Cricket: England's Tour Of India 2006

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Squads have been announced.

Test squad: Michael Vaughan (Capt), Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Matthew Prior, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick, Shaun Udal, (Spinner to be named later).

One-day squad: Michael Vaughan (Capt), Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ian Blackwell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Prior, Liam Plunkett, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Friday, 13 January 2006 11:37 (twenty years ago)

Shaun Udal, (Spinner to be named later)

This reads as a wicked diss to Shaun Udal :)

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 13 January 2006 11:45 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't have picked Udal

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Friday, 13 January 2006 11:48 (twenty years ago)

India to win 2-0

― While E Coyote, Friday, 13 January 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

I can't see England winning.

I would've picked Gough for the one dayers but I guess he's paying for choosing a tv career instead of touring pakistan.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Friday, 13 January 2006 13:34 (twenty years ago)

Indian pitches are a little more seam-friendly than Pakistani ones,so I think England are in with a shout,just so long as the batsmen have learned the necessary lessons from the last tour. Having Jones back is a major plus. Vaughan needs to recover form quickly, and, as ever, the exclusion of Read is lamentable. Should be a brilliant series.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 13 January 2006 14:14 (twenty years ago)

Having Jones back is a huge plus. See Gough is pretty narked but pretty much deserves it in my book. I'll go for a draw but even then England have to bat a lot better.

― MitchellStirling (MitchellStirling), Friday, 13 January 2006 22:49 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Oh dear...

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 26 February 2006 12:14 (twenty years ago)

An extra batsman is being called up.

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Sunday, 26 February 2006 12:50 (twenty years ago)

i think it's pretty refreshing that Monty Panesar cannot bat or field, kind of like the fact great darts players are 25 stone and drink 7 pints to warm up.

― Barnaby (Barnaby), Sunday, 26 February 2006 19:21 (twenty years ago)

actually i'd far prefer to see Blackwell than Panesar carted around by the worlds best batsmen... so yeah, don't pick Panesar.

― Barnaby (Barnaby), Sunday, 26 February 2006 19:23 (twenty years ago)

Perversely I'm slightly more confident than I was before. India's top order looked dodgy against pace when they played Pakistan, even on those featherbed pitches. Plus, if they prepare pitches which'll break up for the spinners, that also means plenty of uneven bounce for the hit the deck bowlers, of whom England have a couple of fairly handy exponents.

The batsmen really are a worry though, aren't they? Just have to hope they come good.

― Matt (Matt), Sunday, 26 February 2006 20:38 (twenty years ago)

It's crucial that Simon Jones's tummy gets better.

― Mike W (caek), Sunday, 26 February 2006 20:50 (twenty years ago)

Oh Shit.

England skipper Michael Vaughan is out of the first Test against India, which starts on Wednesday, while pace bowler Simon Jones is extremely doubtful.

Vaughan is to fly home immediately because of a knee injury and could miss the whole Test series and the seven one-day internationals which follow.

Andrew Flintoff will captain England in a Test for the first time in Nagpur.

Jones, who had been struggling with an ankle problem, twisted his left knee during Monday's practice session.

We will put on the park 11 people who are proud to represent their country and compete against India
Selector David Graveney

He crumpled to the ground after pulling up in his delivery stride and was later taken to hospital for a scan.

"There will be an update (on his condition) when we have seen the result," said a team spokesman.

The only crumb of comfort for Jones is that it is not the same knee in which he suffered severe ligament damage during the first Test of the last Ashes tour to Australia in 2002.

Liam Plunkett, the back-up seamer in the squad, is still a concern with a bruised heal.

England's plans for the Test series were already in disarray, with vice-captain Marcus Trescothick having returned home for family reasons.

And they were short of spin experience before departing, after Ashley Giles was ruled out of the opening games with a hip injury.

England chairman of selectors David Graveney admitted he had never seen a worse injury crisis.

"I've never known a combination of injury and illness to such a degree," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

Michael Vaughan
Vaughan walks off after losing his fitness battle

"We've obviously had massive problems but these things happen and we're not just going to down tools and not compete on Wednesday.

"We will put on the park 11 people who are proud to represent their country and compete against India."

Former England Under-19 captain Alastair Cook is almost certain to win his first cap as Andrew Strauss's new opening partner.

Cook was summoned from the England A tour in the West Indies along with fast bowler James Anderson, while batsman Owais Shah is due to arrive later on Monday.

Vaughan missed the end of the tour to Pakistan to undergo surgery in December.

But Graveney disputed suggestions players were rushed back into the side too soon.

"We select our teams on the best possible medical advice," he added.

"Vaughany played in the first (tour) game, didn't have a problem and the situation has reoccurred since then."

― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Monday, 27 February 2006 09:27 (twenty years ago)

Well we'll see what some of the young players are made of. I back Panesar to get wickets, and I think Cook will do well. It's going to be a struggle though.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 27 February 2006 09:51 (twenty years ago)

Well, it will be interesting to see Flintoff as captain.

