I would have thought they could as well. Ganguly should be able to do the "Collingwood" role and I've long though Sachin is an underrated bowler. I may be wrong but didnt Yuvraj bowl a lot more in the past, I'm sure he was a respectable left arm spinner

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Mark.

Ganguly can certainly do the Collingwood role as an occasional bowler and Yuvraj Singh is underused in that capacity. But I am not so sure of Tendulkar's bowling under pressure and in closely contested ODIs. He might be good enough to break partnerships occasionally in Tests, but is too inconsistent to be risked when controlling the run flow is also important. Moreover, in the last year or two his bowling has deteriorated a bit, especially away from the subcontinent.

The worrying thing about this match is the continued inconsistent form of the England top, and middle order.

Bopara - Collingwood and Broad apart - the England bating was terrible, matched only by some poor batting from India, however they had the excuse that England bowled better.

This series is closer than the series stat's would have us believe IMO.

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Ern

Watching the highlights on 5 now. Some pretty bad behaviour from Zaheer when his LBW appeal against KP was turned down. Seemed to be shouting at the ump on the second go which we know is the one that upsets the umpires. Might be a fine coming up for him!!

This series is still very close. At least its good competitive cricket.

Does anyone else think that Flintoff is batting a couple of places too high?? He's not in great form and lacks match practice. As we have Shah and Bopara coming in to bat below Flintoff surely the sensible option would be to bat Flintoff at 8?

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Mark.

Fot once I agree - at least in ODI's and until he finds some form, I understood he was going to bat at 7 on Thursday, but he came in early.

Mind you had he opened it would have made little difference with the score after two wickets down, had Broad not backed Bopara up - IMO india would have won.

Good start for Colly as captain, at least he does not flap when things are not going to plan.

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Ern

I also like they way he handles things in the field. He changes his bowlers around well and we have lost the predictable style we used to have. I think he's also getting the best out of Flintoff at the moment - using him in short spells and getting him to bowl aggresively. IMO thats much better than the way he used to be used as a stock bowler.

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Mark.

That's a good point - in 2004 I reckon that Flintoff was the best back of a length bowler in the world, but until of late his aggressive bowling has not really paid off.

Mind you the number of times butcher put catches down of his bowling did not help, Flintoff used to cringe when he saw Butcher in the slips.

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Ern

I always considered Flintoff's place to be at No:7 in both forms of the game, a bit similar to Kapil Dev for India or Imran Khan for Pakistan. He has struggled in the No:6 spot and I think 8 might be a bit too low. 5-down should be his set position except where he has to be sent in earlier to try and hit out for a win.

Bopara is good enough to come in at No:6 in ODIs, and I am sure that Broad can fill-in the No:8 spot after Flintoff without weakening the tail. I somehow don't think O Shah has the right sort of temperment for big-time cricket and should remain an occasional "filler" in the England side.