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[Cedrictoad]

Are you sure the Sri Lankan series was a "home series"?

Those pitches could have been Galle or Colombo...

Who needs home advantage?  England is far more sporting than that...

[Gerry SA]

Cook goes for 95. He's properly happy he got a few runs but this pitch is shocking.

[Gerry SA]

Also what's wrong with the groundsmen in England?

The last match at Lords, that was an excellent Test pitch.

But the other 4 Tests this summer all the pitches have been dead

[joeljonno]

Cook goes for 95. He's properly happy he got a few runs but this pitch is shocking.

First steps back to being a top quality opener. Hopefully he can take this form on going forward.

Haven't seen the pitch yet, but always difficult to really say how bad/dead it is until a couple of days in.

Might be designed to be a bit more lively at a shorter length so more suited to English bowling.

[calcurtis98]

Another century for Ballance, joining an exclusive list of five with Jack Russell and Ravi Bopara.

[Giraffe208]

Time will tell if this pitch will be any good as it is often not the best idea to judge too early.

That said, Dhoni has been incredibly negative with his field placings and the leg side spin theory (although picked up Cook in the end) has been awful to watch and not a good advert for test cricket.

This stinks of we are 1-0 up so i'm taking time out of the game and making it hard for England to score quickly and rack up a decent total.

[Buzz]

Cook goes for 95. He's properly happy he got a few runs but this pitch is shocking.

I bet the eng bowlers get loads more from it.

big call I know, but the rose bowl usually has good pace and carry.

I am also interested to see how woakes plays, very fine county player. Selvey, who has been the ECB mouse for the last 6 months says he has got quicker etc.
if he hasn't this will be a tough game for him.

[Gerry SA]

I bet the eng bowlers get loads more from it.

big call I know, but the rose bowl usually has good pace and carry.

I am also interested to see how woakes plays, very fine county player. Selvey, who has been the ECB mouse for the last 6 months says he has got quicker etc.
if he hasn't this will be a tough game for him.

With regards to pace and bounce.

Pankaj Singh is 6ft 6/6ft 7 and in his second spell was bowling pretty briskly. He was in the 86/88mph range pretty much for his whole spell. Yet the ball wasn't flying through.

[tim2000s]

Hmmm. Cook out on 95. Jug avoidance I think...

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[Buzz]

Hmmm. Cook out on 95. Jug avoidance I think...

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in his shoes, I suspect he would have been happy to buy the Gatorade!

[steyn92]

After the India series we don't have a winter tour for the first time in years - the next series will be in the West Indies in April.

Here is another question - how many of the team will be going under the knife in September/October time???!

Quite a few, one would think.

[steyn92]

Also what's wrong with the groundsmen in England?

The last match at Lords, that was an excellent Test pitch.

But the other 4 Tests this summer all the pitches have been dead

Drainage has ruined the tracks.

[Buzz]

With regards to pace and bounce.

Pankaj Singh is 6ft 6/6ft 7 and in his second spell was bowling pretty briskly. He was in the 86/88mph range pretty much for his whole spell. Yet the ball wasn't flying through.

just watching the highlights.

no way this guy is bowling faster than about 83.

India were ragged today.

[Kal]

Happy for Cook on a personal level, but he really should go as captain. I'd still pick him as opener, though the amount of chances he's had must make Compton / Carberry sick to the stomach. Bell will probably score a few tomorrow as well.

Thought India and Dhoni reverted to type and played defensive cricket from the start (ie in selection). India should see that England are there for the taking and been more positive with team selection...

The pitches in England are truly characterless. Is it really that hard to have a pitch with decent pace and bounce?

[mp07]

I think Pankaj S. can produce more pace if he leans down little bit, 2nd spell he didn't look too good.