Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Vaskiy]

Spectacular performance by India in literally every single department. What an amazing comeback. Ashwin deserves man of the match for his all-round performance. Wonder what excuse Vaughan will come up with next.

In my opinion, England are over-dependent on Root in the batting department in tests though I don't see any issues with their bowling department.

This was the good comeback by team India and after losing the first match, this win will boost them and with the series 1-1 this makes the other 2 test match now more exciting as now anything is possible. Series draw, or either of the team winning the series and will need to wait till 4th test is over.  Ashwin was just fabulous in this match and rightly was named the Player of the match. Good to see his all-round performance after long time.

On the whole, Ashwin proved that it is his hometown and his home pitch where he used to spend the majority of the time practicing cricket. Thats really a fabulous performance from Ashwin and rest of the team. In the same pitch England defeated India in the previous match. Maybe some complaints might arise, stating that the Indian team has made the pitch in such a way to support the Indian team performance. Ha Ha Ha

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[bryant.coleman]

On the whole, Ashwin proved that it is his hometown and his home pitch where he used to spend the majority of the time practicing cricket. Thats really a fabulous performance from Ashwin and rest of the team. In the same pitch England defeated India in the previous match. Maybe some complaints might arise, stating that the Indian team has made the pitch in such a way to support the Indian team performance. Ha Ha Ha

If I remember correctly, the curator changed the pitch completely after the first match. That's how it provided much more support for the Indian spinners, especially Axar and Ashwin. On the other hand the England spinners (Moeen and Leach) failed to make use of it. At times, I thought that it may be better for England to use their pacers (Stone, Broad and Stokes) rather than persisting with the spinners who hardly had any success.

[teosanru]

~snip~
But Kuldeep Yadav is once again my biggest question for the day. He hasn't got bowling even today. What could be the possible reason for this?

The way he was introduced to attack after all the resources, its safe to say that Captain doesn't trust him much nowadays.

And the way Kuldeep bowling  he's not posing any threat to batsmen when compared to Ashwin-Axar duo, guess he's in low on confidence. I hope he pick up couple of wickets here.

And Siraj dropped a Root.... Poor Kuldeep
English batsmen only playing sweep... Now kuldeep got the wicket.

ENG: 116/7

Haha atlast he got one crucial winning wicket. But this wicket became possible only because the batsmen came down the pitch. So ideally Kuldeep is merely a limited over bowler as it's not easy to play attacking shot on his bowling but defending him is pretty easy. But at the same time it's somewhat easier to attack finger spinners if the pitch is okayish. I think Kuldeep needs to rethink about his line and length.

[vella85]

Great comeback by India to win the second test match after losing the first match. Ashwin fully deserved to be player of the match with his all round performance with the bat and ball. Taking 8 wickets and scoring a century against a good England team is a good achievement. This now sets up the series as both teams are square however the next match will be interesting as its a day/night test match and we all saw what happened in Australia when India were out played with the pink ball so its going to be interesting to see how the Indian team goes. Even though England lost this test match, I think it will give them confidence heading into the day/night test match knowing that India played poorly in their last day/night test match.

[7788bitcoin]

This now sets up the series as both teams are square however the next match will be interesting as its a day/night test match and we all saw what happened in Australia when India were out played with the pink ball so its going to be interesting to see how the Indian team goes. Even though England lost this test match, I think it will give them confidence heading into the day/night test match knowing that India played poorly in their last day/night test match.

India was touring when they were humiliated in the day night Test and now they are playing in India and obviously they will be preparing spinning tracks. Moeen Ali is confirmed that he is leaving back to England and wont participate in the rest of the matches and that is a big blow to the side as he was the in form player who picked 8 wickets and he played an entertaining knock in the final innings.
I give India the advantage and toss will be a major factor .

[SaShiRaJaVu]

Moeen Ali is confirmed that he is leaving back to England and wont participate in the rest of the matches and that is a big blow to the side as he was the in form player who picked 8 wickets and he played an entertaining knock in the final innings.
I give India the advantage and toss will be a major factor .

Moeen Ali is leaving but they have Dom Bess who performed well in the first match but to my surprise he was not picked they picked Jack Leach who was hammered by Pant and they are the spinning options for England for the rest of the tour. Toss will be a factor and the team winning to toss will elect to bat and that is the best option in Asian conditions.