― Mike W (caek), Monday, 27 February 2006 09:53 (twenty years ago)

If England draw this series, given the injuries and problems they've had (and following on from the loss in Pakistan) it might be as big an achievement as winning the ashes.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 27 February 2006 10:00 (twenty years ago)

I think they'll respond positively. Realistically the best that can be expected is a fighting performance now, and India (as Nasser Hussain points out) will be under increased pressure to batter this makeshift England side. I agree with Dr C that Cook should do well,and I think Panesar will too (if picked). For me, given Strauss's current poor touch Ian Bell will have to be the batting mainstay, if the England middle order fire then it'll be interesting. Theoretically 5) Pietersen 6) Flintoff 7) Jones 8) Blackwell is a phenomenal amount of firepower (having seen him play for Somerset a few times I'd be tempted to put Blackwell in ahead of Jones). You can't see them sticking around for too long, so one of Cook, Strauss and Bell has to play a long innings each time out.

― Matt (Matt), Monday, 27 February 2006 15:17 (twenty years ago)

Okay,so the toss was won on what seems to be a fabulous batting strip. 400+ is a par score. Currently 136/4. Oh dear. Huge innings required from Collingwood and Flintoff. Cook was good for his 60 on debut.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 08:44 (twenty years ago)

Bugger.

Jones the Bat it is then.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 10:23 (twenty years ago)

Fucking Geraint Jones.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 10:56 (twenty years ago)

I guess 350 would be optimistic? Collingwood is on 38, if we stays on till the end it might just be on.

225-6.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 10:58 (twenty years ago)

Collingood 50 but Blackwell is gone => 244-7.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 11:18 (twenty years ago)

246-7 at the close :-(

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Hello from India! I have been doing some cricket tourism. I met Ganguly's uncle Devdas on Monday and saw Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Today I have seen the Oval and Tendulkar's restaurant in Mumbai (no time to eat there unfortunately - I hear it's very good). They play cricket *everywhere* here. Vast maidans full of people dressed in white. At first I kept quiet about the England team, expecting to be laughed at (I am too used to being English in Scotland, obviously) but everyone is very nice about it. The papers are hilarious.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 11:48 (twenty years ago)

I am beginning to think being over there for the end of the Third Test and the first three one-dayers may be a mistake.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 1 March 2006 11:52 (twenty years ago)

You may have to re-think that - awesome innings by collingwood and all of a sudden we got nearly 400. Lets see what India does but that's far better than i could've expected given yesterday's show. Sehwag is gone, India on 41-1.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 2 March 2006 09:48 (twenty years ago)

Very economical bowling so far.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 2 March 2006 09:52 (twenty years ago)

But no wkts, the best way to dry a team of runs: 136-1 at the close. Hopefully we can get a cpl of quick ones tomorrow otherwise Madchen could be laughed at :-/

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 2 March 2006 11:45 (twenty years ago)

Well this is a turn up for the books. Really good bowling this morning. Panesar has had a stunning debut, (22, 7, 40, 1) so far, not bad for a first innings in Test cricket.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 3 March 2006 08:17 (twenty years ago)

Bowling continuing well. Astonishing turnaround from England. Though I can't help but note that Jones has just grassed a straightforward chance. Heigh ho.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 3 March 2006 08:38 (twenty years ago)

Indian recovering contuining after tea: 289-7 w/kumble on 42 not out.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 3 March 2006 10:42 (twenty years ago)

Kumble gets his 50, Kaif on 80: India on 309-7, they too know how to recover from middle-order failure. Hopefully we can get them out and get a lead of 50 or so..

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 3 March 2006 11:25 (twenty years ago)

ah a cpl of quick wkts at the close, giving eng the edge: 322-9 at the close.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 3 March 2006 12:00 (twenty years ago)

Still going to be a tough one to win.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 3 March 2006 12:01 (twenty years ago)

Depending on how the pitch holds up. If England can seta target close to 300 then the pressure of batting last might do the trick.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 3 March 2006 12:13 (twenty years ago)

Might be the best chance they have this series

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 3 March 2006 12:14 (twenty years ago)

Quite, if the Pakistan tour taught England anything it should be the importance of grabbing a chance when you've got one.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 3 March 2006 12:20 (twenty years ago)

Wow, pretty good batting this time round. I still think a win will be hard though. They should send india straight in in the morning. OK so 368 is achievable, especially by india, they didn't in the first inning. But it might be enough to keep the draw and try and bowl them out; a big ask to do it in a day on a pitch like that.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 4 March 2006 12:01 (twenty years ago)

And it ws but we'll done Matt for calling it right - eng responded really well.

