3rd Test: England v India at Birmingham Aug 10-14, 2011

[Johnny_L_O]

3 quick wickets for England. India are 4-75 and controlling the match early.

 

[Hallatia]

English bowlers have been great this morning. After 1 session England already have a hand on the number one ranking. This may have been the case after the first session of the first day (when ZaK got injured). They really look so far on top, even though they haven't been without injuries themselves.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Bowlers win Test matches. Simple.

And in Anderson, Broad, Tremett, Bresnan and Swann (and Finn); England have by far the worlds best armoury of bowlers atm.

In terms of quality and quantity, no-one really comes close and whilst ever that remains England will be the no.1 Test nation in the world. Just as Australia were and the Windies before that because bowlers win Test matches!

 

[franklin2323]

Well that pretty much confirms the poms as number 1 in the world. Very strange seeing the poms succeed in something

 

[yappy]

100% on that Tommy. You need at least a reasonable batting line up and with Prior, Broad, Bresnan and Swann at 7, 8, 9 & 10 you have that and depth. But the ability to keep knocking over teams twice is what wins you matches. You might be a bit short of depth in the spin department for sub-continental conditions, but the depth and balance of your pace attack is top of the pile at the moment.

 

[Twizzle]

Well that pretty much confirms the poms as number 1 in the world. Very strange seeing the poms succeed in something

well they were due to win something

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Well that pretty much confirms the poms as number 1 in the world. Very strange seeing the poms succeed in something

It shows just how desperate they are to succeed in anything that they're willing to claim mercenaries from South Africa.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Kepler Wessels.

Half of your Union team the past decade have been Saffas, Kiwis or Pacific Islanders.

We're all guilty of it in some sport...

Besides, take out Trott, KP and Prior and we'd still waste you.

 

[Tommy Smith]

In fact, Alastair Cook, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson and Tim Bresnan plus 7 sub fielders would have beaten your mob last summer!

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

We'll never know will we?

Kepler Wessels.

Half of your Union team the past decade have been Saffas, Kiwis or Pacific Islanders.

We're all guilty of it in some sport...

Besides, take out Trott, KP and Prior and we'd still waste you.

Kepler Wessels?

Come on now you guys were doing it before we got Kepler Wessels and let's be fair that was 25 years ago and hasn't been done since IIRC.

Take out Morgan aswell. Your batting line up becomes pretty thin. #justsayin

As for the Union, totaly agree and one of the main reasons I stopped caring about the Wallabies, I can't identify with South African mercenaries who come over here to represent our country because they can't make it in their home town.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Yeah we started the trend with Basil D'Oliveira i do believe. Hence why England-RSA play for the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy.

Our batting would obviousy be the major issue without the imports. We'd still be ultra competitive due to the bowling, but its hard to say how we'd fair without the crucial Trott-Pietersen combo at no.3 & 4.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

In saying all of that I do have the greatest respect for your bowling attack, easily the best I've ever seen from England and the depth is ridiculous.

It's actually a little disappointing these bowlers didn't pop up a few years ago I'd have loved to have seen a series with McGrath, Warne, Kaspa, Gillespie and Bresnan, Anderson, Swann and Broad.

 

[hineyrulz]

The Poms bowling line up in 05 was pretty bloody handy besideS Piles the wheelie Bin

Freddie
Hoggard
Harmy
and Jones who could have been anything bar injury.

The Aussie batting line up of 05 was far superior to the chumps we had playing in the Ashes this summer IMO.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Flintoff pulled the series of a life time out of his arse, ditto Harmison and Hoggard. Simon Jones was a genuine world class quick though.

The current bowling attack is consistently much better than the 2005 one which was really a flash in the pan series for them, the same bowlers came out here and got destroyed.

 

[hineyrulz]

Flintoff pulled the series of a life time out of his arse, ditto Harmison and Hoggard. Simon Jones was a genuine world class quick though.

The current bowling attack is consistently much better than the 2005 one which was really a flash in the pan series for them, the same bowlers came out here and got destroyed.

