while others bat around him. I'd be tempted to play him at 4 but that along with keeping the wickets in this heat may be unfair to him. Stokes will come at his natural position #6.

My most favorite England player who should have played all 4 tests is Woakes. I'll select him for his batting alone. His bowling is a real luxury and that just tells how good he is. Bess and Leach should both play as spinners. No two ways about it. If not Bess, play Virdi. Bottomline is you can't play in India without 2 spinners. That would be foolish. The 3rd test selection was bizarre to say the least.

There's no point playing Anderson or Broad. They are inept in these conditions when the ball doesn't offer anything. Rather play Archer and Wood and ask them to target the living lives of Indian batsmen. Scar them out.

[mastimasti]

At no point in India's tour of Asia have Stokes, Broad, Anderson and Ali played together....yet this would be their strongest side. Serious re think needed at the ECB.

Also, India will be shovelling sand from the beach for this pitch haha

[Forward Defensive Push]

Truth to tell, I have lost interest in the series, which is something I have not felt before.

It doesn’t matter who England pick. We know what the wicket will be like, and we know what the result will be. I would almost prefer England to forfeit the match and come home.

Stop with the whining man. It's the same pitch for both sides. England have won a crucial toss and still have excuses. Get your selection right, you might just compete. You can't do anything about the pitch so better not discuss it. Play a side which can actually win. I had my face in my palms when Stokes announced the English pacers were licking lips at the prospect of bowling with the pink ball 2 days before the match. Are the English team management and players so dumb?! Playing 3 pacers (2 of them Clouderson and Broad lol) on a typical sub continent bunsen burner. Lunacy!

[King_Kohli]

3 days prior to the 4th Test between India and England.

[praveen]

Pitches are very bad this series. No two ways about it. It’s horrible seeing a test end in 2 days. But England deserve no sympathy for sending players back home or selecting crappy teams. They’re taking this lightly and deserve all the humiliation.

[BreadPakoda]

Truth to tell, I have lost interest in the series, which is something I have not felt before.

It doesn’t matter who England pick. We know what the wicket will be like, and we know what the result will be. I would almost prefer England to forfeit the match and come home.

So proud my team doesn’t have this attitude. Otherwise we wouldn’t have won at the Gabba against all odds.

[Slog]

Ignore the noise and enjoy the series bro, that's what I do.

Clearly not enjoying going by your reaction of going to every post about the pitch and ranting

[Slog]

So proud my team doesn’t have this attitude. Otherwise we wouldn’t have won at the Gabba against all odds.

Lol Robert isn’t in the England team

[Kingpin786]

So Indian GOAT fastbowler is not able to get in playing11 in home conditions . His average pace in this series was around 133 to 137 kph

[BreadPakoda]

Lol Robert isn’t in the England team

You can’t be serious. He’s definitely Stuart Broad.

[Nikhil_cric]

So Indian GOAT fastbowler is not able to get in playing11 in home conditions . His average pace in this series was around 133 to 137 kph

Well not much less than the 16 year old Express pacer who was setting records in NZ, then.

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I didn't see any Indian fan blaming the pitch after we were bowled out for 36 against Australia.

[MenInG]

The colour of the ball will change from pink to red, but the nature of the Motera pitch for the last Test between India and England is set to be similar to the controversial strip for the third Test that finished in less than two days.

Sportstar understands Ashish Bhowmick, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief curator who has been overseeing the preparation of the pitch at the new stadium, is set to offer a spinning track yet again to suit the requirements of the Indian team.

According to a BCCI insider, despite the hullabaloo over the third Test pitch, India doesn’t want to “take any chance by offering a flatbed and risk its chances of progressing to the World Test Championship [final]”.

England captain Joe Root had said it was up to International Cricket Council to determine the quality of the Ahmedabad pitch, while the Indian camp defended the track to the hilt.

India will be out of the race for the WTC final only if it suffers a loss in the series-deciding rubber, starting March 4.

[MesonK]

Another doctored track coming