India v England - 2nd Test at Visakhapatnam

Not sure I'd say the first test was a road, given that it was doing a lot by the final day and there could easily have been a result if chances had been held, certainly for England, although of course, you can't go too far with that sort of argument, as chances often are dropped and it was certainly a very flat deck early on.

There's an interesting and perennial question here thrown into extra sharp relief by the fact that this venue hasn't held a test before: what do you use to guide you when sample sizes for games, let alone tests at a round, are small and possibly not all that predictive even when recent anyway? Similar considerations apply to the teams. A look at England would tell you the side is woefully under prepared to tour the sub continent, was the first major team to lose to Bangladesh due to duff spin and equally duff top order batting only a bit over a week ago and should be losing heavily to an Indian side with a home record of near absolute dominance. Then you have a first test where India's much vaunted spin attack was outbowled by England's duffers and where its batting only just clung on under real final day pressure.

In summary, I've no clue either. Draw back to lay?

Definitely bars open at the Oval before 11 WD. I got there about 10.15 last year no probs getting a drink.

I was checking, you can bring in booze but not in glass containers or cans!

I wanted to get in for 10am to savour the atmosphere but drinking with breakfast when not flying is against my moral code. I figured I could get round this by having an early breakfast!

I like to have 3 or 4 pints by lunch just to get in the mood then start on the Kwality AAA Picnic with a kwality bottle of wine. The Ovalites are by far the most discerning of food punters I have ever seen I swear.

I will hold you accountable Captain if the bars are not open! I have a bad feeling about it. Might have to get a large packet of biltong!

I think it will be an excellent match between the two best Test Teams. I am looking forward to see the SA bowlers plus ABV and QDK. I hope it is a fast Oval pitch of auld. I think SA will have to drop Duminy to keep Abbott in the side when Steyn is back and to have a spare like Morkel is great news.

If England fill the berth at 4 with Butler or Billings the team is almost complete with Anderson then Wood as reserve.

Exciting times. Now I just have to find out how to exchange my RS500 notes!

It's hit 5.9 today. That seems seriously high. I'm having some 6 if I can get some. Unless it's an absolute dustbowl, that's a generous price.

I was looking at buying oval tickets earlier but said you had to be a member. Is there a way around this?  I went in 2008 and wasnt a member.

Cheers mafeking

any idea why there's no market for outright series winner ?

It's under the next match.

I told bf about this being wrong and confusing when they first started doing this, but got an f off and don't bother us response.

I will hold you accountable Captain if the bars are not open!




Bar under the stand on the east side of the ground was definitely open early last time I went in August WD.

Things may have changed - ( desperate attempt to cover ass )

This is quite an interesting Test. The curators in India seem to be h9ighly independently minded thank God. I think rank turners are poor for Test Cricket but having said that I think England have the tools to beat India if they bat first.

India will be strengthened by the return of Rahul. Will England have the bottle to drop Duckett? I think not!

I think this game revolves around the toss. I am considering a jump on England again and cut losses if they lose the toss.

England are a good side and the introduction of young Hameed protects the middle order to enable them to do damage. The introduction of Butler adds another firework. That could be vital in low scoring matches.

The pitch is likely to turn during the game. I cannot see another draw.

I really really fancy India here, especially if they do bring Anderson back as he's not played in months

You have a point slogger but I just feel Butler has that X Factor. He can do it for sure. We just need to get him into the side and have a run. If he can do what he can with a white ball he can do the same with red ball. I also think he has a better defense than Duckett who is a walking wicket.

This thing really annoys me. England now have a very good side with an obvious weakness at 4, which, will not be addressed. I would liked to have had a look at Billings in India too as he fits the bill as well. Our spinners are not top notch but that is what we have, At some point with all the batting we have they need to have a look at Leach although I understand why they have gone for Ansari.

The top order batting has been problematic for so long but rather than change it, others took the blame. We were consistently talking about dropping Moen who was neither Arthur nor Martha but has proved to be a decent standard Test Match batsman ( although like most is vunerable to high quality short fast pitched bowling ) and more than a useful spinner, indeed is a wicket taker in helpful conditions.

India look vunerable to me at least until Ashwin and Jadeja get into the action with a helpful pitch. I think most of our batsmen are confident. The Indian batting while having a lot of quality does look brittle at times. I think they need to find a replacement for Saha who has been disappointing.

Again I tell you all you heard it here first Rishabh Pant 19yo wicketkeeper batsman. I would love to see him thrown in at the deep end in the Third Test if India lose here!

Okay, I do get the arguments for Buttler at 7 with YJB replacing Duckett at 4 but he wasn't great in tests previously and I'd argue that was predicted by his bad record in FC cricket. I'd give Duckett longer, although I'm not at all sold on him as a test player either, I admit. If the argument for Buttler is one day excellence though, Duckett has done well in the one day game himself.

Draw has shortened a little. Shame I didn't get on at 5.9 or 6 (lots matched at 5.9) but you don't hit them all.

Really need to be up all night for NZ game (perhaps a nap over lunch) and poised to trade this one too. I fear that's not sustainable though. Damn this having a day job and a family business.

I'm going to watch the first hour of NZ then go to bed, i could really do with going full time at this and sleeping when necessary, trouble is with a family to support its to risky and , i imagine, would become to stressful.

I've been pondering which is not at all like me. The greater wisdom appears to be it'll turn. If it does then who wins? (He who dares wins). Is it a toss thingy or do one of the teams have the best spinners and/or the batsmen who can handle them? There are far too many variables for me to work out so going for the highest odds which is, obviously, the draw.

By the time I wake up it will be lunch so draw should be ok.

Spinning pitches mean several things, often conflicting with one another...

Turn means batsmen play and miss more..
Turn opens up angles for batsmen to score..
Balls spin too much, missing the outside edge and the stumps..harder to get LBWs..
Turning pitches means fewer wickets to the quicks, especially caught in the slips..
Spinners have more close catchers in front of the bat and often force batsmen into more aerial shots, mistimed sweeps etc..


We saw in Dhaka that the balls that don't spin often bring the wickets. Consistent turn means the batsmen get acclimatised, up to a point. In Rajkot, the bounce was consistent too. The green tinge throughout the game meant plenty of moisture holding the soil together.

If this one is a much lighter colour, that could well be the clue it will fall apart later in the match..

From cricinfo..

Visakhapatnam is expected to offer more for the spinners, as it did during an ODI on New Zealand's tour last month, but the Andhra Cricket Association has publically promised a "neutral pitch".

On the eve of the match it appeared firm and true, without much grass, and is expected to play well initially before taking increasing turn. The last ODI played here saw New Zealand bowled out for 79, with Mishra taking 5 for 18, while Assam were dismissed for 69 in a Ranji Trophy match, also in October - although that was a different strip and down to variable bounce rather than spin.

The weather is set to be hot and humid throughout and a lush outfield may test the ability of both teams to generate reverse swing.

I listened to the video and the average was 272 and that was hard to achieve or whatever it said. Agree Injera that's it's best to let it unfold for a while but I don't have the patience for that.