Captain Cook

[neil]

I was there on Friday and have never known such a lack of atmosphere at a test match. We bowled well, they batted badly but there was a sense of detachment from the proceedings.

Such a shame; the buzz is one of the things that makes live sport

[Diatribe]

I was there on Friday and have never known such a lack of atmosphere at a test match. We bowled well, they batted badly but there was a sense of detachment from the proceedings.

Such a shame; the buzz is one of the things that makes live sport

Quite so, inbetween listeng to the Esses/Glamorgan game, I've been watching the Ceylon/Pakistan test match as opposed to the predictable and mundane proceedings at the Oval.

[Diatribe]

I'm afraid that by the end of the series, India didn't even look like a nation worthy of test match status.

[Blocky]

I was there on Friday and have never known such a lack of atmosphere at a test match. We bowled well, they batted badly but there was a sense of detachment from the proceedings.

Such a shame; the buzz is one of the things that makes live sport

i was there as well.  I'd agree, but think that may have been more to do with the number of "Indian" supporters in the crowd.  When Dhoni started knocking it around they got quite animated.  although I think I broke a PB for beers consumed during a days play being in Block 7 with the patio bar helped no end!

[neil]

There weren't any Indian supporters in our part of the ground so that may be part of it. Plenty of guys selling Indian beer though

I have to sit on my hands here. If I don't there may be a rant about the ECB  saying no-one can take alcohol in because they don't want people to get drunk. And then the first thing I see when I walk into the Oval is a beer seller. Just be honest and say you are making money....

[dtrave]

I went yesterday and have to agree with Diatribe here.. The towel well and truly thrown in not yesterday but Friday and before that.. It made for a bit of a hollow victory in the end. Shame, as I was looking forward to seeing the Indian batters perform. Saying that though, it was a joy to watch Anderson and Broad get stuck in with the new ball.Also good to see Jordan feast himself on the buffet of available wickets as well. A good prospect for the future.

[Blocky]

Jordan's figures around five pm on Friday were something like 7 -5-7-3  miserly and wonderful from an English pov.

Woakes still doesn't do it for me though and I would love to have seen Finn have a go at these rabbits!

[Perov]

I like Finn, if he is back on form, but Stokes is also a useful bowler, and if he sorts himself out could still have an England future.

[Andy]

The big plus for me back around the 2010/11 Ashes success was that we had genuine competition for places (i.e. not 'who's least worst at the moment') in the seam bowling department at least.

Without Anderson (and Broad I hate to say) I'm not sure we'll do much good despite the likes of Jordan settling in against the Indian rabbits. Whether a long stretch of ODIs is going to help us prepare for the run in to the 2015 Ashes is doubtful as well...

[IlfordEagle]

Jordan & Woakes are ok for 1 dayers but I don't think either are Test class yet & if Anderson &/or Broad are missing we will have problems getting 20 wickets unless the rejuvenated Finn can do the business along with Stokes.

[IanS]

The big plus for me back around the 2010/11 Ashes success was that we had genuine competition for places (i.e. not 'who's least worst at the moment') in the seam bowling department at least.

Without Anderson (and Broad I hate to say) I'm not sure we'll do much good despite the likes of Jordan settling in against the Indian rabbits. Whether a long stretch of ODIs is going to help us prepare for the run in to the 2015 Ashes is doubtful as well...

The core of the England team will be completely knackered by the end of the Ashes series. The World Cup is in Feb/Mar preceded by a warm-up tournament in Australia in Jan. A brief break before playing 5 Tests (WI & NZ) in Apr/May/ June, before the 5 Ashes Tests in 7 weeks in Jul/Aug. I suspect that we will only "rotate" players if things are not going well, just as Australia did last summer and didn't during the winter series.

[DT]

Jordan & Woakes are ok for 1 dayers but I don't think either are Test class yet & if Anderson &/or Broad are missing we will have problems getting 20 wickets unless the rejuvenated Finn can do the business along with Stokes.

Jordan has shown enough in the two home series to suggest he's going to have a good test future - 10 wkts @ 22 vs India a good return.  Woakes to his credit bowled really well at The Oval but still has more work to do.  Finn should be back soon hopefully - was messed about in the past year with his action, etc.  Stokes I'm not sure with the ball and Plunkett don't forget impressed enough.

[Andy]

The core of the England team will be completely knackered by the end of the Ashes series...I suspect that we will only "rotate" players if things are not going well, just as Australia did last summer and didn't during the winter series.

I don't see the logic in not rotating the seamers at least. Certainly, I agree that they will be knackered, which is why a rotation policy may have to come into force de facto if players aren't fit.
I'd like to know why we seem to get a pack of seamers together periodically (e.g. 2005; 2010/11) then they fall away so quickly. Too much cricket? Too much 'coaching'?

[IanS]

The core of the England team will be completely knackered by the end of the Ashes series...I suspect that we will only "rotate" players if things are not going well, just as Australia did last summer and didn't during the winter series.

I don't see the logic in not rotating the seamers at least. Certainly, I agree that they will be knackered, which is why a rotation policy may have to come into force de facto if players aren't fit.
I'd like to know why we seem to get a pack of seamers together periodically (e.g. 2005; 2010/11) then they fall away so quickly. Too much cricket? Too much 'coaching'?

I agree, but before the Sri Lanka or India series, one of the selectors said that they expected to rotate the seam bowlers. In practice this meant flogging Anderson & Broad and trying out various combinations of the other seamers.

[IlfordEagle]

With the 1 day series finishing next week will the England players & more pertinently Ally be allowed to play for their Counties for the remaining 2/3 games of the season?
I think I know the answer but it would be a nice gesture by Moores , I 'm not holding my breath!!