[Sithara007]

Moeen Ali is leaving but they have Dom Bess who performed well in the first match but to my surprise he was not picked they picked Jack Leach who was hammered by Pant and they are the spinning options for England for the rest of the tour. Toss will be a factor and the team winning to toss will elect to bat and that is the best option in Asian conditions.

Bess bowled poorly during the second test of the first match, although he picked up important wickets in the first innings. He bowled too many full-tosses and most of them were put away to the boundary (especially by Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill). And Leach picked up 4 wickets in the second innings, including those of Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. This was the reason why he was preferred ahead of Bess.

[JSRAW]

Indian Squad for last 2 tests.


https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1361974661613948928

TEAM - Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj.

Umesh Yadav will join the team in Ahmedabad and after his fitness assessment will replace Shardul Thakur, who will be released for Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Net bowlers

The Committee also picked five net bowlers and two players as standbys.

Net Bowlers: Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Warrier, Krishnappa Gowtham, Saurabh Kumar

Standby players: KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar.

England Squad for the next test.

Moeen Ali looked good with the ball and bat as match progressed but he's going back, due to rotation policy or voluntary taking leave, no one knows for sure. Except dodgy comments from the management so bit weird. Many English experts, former players are not impressed with the decision. 

https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2031556

England squad : Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

[bryant.coleman]

Rather than the case of Moeen, I am more concerned with Broad/Anderson. These two bowlers need to play at least 3 out of the 4 tests and they perform the best when both of them are in the playing XI. I would even recommend England to go with three pacers for the third test, as Ollie Stone looked impressive in the second test. Their spinners are not doing well.. and it won't be a bad idea to include one more pacer.

[JSRAW]

Rather than the case of Moeen, I am more concerned with Broad/Anderson. These two bowlers need to play at least 3 out of the 4 tests and they perform the best when both of them are in the playing XI. I would even recommend England to go with three pacers for the third test, as Ollie Stone looked impressive in the second test. Their spinners are not doing well.. and it won't be a bad idea to include one more pacer.

Bowling combination for both team will depend on the pitch. Anderson is 38 years old and playing every game is too much for him. My guess is Anderson-Archer will play the next game and if its seaming wicket then may be 1 more fast bowler (Ollie Stone).

@eaLiTy mentioned that in Ranji game Pink ball favored the spin but last time India played pink ball test in Kolkata against Bangladesh, Indian Pacers took 19 wickets out of 20, 1 player got retd hurt, on the other hand Ashwin-Jadeja duo didn't even get to ball much.

This Motera stadium is new so no one really know about the pitch condition so let's wait and watch.
 

[Vishnu.Reang]

Bowling combination for both team will depend on the pitch. Anderson is 38 years old and playing every game is too much for him. My guess is Anderson-Archer will play the next game and if its seaming wicket then may be 1 more fast bowler (Ollie Stone).

@eaLiTy mentioned that in Ranji game Pink ball favored the spin but last time India played pink ball test in Kolkata against Bangladesh, Indian Pacers took 19 wickets out of 20, 1 player got retd hurt, on the other hand Ashwin-Jadeja duo didn't even get to ball much.

This Motera stadium is new so no one really know about the pitch condition so let's wait and watch.

With Ashwin in such splendid form, it will be foolish to assume that the curators will prepare a pitch that would offer even the slightest advantage to the pacers. D/N test matches have historically supported the pace bowlers, but as you have mentioned it is a new stadium and we don't know much about the ground conditions. If the pitch offers some bounce, then Archer would be lethal. Archer-Stone combination may cause a lot of trouble, as both of them have the ability to bowl above 150 kmph.

All that said, the toss is going to have a huge impact. If England wins the toss, then it is going to be 50/50. On the other hand, if India wins the toss, it is going to be 90/10 in favor of the Indians. Unless one of the England batsmen finds a way to take on Ashwin/Axar, they don't have any chance for the remainder of this series. Bowlers alone can't do the job. They need support from the batsmen as well.

[JSRAW]

^^ I am in favor of turner wickets in India at least for International test match, no matter who cry or pushing the idea that spin wickets are bad for the test cricket. Even if it backfires and India end up losing game. Test cricket need diverse wickets, if every wickets is seam / batting friendly then where would spinner go in the test cricket?

Good article from former Indian cricketer (female).
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/hot-days-and-dry-wickets-aren-t-bad-just-different-101613441880045.html

[Juggy777]

^^ I am in favor of turner wickets in India at least for International test match, no matter who cry or pushing the idea that spin wickets are bad for the test cricket. Even if it backfires and India end up losing game. Test cricket need diverse wickets, if every wickets is seam / batting friendly then where would spinner go in the test cricket?

