Camels, crowds and cricket, welcome to Jaipur!
For those of you who hail from, or have been fortunate to have visited the sub-continent, there always seems to be a welcome moment shortly after you arrive, something that occurs that perhaps wouldn't happen anywhere else on the entire planet.
After arriving in Jaipur via Mumbai on Tuesday evening, I had my welcome moment on Wednesday morning. As my taxi pulled out of the hotel car park en route to an England net session, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes. I immediately stopped tapping the text message into my phone, and looked up. The reason we'd stopped was to allow the camel in the outside lane to overtake two slower moving elephants hugging the curb. All three of those animals were wary of the sacred cows that roam freely everywhere. I love this country!
As I write the real opening of the Champions Trophy is exactly 24 hours away, and what a first match we'll bring you on Five Live Sports Extra on Sunday morning (from 9:45am UK time, set your alarms). England against India is always special, and there will be 42,000 fans in the Sawai Mansingh Stadium creating an intense, raucous and delirious atmosphere.
So, what sort of shape are England in as they embark on perhaps the most pressurised winter of cricket in their entire history?
If you ask Duncan Fletcher or Andrew Flintoff, as I have this week, they say England are in very good shape. If you ask Geoffrey Boycott, as I did yesterday, you'll get the opposite response. England truly are an enigma where one-day cricket is concerned, capable of the odd stunning and convincing victory, but in the main, below par and behind the times (as 16 wins out of there last 43 ODIs proves).
The issue that fascinates me about tomorrow's match, is will Freddie open the England innings? The clues are there. In the warm-up match against a Rajasthan XI on Thursday, he came in at number three on his return to the side after ankle surgery. In effect he was a de-facto opener anyway, coming in at the fall of Andrew Strauss in just the second over.
What followed was highly encouraging for England, Flintoff blasted 59 from 53 balls with nine 4s and a massive, towering 6 over square leg. This wasn't a display of outright slogging, more the natural, controlled yet brutal hitting that has entertained us so many times.
I've been trying my very best to get into the hierarchy's minds about this subject, but neither Flintoff or Fletcher are giving much away.
But I see it like this. Why not give it a go? England need to score more runs in the opening 10 overs of their innings in ODIs, when the fielding restrictions are guaranteed to be in place. Because of the slower pace of the pitches here in India, we may see captains delaying their next two power-plays until later on, unlike in England where there is a tendency to get them over with as soon as possible.
Flintoff would provide a real threat up front for England. I don't see the logic in bringing him in at number three, with Bell and Strauss opening. If either fall cheaply, then Flintoff wouldn't be able to play his natural game. But if Flintoff opens and gets out cheaply, the ship could be settled with Bell's presence at three.
I would love to hear what you guys think about this.
So for me, England's XI will be something like this (I'll put my neck on the line here):
Andrew Strauss
Andrew Flintoff
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood
Jamie Dalrymple
Mike Yardy
Chris Read
Sajid Mahmood
Steve Harmison
James Anderson
I'm pretty convinced that Rikki Clarke, Jon Lewis and Ed Joyce will miss out this time.
Whether that's the XI or not for the India match tomorrow, don't expect the batting order to be rigid. Fletcher has talked about the need to score off the middle overs, where traditionally sides need to nudge the ball around for single and twos. If he's perfectly happy with the situation at the fall of the third wicket, or he feels England need to get a move on, expect Collingwood, Yardy and Dalrymple to be inter-changeable.
Now that the all-but meaningless qualifying week is almost over (did anyone really expect the successful two sides NOT to be Sri Lanka and the West Indies?) we can get on with the proper cricket, and although the Champions Trophy has been hugely criticised for taking place so close to the World Cup, I'm excited at the prospect of watching England v India and Australia, seeing Australia take on the hosts, and Pakistan v South Africa. There are no meaningless games in this tournament from now on, and I can't wait for it to start.
Join me, Simon Mann and Kevin Howells from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium from 9:45 in the morning - on Five Live Sports Extra.
I agree that the batting line-up needs to have some fluidity, or versatility, to it. I would add Pietersen to the list of Collingwood, Dalrymple and Yardy as being likely to be shifted around for different situations. If England lose a couple of early wickets, it makes sense to me to send in Collingwood, or Dalrymple, to steady the ship. If Pietersen comes in too early, we may lack the firepower needed at the end of the innings. Dalrymple and Yardy have shown glimpses of their ability to score quickly, but I think for the last 10-15 overs we need either Flintoff or Pietersen to really stamp our authority on the game.
