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[Cover_Drive]

Test cricket at its best, English people and ambiance make it incredible.

I felt for James Anderson.

While England go down, Pakistan gets promoted to number three!! Outrageous!! Shows how flawed test ratings are.

[Gerry SA]

England will make hay against the hapless Indians though. 4/1 I'm predicting.

[smokem]

^ now that is truly bonkers...

[Gerry SA]

^ now that is truly bonkers...

You know India haven't won a test outside Asia since Jamaica 2010.

Since then their record is 0-10-3

[CrickFreak]

England will make hay against the hapless Indians though. 4/1 I'm predicting.

Seriously!!!
Please tell me you were being sarcastic lol!!!

[Manormanic]

You'd be happy to blood Riley, who's played all his professional cricket in division 2 against India? A side consisting of Pujara, Kohli, Sharma and Dhoni all excellent players of off spin?

Monty, whatever his mistakes, has to be the man against. India. He had the Indians in sorts of bother in the last series. India have a lot of RHB, and that's good for Monty.

It goes against the grain for me to say this, because I'd usually be firmly in the "its only division 2" camp but I really like what I've seen of the lad - certainly see him as a better bet than Kerrigan (too slow) or Borthwick (too rubbish).  If I wee looking for the guy to fill the old Swann role then no, it would not be a great idea, but as the guy who bowls when something different is needed after Anderson, Broad, Plunkett and Stokes have had a go then, yeah, I don't see why not. 

Obviously Monty is a different issue.  The fact is, his behaviour has deteriorated so far that its just not that likely to happen.

[Manormanic]

England will make hay against the hapless Indians though. 4/1 I'm predicting.

Depends.  India's recent record is very poor outside home conditions, but they will be smarting from being beaten in India last time out and England have the look of a gun-shy team at the moment.  Cook is a terrible skipper and they are no longer capable of closing out decisive periods of play that a year ago they'd have strolled.  If the weather allows for seamer friendly decks, you might not be too far off, but I wonder whether 2-2 is not more likely.

[Manormanic]

While England go down, Pakistan gets promoted to number three!! Outrageous!! Shows how flawed test ratings are.

or how flawed two test series are?  This one was crying out for a third, even a fourth game.

[Danny1981]

or how flawed two test series are?  This one was crying out for a third, even a fourth game.

Agree completely with this.All test series should be 3 minimum

[ProCricketer1982]

Cook as capt out.. Just not up to it

[MD2812]

England will make hay against the hapless Indians though. 4/1 I'm predicting.

Hmm with an Indian squad which could bat all 5 days I think a few draws are coming our way

[mini998]

or how flawed two test series are?  This one was crying out for a third, even a fourth game.

It's money in the end , Great cricket but stands were empty ,SL community is not as strong as Indian or even Pakistan communities. Also England fans didn't expect this series to be this good due to lack of respect for SL test team in these conditions. Fair call although that might change in the future.

 You will not see empty stands when Indians tour here , so from financial point of view it makes sense. But yeah would have been nice at least ECB took one match from India series and made this a 3 match series.


Sri Lanka can't camplain either , last time England tour SL SLC docked one test match and made it a only a 2 match series so what goes around comes around.

[ProCricketer1982]

It's money in the end , Great cricket but stands were empty ,SL community is not as strong as Indian or even Pakistan communities. Also England fans didn't expect this series to be this good due to lack of respect for SL test team in these conditions. Fair call although that might change in the future.

 You will not see empty stands when Indians tour here , so from financial point of view it makes sense. But yeah would have been nice at least ECB took one match from India series and made this a 3 match series.


Sri Lanka can't camplain either , last time England tour SL SLC docked one test match and made it a only a 2 match series so what goes around comes around.

Trouble is it's not more England supporters want to see India.. It's purely Indians here want to see India.

[WalkingWicket37]

Trouble is it's not more England supporters want to see India.. It's purely Indians here want to see India.

The rate things are going there won't be any England supporters who'd be willing to pay to see England either!

[ProCricketer1982]

The rate things are going there won't be any England supporters who'd be willing to pay to see England either!

True.