2nd test pitch ws the best for pace bowling and we won the toss but its looking like a washout after day two.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 10 March 2006 09:58 (twenty years ago)

and its a loss and its not even the v end of day five :-(

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 13 March 2006 09:11 (twenty years ago)

England will be without fast bowler Steve Harmison for the third Test against India in Mumbai.
He complained of soreness in his right shin following the second match at Mohali and a scan of his leg revealed what has been described as bone stress.
Captain Andrew Flintoff described losing Harmison as a "massive blow".
It could mean a reprieve for Harmison's Durham team-mate Liam Plunkett, who was expected to lose his place to veteran spin bowler Shaun Udal.
The only other alternative would see James Anderson thrown in at the deep end without having played a single game on tour, although he recently saw action for England A in the Caribbean.
Anderson found himself in a similar scenario in South Africa last winter when he was picked for the Johannesburg Test despite a lack of match practice and his two first innings wickets cost him 117 runs.
Harmison's injury continues a run of bad luck which has dogged England from before the tour began.
Ashley Giles did not even make it onto the plane following surgery on his hip and three other heroes of last summer's Ashes-winning side - Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones - had to return home early.
Harmison bowled only four overs on the final day at Mohali, which India won by nine wickets.
At the time, however, both Flintoff and coach Duncan Fletcher both played down talk about a possible injury.

The best chance England have is if their seamers can get into the game
Geoffrey Boycott
Boycott's BBC Sport column
But he missed practice in Mumbai on Thursday and a scan of his leg confirmed he would not be able to play in the Test.
England will now seek further medical advice before deciding whether he will be fit enough for the seven one-day internationals which conclude the tour.
Harmison suffered from shin problems earlier in his career, pulling out of an England A tour to the West Indies in 2000-01 and missing part of an A tour to New Zealand the previous winter.
But a change of footwear appeared to have solved the problem.
His recent fitness record has been excellent and he has been an ever present in the side since a bad back put him out of the second match in Bangladesh in October 2003, a run of 28 consecutive Tests.
The 27-year-old is the spearhead of England's attack, having taken 159 wickets in 41 Tests.
But he has not been at his best in India, his five wickets in the series so far coming at a cost of almost 39 runs each.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Thursday, 16 March 2006 14:05 (twenty years ago)

England all out for 400. Shah fell short of his century.

India 28-3. Tendulkar is just out for 1.
Dravid is still there.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Sunday, 19 March 2006 10:44 (twenty years ago)

Singh is already on 32 so its looking like the recovery is well under way.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 19 March 2006 11:32 (twenty years ago)

Well done Monty. Doesnt see one skied by Dhoni and it falls in front of him. A real bad embarrassing miss. 2 balls later Dhoni does it again and monty makes no mistake.
Dabid Lloyd just called dhoni "Dhoni Osmond" and said he had a Homer Simpson "doh" moment.

92-7.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:11 (twenty years ago)

Udal does it again. 3rd wicket for him after lunch
India are 99-8.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:18 (twenty years ago)

Freddie takes the wicket of Yuvraj Singh.
99-9.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:23 (twenty years ago)

100 all out. Udal takes 4 wickets.
Well done the makeshift squad. Awesome stuff!!!!

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:27 (twenty years ago)

fan bloody tastic

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:29 (twenty years ago)

holy fuck!

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:32 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe that India lost 7 wickets for 25 runs in 92 balls after lunch.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:41 (twenty years ago)

Awesome performance from England A there.

I am in a state of shock.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 08:58 (twenty years ago)

Haha, Udal will always be able to say that he once averaged 13.4 with the ball in a series in India.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 09:06 (twenty years ago)

Freddie did well. He's really come on in the last year. Not often someone becomes captain and improves his batting and bowling. Four 50's in a row. 14 wickets in india.

And apparently did something Botham never did. Won a test match as captain.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 09:10 (twenty years ago)

Real pleasant surprise that it was so quick, thought we had a gd chance but it might've been a struggle into the final sesh.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 09:34 (twenty years ago)

Awesome - as good as the ashes really considering who was available. Some competition for places now - Cook, Shah, Monty (hopefully no more Giles), Anderson, Collingwood, even Udal could all push for places next summer. Bell and Pieterson need to raise their game. Should Vaughan come back as skipper? Will he? My prediction is that he'll play a few games, get injured again and then miss the Ashes. Freddie will captain us to victory.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 09:51 (twenty years ago)

Also question to Dravid. WHY DID YOU PUT US IN?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 09:52 (twenty years ago)

Both Pathan and Patel got some excellent swing on the first morning, they just didn't get any wickets. Strauss and Shah batted excellently. I suspect Dravid thought it would do a bit early on (which it did) and further thought (wrongly) that a demoralised and under-strength England were there for the taking. Still a bloody silly decision though.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 09:54 (twenty years ago)

It seems Ring Of Fire has become the unofficial England Cricket anthem too.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 10:06 (twenty years ago)

Will Vaughan even come back? im not sure he's gonna be fit this summer.
And whats happening with Tres? It seems to be the Thorpe situation over again where he might not be in the mindset to play cricket for a while.(different circumstances to Thorpe though as that was a messy divorce, I think Tres has a family member ill)

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 10:06 (twenty years ago)

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