I also expect Chris Read to weigh in with some useful cameos - his batting in this form of the game is very innovative and I think he'd be able to forge some good partnerships with whoever else is around when he comes in, hopefully towards the end of the innings.
I still can't make my mind up between Mahmood and Lewis for the final place (I agree with your team selection - I think to include Joyce or Clarke would be a real kick in the teeth for Dalrymple or Yardy, who've looked very promising so far). Lewis has shown excellent form, but is he suited to Indian conditions? Mahmood with his pace would be a real danger if he gets it right, but so far he's shown that he can't always be trusted to put the ball on the spot.
Complain about this postWell if it is the case that Jon Lewis misses out, it's shameful. He's played consistently well for England but has still got the tag "can only play in the right conditions" above his head. I would think that's apauling if he doesn't get the nod tommorow. He showed us against Pakistan in the ODI series a month ago that he's a very good accurate bowler - and thats when the conditions don't suit him.
Complain about this postAlthough Mahmood can bowl 90 mph+ that doesn't make up for his inaccuracy, he was very expensive, and I think its not worth giving him the nod when we've already got a strike bowler in Steve Harmison. Anderson's shown us he's back in decent form, so it's looking very positive for England atm!
Leaving Jon Lewis out for Sajid Mahmood would be against all that is right and holy. I'm seriously questioning your sanity right now.
Complain about this postJon Lewis was England's best bowler by a country mile when he played in the summer. It was his controlled bowling which set the foundation for the two victories against pakistan. Some may see him as the 'safe' option, but where ODIs are concerned, I would much rather have 'safe and cheap' than 'exciting and expensive', especially with the inclusion of Harmison and Anderson. with those 2 playing, there really is no room for Saj.
Complain about this postI belive that England will do well if they get out of the group. when they play Australia . The key will be all the England batsmen to attack the Australia bowling so the pressure will be on Glenn McGrath to perform . I belive that ownly chance for England doing any think in this Champions Trophy
Complain about this postLeaving Jon Lewis out would be madness I agree. One-day bowling is more about good economy rates than taking wickets. Of course taking wickets is very important as well, but there's less need when you're only conceeding 2-3 runs an over, a la Jon Lewis.
Saj Mahmood is the better option for test matches sure, but he's just far too erratic, inconsistent and expensive when it comes to 50 over cricket. You only get 10 overs maximum, which leaves no time for 2 or 3 overs getting loose, by the end of which, Mahmood's 'economy' rate is up above 6 an over.
I hope I won't be the only person up in arms if Jon Lewis is left out for this crucial first one-dayer, but that said, I feel quite confident that Jon will get his much deserved chance.
We'll see...
Complain about this postI totally agree with Spaceman. Mahmood has been given a few too many chances at ODIs for my liking. You want someone who can be economical, like lewis, not someone who is liable to bowl it anywhere. Sure, Mahmood has more potential to bully opposition batsmen with his pace, but i think this is far less important in the shorter form of the game. You need someone who can bowl a tight ten overs and maybe pick up a wicket or too... like lewis. He's done nothing wrong as far as i'm concerned, and Mahmood, though he shows a lot of promise, needs to be more consistent before he holds down a place.
I agree with the batsmen (although i'd love to see joyce in the side, he hasn't really convinced yet), except that i might opt with bell and strauss to open, with pietersen (technically better than flintoff so more suited to coming in early) coming in at three, and freddy somewhere down the order (to come in for the closing overs). Like arlo, i'd say the middle order (dalrymple, yardy, collingwood, flintoff) should be flexible.
Incidentally, why has Alastair Cook fallen out of favour with the one day side? I might have seen the argument that he was too defensive, if his record wasn't something like two ODIs with an average of 40 and a scoring rate of about 100. i know he's not in the ICC squad, but surely he deserves another chance?
Complain about this posti think it is important to make use of the powerplay without losing a wicket and getting a few runs. i agree with your line up but i would swap freddie with bell so we can have the big hitters to come in later on. i hope we win
Complain about this postArlo:
I'm afraid that I am going to add myself to the approbium. Sajid Mahmood is just too expensive and unreliable to risk yet again when the bowling back-up is so limited (Yardy, Dalrymple, Collingwood and Mahmood have to bowl 30 overs between them and if someone gets collared, as can so easily happen in a ODI, there is no "Plan B"). If Sajid has one of his bad days (and let's face it, there have been an awful lot of them in ODIs, so his morale must be paper-thin), he could go for a lot of runs against the Indian batting.
