India v England, First Test, Rajkot, 9th-13th November

[ManOfSussex]

Haseeb Hameed to open for England with Ben Duckett moved down to No.4 to replace Gary Ballance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37907096

Why we didn't do this in Bangladesh........................

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Haseeb Hameed to open for England with Ben Duckett moved down to No.4 to replace Gary Ballance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37907096

Why we didn't do this in Bangladesh........................

Hope this isn't just 'deckchairs'................. Let's hope we've uncovered a star, but what a time to be thrown in.

 

[crabface]

Its been a long time coming. Suprised Ballance has lasted as long as he has done.

Will be interesting to see how Hameed copes as he is being thrown in the deep end, perhaps should have happened against Bangladesh.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Hope this isn't just 'deckchairs'................. Let's hope we've uncovered a star, but what a time to be thrown in.

Scyld Berry was suggesting in The Telegraph that Buttler would have come in for Ballance instead - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...lay-first-test-against-india-as-specialist-b/

 

[ManOfSussex]

Also there appears to be some doubt as to whether the test match will take place - http://sports.ndtv.com/news/no-fund...oard-bcci-tells-supreme-court-cricket-1622686

 

[CHAPPERS]

Unbelievable from the selectors.

 

[ManOfSussex]

The test match will go ahead - http://sports.ndtv.com/news/no-fund...oard-bcci-tells-supreme-court-cricket-1622686

 

[Titanic]

Unbelievable from the selectors.

in a good way?

 

[CHAPPERS]

in a good way?

Not playing Hameed in Bangladesh. I just don't get it.

What were we going to learn about Gary Ballance that we didn't know before? Now he's out of the picture again and we have a fresh opener facing the Indians.

 

[Titanic]

Not playing Hameed in Bangladesh. I just don't get it.

What were we going to learn about Gary Ballance that we didn't know before? Now he's out of the picture again and we have a fresh opener facing the Indians.

I guess they were seeking to learn whether he was in any sort of form... or basically good enough.

He was clearly their first choice, and disappointingly for them and him, he failed badly enough to force their hand and throw a teenager straight into the cauldron of a Test series in India.

Good luck to the lad. Hopefully he will prove to be the star performer England really need!

 

[ManOfSussex]

I guess they were seeking to learn whether he was in any sort of form... or basically good enough.

He was clearly their first choice, and disappointingly for them and him, he failed badly enough to force their hand and throw a teenager straight into the cauldron of a Test series in India.

Good luck to the lad. Hopefully he will prove to be the star performer England really need!

It's not fair on Hameed or Duckett that this is what has happened though.

 

[Titanic]

It's not fair on Hameed or Duckett that this is what has happened though.

As long as they get as many chances as Ballance and co, they will have the chance to prove their class one way or the other.

 

[fat old seagull]

I'd agree, especially in retrospect (which is a fabulous way to reach conclusions) that he should have in an ideal world been introduced earlier. That said, great way to see how much steel the lad has, if he gets in, makes a good score, it could set him up for a great international career.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I guess they were seeking to learn whether he was in any sort of form... or basically good enough.

He was clearly their first choice, and disappointingly for them and him, he failed badly enough to force their hand and throw a teenager straight into the cauldron of a Test series in India.

Good luck to the lad. Hopefully he will prove to be the star performer England really need!

My issue is they clearly saw Hameed as a future opener either way so why put Duckett in to open instead, and play Ballance who hasn't been in form for about 2 years?

 

[Simster]

We are going to see some horrific English cricketflidddery in this series. I for one am really NOT looking forward to it.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

We are going to see some horrific English cricketflidddery in this series. I for one am really NOT looking forward to it.

I'll be having an all-nighter listening to the US election. My idea of hell will be to re-tune from a Trump victory to find England 21 for 5.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Ashwin 4/6 for top bowler. It's just a bit skinny for me, would have liked evens.

 

[Titanic]

My issue is they clearly saw Hameed as a future opener either way so why put Duckett in to open instead, and play Ballance who hasn't been in form for about 2 years?

Gives Hameed a free run at it now... no other options left to re-jig the old guard. Good luck to the lad.

 

[knocky1]

Haseeb's nickname is Geoffrey Boycott due to his similar batting style. That's OK as we need to bat out overs in India. Not good if he runs people out like Boycott did and talks a load of sh*te all day in a whiny northern voice.

Remember seeing Ashwin at Hove a few years back. He's come on a long way since that friendly. Despite that Will be putting some money on England for the Series as the odds are rather good. If we get to Mohali no more than 1-0 down, I'll be happy. Jimmy will then get into them with conditions suitable for our seamers.

 

[Titanic]

England win the toss and will bat.

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