[Keyur Shah]

Disappointed with Pujara and Rahane. Hope they get back on track soon. Sir Jadeja is still on the crease so hope of 400+ score on board.

[harry10]

Batting today was as expected. Rahane is good for nothing, Rahul played a loose drive, pant played his usual self, Jadeja still don't know how to bat with the tail but his 40 is real gold. Shami at 8 was a joke. Effectively we have 4 no. 11 starting from no.8. Where 450 was a given they dragged themselves to 364. Sun is out, pitch isn't assisting swing a lot. Gonna be hard for Indian bowlers.

Edit- just as I was typing Siraj took 2 quick ones

[Chetan_Rao]

Hopeless batting form like England's, India should have enough on the board even with that little collapse.

Originally Posted by NPV

...DRS.

LBW reviews really ought to be a combined keeper (line) + an available square-on fielder (height) call. Taking one because your bowler is convinced, esp. one as excitable as Siraj, is just throwing away perfectly good reviews that can prove costly later.

[NPV]

India wasted two reviews in the same over of Siraj

I only wish someone like MSD could share some pearls of wisdom with Pant and Kohli to help them in making calls on DRS.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by NPV

India wasted two reviews in the same over of Siraj

I only wish someone like MSD could share some pearls of wisdom with Pant and Kohli to help them in making calls on DRS.

Pant was stopping kohli from taking the review but Kohli has the tendency of doing what he wants.

[Emvi]

Originally Posted by NPV

India wasted two reviews in the same over of Siraj

Not in the same over. India lost the first review in the 21st over and the second one in the 23rd. Poor judgement nonetheless.

[NPV]

https://youtu.be/ZqkrqhiN4CM

Loved this interview, gave me a totally different perspective of Rohit Sharma

Both Rohit and DK were casual, candid, very down to earth, good watch. Much like DK's interview with Kohli.

DK as a presenter, commentator brings a much needed whiff of fresh air, actually loads of freshness. Bored watching Manjrekar, Bhogle and the like.

[Chetan_Rao]

Root has played England back into a Test two weekends in a row.

India still have the upper hand, just about, but new ball session crucial.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Root has played England back into a Test two weekends in a row.

Root is very consistent overall and has a great record against India, difficult to (up)root him

Indian bowlers have also helped Bairstow get back into form (his first 50 in 19 innings). Next is probably Buttler who also has been having a lean patch. If they get a 450+ score, it could well be India on the mat!
I think Ishant isn't justifying his place in this game, Shardul is definitely being missed. If only we had a more stable middle order, Ashwin could have played and made a difference to the bowling attack. Shami also seems out of sorts now in this game.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by NPV

Root is very consistent overall and has a great record against India, difficult to (up)root him...

Wasn't aware of the exact stats. 2000+ runs in 39 innings averaging nearly 60. Impressive!

...Indian bowlers have also helped...

Nothing happening with the new ball so far. England being England are never too far from a collapse, but looking good.

[VWAllstar]

I hope now Kohli must have realised that we need someone like Bhuvi for England. This would have been a tempting condition for quality swing bowlers. Sometimes we 'keyboard selectors' think wisely over the team management or may be really dont understand the team requirement.

Root is in a form of his life and probably would look to score a double here. And if he does then indeed we are on a mat.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

I hope now Kohli must have realised that we need someone like Bhuvi for England. This would have been a tempting condition for quality swing bowlers.

Bhuvi's fitness was a bit of a concern, I think he's still not at his best as we just saw in the Sri Lankan series.
Good thing is we have a good bench strength in bowling, but our middle order batting is the one that needs a resurrection.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by NPV

Bhuvi's fitness was a bit of a concern, I think he's still not at his best as we just saw in the Sri Lankan series.
Good thing is we have a good bench strength in bowling, but our middle order batting is the one that needs a resurrection.

Bhuvi played most matches in SL and opted out of the last T20 as we had already won the series.

Traditionally we have never followed horses for courses strategy. There is an article by Sunil Gavaskar on our middle order failures. He has blamed not just Pujara and Rahane but the support staff as well. He has made good points on why Pujara is getting out by playing the wrong line in his last few dismissals. Support staff like the batting coach should have taken note of it and tried to correct it. He has also mentioned how Pujara and Rahane will be made scapegoats shielding Kohli who himself has been in poor form since 24 months now.

With some good rumours floating around, hope we get a strong coaching team on boarded. Someone who spends time to tell these starlets their mistakes, corrects them and has the strong will to go against the traditional thought process.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

There is an article by Sunil Gavaskar on our middle order failures. He has blamed not just Pujara and Rahane but the support staff as well. He has made good points on why Pujara is getting out by playing the wrong line in his last few dismissals. Support staff like the batting coach should have taken note of it and tried to correct it. He has also mentioned how Pujara and Rahane will be made scapegoats shielding Kohli who himself has been in poor form since 24 months now.

With some good rumours floating around, hope we get a strong coaching team on boarded. Someone who spends time to tell these starlets their mistakes, corrects them and has the strong will to go against the traditional thought process.

I wouldn't read too much into Gavaskar's views (on this topic of Pujara, Rahane and Kohli being out of form), I respect him for all his contributions as a player but at times he's a rabble rouser with unwanted and careless comments. For someone who talks so much about technique what has been his role and contribution in shaping the future of Indian cricket (as a coach) ?

At this level, the coaches do very less coaching and just help the players make minor adjustments if necessary. With so much video analysis that goes in these days, I'm sure Pujara, Rahane and Kohli will know what they're doing wrong. These guys just need to apply themselves and get a couple of good games and they will be fine, but that doesn't seem to be happening now.

I did read somewhere that Shastri may go before 2023 when his contract officially ends (reaches age 60 before that and apparently there is an age limit applicable for support staff ?). Though I wonder why they didn't realise this at the time of signing the contract

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by NPV

For someone who talks so much about technique what has been his role and contribution in shaping the future of Indian cricket (as a coach) ?

Since childhood, I have this doubt on why current players dont approach ex legends for some crash course kind of training. People like Sunil Gavaskar has played long, have watched thousands of cricketers world over during his commentary stint which should make him a perfect candidate to be the go to man for out of form Test Batsmen.

Like how in our Business Schools, we have industry experts taking guest lectures and workshops then why not in cricket get Gavaskar, Kumble, Tendulkar etc for such short workshops or trainings.

Imagine how good it would do to Pujara if he spends a month at the NCA with Rahul Dravid. Has multiple discussions, tips, analysis and so forth. Even if the techniques doesnt improve much in such a short stint, he would get that confidence and zeal to perform better.

BCCI and Ganguly should try to map such players with ex cricketers and officially ask to spend some time under their guidance. Pujara & Rahane 》Dravid, Kohli 》 Tendulkar, I Sharma, Shami & Siraj 》Kapil Dev

May be its like an ego hit on the coaches like Shahstri, Rathore and Arun but would do a lot of good for out of form players.