Jon Lewis is not going to blast out many batsmen, but he is going to be steady and keep it tight for Steve Harmison. His wickets will come from batsmen who try to take liberties and make a mistake against tight line and length. He is also a better batsman, with the capacity to come in in the last few overs and score a quick 15 or 20 that might be the difference between a defensible total and one that isn't quite enough.
Complain about this postAn absolutely perfect description of a typical welcome to India! This country never ceases to amaze. Working here for 6 of the last 12 months, even the daily morning commute to the office turns into an experience you know you will never forget.
Complain about this postI think the reason that Cook hasn't featured much is that he's not versatile enough. Fletcher is notorious for his admiration of players who can "multi-task", and players like Yardy and Dalrymple (who may not be as good bats as Cook) furnish the team with some useful dibbly-dobblers. Even Bell is capable of turning his arm over. I imagine Cook will be the eventual successor to Tresco in this format of the game.
I agree with you all about Jon Lewis, he's proved himself to be the most consistent bowler this year.....Mahmood seems too similar to Harmison in that if he gets tonked over the boundary for a couple of overs, he'll having nothing left in the tank and his head will drop.
Complain about this postArlo
I agree with your line up, except Flintoff opening and that Mahmood should play instead of Lewis, but should Lewis play instead of Anderson? It seems as though by default Lewis and Mahmood are battling it out for one bowling slot when Lewis and Anderson could well be doing that - they're very similar 'like for like' bowlers. Add in that Mahmood bowls at 90+, can reverse swing the ball and is a better batsman than either Lewis or Anderson and it becomes clear to me that Mahmood will probably play and bat at 9 and the final bowling slot will be out of Anderson or Lewis. Anderson suffers to to extent from the same problem Mahmood suffers from - he can be wayward and it may be better to go for the control of Lewis, although Anderson is bit quicker than Lewis.
I don't think Flintoff will open and that the opening pair will be Bell and Strauss for the opposite reason for why you think Bell should bat at 3. England do need to maximise their returns from the first 10 overs, but is risking one of our most explosive big hitting batsmen at the top of the order against the new ball worth the potential returns of having Flintoff open against the possibility we may lose him early? If they don't take the next two power plays straight after the first 10 overs would it not be better to have our bigger hitters down the order? Also, Flintoff did particularly well coming in at 3 in the warm up game, why change that? I'd much rather see Bell and Strauss accumulating runs in the first 10 overs by playing proper cricket shots against balls there to be hit than Flintoff trying to force the pace as an opener and risk getting out, becuse thats what he sees his new responsibility to be.
In my mind it's too much of a gamble playing Flintoff at the top of the order that could be disastrous if it doesn't pay off.
Complain about this post
Complain about this postTo win against India on the unpredictable pitches,the team needs an anchorman who will stay at one end and build partnerships.With Trescothick and Vaughan missing, there is no one to play that role. The included players may be good for short,aggressive cameos,but that does not give you the needed 280 runs or so. Also, Panesar will be sorely missed in India.Harmison will not be effective at all--one needs swing,not speed.This is an unsuitable team.
Agree with your selection with Freddie at the top of the order. Doesn't make sense to play him at three if the purpose is for him to take advantage of the first fifteen overs. Otherwise I would prefer KP at three because he is a better batsmen.
Sajid Mahmood has potential to be a decent test bowler but he appears to be far too expensive in one days. Given that recently Harmison appears to be having more off days in one day cricket I dont think we want Mahmood in the team as well. Jon Lewis has to play!
Complain about this postI would have Strauss, Bell and Collingwood as the first three to bat. These would lay a solid foundation and their appetite for quick singles would keep the score ticking over and tire the fielders, none of the three would provide an easy breakthrough to put extra heart into the oppositions bowlers. I would then follow with Freddie and Pietersen who could then organise their batting to suit the situation that they find themselves in. I think that they will more than likely find themselves coming in after an excellent start which they will build upon, or at least one of them will.
Complain about this post'Flintoff would provide a real threat up front for England. I don't see the logic in bringing him in at number three, with Bell and Strauss opening. If either fall cheaply, then Flintoff wouldn't be able to play his natural game. But if Flintoff opens and gets out cheaply, the ship could be settled with Bell's presence at three'.
