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I know I might be sounding a bit too critical, but Dhoni could have done better, as far as managing his team and players are concerned. But then again, he didn't have too many bowlers to choose from.

In hindsight, I would say Yuvraj would have been a better bet than Raina for this test. For one thing, Yuvraj has a phenomenal record against England and seems very comfortable playing against them. He also has more experience than Raina and is a left-arm spinner as opposed to Raina who is a right-armer.

India could have stepped on the gas during the 1st session on day 4. After removing the top order, we suddenly got lethargic and the fielding got miserable. If we had restricted Prior and Broad to a collective 50, then we could have had a crack at the target. But it's quite beyond us now.

But that doesn't mean we must get into a shell and defend everything out there. That would be the biggest mistake we could do. We need to play the shots as they come and aim to win this match and not to try and draw it.

As already mentioned Ishant did not want to bowl another spell after the Lunch session yesterday and the options Dhoni had was Bhajji, PK and Raina !!! I seriously think Ishant should have taken the responsibility in Zaheer's absence.
A draw from here would put the English Media and their commentators at its place.

The score is 131/3. Laxman got out to Anderson. He pulled one to Bell. He often chips the ball from way on the off-side and directs it towards short/mid-leg and tries to get it in the gap. He plays this shot often and Strauss has noticed.

Gambhir and Sachin at the crease. We need a 200 run partnership from them to save this match. There is no other way of putting it. Leaving it to Dhoni and Raina isn't a wise thing to do.

EDIT: Gambhir goes for 22. Lbw by Swann. Very difficult from here on. It's time for Harbhajan to prove his worth in the playing 11.

Didnt understand why God played with such a defensive mindset ?

Phew - close shave for Raina ! or is it ?

Time to counter attack now !!!

England deserved to win and we deserved to lose.
I hope Indians play with a positive mindset in the next match atleast.

Sachin has the flu, Gambhir was hit hard on his elbow, Zaheer's hamstring problem is back to haunt him, Sehwag isn't fit for a few weeks, and to make matters worse, Dhoni may be handed a 1 match ban for slow-over-rate.

Our team is in tatters and we've played just one test match. There are 4 test matches left in this series, followed by a ODI series and one T20 match.

England has a side that has 5 players in the top-10 run-getters this season, and 3 bowlers in the top-wicket-getters.

I'm being very very realistic here and I really hate to say this, but it might be time to kiss our 1st spot good bye.

EDIT: *4 match series. Thanks Eddy!

Its a four match series. :)

England is a better bowling side and they'll manage to take 20 wickets against almost all teams and in all conditions. Our spinners struggle at home and away. With Zaheer unfit for Trentbridge and Sehwag not available the next match looks very grim.

We have always started a series on foreign soil poorly.
Here though with Zak injured and Ishant's first test match in England we were on the back foot.

Sachin will get his 100th at Nottingham I feel

It should be acknowledged that we do not have a world class bowler (neither fast bowler nor spinner - Bajji is consistently rubbish and Zaks is always injured!). Without bowlers how can you expect to maintain at the top? Windies, in their golden period had the likes of Petterson, Marshall, Garner and Co. to scare the s**ts out of competition, while Aus in their haydays had Warne, Mcgrath etc to win them games. The only world class bowler we ever had (and who had in him the will to fight to the end) was Anil Kumble. Bhajji might have 400+ wickets but he has generally been a failure on the road nearly always. None of the new bowlers have been consistent or even hard working! Ishant at 22, wanted a break from bowling after a lunch break!

Till we can produce a couple of genuine world class bowlers, its pointless to think about staying at the top. The batsmen can only do this much, and cricket is a game won by taking 20 wickets (test cricket). This English team is wonderfully balanced actually, they have at least 3 genuinely good bowlers and 2 or 3 world class batsmen. If they get to top of rankings, it will be thoroughly deserved.

Last would like to still commend our captain to have taken us where we are (champions in ODIs and No. 1 in Test cricket). He is a very fine leader (his record speaks for themselves) and its quite shameful he has got the likes of Bhajji, Ishant, PK etc to work with. How I wish we had a Kumble or a Wasim or both at the peak of their powers in this team!

I think we lost fair and square.

We tried to make a game of it and external factors took a toll. Game lost now lets move on.

One sore bit. Dhoni giving up his gloves. That was uncalled for. At the highest professional level you do not give up your specialization for what you are in the team. He is a wicketkeeper first and captain next.

Can you please explained what made him give up gloves? Asking bcoz didn't see the match. thanks

Our bowling is pathetic. And our tail enders showed that they can bat only on flat pitches (our captain included).

Everything went wrong in the first test.I hope India play collectively in the upcoming matches, like England who played as a team.

Bhajji can to be replaced by Yuvraj, who is a in-form bowler and can add strength to the batting & fielding.No player should be picked unless, he is 100% fit.

Yuvi should replace bhajji.
Positives of such a move-
1.- He is a left armer and pietersen has been a bunny for left arm spin.
2.- He can surely pick more wickets than Bhajji!
3.- Better fielder.
4.- without saying strengthens the tail end batting too.

Infact if we want to retain bhajji ask yuvi to open and replace mukund.

But then we dont play people with merit but with how much a player is in favor with the captain and management.

If zak is unfit bring sree in. He is a swing bowler and eng conditions will suit him.