[harry10]

Pant is averaging 43 in 2021, much higher than Kohli, Pujara and Rahane. Few failures doesn't means he should be sacked. People have forgotten he was the reason we won at Gabba and series in Australia. He did well on Englands tour to India too. He is 23 and an investment for future. All he needs is a stern talk from the Coach. If anyone has to go it should be Rahane. Though I fully expect the same top 6 to play next match. Jaddu will keep his place if fit. If he isn't then Ashwin comes for him and Thakur should replace Ishant. Oval is the easiest place in England to bat and generally assists spin so Ideally both Jadeja and Ashwin should play but knowing Kohli he will again make some absurd selection.

[Emvi]

South Africa legend Dale Steyn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

News Link

[VWAllstar]

My Playing XI for Oval Test Match:

R Sharma
K L Rahul
C Pujara
V Kohli
SKY
R Pant (wk)
R Ashwin
R Jadeja
J Bhumrah
M Shami
M Siraj

A Rahane will have to go back and play Domestic Cricket and earn a call back to the team like how Ganguly did. He is a good player but probably trying to mould himself to be an all format player.

[Eddy]

So, what do you think will be the final 11? "Will", not "should".

My guess:

Out: Jadeja, Ishant
In: Ashwin, Thakur

OR

Out: Ishant
In: Ashwin

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Eddy

So, what do you think will be the final 11? "Will", not "should".

Ishant out, Thakur in.

Rahane stays in, Ashwin stays out.

Would love to be proved wrong though.

[ValarMorghulis]

Ishant out, Thakur in
Jaddu out, Ash in

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

So, what do you think will be the final 11? "Will", not "should".

Option 1 looks likely. Team Management also needs to ensure key players are adequately rested! With the T20 WC around the corner, Jadeja is the only genuine all rounder in the country apart from Hardik who was out of form in the recent series.

[NPV]

I think most got Ishant out correctly, but since Shami has a niggle he is out and replaced by Shardul, and Umesh Yadav replaces Ishant!
Ashwin does not play yet again and our super strong middle order batting line-up is unchanged
What do we make of this ?

Kohli loses the toss and India put in to bat yet again. Need to first cross important targets today like 36 and 78.

*I see Surya making his test debut in the last test if India lose this as well.

[KPR]

If Kohli is playing it isn't surprising to see Pujara and Rahane in playing 11.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by NPV

What do we make of this

Forget mere mortals like us, I doubt even Kohli the Great knows what to make of it. In the post toss interview, he said "England has four left-handers, so a good match-up for Jadeja, with our seamers bowling over the wicket".

So, instead of including a legit off spinning great in the team, he is basically banking on the seamers to create a rough outside the left handers off stump, which Jadeja will then exploit with his deadly deliveries, reminding us of Strauss bowled Warne.

"Convoluted" doesn't even begin to describe this thinking.

[Eddy]

It's like he loves showing his middle finger to all wanting Ashwin to play.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Eddy

It's like he loves showing his middle finger to all wanting Ashwin to play.

And Ash gets a paid vacation to focus on his "Kutti story" and other videos for his YouTube channel.

He's been totally wasted in this series, I thought he's the only one who can almost surely get Root's wicket in every game.

Of course we're just armchair critics and can't think like Kohli and Shastri.

Edit:Rohit out, 28/1 and the fun starts!

[tazmaan]

2 Down at the same score and Collapse has started again. It's not the Pitch but the poor quality of Batting by India. When England comes in to bat it will look like a 350 + pitch.

[saket77]

Looks like Indian batsmen have picked up from where they left it.
Exclusion of Ashwin was unexpected.

[NPV]

Pujara out, 39/3 and Jaddu comes in before Rahane, new twist.
Let's see if it makes any difference at all.

When 3 out of top 5 have already failed, it puts immense pressure on the remaining two in this case Kohli and Rahane (if he had come in to bat at his normal spot) and then it's really a gamble because it's almost sure that both those batsmen will not make big scores, so it will end up as a low scoring innings yet again.

Till these guys accept that the problem is with the top 5 in terms of consistency, and make at least one change I don't see much changing.

Jaddu has a great opportunity to use this innings to cement his place and prove his batting abilities, let's see if that happens.