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Did Anderson deliberately review, for something that he knew was a nick?

The review certainly took away the spontaneous version of celebrating the win. He did have a smirk on his face right after he asked for the review. Maybe he knew this and thought that he can play spoil sport and ensure a muted celebration compared to what would have been a very loud spontaneity from our players.

My team for the final test:
1) Replace Rahane with anyone else
2) Rest Siraj and bring Ashwin. This way we would boost our batting as well. Anyway, we just need a draw to win the series.

Rain is forecasted for the first three days in Manchester, no way India will play two spinners, bumrah might be rested because of the workload, though he is pumped up so might want to play. Tough chance for Ashwin to play, but only player he can replace is Jadeja.

Rahane needs to go, I would play SKY instead of Vihari, he is another impact player. Hopefully Rohit is fit, he has been amazing, also hoping pujara is fit too. I though secretly hope it rains for majority of the part of three days and we win the series :P

If fit, Shami will definitely play (maybe instead of Siraj). And Ashwin won't, unless Jadeja is injured.

Rahane will play and score a ton.

Thats a whole lot of hypotheticals and what if's. What if Ashwin played and took the most number of wickets he ever did and also scored a century? We would still win.

And its not just the armchair critics, quite a few cricket great, people who know the game who are befuddled as well.

I believe the Indian team have a plan - and they are sticking to it. Bowler rotation for seamers and spinners as well as batsmen and allrounders.

Given that we can't lose the series (only draw it), my gut says a lot of the spare players will come out and be used in this final test.
- Ashwin will come on to play probably instead of Jadeja (resting him) - the only factor being the weather deciding that decision.
- Shami (if fit) will come back and replace probably Bumrah (resting him) if not Siraj.
- Mayank or one of the other reserve batsmen would probably replace Rahane for this match too.

Noooo :Shockked:. He shouldn't play at all. If he scores even a 50 he will somehow hold his place for next series and block SKY/Vihari getting a chance. He doesn't deserve to be in the squad. Sad to believe that luck favours the failure too. :Frustrati

I know that almost every one of us WFH India selectors wants Rahane to be dropped for the final test :D

In sport (specifically cricket), a winning team combination is usually left unchanged for the next game so that it doesn't mess with team morale (don't try to fix something that ain't broken). If we follow that school of thought, Rahane will be given another opportunity and Vikram Rathore did hint at that.

However, in the past, the Kohli-Shastri combine have sung the "horses for courses" tune and during a period of 15+? tests they mandatorily made at least 1 change in the playing eleven regardless of the result in the previous game (and defying our "logic" many times). In the post match interview Kohli said he doesn't care about statistics and numbers (those are for people who have those jobs!) and they had a definite plan and went by that. So, even now we can't predict if Rahane will be dropped.

Is there a possibility that the fifth test will be called off due to the Covid scare ?

You are right. Anderson's ploy was probably to 'mellow down' the super excited Indians before extending his hand for a customary post match handshake. One way of keeping Kohli and his boys calm, Anderson must have thought. Remember Lord's? :coldsweat

Now that the celebration and excitement of the win has subsided a bit (or has it?), re-assessment of the squad is required:
1. Drop Rahane. Give it a rest excuse or whatever. You HAVE to try either SKY or Hunama.
2. Rest Jadeja and bring Ashwin. Say, wanna keep him fresh for the T20 WC or any other codswallop.

No point bringing tourists in the squad if you can't even give them a deserving chance. Don't make any other changes, lest we lose a well deserved series win.

PS: For all his selection choices, Kohli sure deserves all the praise along with Shashtri. Now if we can only get back Kohli-the-batsman as well. Phew!

The only hypothetical is what would have happened with Ashwin. Everything else is real. We won and we are leading 2-1.

And all the cricket greats were talking of Ashwin till day 4. I didn't hear anyone missing him once the result went India's way. In fact, Joy Bhattacharjya had called it on Day 1.



Of course, luck plays a part. Being out of form in a winning side is much easier. And this may bail out Rahane with another chance to prove himself.

Vikram can hint or talk after that euphoria from win. Kohli shouldn't have featured in squad for Ind-Eng home series considering "winning combination" with which India had won at Australia. If it comes to giving a chance for Ash or SKY or Vihari is it called winning combination? Feel real sad for the deserving three and envy the not deserving Rahane.

Predicting the playing 11 is a futile exercise. It's clear ego and favouritism plays a huge role in Indian team selections. So, I no longer care who plays and who doesn't. Even if they go with same 11 it's fine as long as we don't lose the match and win the series.

Although first 2 days are predicted to be complete washout so match may end with a draw.

By that logic we should have left Kohli out of the team after we won 2 matches without him in Australia and keep Rahane? :)

I don't think anyone is questioning Kohli's ability to lead. Or that any Indian fan is upset that we won even without Ashwin. The question is whether one man has become bigger than the system and if his decision overrides everything else? By all accounts, not just Kohli, it looks like the Indian captain whoever he is has certainly become bigger than the rest of the system. And it looks like they have become overly sensitive to criticism. Dhoni vs Bhogle and where is Harsha Bhogle now? Kohli vs Kumble.

And if we're ok with that as long as we keep winning? And go all out with the criticism only when we we lose, that is not balanced either. I'm not, but the fact may be that most people are and then that's just the way it is.

Yes, that was my point, there would be no logic to that. It was made to counter your point of 'no one missed Ashwin after we won'.

By which logic do you keep the captain and the best batsman out after he returns from paternity leave?

And yes, for the record - if the captain and management insist on playing a particular 11 against popular sentiment but keep on winning - it is ok with me. But they should be prepared to own up when they lose, and be prepared for a backlash more severe than regular.