India vs England, 4th test, Oval, Sep 2 - 6, pre-match discussion thread.

[Gollum]

Ok my mind is made up. I know there won't be any change in batting unit. But play Jaddu, Thakur, Ashwin and 2 quicks. Will strengthen the lower order and we get both Ash and Lord (best bets against Root), one of the quicks can be rested, maybe Siraj who looked jaded in T3. 

 

Treat Jaddu as a pure batsman and bat him at #5. Pant at #7. If Jaddu has to bowl treat it like a bonus, Ashwin is more than enough in that role. 

Edited August 30, 2021 by Gollum

[Gollum]

The moment Root comes in, Ashwin from one end and Thakur from the other irrespective of how new the ball is or pitch/overhead conditions. 10 overs non-stop by these two, get Root out cheaply and half the battle is won. 

Edited August 30, 2021 by Gollum

[kruiser]

Rotating the quicks is important, Grandpa Lambu should be dropped for Ashwin. Rest Shami or Bumrah for Thakur. Even Siraj being kept out by Umesh in a game will motivate him to do best in the final test - but thats not gonna happen. 

[Vijy]

29 minutes ago, Gollum said:

The moment Root comes in, Ashwin from one end and Thakur from the other irrespective of how new the ball is or pitch/overhead conditions. 10 overs non-stop by these two, get Root out cheaply and half the battle is won. 

on current form, that's almost like saying get smith out cheaply. yes, it happens, but it is rather rare.

[Samcric]

12 hours ago, Gollum said:

The moment Root comes in, Ashwin from one end and Thakur from the other irrespective of how new the ball is or pitch/overhead conditions. 10 overs non-stop by these two, get Root out cheaply and half the battle is won. 

India needs to dry up his runs. They have either been short on off (worked away square on the off) or too straight trying to get him LBW (worked away on the leg by Root). They need to be good length to slightly full on 5th stump and pack the offside. Let the runs dry out and let Root try to play forceful shots on the drive with angled bat trying to find gaps. 

 

Root will sweep Ashwin a lot and I am not sure Ashwin will find it easy against him. This will be the big difference compared to guys like Smith and Labu.

 

 

[Samcric]

13 hours ago, Gollum said:

Ok my mind is made up. I know there won't be any change in batting unit. But play Jaddu, Thakur, Ashwin and 2 quicks. Will strengthen the lower order and we get both Ash and Lord (best bets against Root), one of the quicks can be rested, maybe Siraj who looked jaded in T3. 

 

Treat Jaddu as a pure batsman and bat him at #5. Pant at #7. If Jaddu has to bowl treat it like a bonus, Ashwin is more than enough in that role. 

 

Absolutely. The only change for me would be batting order - Rahane 5, Jadeja 6. I would wish Vihari plays over Rahane but realistically, wont happen.

 

1. KL

2. Rohit

3. Pujara

4. Kohli

5. Rahane/Vihari

6. Jadeja

7. Pant

8. Ashwin

9. Thakur

10. Bumrah

11. Siraj

[ShoonyaSifar]

15 hours ago, Gollum said:

Ok my mind is made up. I know there won't be any change in batting unit. But play Jaddu, Thakur, Ashwin and 2 quicks. Will strengthen the lower order and we get both Ash and Lord (best bets against Root), one of the quicks can be rested, maybe Siraj who looked jaded in T3. 

 

Treat Jaddu as a pure batsman and bat him at #5. Pant at #7. If Jaddu has to bowl treat it like a bonus, Ashwin is more than enough in that role. 

I would say if not change the batting unit, at least shake up the batting order. Ask Pujara to open, Rahane at 3, Kohli 4, KL 5, Jadeja 6, Pant 7 or KL could come at 4, Kohli at 5...the set 3, 4 and 5 batting hasn't work on 3 tours and is unlikely to work. But will Clown's big fat ego allow this? 

Edited August 31, 2021 by ShoonyaSifar

[Gollum]

3 minutes ago, ShoonyaSifar said:

I would say if not change the batting unit, at least shake up the batting order. Ask Pujara to open, Rahane at 3, Kohli 4, KL 5, Jadeja 6, Pant 7 or KL could come at 4, Kohli at 5...the set 3, 4 and 5 batting hasn't work on 3 tours and is unlikely to work. But will Clown's big fat ego allow this? 

Not a matter of ego (though he has a mountain sized one), he is a low IQ individual with zero creativity/imagination.

 

Recall how Pant was promoted to bat at #5 in SCG 4th innings. Can clown make such a move in a million years?

[Lone Wolf]

3 hours ago, Samcric said:

India needs to dry up his runs. They have either been short on off (worked away square on the off) or too straight trying to get him LBW (worked away on the leg by Root). They need to be good length to slightly full on 5th stump and pack the offside. Let the runs dry out and let Root try to play forceful shots on the drive with angled bat trying to find gaps. 

