Print

[arc1983]

Really poor from England today, the batting has been woeful all tour. There is no point being too dramatic about changes, but Morgan must go & I'd have Bopara at no.4 with KP dropping down to no.6 for the final match. Morgan's dismissal was dreadful - a 2nd ball duck that highlighted a poor test batsmen who in my opinion is technically not good enough to improve.

There are some cracking batsmen coming through, but it is worth noting that these batsmen have failed in a series loss to Bangladesh 'A' (admittedly in ODI, not first-class cricket). In particular, James Taylor & Jonny Bairstow struggled on spinning wickets, so are not the answer currently. A left-field selection (which won't happen) for the Sri Lanka tour is Jos Buttler, best batsmen in Bangladesh for the Lions & scored 102* off 56 balls vs Sri Lanka 'A' a couple of days ago...... however, Morgan's route to the test team was via the ODI arena and it hasn't worked.

Full credit to Pakistan, they have been superb.

[roco]

All credit to Pakistan though really good spin attack and best attack we have faced for a while and had found us out badly

[Tumo]

If we're going even more left field (somewhere towards the burger vans), Samit Patel? Fifth bowler, extremely good batsman, and probably has the ability to play spin better than most in the side (smashing 73 off 40 balls against India's fairly decent spinners being a recent example)...

[qalib13]

I didn't say playing for a draw I said saving a test match. You don't think If Broad used his brain he could have batted long enough for another 72 runs?

Come on when Swann bowled Ponting through the gate, it was a moment of genius, but when Rehman does Broad, its poor batting. England haven't lost just because the batted poorly, you have to give credit to Pakistani bowlers. England bowl well when they get the Pakistanis out but when Pakistan get England out it poor batting. DOUBLE STANDARDS!

The bowl to Broad came back around 10 degrees, you just can't accustom for a bowl to do that much.

[Number4]

No as scratching around looking to survive is what got others out so prefer to see him play his game as came off in first innings so could've again

None of the other batsmen were in long enough to "scratch around" were they? Lol

Bell - 3 balls
Pietersen - 8 balls
Morgan - 2 balls
Trott - 11 balls
Broad - 2 balls
Swann - 4 balls

[roco]

We need to find a decent player of spin as best players of spin I've seen use feet and play front foot but we are rooted to crease

It baffles me as our coach was a great player of spin so why can't they learn from him

[roco]

No we're not but we're looking to play that way

[langer17]

For the second time in this series I am very pleased with the result, lol

[Number4]

Come on when Swann bowled Ponting through the gate, it was a moment of genius, but when Rehman does Broad, its poor batting. England haven't lost just because the batted poorly, you have to give credit to Pakistani bowlers. England bowl well when they get the Pakistanis out but when Pakistan get England out it poor batting. DOUBLE STANDARDS!

The bowl to Broad came back around 10 degrees, you just can't accustom for a bowl to do that much.

Really don't know what you are on about. I never mentioned anything about swann and ponting. Broads shot was a poor shot considering the circumstances and I don't remember Pontings but I'm sure that was probably poor shot selection too. So go attack someone else sore loser.

And I most certainly would call all out for 72 poor batting

[gabbers]

Theyve got to give rav ago, he can't do much worse!

[Alvaro]

Number4 - I take your point, though to be fair Trott did, um, have the trotts...

[arc1983]

Completely right qalib, brilliant ball from Rehman to dismiss Broad. I would have batted Broad at 3 today in the absence of Trott to try & give momentum to the innings as coming in down the order and playing shots when under pressure is extremely difficult.

If Strauss / Cook could turn back time, I'm sure they would have been more aggressive in the first 10 overs, but it was a collective batting failure.

I like the Samit Patel selection theory. The reality is we are quality in seaming conditions, poor in the subcontinent, so why not have slightly differing teams for differing conditions.

[beaver5]

Woeful batting performance. It was like watching my village team when the opposition bring on a pie chucker who then proceeds to run through our batting order with a string of average deliveries!

I'm sure we will see England's usual reaction to a heavy defeat by changing a bowler. Finn in, Anderson out! Morgan has to go, but they don't have the nerve to drop KP.

[arc1983]

For the second time in this series I am very pleased with the result, lol

Ah well, could have been worse Langer, could have been all out for 47 

To cheer the English fans up, as after all, the only thing in test cricket that matters is the Ashes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ghRmApqMlU

[thedon]

I think this puts the Indian series into perspective. India played poorly and maybe made England look better than they actually are.

England at home would beat any team in the world at the moment, but it is their batting in sub continent conditions that let them down. They've got Sri Lanka and then India away. By the time they tour India I think they really should have sorted out their batting technique against spin, if not they will get hammered, just like the recent one day series.

Well done pakistan, they showed great bottle and excellent bowling and batting. Hafeez and Gul tied up the english openers very well, and should be given credit.

I love test matches!!!