I couldnt have said it better meself..;-)
Flintoff is a MUST to open. I recall him opening once for Lancs in a limited overs game against a strong Surrey side. Lancs were chasing a big total, but Flintoff made it look so very,very easy in scoring a big hundred. So he is very capable of hitting the hard, new ball.
England must make use of these power-plays. Flintoff with his strength would be absolutely IDEAL blasting past the infield or over-the-top - even with mis-hits!
If he gets out, weve still got plenty of batsmen who can flail it about. If he gets in, then big scores may be posted. And scoring big early is particularly important as the ball softens, the pitch deteriorates and the spinners come on.
Basically, dont waste Freddie on a 'building exercise', give the lad the free roll ta play his game...
Complain about this posti am convinced england wil do good in this rourment but i dont realy fink they wil win it, as ther are som very strong teams competing, like australia, india and pakistan. it wil b very intersting 2 c weather pakistan wil make any more complains against any other umpires as hair is not featuring in the tourment.
Complain about this postIn 1986/87, the last time that we won a series in Australia, England also won both the Perth Challenge and the World Series Challenge. One of the features of these matches (apart from England beating the West Indies, Australia and Pakistan several times each), was the way that having opened initially with Broad and Athey, a slump in the side saw Ian Botham promoted to open for the last 4 matches, including the WSC Final. He scored 45 (top score), 8, 71 (top score) and 25 and generally accelerated the scoring considerably at the top of the order. His savage bombardment in the first WSC Final was generally reckoned to to have won the tournament for England. If Andrew Flintoff, a similar player to Botham in many ways, could do the same, the effect on the side would be massive.
However, word seems to be that Flintoff will bat at 3, which looks to be a peculiar, hybrid position, neither one thing nor the other. Maybe the management hope to exploit the power plays without (hopefully) exposing him to the new ball.
Opening with Freddy would be a Champions Trophy solution: if it comes off it could be a spectacular success for 3 or 4 games, until sides find an effective counter. I am not quite so convinced by Freddy batting at 3. Opening, if he gets out Ian Bell comes in an, effectively, acts as a classical opener. If Freddy comes in at 3 and gets straight out there is a crisis.
Complain about this postJon Lewis or Sajid Mahmood? At the end of the day, in ODIs it is the economy rate what matters for the bowler rather than the wickets.
Jon Lewis must be given this game although understand why Sajid Mahmood is in the frame because Flintoff not likely to be bowling in this tournament. The fact is Lewis may have success in seaming conditions. The England camp probably fear at his pace on wickets which bounce lower..he would be bread and butter to subcontinental batsmen.
Lewis for the economy.
Complain about this postThe other advantage of having Freddie on first is that he might bat through and win the match on his own!!
Complain about this postMy team pick would be exactly your one, except that bell would open with Atrauss and Flintoff will come into play at 4. Peitersen would rather be playing at 3, followed by Collingwood, Dalrymple and read. I would have preferred to have had Cook for the opening position, but injuries make that impossible.
Jaipur is a typical dustbowl, so selecting panesar would have helped instead of yardy. If either dhoni, sehwag and tendulkar can't be contained, forget winning the match. If England lose, it's game over because the aussies will beat you in the one days.
This years champions trophy will be the crappiest in terms of quality in living memory. All Old horses will deliver and we wil see their value only after hte end of the world cup when they retire.
Complain about this postI think that is a well balanced team. With batting right down to chris read at 8, and perhaps lower if mahmood and harmison swing the bat with enough confidence. Its a shame there is no room for ed joyce in the batting line up, he wants to open and he may have point, his domestic record is rather impressive and himself and strauss have got an understanding. I dont think lewis should be in the team, he doesnt bowl fast enough, and when it doesnt swing enough can be cannon fodder for the powerful indian batting, plus he is in his 30's and the bowlers there are well from that landmark.
Complain about this postI disagree that bowlers' economy rates are the most important thing in one-day cricket. You can't keep the run rate down throughout an innings. If the batting side has wickets in hand nothing will stop them scoring freely towards the end of an innings.
Obviously it is helpful to have economical bowlers as well, but we really need a bowler who can take early wicket, which is why Anderson's return is good news for England. Mahmood has been very wayward but he has recently begun to show more consistency and is another who picks up wickets.