 

Root will sweep Ashwin a lot and I am not sure Ashwin will find it easy against him. This will be the big difference compared to guys like Smith and Labu.

 

 

Root is in unreal touch atm..  It will take some doing to stop him. 

I also think Root would employ sweep against Ashwin a lot.  But atm only he looks like an option that can tame him. 

 

[Ankit_sharma03]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

Not a matter of ego (though he has a mountain sized one), he is a low IQ individual with zero creativity/imagination.

 

Recall how Pant was promoted to bat at #5 in SCG 4th innings. Can clown make such a move in a million years?

Thats what is baffling me as Rahane said or someone in that ashwin interview that it was kohlis idea to have a left hander at 5....what happened to that idea now ?

Kohli himself doesnt have guts ?? or is he back so they ll follow same pattern

 

They shud mix up a righty between 2 lefties rather lining them together

[Ankit_sharma03]

Just now, Lone Wolf said:

Root is in unreal touch atm..  It will take some doing to stop him. 

I also think Root would employ sweep against Ashwin a lot.  But atm only he looks like an option that can tame him. 

 

u hve to try something diff coz against 4 seamer in 3 test he is avg 126 so this attack isnt causing him much issue  , u need to change it up a bit.In such situation either u can use extreme pace like of Akthar , lee which we dont have or  try Spin 

 

U need to try something diff and if he still scores well credit to him. Ashwin also has this thing of going after oppositions best batsman .

He is a very good player of spin much much better then Virat but Ashwin is also a very good bowler. 

[putrevus]

Pant has been a disappointment in this series . The main culprits are the middle order stooges who have done nothing.Pujara getting a new lease for that 91 will hurt this team more than it will help. 

[putrevus]

Opening pair has been only bright spot for this pathetic bating unit. There is no need to break that up.

[coffee_rules]

1 hour ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

Thats what is baffling me as Rahane said or someone in that ashwin interview that it was kohlis idea to have a left hander at 5....what happened to that idea now ?

Kohli himself doesnt have guts ?? or is he back so they ll follow same pattern

 

They shud mix up a righty between 2 lefties rather lining them together

Looking at Pant bat, no captain will have the nerve to have him at #5. WTC final, blind ghumao shot in the second innings, when it was needed to play out just 10 more overs. Even his 6 innings in this series, were fishing exercises way outside off. He is a better batsman when it is not swinging. There is even talk of promoting Jadeja over Pant. atm I don't see any temerment difference between him and Shami.

[Ankit_sharma03]

26 minutes ago, coffee_rules said:

Looking at Pant bat, no captain will have the nerve to have him at #5. WTC final, blind ghumao shot in the second innings, when it was needed to play out just 10 more overs. Even his 6 innings in this series, were fishing exercises way outside off. He is a better batsman when it is not swinging. There is even talk of promoting Jadeja over Pant. atm I don't see any temerment difference between him and Shami.

captain himself is fishing outside off

our no.3 is getting out misjudging lengths

thats not blind slogging, thats how aggresive game is ...if it comes of it looks great and if it doesnt it looks stupid. He has played such way n won games....in england this method will be risky but thats his game . If he starts to be tentative he ll still give edges coz thats not his strong point

Srsly ?? the guy just batted brilliantly in last 2 series and now he has temprament of shami ???

Cant emphasise enough on word patience..........players will fail and thats how they ll learn 

Edited August 31, 2021 by Ankit_sharma03

[putrevus]

Pant has no technique or confidence that he will survive defending in England.He has stop slogging if he wants to score. Root looks so calm and composed compared to our batsmen who are looking like deer caught in headlights.

[coffee_rules]

Most likely 11

 

Rohit

KL

Pujara

Kohli

Rahane

Pant

Jadeja/Shardul

Ashwin

Shami

Bumrah

Siraj

[nitinbwj]

Please no Rahane. 

[Gollum]

"We'll certainly be making sure that we're prepared for the challenges that Ashwin poses" - Joe Root

 

Looks like Root is expecting Ashwin to play the Oval test.

 

In last 8.5 months third time Ashwin could be up against a member of Fab 4 away from home. 

 

He was able to dominate Smith in Aus, set the tone for the series. Looking at Root's impact this time, taming of Smith seems that much more important in hindsight.  

 

Kane managed to survive his short spell in WTC F, NZ won.

 

Now if Ashwin plays, the mini-battle of Root vs Ashwin will be vital. Unlike Kane, Root who is in the form of his life won't just look to survive against Ashwin, he will be out there to dominate, must be already practicing his sweeps and reverse sweeps in full force. Enticing contest, world #2 ranked batsman vs world #2 bowler, worthy of a marquee series. Last 4 tests against India in Eng, Root has 4 100s including one in Oval 2018, also flattest track in UK, demoralized/jaded Team India, so the Englishman starts as odds-on favorite. 

[Adamant]

Come on Kohli, please drop Rahane