India's bowling stock for England tour, 2011

[deepak_sach]

Which match is he talking about :phehehe:

32 wickets in 3 test against Aussies in 2001.That series.

[riwi999]

Methinks this is another coach we are wasting money on. I am quite happy with our bowling now but I am not sure how much of this is attributable to Simmons as the bowling coach. The guys are all mature enough to know what their strengths and weaknesses are. Very importantly, the guys are also hungry enough to focus on their fitness and performance. Nothing raises quality like competition. Every bowler (in fact every player) knows he cannot take his place for granted. That's far more important than all these observations from Eric Simmons. He even calls Munaf a natural athlete. LOL. You expect me to take him seriously?

[Chandan]

If one compares the bowling line up of both sides, how will it come come out: Anderson vs Zaheer: Both are skilled swing bowlers and both can be devastating on their day under helpful conditions. James Anderson is 3 years younger to Zaheer and is fully fit and in rhythm while Zaheer is apparently coming back from an injury after IPL. Ishant and Tremlett Both are hit the deck bowlers who trouble the batsment with the bounce they derive from the track because of their height. Tremlett being taller of the two, is at an advange here, but Ishant is coming back from a highly successful WI tour where he was man of the series. Still lack of rest goes against Ishany while Tremlett will be fresh to take on the Indians. 3rd seamers choice England have Broad who seems out of form right now, Bresnan and Finn to choose from while India have Praveen Kumar, a genuine swing bowler, S Sreesanth, a mercurial swing bowler with pace and Munaf Patel who is an accurate line and length bowler. All the bowlers can be competitive and can fully support the two main bowlers in whatever roles required. So I don't see either country's seam bowling attack outweighing another. Harbhajan vs Swann This is going to be the most interesting battle. And this is the place where the attack can tilt one way or the other. Swann is in good form while Harbhajan is going through a slump though he doesn't agree. England's wickets won't have much turn, so classical loop or beating in air is the only way to take wickets I suppose. Which spinner will come out on top?

[rkt.india]

but Indians are good players of spin...especially off spin

[Chandan]

but Indians are good players of spin...especially off spin

Are you sure Bhajji's performance will be better than Swann?

[Fontaine]

I'm not worried about Zaheer/Ishant/Bhajji. These guys are professional and hard working guys who bowl for the team. Sreesanth on the other hand is a complete clown. He's a pretty dangerous bowler, and not necessarily dangerous for the other team at that.

[maniac]

http://es.pn/r3veAh Munaf Patel I would have loved to see Munaf bowl more [in the West Indies series]. He is just beginning to feel his way back. He has natural bounce and he is actually a natural athlete. He can be a casual-looking guy, but when he runs in at pace and does something, he is quicker than what most people think. In many ways he was one of the leaders of the attack in West Indies. He is in control of his emotions. He is a mature guy. He says little things to me at times that make me go, "Wow, I hadn't seen that." It could be about a batsman or about one of our bowlers. I have hopefully influenced some guys, and I have learnt a lot from Munaf as well. The way he embarks on a game, the way he thinks about it. I do believe he has a few more yards of pace in him, which we will see. He has the ability to bowl different lengths. He can be effective, keep a fuller length and do little things with the ball. He is going to be a handful if the conditions suit him. I am quite excited to see where he goes from here. The injuries were unfortunate. Hopefully he is over it now and can stake a good Test claim for England. Munaf comes across as a guy who is very grateful with what he has got, with what he has achieved. He is humble to everyone around him. The little things he does tell me he doesn't see himself as a superstar . He doesn't see himself as a World Cup winner and therefore as a bit special. He comes across as a guy who is very grateful with what he has got, with what he has achieved. He works hard, has a great attitude, and it rubs off on the people around him. ."

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[Sir_Afridi]

but Indians are good players of spin...especially off spin

Ajmal and Saqlain....:winky:

[rkt.india]

Are you sure Bhajji's performance will be better than Swann?

I mean Indian batsmen should negate Swann. So the level of both bowlers will be similar. Swann has not been that good against good batting sides whether its Australia or India in 2008.

[rkt.india]

Ajmal and Saqlain....:winky:

Ajmal is blatant chucker, even his off spinner are chucked and remember Saqlain of Multan...Saqlain troubled with doosra not off spin in 1999. Swann does not have doosra. Also Remember Murli who has been not very successful against India even with his hammer throwing.

