England in India (2011)

ENG tour India for 5 ODI's and 1 T20 in what will be a subcontinental test for them. ENG have announced their squad with Kevin Pieterson making a comeback, a couple of new faces in the squad and I don't know much about them.

I'm also disappointed that there aren't any tests , but I'll keep an eye on this series anyway.  Another SA born speedster is going , Meaker and he also puts in down at over 90mph !  Apparently he has a couple of slower ones as well , so it'll be worth watching just to see how this lad goes.

Originally posted by Sledger I'm also disappointed that there aren't any tests , but I'll keep an eye on this series anyway.  Another SA born speedster is going , Meaker and he also puts in down at over 90mph !  Apparently he has a couple of slower ones as well , so it'll be worth watching just to see how this lad goes.

I saw the video on another respected cricket website which was discussing the inclusion of Meaker. For me it's getting a little bit worrying now. There's got to be a cut off somewhere. I think if you've played representative cricket, like U-17 or U-19 cricket for a nation that this should exclude you from playing for another nation. Someone like Strauss who left SA at a very young age should be given the option of representing either nation and it's no fault of his own his family immigrated to England - a nation where he played all of his cricket. Pietersen and Trott on the other hand should be playing for South Africa. It does disturb me a little bit that they are playing for England. Unlike other sports, cricket is one of the few which is genuinely played at international level. Most other sports are most competitive at club or domestic level, like association football, basketball, hockey, NFL, etc.

That's just something so un-English about this England side. Even the coaching staff in the past have been Australians, Zimbabweans, etc.


And yes, I know I'm going to get castigated for making these comments, but this is my opinion.

In the case of Meaker I don't think there's any question he should be open to play for both nations. South Africa, on the basis of his birth and nationality or England, based on his cricket 'education' and length of time he has lived in England (and citizenship).

I don't think it's wrong to believe that there should be some cut off and I would commend a decision, from a higher authority, on a cut off - for instance, representative cricket for a nation.

If one is from a country which does not have ODI or test status then I suppose it becomes tricky. Ireland isn't a test nation, should this stop Morgan from pursuing his dream elsewhere? It's not an easy question, especially if Ireland are pursuing test status and are seeking player retention. The other problem I guess is that it has mostly been England who have engaged in playing so-called 'foreigners' - if a decision was made that would stop certain players being selected then some may see that decision as specifically targeting England.

The other example I can think of is someone like Grant Elliot who is also South African but who has played a lot for NZ. Maybe the problem, at the end of the day, is with the South African system - particularly with the quota system and post-apartheid practices of a lot of administrators in many sectors, including cricket.

I don't agree Spin Wizard. Yes, cricket is a professional sport, but nonetheless it's not just a job and it's just not just played for money. It is representative cricket, one is representing his nation (or in the case of the West Indies, their region). If this topic came up 60 years ago when cricket was amateur, and most of the cricketing nations were strongly tied with England (even to this day, Australia, NZ and Jamaica call Queen Elizabeth II their head of state) then I may have agreed with you spin, because even 60 years ago many Australians considered themselves to be British.

Nonetheless, like I have said before, cricket is unique in that one is representing his nation at the highest level, not a club. What next? New Zealanders taking up Australian citizenship to play tests for Australia because the Aussies pay more? There has to be some sort of nationalist pride when you play test cricket, I don't think it's wrong to feel that way and to think that that's the right way to have test cricket run.

In the case of Prior or Strauss who have lived in England most of their lives, they probably do possess all the characteristics that make them English. It's just the likes of Trott and KP playing for England which somewhat disturbs me - and no, I'm not saying this out of jealousy or bitterness. It's a legitimate opinion.

Ten Doeschate is a journeyman cricketer, he doesn't want to play tests - that's obvious. In fact, there were calls for England to pick him. He himself said that he is South African through and through and in fact he doesn't even speak Dutch, despite playing for Holland. I'm not really sure what his motivations are... but he's doing the opposite. Playing for a non test playing nation when he's actually from a test playing nation - opposite of Morgan.

Dirk Nannes is a good example, and I don't know to this day why SA don't give Ryan a go. There's a lot of unfulfilled talent there, he's certainly a good option considering Parnell is the only half decent all rounder around these days besides Kallis. At the end of the day SA can only pick 11 guys, and 2 of them can't be white. I suppose a lot of it has to do with the system in place, but is it really possible that SA are producing this many awesome test cricketers? Quite and interesting case....

Going by the way England had thrashed India just a couple of months back, it will take a big effort for Indian to stage some sort of come back against the same opposition.In addition to that, Dhoni looks like run out of all the luck in the world he had post World Cup/IPL-Season 4.It has been a very lean and unusual period for Dhoni.

Yes, Dhoni, Gambhir and Kholi should have taken time off to recharge themselves. I just hope that team gets back to normal routine by the time they land down under. Can't witness  them lose anything like what  happened this English summer. I dont mind if India rest important players now agaisnt England ODI's.Tests against Aussies is a big big test, they have to win/draw that (somehow) to salvage some pride that was recently dented.

England are showing amazing professionalism, their first match is on 14th october but they landed here almost 2 weeks ahead of the schedule to get acclimatized and are playing two warm up games, first of which is today. All this for a 5 match ODI series!!!

The top order really failed in that match Sledger, but the lower order and lower middle order is among the strongest I have seen from any international side - that's really fantastic to see!

          It's almost like England's best bowlers are also guys who could have potentially made a career out of being specialist batsmen. No doubt that the likes of Broad, Swann and Bresnan could have been specialist batsmen if they had focused their intentions and goals towards that.

4-1 England my prediction as Indian players only do well in T20 Tournaments.

Won't be 4-1 England. It could be 3-2 either way. if ever it is going t be 4-1, it would not be in England's favour for sure.

No idea really which way this series will go , but England did themselves no harm at all yesterday after blitzing a Hyderabad CA XI by a massive 253 runs !     Johnny Bairstow again showed why he could be the answer to England's mid-innings problems by hammering an unbeaten 103 off just 53 balls and spinner Scott Borthwich weighed in with 5 wickets.
             KP failed again and could well be battling for the last batting spot with Ian Bell , who missed yesterday's match because of Dehli-belly.   Bairstow's just 22 and really is a promising player who can clear the ropes - he did it 8 times yesterday!
                  The opposition was obviously weak , but all the batsmen prospered and getting used to the conditions is what these warm ups are all about.   England's bowling is better than India's and could well be the reason why they might just break their appalling record in India by winning this series.


Edited by Sledger - 12 October 2011 at 7:43am

For me its bowling and fielding that makes England favorites.


Edited by mystery - 13 October 2011 at 9:53am