England Tour match No.1 in India

[Victor Frankenstein]

I couldn't see another thread about this on here, but if there is then just delete this one

First match of the tour started this morning in Mumbai, Cricket Club of India vs England.

Started badly with 1-1, Prior going out, but recovered to 103-2 and so on, Strauss, Vaughan and Bell all getting half centuries but no one pushing on to get a decent score. Impressive start by Bell again, after top scoring on the Pakistan tour he seems to have carried on that good form so far with 78, eventually going out to a daft shot to one of their spinners, only a 3 day match so i expect, like Strauss and Vaughan, they decided that once they'd got their eye in a bit and were happy, they'd just swing for it to give someone else a go.

All out for 299 in the end, not a bad score in one day, it's important to get a move on considering it's only a 3 day game (seriously, what's the point? what kind of practice is 3 days? I hope we give the Indians no chance to aclimatise when they tour England).

On to the bowling tomorrow then, should be interesting, i really hope monty does well but i guess the expectation from everyone might prove to much for the lad, never did pietersen any harm though so here's hoping

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/.../scorecard.stm

[greg]

I don't like these games when it ends up with about 15 players taking part on each side.Not in the spirit of the game in my opinion.

Good to see a few of the batsmen scoring a few runs.Not too worried about no centuries as i would rather they save them for the test series.

[Vrock]

http://www.world-a-team.com/showpost...&postcount=126 That's my opinion on warm up games.


It's good to see the English batsmen getting some runs. Hopefully the bowlers can do the same tomorrow. Unleash Simon Jones!

[Colourful Chaddi]

Good day for England today, it was goos to see the batsmen gets some runs and get used to the conditons. I was very happy with Ian Bell's performance today, he played the spinners very well and didn't look uncomfortable against the turn and bounce. I think Ian Bell might be Englands best batsmen in this series, he has the technique to succeed.

The batsman who I was least happy with was KP. The way he played today was appauling, he just went out there trying to hit every ball, which is hard for me to understand. He should have spent more time in the middle the so he can get used to the conditons of India, and be better prepared when the Test matches begin.

Im looking forward to tommorow. It would be interesting to see if Simon Jones can get the new ball swinging in these conditons. He should be able to reverse swing it as the SG balls start to reverse swing after 10 overs. Tommorow will also be a good chance for Monty to show his talent, the spinning wicket will help his attacking style alot.

[Collyisamackem]

What did you make of Collingwood Waseem? Thanks for the review of the day's play.

[Colourful Chaddi]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

What did you make of Collingwood Waseem?

Yes I forgot to mention about Collingwood, he played well in his innings and batted very differently to his collegues. He took more runs from singles and doubles rather than Struaas and Vaughan who were getting their runs from boundarys.

To be not out at the end of the day must be a big confidence boost for him, like in Pakistan he played the spinners well as did Ian Bell. He spent a good amount of time at the crease getting used to the conditons which will be very benificial to him when the Test matches start.

I think he should be in the England batting line when the Test matches come, he is one of the best payers of spin in the team and like I have said he can fill in the anchor role of Thopre in the middle order. His fielding will also be a boost for England, Indian batsmen love getting their runs through boundarys and if Collingwood can save some fours it will fustrate the Indian batsmen who will end up playing a rash shot and get out.

[Vrock]

Seen as Monty scored three fold of what Blackwell did I think this would be a golden oportunity for Monty to book his place in the side. Blackwell has shown he is not really anywhere with the bat, well statistically anyway, and if his bowling is poorer than Monty's then Monty should be ahead of Blackwell surely?

[Collyisamackem]

We'll have to see how it goes tomorrow Vrock. Waseem, thanks for the review of Colly's performance - I'm keen on knowing how he is batting and bowling in any competition as a Durham boy. I agree with you, though he always seems the extra bat despite his capability against spin together with his fielding and bowling.

[Occasional Fan]

At lunch on day 2, CCI were 69-3, and they are now 131-4. Before lunch, two batsmen were run out, both by direct hits (one from Vaughan, one from KP), so maybe the fielding has picked up a bit!

[Occasional Fan]

And Andrew Flintoff now adds his name to the "direct hit from the field" list. At tea, CCI were 174-6 and they are now 233-8.