The injuns...

[BlackheathBloke]

....who's going?

I'm off to Trent Bridge next week for the first 2 days of the 2nd Test.

Not confident we'll get much play in the 1st Test at Lords.

Apparently we need to beat them by 2 Tests to be ranked No.1?

[BlackheathBloke]

Well, the weather has improved and the wickets are falling.

Fingers crossed.......

[Propwash]

I was at Lord's for all five days as usual. The England bowling attack was the most disciplined I have seen (in England) since the ashes series in 2005. Broad was a revelation now that he has decided to pitch the ball up properly, Anderson was simply awesome on the last day, and Tremlett has matured into a reliable (and scary) quickie; I wouldn't fancy facing one of his short balls from 22 yards. My wife (who is 5'1") stood beside him on Sunday and I wish I had taken my camera - it was farcical. He is one seriously big unit! Bowling out India on the flat track at Lord's twice for under 300 is no mean feat.

The winning margin was a surprise, although could in fact have been even bigger. Dravid could have edged one of about 8 that shaved his outside edge on Monday, Bowden needs to go to Specsavers if he really thinks two of the LBW appeals were not out, (one cost us a few runs but fortunately not the one against Tendulka) and we spilled three routine catches - something you can't say often about this England side.

Looking forward to the rest of the series. Winning by a margin of 2 clear victories will not be easy, but after this performance I wouldn't bet against it. I am backing England to win the series anyway.

Enjoy Trent Bridge - a lovely, intimate ground.

PW

[nimbusj15]

Listened to most of the England innings and missed the highlights on Ch 5. Good to see that Chris Broad has found some form, hope can do as well with the ball tomorrow. (Saturday)

[Propwash]

Good to see that Chris Broad has found some form, hope can do as well with the ball tomorrow. (Saturday)

Indeed. His son Stuart is in good form too.

PW

[BlackheathBloke]

Just spent the last couple of days at Trent Bridge.

Will our 2nd Test curse strike again ?!

[Jwscud]

Jealous in no way adequately describes how I feel. I listened to bits of it on TMS on the interweb (including Blowers' superb commentary on Broad's hat trick) and would have loved to have been there.

All in the balance I think - chasing anything over 200 batting last will be seriously tough.

[Propwash]

Will our 2nd Test curse strike again ?!

It didn't at Adelaide.

A lot may depend here on whether Trott and Swann are able to bat freely (or in Trott's case at all). The forecast today is for good batting conditions, (unlike during the first England innings which looked a nightmare), it's only a day three pitch, and provided we are not short of batsmen through injury, England are not in a bad position. The match is set up nicely now, thanks to Chris Broad (for giving us his son)

PW

[Propwash]

Blimey. A bigger thumping at Trent Bridge than at Lord's.

Maybe they will go to No. 1 at the end of this series.

PW

[BlackheathBloke]

Well, the 2nd Test curse seems to have been smashed to smithereens!

A great few days, could feel the confidence draining from the tourists as the match went on....

[BlackheathBloke]

3-0 after another stroll at Edgbaston.

Are the Indians really that bad or our are bowlers reall that good?

Oval next, would be nice to make it 4-0

[Propwash]

Are the Indians really that bad or our are bowlers reall that good?

Probably a bit of both, but you can only beat what is put in front of you, and England have been doing that, decisively and with increasingly bigger margins. I just wish, even allowing for his great background in the game, that I could understand the obsession with giving Tendulka a standing ovation as he comes out and as he goes back in again, even though his performance so far in this series has rarely merited one, and even if he scores in single digits. That adulation, for me, is part of the problem with the Indian game; their players, with a few exceptions like Dravid, are treated, act like, and believe themselves to be, minor deities. I don't believe that they put in the hard yards in fitness training and fielding routines like England, and that is now telling.

Looking around the world, and assessing England's squad depth, ability, and average age, I see no reason why they can't dominate world tests for a decade.

PW

[BlackheathBloke]

PW, the Sachin thing does amaze me too.

The Indian players that decided not to bother playing for India whilst concentrating on the IPL are now reaping what they sow through their lack of preparation.

I'd much rather applaud the England team who have spent the best part of 2 years making sure they're at the top of their game to be world beaters, rather than the other side's elder statesmen who are just lining their pockets prior to retirement.

[Propwash]

Given the cynical refusal of the BCCI to allow DRS for LBW appeals (in my view simply to counter the threat from Swann) I was hoping at the start of the series to see Tendulka given out on 99 to a dodgy LBW shout just to teach them a lesson.

I have now changed my mind:

a) because he hasn't so far looked like ever getting to 99 against this England attack

and

b) because we have probably seen enough riots for one summer.

PW

[BlackheathBloke]

Given the cynical refusal of the BCCI to allow DRS for LBW appeals

PW

Very funny, given that they could have actually used it in their favour a couple of times.