Good article from former Indian cricketer (female).
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/hot-days-and-dry-wickets-aren-t-bad-just-different-101613441880045.html

@JSRAW in the past India used to make sure that all their home pitches were spin friendly, but in recent years their fast bowlers department grew and suddenly they decided to make pitches which suit fast bowlers too. Lastly I feel that your point is valid, and as we witnessed in the recent test team India needs spin friendly pitches to procure a result.

Sources:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/india-vs-england-there-is-a-normal-spin-on-offer-axar-patel-reckons-chepauk-track-behaving-normally-critics-need-to-change-their-mindset-101613403004889.html

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/India-refrains-from-preparing-overly-spin-friendly-pitches/article16694369.ece

https://scroll.in/field/987089/chennai-pitch-debate-why-should-spin-take-effect-only-later-in-a-test-but-seaming-tracks-are-fine

[bryant.coleman]

^^ I am in favor of turner wickets in India at least for International test match, no matter who cry or pushing the idea that spin wickets are bad for the test cricket. Even if it backfires and India end up losing game. Test cricket need diverse wickets, if every wickets is seam / batting friendly then where would spinner go in the test cricket?

Good article from former Indian cricketer (female).
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/hot-days-and-dry-wickets-aren-t-bad-just-different-101613441880045.html

I have a different opinion on this. Even the pitches in SENA countries are no longer supportive of pace bowling as it used to be. WACA and Kingsmead used to be fast bowler's paradise and if a team managed to make more than 200 runs in an innings there, it used to be regarded as exceptional performance. But times have changed and pitches that once supported pace bowlers have become flatter. Perhaps that is the reason why we no longer have legendary pacers of the calibre of Alan Donald, Glen McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

[mersal]

^^ I am in favor of turner wickets in India at least for International test match, no matter who cry or pushing the idea that spin wickets are bad for the test cricket. Even if it backfires and India end up losing game. Test cricket need diverse wickets, if every wickets is seam / batting friendly then where would spinner go in the test cricket?

Good article from former Indian cricketer (female).
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/hot-days-and-dry-wickets-aren-t-bad-just-different-101613441880045.html

@JSRAW in the past India used to make sure that all their home pitches were spin friendly, but in recent years their fast bowlers department grew and suddenly they decided to make pitches which suit fast bowlers too. Lastly I feel that your point is valid, and as we witnessed in the recent test team India needs spin friendly pitches to procure a result.

Sources:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/india-vs-england-there-is-a-normal-spin-on-offer-axar-patel-reckons-chepauk-track-behaving-normally-critics-need-to-change-their-mindset-101613403004889.html

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/India-refrains-from-preparing-overly-spin-friendly-pitches/article16694369.ece

https://scroll.in/field/987089/chennai-pitch-debate-why-should-spin-take-effect-only-later-in-a-test-but-seaming-tracks-are-fine

It depends on the stadium the match is about to happen, there are pitches that support pacers but the Chennai pitch is more likely to be spin-friendly than any other department. I guess this is the first match is going to happen on the Ahmedabad  newly built stadium so the pitch report is ging to be unpredictable until the match day for sure.

[Vishnu.Reang]

It depends on the stadium the match is about to happen, there are pitches that support pacers but the Chennai pitch is more likely to be spin-friendly than any other department. I guess this is the first match is going to happen on the Ahmedabad  newly built stadium so the pitch report is ging to be unpredictable until the match day for sure.

Only a few surfaces in India, such as the ones in Mohali and Dharamshala are supportive of pace bowling. All the others are either flat tracks or turning ones. We don't know much about the surface at Motera, but I suspect that it will be similar to the other surfaces in India. Even if the track offers seam movement, the Indian management will make sure that it supports the spinners as well.

[JSRAW]

^^ I am in favor of turner wickets in India at least for International test match, no matter who cry or pushing the idea that spin wickets are bad for the test cricket. Even if it backfires and India end up losing game. Test cricket need diverse wickets, if every wickets is seam / batting friendly then where would spinner go in the test cricket?

Good article from former Indian cricketer (female).
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/hot-days-and-dry-wickets-aren-t-bad-just-different-101613441880045.html

@JSRAW in the past India used to make sure that all their home pitches were spin friendly, but in recent years their fast bowlers department grew and suddenly they decided to make pitches which suit fast bowlers too. Lastly I feel that your point is valid, and as we witnessed in the recent test team India needs spin friendly pitches to procure a result.