Freddie wasn't fit,Harmy was a sook and Hoggard didn't do to bad considering he was more an English conditions type bowler. Jones didn't come out here in 06/7 which was a massive loss that guy was the real destroyer in 05 they needed a wicket he delivered. Playing Piles the first two test ahead of Monty hurt them as well. But you are probably right the current mob have more depth, Mahmood was called on after an injury or 2 back then and he makes Siddle look like Malcolm Marshall in his Prime.

 

[Red Bear]

I llove the way Bresnan and Tremlett bowl to be honest, despite his recent good form I'd still have Broad the 4th best quick of the lot. Then there is Finn, Shazad etc. Bodes well for England that they have such good depth.

Anyway, England are 3/456, 232 runs ahead of Team India after two days. Cook 182*, Strauss made 87 before getting dismissed to lef spin (forgot how bad he looked against it), Pieterson made 63 and Morgan is 44*. Their batting depth doesnt look as great with Bopara in next but they are already a long way ahead and good chance they wont bat again

 

[yappy]

I llove the way Bresnan and Tremlett bowl to be honest, despite his recent good form I'd still have Broad the 4th best quick of the lot. Then there is Finn, Shazad etc. Bodes well for England that they have such good depth.

Anyway, England are 3/456, 232 runs ahead of Team India after two days. Cook 182*, Strauss made 87 before getting dismissed to lef spin (forgot how bad he looked against it), Pieterson made 63 and Morgan is 44*. Their batting depth doesnt look as great with Bopara in next but they are already a long way ahead and good chance they wont bat again

You could look at Bopara and say England are weakened (and they are), but then you've got Prior, Bresnan, Broad and Swann. Against a tired attack they can all do a lot of damage and they need to shift Cook and Morgan yet. India will have done will to keep it under 400 to make England bat again. I can't imagine unless rain is forecast that Strauss will be in any hurry to bowl.

Agree about the bowlers though. Add Onions as a fair fill in as required and they have some excellent depth. Bresnan and Tremlett are genuniely dangerous, Broad needs to keep his current form up to keep them out.

 

[TheParraboy]

Freddie wasn't fit,Harmy was a sook and Hoggard didn't do to bad considering he was more an English conditions type bowler. Jones didn't come out here in 06/7 which was a massive loss that guy was the real destroyer in 05 they needed a wicket he delivered. Playing Piles the first two test ahead of Monty hurt them as well. But you are probably right the current mob have more depth, Mahmood was called on after an injury or 2 back then and he makes Siddle look like Malcolm Marshall in his Prime.

and here I was thinking Punters captaincy won him the 06/07 ashes :lol:

:sarcasm:

 

[Red Bear]

The depth puts them ahead of the Saffers IMO, who beyond Morkel and Steyn (and probably Tahir, although he's unproven at the top level) are pretty bare. Morkel hasnt delivered on his potential yet either (although I like the way he bowls, uses the bounce well but could end up another Harmisson).

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Morkel is a good support bowler and a good cog for Steyn but he's not all that great. Concedes too many runs but he generally takes a handful of wickets a match so I doubt they really care.

Freddie wasn't fit,Harmy was a sook and Hoggard didn't do to bad considering he was more an English conditions type bowler. Jones didn't come out here in 06/7 which was a massive loss that guy was the real destroyer in 05 they needed a wicket he delivered. Playing Piles the first two test ahead of Monty hurt them as well. But you are probably right the current mob have more depth, Mahmood was called on after an injury or 2 back then and he makes Siddle look like Malcolm Marshall in his Prime.

It doesn't feel right talking up the Poms lol All of them had a great 2005 no doubt but that's their career highlight and I feel they didn't show anything close to that potential in other tours and series. Simon Jones was the genuine world class and it was an absolute shame to see him crippled with injury.

Their depth is also nuts, Finn and Tremlett would open the bowling for years if they were Australian.

Enough hyping up the Poms for now lol