Third Test England v India Aug 18-22 Trent Bridge

[ANTiLAG]

They like having a point of difference, without the left-armer it's four right arm fast-medium specialists.

By rights, it should be Stokes. Woakes proved his all-round ability at Lords and Curran was excellent in Birmingham. Stokes was out of the team because of his own actions, he should have to wait for a slot like anyone else.

Curran's a lucky lil' bugger. Stokes was injured for Curran's debut, Woakes was injured in the next then Stokes had court for his third. Curran's had a lucky run of selection opportunities but performed well.

Stokes was excellent with the ball in Birmingham blasting through Kohli, Karthik and Pandya thus wrapping it up in a tight contest (made possible by Sam's great innings).

By rights, it should be the best possible eleven. I believe that the best reason to leave out Stokes' is the top order's lack of runs, and his own form with the bat has been crap all summer. Chris Woakes' batting will see him retain his spot I believe.

But why rush Stokes back to the team if they're not going to play him?

If Trent Bridge looks to be swinging - I'd drop Rashid myself.

 

[Timbo]

England spinners have an all-time average of about 40 at Trent Bridge. Graeme Swann played much of his FC career for Nottinghamshire, but he took his poles at Trent Bridge at 51 a piece.

I'd leave out Rashid, ask for more grass on the deck and if it gets desperate Root can roll his arm over.

 

[Das Gupta]

Agree drop Rashid.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Rashid and Curran will be nervous I imagine.

Tbh, I hope they keep playing Curran, but its just such a safety net having a spinner in the team 'just in case'.

Joe Root has made probably "the toughest selection call" as a Test captain on the eve of the match. England have resisted the temptation of having an XI with Sam Curran at No. 9. For that to happen, Stokes would have replaced Adil Rashid, who wasn't required to bat or bowl at Lord's. Instead Curran misses out after Chris Woakes made a good case for himself with his all-round contributions.

"I think it is difficult to go into a Test match without a spinner," Root said. "You don't want to be left short and not have that option, and you want a nice balanced attack."

England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Joe Root (capt.), 4 Ollie Pope, 5 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Ben Stokes, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson.

So is Joe prudent or a wimp?

 

[Das Gupta]

So is Joe prudent or a wimp?

We will soon find out. It will be interesting to see how many overs Rashid bowls and how effective they are.
I would have rolled the dice and left Rashid out for this one.

 

[Eelectrica]

I wouldn't have dropped Curran. Gotta play the hot hand. Curran has been in great form.

 

[ANTiLAG]

I wouldn't have dropped Curran. Gotta play the hot hand. Curran has been in great form.

Plenty of swing around for Stokes, Woakes and Jimmy.

No overs from Rashid.

Root may regret this decision given Currans form swinging the ball - but more so his runs.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Woakes gets Dhawan

 

[ANTiLAG]

Woakes swinging it both ways.

Stokes huge inswingers and outswingers (in between lollipop longhops and rubbish).

India will do well not to collapse here.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Botham's voice sounds like he has emphysema.

Still livin large?

 

[ANTiLAG]

Woakes swinging it both ways.

Stokes huge inswingers and outswingers (in between lollipop longhops and rubbish).

India will do well not to collapse here.

Very good contributions by Rahane and Kohli giving India a platform of stability here.

307/6 - with Pant and Ashwin yet to be dismissed. The England batsmen will be in need of more runs this match to win.

Rashid 9 overs - 1/46. He got Kohli - but to justify his selection over Curran needs better results than that.

 

[jargan83]

India rolled for 329

 

[Eelectrica]

India bundled out for 329. Anderson on a hattrick in the second innings.

Rashid a bust so far. He got Kholi, but I think that's a shot Kholi would like to have back.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Stuff all movement for Indian bowlers.

It was hooping for Englands.

No excuses here for Eng batsmen to not score more runs than India managed.

If England lose with the better bowlers, they must take action to strengthen the team in their batsmen.

 

[ANTiLAG]

England 151/9 - still batting like club cricketers. Useless bunch of spuds.

Shoulda played Curran confirmed now.

 

[ANTiLAG]

England all out for 161.

Lead for India of 168.

England's batting is regularly pathetic and they sorely miss Curran and even Ali.

 

[hineyrulz]

So much Plod around world cricket these days.

 

[Tommy Smith]

f**king lol

Our batting is the worst it's been in the 150 years of Test cricket. Let that sink in.

The same maybe appplies for Australia and RSA.

I'm pretty sure that T20 junk deserves a large portion of the blame.

 

[Eelectrica]

Stokes has had a game to forget. Hardly surprising though. Rushing him back into the side was always a bad idea given the circumstances.

Better to have sat this one out a come back mentally prepared for the 4th test.

 

[JJ]

f**king lol

Our batting is the worst it's been in the 150 years of Test cricket. Let that sink in.

The same maybe appplies for Australia and RSA.

I'm pretty sure that T20 junk deserves a large portion of the blame.

Is there no top order talent coming through? Should be a strength for the UK - they seem to have gone the old NZ way of stacking the teams with all-rounders - from 5 down... don't see that working consistently