My main point is how to exploit visiting team weakness, if that's not the case then don't invite any SENA country and play in their own backyard. Eng, SA, NZ, Aus does the same, i am fanatic as far as test cricket goes so i remember almost every humiliating defeat and win in SENA countries. India did figured out Aussie conditions in recent tours tho. Question is how long imperial force England would decide which pitch is good and which is not, this need to change at any cost. Test cricket is all about testing the batsmen or bowlers. Subcontinent batsmen, Fans and spinners never complain about pitches in England or SENA countries. We always criticize our batsmen never the pitch condition. Why not apply the same criteria apply to SENA countries when they visit India.

~snip~

I have a different opinion on this. Even the pitches in SENA countries are no longer supportive of pace bowling as it used to be. WACA and Kingsmead used to be fast bowler's paradise and if a team managed to make more than 200 runs in an innings there, it used to be regarded as exceptional performance. But times have changed and pitches that once supported pace bowlers have become flatter. Perhaps that is the reason why we no longer have legendary pacers of the calibre of Alan Donald, Glen McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

It would be good if you ask this question to Sri Lanka or Pakistan (how they won and lost).

[onrise]

It depends on the stadium the match is about to happen, there are pitches that support pacers but the Chennai pitch is more likely to be spin-friendly than any other department. I guess this is the first match is going to happen on the Ahmedabad  newly built stadium so the pitch report is ging to be unpredictable until the match day for sure.

Only a few surfaces in India, such as the ones in Mohali and Dharamshala are supportive of pace bowling. All the others are either flat tracks or turning ones. We don't know much about the surface at Motera, but I suspect that it will be similar to the other surfaces in India. Even if the track offers seam movement, the Indian management will make sure that it supports the spinners as well.

Since its going to be day/night test match it may be little different than the normal days played in the daytime. But overall should be a good pitch and hopefully we can enjoy the test match which some great bowling and batting form both sides. The advantage will always be with India as a home ground, England would be better since in morning few hours in sun they would not have to play. We might see Umesh Yadav playing the test if his fitness is cleared.

[bryant.coleman]

I have a different opinion on this. Even the pitches in SENA countries are no longer supportive of pace bowling as it used to be. WACA and Kingsmead used to be fast bowler's paradise and if a team managed to make more than 200 runs in an innings there, it used to be regarded as exceptional performance. But times have changed and pitches that once supported pace bowlers have become flatter. Perhaps that is the reason why we no longer have legendary pacers of the calibre of Alan Donald, Glen McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

It would be good if you ask this question to Sri Lanka or Pakistan (how they won and lost).

I don't have an issue with teams preparing surfaces that suit them. My issue is that the role of tear-away pacers are getting reduced with every passing year. In the past, we had a great number of good fast bowlers. But due to the priority being given to shorter formats such as T20, and to an extent the teams preparing flat surfaces, we are no longer getting to watch such bowlers. Is it even possible to name one current pace bowler, who can match legends such as McGrath, Steyn, Donald.etc?

[teosanru]

I have a different opinion on this. Even the pitches in SENA countries are no longer supportive of pace bowling as it used to be. WACA and Kingsmead used to be fast bowler's paradise and if a team managed to make more than 200 runs in an innings there, it used to be regarded as exceptional performance. But times have changed and pitches that once supported pace bowlers have become flatter. Perhaps that is the reason why we no longer have legendary pacers of the calibre of Alan Donald, Glen McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

It would be good if you ask this question to Sri Lanka or Pakistan (how they won and lost).

I don't have an issue with teams preparing surfaces that suit them. My issue is that the role of tear-away pacers are getting reduced with every passing year. In the past, we had a great number of good fast bowlers. But due to the priority being given to shorter formats such as T20, and to an extent the teams preparing flat surfaces, we are no longer getting to watch such bowlers. Is it even possible to name one current pace bowler, who can match legends such as McGrath, Steyn, Donald.etc?

I think we won't get that kind of bowlers again. That type of bowling is actually dead. There are multiple reasons for this. One is obviously flat surfaces as you have mentioned. The second very strange reason is fitness. I have not seen any pace bowler these days who has been able to remain injury free for a long time and this is a department where lot of players have faced trouble despite of the fact that players these days take extra caution about their health. But we have to change ourselves and settle down with the fact that pace bowling has changed now and it's more about making each and every ball count these days as you have limited overs to ball. I think we should take this positively instead of merely cribbing about this fact.