England v India 2025 Test Match Series June 20-August 4

[Plugger35]

A lot of chirp out there from the Indian players as you would expect, they would have to be favourites at this stage.

Siraj bowling well again too.

 

[katana]

siraj bowling beautifully. would like to see him come around to duckett with that shape away.

 

[PhatBoy]

That over was perfection from Siraj.

The one thing I’ll say for Duckett is that he didn’t have one of those little ‘follows’ that a lot of batsmen have when they know that the ball is beating them. And he tends not to in general, he either nicks them or he gets beaten (sounds stupid I know - I mean what other alternatives is there to a ball that’s too good for you?) but I don’t see him sort of following the ball with his hands a lot

 

[PhatBoy]

Of course now that I say that about Duckett he will probably nick off this over following one that shapes away

 

[PhatBoy]

Would be a great effort for India to draw but agreed there have been much better efforts from them.

In the ‘for’ column - they’ve brought a relatively unheralded batting lineup to England with only two batsmen averaging 40 over any sort of tested period in Jaiswal and Pant, and they’ve made runs. They’ve won a test without Bumrah, Siraj has stood up pretty well. They’ve saved a test they were well and truly out of. Jadeja has found a new lease of life as a batsman. They’ve had some handy performances from bowlers that were fairly unheralded too.

In the ‘against’ column, you’re comparing it to wins against some great Australian sides - wins, not draws, away from home, some home wins against great Australian and SA sides and a great win in England before against what was probably a better England side:

The fact is this England team as good as its batting can be, is fielding an attack in this series who’s best bowler has been an all rounder that hasn’t bowled consistently in 3 years, a guy who’s played one test, and another guy who’s played 2 tests and hasn’t played in 5 years.

 

[Plugger35]

Another fifty for Duckett, fair play to the little fella, he has become a first class test opener.

 

[MJG14]

Very important wicket.

 

[Plugger35]

Duckett gone, big wicket.

England need Root to come to the rescue again.

 

[Bedi]

the trophy they're playing for has just been invented. india won the last series but there is no trophy to 'retain'. no need to have a tantrum. i also don't think this would rate in even India's top 5 series performances of the last 25 years.

A tantrum as in how? Trophy has been renamed, but pretty sure all records haven't been wiped before it was renamed a few months ago. Wtf you on about. Drop the attitude, buddy. And if you don't think India have shown grit in this away series in front of hostile crowds with a fairly mediocre bowling lineup (apart from every other test Bumrah has played) against a world-class batting side then you're hard to impress.

 

[Plugger35]

My old London hood Hounslow will be a ghost town right now, a lot of Indian people out that way and a lot will be at The Oval.

 

[Bedi]

Would be a great effort for India to draw but agreed there have been much better efforts from them.

In the ‘for’ column - they’ve brought a relatively unheralded batting lineup to England with only two batsmen averaging 40 over any sort of tested period in Jaiswal and Pant, and they’ve made runs. They’ve won a test without Bumrah, Siraj has stood up pretty well. They’ve saved a test they were well and truly out of. Jadeja has found a new lease of life as a batsman. They’ve had some handy performances from bowlers that were fairly unheralded too.

In the ‘against’ column, you’re comparing it to wins against some great Australian sides - wins, not draws, away from home, some home wins against great Australian and SA sides and a great win in England before against what was probably a better England side:

The fact is this England team as good as its batting can be, is fielding an attack in this series who’s best bowler has been an all rounder that hasn’t bowled consistently in 3 years, a guy who’s played one test, and another guy who’s played 2 tests and hasn’t played in 5 years.

Possibly I'm overrating this English side, but having seen them dismantle a quality NZ side away, I don't think so. And with Archer back in the mix, I am genuinely concerned they could beat us in the Ashes. So to see India be so competitive on these wickets is a huge effort. Really dug deep with bat and bowl

 

[MJG14]

Siraj in a beautiful rhythm.

 

[PhatBoy]

Possibly I'm overrating this English side, but having seen them dismantle a quality NZ side away, I don't think so. And with Archer back in the mix, I am genuinely concerned they could beat us in the Ashes. So to see India be so competitive on these wickets is a huge effort. Really dug deep with bat and bowl

England’s BEST team is very good but its attack is a major weakness if it doesn’t have its full complement on deck and even then as much as I think a guy like Carse has a future, he’s still only had 1-2 good series. Atkinson is still only early in his career too though he has been excellent virtually every time he’s played.

Remember when you’re rating this Indian effort, however it ends up, that however good this England side may be - and I agree with you they are dangerous and they are far better than most people give them credit for - the general standard of teams they’re marked against in world cricket at the moment isn’t probably THAT good right now.

 

[DaRick]

Possibly I'm overrating this English side, but having seen them dismantle a quality NZ side away, I don't think so. And with Archer back in the mix, I am genuinely concerned they could beat us in the Ashes. So to see India be so competitive on these wickets is a huge effort. Really dug deep with bat and bowl

NZ suits BazBall down to the ground - small grounds with square boundaries.

AUS is a different ballgame, although they're a definite threat.

 

[Plugger35]

That looked out, Pope reviewing but he didn't look confident.

For good reason as he is out.

 

[Bedi]

England’s BEST team is very good but its attack is a major weakness if it doesn’t have its full complement on deck and even then as much as I think a guy like Carse has a future, he’s still only had 1-2 good series. Atkinson is still only early in his career too though he has been excellent virtually every time he’s played.

Remember when you’re rating this Indian effort, however it ends up, that however good this England side may be - and I agree with you they are dangerous and they are far better than most people give them credit for - the general standard of teams they’re marked against in world cricket at the moment isn’t probably THAT good right now.

Absolutely. In this post Broad/Anderson era of course bowling is their deficiency – but Atkinson, Archer, Stokes, Woakes all remain dangerous. But the fact India's batman have dug in at crucial times throughout this series is what's impressed me. Seen some massive partnerships against the odds. It may not be their best series, but this is possibly the one I've most respected them for in terms of their determination and not to wilt as we expected them to. Just been a great series for both sides, actually. But even more, India's quicks, esp Siraj, have really stepped up to the plate in the absence of Bumrah.

 

[PhatBoy]

Harry Brook plays that shot maybe as well as anyone I’ve seen

 

[PhatBoy]

Absolutely. In this post Broad/Anderson era of course bowling is their deficiency – but Atkinson, Archer, Stokes, Woakes all remain dangerous. But the fact India's batman have dug in at crucial times throughout this series is what's impressed me. Seen some massive partnerships against the odds. It may not be their best series, but this is possibly the one I've most respected them for in terms of their determination and not to wilt as we expected them to. Just been a great series for both sides, actually. But even more, India's quicks, esp Siraj, have really stepped up to the plate in the absence of Bumrah.

Oh for sure. I didn’t think Gill had this in him to be brutally honest. I hope for his own sake that a player like Ollie Pope takes a bit of notice of it.

 

[PhatBoy]

Oh dear

 

[CakeEater]

Siraj owes a carton

 

[MJG14]

Siraj is such an ordinary fielder.

 

[Plugger35]

A good catch from Siraj but not so good footwork and it's a six for Brook.

This is great theatre.

 

[Bedi]

Oh for sure. I didn’t think Gill had this in him to be brutally honest. I hope for his own sake that a player like Ollie Pope takes a bit of notice of it.

Extraordinary effort. To see someone score this many runs in a series is not something anyone of us have witnessed many times in our lives.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Siraj just gifted England the series.

 

[katana]

Siraj just gifted England the series.

oh don't be so dramatic. they're still over 200 away. won't be any gifting to it if england somehow get those runs.