Complain about this postCan I hear the live commentary in USA on BBc.com as I have enjoyed listing to recent Shri_Lanka and Pakistan visit to England. Please reply me as soon as possible
Thanks,
Complain about this postJay Desai
I've always been an advocate for Freddie playing up the order - he's much better against the fast ball, enjoys taking on the pacemen, and could swing the game very early on. Pietersen, Read and now the allrounders can provide the lower order slogging if neccessary. It'll also mean that he'll be fresher for bowling if England bat first.
Complain about this postEngland won't win without Jon Lewis playing - as indeed they haven't all the English summer. They need the early wicket or two he has been able to bring them.
Complain about this postI think its a good idea to get Flintoff up the order, 2 or 3 doesnt really matter. I also think Peitersen should stay at 4+ because he doesnt get tied down by spinners, in fact he loathes them which although is sometimes his downfall its better than letting him open at 2 or 3. The way hes normally starts his innings by stepping outside off and thumping anything "to make an impression" would be disasterous if the ball was moving about alot.
I agree with most peoples point about Saj Mahmood - although he does have inspiring moments he does have the same attributes as Harmison and is probably surplus to requirements. With Anderson back: he is excellent as swinging the new ball at a decent pace, and finishing an innings with well aimed yorkers (something sorely missed against Sri Lanka and Pakistan this summer). Which means Jon Lewis can have an extended starting spell, and maybe not used at all at the end of the innings so as not to expose his lack of pace - whilst Harmison and Anderson can take the last 10.
Complain about this postEngland is the most pathitic side in the tournament, its only the blowing up horns by the couch and the captain, fredy may be an rare exception in terms of talent, but he alone cannot win matches. So donot have much hopes.
Complain about this postThe fact that there are so many different line-ups being suggested really emphasises the instability surrounding our one-day side, which is so unsettled. Whatever line-up they opt for, it must be given the whole tournament to bed in for the World Cup. Personally speaking, we look a bit short in all areas - lack enough explosive batsmen without Trescothick, too many bits-and-pieces players like the line-up we had in the 1999 WC (a disaster!), and a bowling attack that doesn't have the right balance between taking wickets and being economic. How Panesar has not been picked, I do not know. If he were a 90mph quickie who couldn't field or bat, Fletcher would still pick him, but because he's a spinner, he doesn't get a look-in. What better test of his Ashes temperament too to play in front of packed stadiums in India. Get Lewis in too to provide a steady option because I agree that an attack including Harmison, Mahmood and Panesar has an expensive look about it. My line-up and batting order would be
Complain about this postStrauss
Joyce
Bell
Pieterson
Collingwood
Flintoff
Dalrimple
Read
Lewis
Harmison
Panesar
with Trescothick, Vaughan, Cook, Jones, Anderson and Gough to come into the WC reckoning when fit. Four frontline bowlers supported by three who can turn their arm over, but apart from Dalrimple, they are all seriously good at their main discipline.
Oh my prophetic soul!
Flintoff gets at duck at 3 and it's a crisis...
Complain about this postWell, England has many good players, they just need to stay away from injuries. Also what i have observed lack of fighting spirit in the English team. Cricket is a game of nerves, and somehow Australian, SA and India hold their nerves better. England did it in the past an can do it again.
One more thing, Arlo White does not like the animals on the street of Rajasthan, then he should stay home with the heating on. So that he can have a comfortable life on the cold island. He would love his country too!!!!!
Enjoy the cricket!!!
Complain about this postSlow pitch dismal effort.
Complain about this postThe one saving grace is that the pitch appears to be very difficult. If Andrew Strauss can stay there and someone can stay with him, the England bowlers are good enough to defend a moderate total. Definitely time for some bloodymindedness from the remaining batsmen.
Complain about this postHa Ha!Enland would be all out for 80 just like the windies. i cant wait for seeing the pomies getting thrashed by the aussies.
my Verdict;
INDIA by 9 wickets
next game
Aussies by 10 wickets
next game
Complain about this postEngland by 10 wickets
i'm an english fan. Have been throughout my life. But well guys we have to face the reality and the hard bitter truth. Sure we beat the aussies but come on that was once in a life time. Our players are breaking down every now and then. Their fitness is terrible. Come on Simon Jones plays 5 tests misses 15 through injury. Get fit lad. Then flintoff sure he inspires you but look at him he is a homer simpson. Drinking is what he does. the champions trophy wil be utter humiliation. We will lose all the matches. Come on we invnted the sport we have to be good at it.
Complain about this postNo England will win all three games, in your dreams viz.