[Feed]

Somerset v India - The journey begins here for India Going by their first day in the field in England, India have a lot of work to do before the first Test if they hope to defend their No 1 ranking. More... The journey begins here Sanjjeev Karan Samyal, Hindustan Times July 15, 2011 India's Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag (L) share a moment during the presentation ceremony......Going by their first day in the field in England, India have a lot of work to do before the first Test if they hope to defend their No 1 ranking. India's performance on the opening day of the three-day game against Somerset was in no way worthy of the world's best team. The pace bowlers were put to test by the local batsmen, led by England skipper Andrew Strauss. And the Indians did not exactly cover themselves in glory. The wicket was flat, tailor-made for their skipper to regain his confidence, but there was enough help from the conditions, an overcast sky and cool breeze, for the pacers to be effective. But, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan all failed to make an impression. Wayward Sreesanth Munaf, who came under criticism from West Indies pace great Andy Roberts for his lack of pace, chose to bowl within himself. There was no bite in his deliveries and the Baroda pacer never looked like beating the bat. Sreesanth was undisciplined, bowling all over the place. In his first spell, Sreesanth lacked direction. After the long rain break, he got his line right but couldn’t find the length. Strauss hit him for three boundaries in an over as he moved to his half-century. Zak’s fitness a worry There was some anxiety over spearhead Zaheer Khan's fitness. After his first spell, Zaheer wore a belt as protection for his back and pulled over a sweater. The left-arm seamer too bowled within himself and was trying to concentrate on finding his rhythm after the long lay off. From the day's performance it was clear, though, that he has a lot of work to do before the 21st if he has to regain his sharpness. Most glaring was the finish, where the smooth release, the follow through and weight behind the ball that he has mastery over, was not happening for him. The batsmen didn't have any problem taking him on, driving on the front foot. It looks like the bowlers sitting out of the game, Ishant Sharma and Praveen Kumar, will be sharing most of the workload with Zaheer during the Test series. The two are in fine rhythm and brimming with confidence. Praveen Kumar should relish the conditions. He must be smacking his lips in anticipation. If he could swing the ball in hot and humid Carribean, he could be unplayable here. Ishant was the biggest gain for India in the West Indies and is bowling at his best. India wouldn't be too happy with their display in the field too. Strauss was dropped by Wriddhiman Saha when on 64, the bowler to suffer being Amit Mishra. Then at the total of 160, Tendulkar grassed a sitter off Nick Compton when the batsman tried to pull Sreesanth. Mishra injured India suffered an injury scare when leggie Amit Mishra walked off the field with a hand injury, suffered while trying to stop Somerset batsman Arul Suppiah's straight hit.

[ravsdh]

god bless duke cricket balls they take zak to a completely different level:) i find it hilarious how england harp on about anderson being the best swing bowler in the world. a guy who has done NOTHING on the flat tracks of the sub continent. he's a conditions bowler. whereas zak...... a master on a cloudless hot day on a flat track. if ishu can find his aus 2007 form and sree can keep the demons out of his head, our bowlers will be the surprise package this series.

[Cricket Tragic]

Okay.

[ravsdh]

jeez- lighten up beta

[Show_stopper]

if Zak bowls anything like he did in 2007 we will win it comfortable. But he is just coming off a long hiatus.

[Cricket Tragic]

if Zak bowls anything like he did in 2007 we will win it comfortable. But he is just coming off a long hiatus.

His fitness is also a concern according to some reports. :nervous:

[Show_stopper]

I hope not...because it seems to be conserving it in the warm-up game.

[ravsdh]

if Zak bowls anything like he did in 2007 we will win it comfortable. But he is just coming off a long hiatus.

im inclined to agree, hes a much improved bowler since 2007, and that knuckle ball he worked hussey over with in the cwc should work a treat to the lefties. i just think obviously the back up needs to be there in the way rp singh delivered in 2007 too. i dont think there is an issue with zaks fitness, it is him cranking up slowly for thurs, he knows his own body and what it can and cannot do

[Show_stopper]

Regarding back up...Ishant also should prove more effective with the Duke ball. he is very handy when it reverses.

[ravsdh]

Regarding back up...Ishant also should prove more effective with the Duke ball. he is very handy when it reverses.

agree, i just dont want him to repeat his mistakes of late, i.e. spraying it down leg, which can be very easy to do at lords, given the slope