England tours of Bangladesh and India

[Etienne]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Once they picked Duckett to open last match there was no realistic chance of picking Hameed this time as it would mean
a) dropping Duckett after one test
b) moving Duckett down the order after one test
c) dropping Cook
d) playing Hameed down the order

Neither a or b would be fair on Duckett, c isn't going to happen for many reasons and d is unfair on Hameed given that he has pretty much only ever opened.

In hindsight it might have been better to bring in both for the first test, or just Hameed.

I'd have dropped Ballance for Buttler mind.

[Kevin S]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Well, this is going rather well for Bangladesh. England somewhat toothless.

[Kevin S]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

And then the wickets come thick and fast.

1-1
2-171
3-190
4-196
5-201

A second wicket stand of 170 is followed by 4 for 30.

[Kevin S]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Now 202/6, Sabbir out for 0.

[Etienne]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Well, this is certainly helping England clarify what their best team is.

[longeared]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

It should also help the ICC clarify that Dharmasena is not one of their best umpires.

[nmrfox]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

215/9 now and another Dharmasena decision overturned on review.

[Gangster Octopus]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

220 all out, with a 170 wicket stand. Is that some sort of record?

[Ray de Galles]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Joint second worst ever nine wicket collapse, TMS have said.

[longeared]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Oh dear, another Dharmasena decision overturned, both openers out and here comes Gary Ballance.

[nmrfox]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

and there goes Gary Ballance....

[longeared]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Gangster Octopus wrote: 220 all out, with a 170 wicket stand. Is that some sort of record?

Almost. It's the second highest contribution by a stand to a completed Test innings, the record is Sangakkara / Jayawardene at Durban in 2000.

[Kevin S]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Another fascinating day's play. Two more wickets for young Mehedi Hasan in there as well.

Interesting cricinfo blog post today on the evolution of spin bowling in the post-Warnalitharan game.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/1062932.html

I'm not an aficionado, so the name 'Deadly' Derek Underwood didn't actually mean anything to me before reading that. However, then I watched this.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Underwood bowled medium-pace spin - almost impossible to get down the track to, and he had Alan Knott behind the stumps for both county and country.

[Etienne]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Looks like England are going to need a big innings from Cook or Root

[ad hoc]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

273 to win. If they get it it will be their biggest ever successful run chase in Asia.

I really hope Bangladesh win it, they've really earned a win here in this series

[SouthdownRebel]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

It says something about the gaps in the top four that 37/0 is a good start for England these days.

[Kevin S]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Looks like England should be OK but still a fairly long way to go.

I'm all for Bangladesh winning a test against a top country... but would far rather it be Australia than England.

[Etienne]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Not looking so good now. If Mehedi keeps on taking wickets at this rate, the Desh will win tests against lots of people.

[Etienne]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Well done Bangladesh.

[Ray de Galles]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Outstanding!

Excellent cricket, stunning sport. Well done, Bangladesh.

[ursus arctos]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Great result for the sport.

Shame that there isn't a decider.

[GCostanza]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Well, that would appear quite amusing.

[SouthdownRebel]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

I'm not sure about amusing, but I think that's great news for Bangladesh and for test cricket. Good for them. After enduring years of taunts about how they aren't good enough and don't belong in test cricket, they deserve a bit of a party.

[Etienne]

England tours of Bangladesh and India

Yeah, I think "amusing" disrespects the quality of the Bangladesh team. Their domestic limited overs form has been very good for 2-3 years now, and the only reason they've not won more home tests in that period is that hardly anyone plays away tests in Bangladesh.

It's hard to see England doing well in India though. The Indian team may be full of flat track bullies, but they are likely to get pitches and England spinners that encourage bullying. And Ashwin's home record is sensational.