Honours even in that session, I'd say.
FFS.
I find the odds for this are quite incredible, I've had quite a significant bet on India to win. To put into context this would be ENglands highest ever 4th innings run chase and one of the top 10 of anyone ever, all of this with a very talented Indian bowling line up and an incredibly fragile batting order. The chances of an England win are very unlikely, much more unlikely than India taking 10 wickets and yet India are only very marginal favourite. Once one wicket goes it is very possible/probabe others will follow and as pressure builds it will likely create a domino effect. Laying England at a little over 5/2 on the exchanges looks very good value as does backing India at slightly over 2/1.
I hope some others were profitable with Pierres picks.
Blame the run out, blame the ECB.
Ultimately India are the better team aren't they. They stuffed us at their place. They've looked the better team in all but one tests here. India a decent all round unit.
England, miles behind the best 3 teams, but on a par probably with WI, and Pakistan. Probably currently ahead of SA and SL
Getting some of our bowlers fit would help, but basic batting technique the critical issue.
We'll be murdered in the ashes
Very much regretting my decision to put patriotism above money
Getting some of our bowlers fit would help
That's down to Root - he over-bowls his pace bowlers. Anderson and Robinson were out on the feet yesterday and still running in, barely hitting 80mph.
Look at the current injury list: Archer, Broad, Wood, Stone - that's not a coincidence.
You need a spinner to tie up an end and give pace bowlers short bursts. It also helps if you have a seamer who can tie an end up too - a Shackleton, a Hendrick, a Fraser.
I fear for our team in Australia, our pace attack is going to get completely burned out on hard Aussie wickets
Leach lengthens the tail, but I’d rather us pick our best spinner.
So would I. It's particularly bizarre when most of the seamers can bat: Woakes, Overton and Robinson have all scored FC 100s, when you have a tail like that, you can afford a non-batter ... and Leach is far from the worst tailender
That 1 not out v Australia is legendary.
Indeed. One of the great tailend innings.
I'm not suggesting that we should completely ignore batting ability - I still shudder when I think of one test when we had Malcolm, Mullally and Tufnell as nine, ten, jack - but bowling should be the prime consideration.
England have a habit of picking players who can bat and bowl but not quite in test class at either - Miller, Marks, Pringle, Irani, Hollioake etc Moeen is actually better than most of these but isn't really what we need.
I
In addition to Leach’s 1 not out he also scored 80 or 90 against Ireland at Lords as night watchman.