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[Gerry SA]

Also my opinion on the Indian bowling, after Vaughan called them 'average' just as Boycott said the same of SLs bowling...

India have three dependable bowlers Shami(pacey, swing and reverse swing), Kumar(swings it massively) and Jadeja(economical SLA spinner and has had success against England in the past).

After that there's a big disparity. Ishant isn't Test class. Pandey hasn't played a Test yet. Aaron has only played 1 Test and is injury prone. Binny? Yeah right... And Ashwin, world beater on his day, village green bowler on most other days.

England can just target the 4th/5th bowlers if they see off Shami and Kumar IMO

[mini998]

Sorry but where did SLs batting become so good?

Aside from Sangakarra, the rest where rope a dope the entire series.

And if England could catch, SL would been rolled under 200 in 3 of their 4 innings.

Matthews? Did not watch the series?

[tejasapatel]

Ishant isn't Test class.

I think Ishant has lost some pace, is fragile/injury-prone and hasn't improved over time as you'd expect a bowler with his experience.

Even with all that in mind, he is the only experienced bowler to be in the squad and he'll be looked to lead the attack.

[dilscoop]

No yadav just baffles me

[Gerry SA]

I think Ishant has lost some pace, is fragile/injury-prone and hasn't improved over time as you'd expect a bowler with his experience.

Even with all that in mind, he is the only experienced bowler to be in the squad and he'll be looked to lead the attack.

There where 3 young bowlers whom made their names by the early success against the masterful Ricky Ponting.

These 3 where: Ishant, Southee and Roach.

Whilst two have gone on to fulfil their potential(Southee and Roach)

Ishant lived of the early success against Punter. He now has a rather mediocre Test record. 164 wickets @ 37.

Whereas Southee(120+ wickets at 29) and Roach(100 wickets at 27) have shown what can be achieved with sustained hard work.

Ishant is a waster. 

[swamidude]

There where 3 young bowlers whom made their names by the early success against the masterful Ricky Ponting.

These 3 where: Ishant, Southee and Roach.

Whilst two have gone on to fulfil their potential(Southee and Roach)

Ishant lived of the early success against Punter. He now has a rather mediocre Test record. 164 wickets @ 37.

Whereas Southee(120+ wickets at 29) and Roach(100 wickets at 27) have shown what can be achieved with sustained hard work.

Ishant is a waster.

While I agree with all of your points, Ishant has spent a long time bowling on Indian wickets where you might as well give the batsmen throwdowns as quick bowlers are totally wasted. He had so much potential, and has shown bursts of real quality (first innings at Newlands and first innings of the second test in New Zealand), he is incredibly unreliable and if he becomes expensive then it puts too much pressure on the younger Shami and Kumar who I think could show up if the pitches have anything in them for the quicks.

Don't get me wrong, I think Yadav should be there instead of Ishant but his stats aren't too unflattering for an Indian seam bowler.

[Sam]

Headline of the season so far? :




Thank god he finally realised!

[dilscoop]

harmison debate on sky sports was very interesting

[dilscoop]

replace stokes with ballance and put moeen at 3.

[joeljonno]

replace stokes with ballance and put moeen at 3.

Weaken the batting even more?

[Sam]

Stokes is as good a bowler as Jordan (who got in more or less based on ODI form despite basically never proving himself in first class cricket), so should therefore just slot in instead of him in my opinion.

[i12breakfree]

Expert advice on india playing 11
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/758435.html?genre=16

[Manormanic]

It'll be Wor Sturks for Jordan I guess.  Ballance should certainly not be dropped!

[csnew]

Excuses about the pitch are already coming out.
Dry and spinning with England not playing a front line spinner.

[Gerry SA]

India win the toss and bat first.

They are playing 5 bowlers(if you can consider Ishant and Binny as proper bowlers)

Rohit as been axed. Jadeja is their spinner.

England bring in Stokes for Jordan. The right move.