This England team are going to get humiliated by the aussies in the ashes 5-0. No merlin. no vaughan, who would have been your best player on aussie pitches and no Simon Jones, who is the only other potent weapon other than panesar. Look out for McGill because he will be more dangerous in aussie pitches.
i think warne will be caned in aussie pitches, which have become increasinglyu batsmen freindly, and he would do well only in bouncy gabba.
I think McGrath might not be that arrogant this time, don't underestimate the Auld aussie pace attack in aussie conditions.
Complain about this postGood call there by Sommers! Keep on making predictions lad, you may yet save us.
It looks like two things are going to be vital: anything short is going, so Harmison and Mahmood have to keep the ball up; and the spinners are difficult to get away, so Yardy and Dalrymple need to keep it tight and avoid giving width.
It looks like if England can get to 200 they could make a game of it. 180 and really good bowling with the new ball might be enough to make India work hard.
Complain about this postArlo
I've just finished reading Hugh McIlvanney in today's Sunday Times (https://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-2404385,00.html) and in particular what he writes about the England football team. To my mind he sums up exactly what is wrong with English football, English cricket - in fact English anything.
At the risk of pre-judging you I assume that you will not agree with what he writes, but perhaps you would care to dwell on whether your disagreement is because you genuinely believe him to be wrong, or because you are just too afraid to countenance the fact that he may be right.
Complain about this postWe really need an updated prediction from Sommers here. He said England 80-a.o. and India to win by 9 wickets. Close, but no cigar!
Clutching at straws a little, the fact that Jimmy Anderson has bowled 7 overs and taken a couple of good wickets is at least a positive, provided he doesn't report injured tomorrow. Another slight positive is that Sajid Mahmood has only gone for 22 in 5 overs. However, if Jon Lewis had played the Indians would be 6-down, not 4-down.
As I said earlier... line and length and the first 5 overs England just forgot about it completely. By the time the bowling tightened up it was too late. One can only wonder. With 150 on the board and Jon Lewis exploiting swing and variable bounce we could even have sneaked it.
Some good captaincy by Freddy not to risk Jimmy Anderson for the full 10 and to bring Steve Harmison back to get some confidence; and it's paid off with a handy wicket.
Complain about this postAll in all it's been a funny day. Neither side will feel too pleased. England threw the game away in two spells of madness, the first with the bat, the second with the new ball. Despite that, India know that with 20 more runs to chase they could easily have lost.
Two people will have reason to feel pleased. Geraint Jones will have heard Duncan Fletcher's howl of anguish while watching Chris Read bat and will practice in the nets instead of with the drinks tray. Chris Read looked safe for the winter three weeks ago; today he'll have reopened doubts about his temperment. Personally, I'd have played Jones in Tests and Read in the ODIs since the Carribean series, but today Read looked awful with the bat in a way that GO Jones has rarely slumped to, even at his worst. And Jon Lewis will have watched and thought that if he had played England could even have pulled off an escape of Houdini-like proportions. If England play on another pitch like this Lewis has to play - there can be no possible argument now.
Playing Andrew Flintoff at 3 produced the sort of disaster that everyone except the management anticipated. Either he plays at 6, or he opens. What was he doing at 3???? Bell went, Flintoff came in against a bowler with his tail up, thanks very much and England two-down for very little.
However, there was enough there to suggest that England could beat Australia. Jimmy Anderson bowled well enough. When Steve Harmison got his range he was a handful. Sajid Mahmood is improving. And Dalrymple and Yardy are proving to be surprisingly successful with the ball (although Yardy does not convince me yet as a batsmen at 4 or 5 for England). Dalrymple, Collingwood and Pietersen are providing some bloody-minded stuborness with the bat. The ingredients are there, the mix is just slightly wrong still.
Complain about this postDear, i am just 21 year old from india in new Delhi so my question is that- can i know what is the cause indian team is very poor team in all world game with cricket
thanks
lalit sharma
Complain about this postHello ciderguzzler,
I think you may well have pre judged me there a little. If you heard me on the sports panel on Simon Mayo's programme last Friday, you would know my thoughts on the England Football team.
The Cricketers One Day record speaks for itself, so I don't think we're creating any false hope there, but the Test team won the Ashes and have deserved their plaudits over the past year or so. Unlike the Footballers, the Cricketers actually exceeded all expectations.
Complain about this postJust read the list of commentators on the TMS site, and cannot find any mention of Richie Benaud (or am I blind?). Any reason for this?
Complain about this post