Time to rest one-dimensional spinner?

Monty Panesar was England’s most disappointing player in their unlikely loss to India in Chennai. We might have nominated captain Kevin Pietersen, who scored just five runs in two innings, but it has since been revealed that KP was playing with a fractured rib, so we’lll cut him a little slack.
Panesar [...]

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England offered revised tour schedule by Indian authorities. But should they go back?

Indian cricket bosses claim the ECB has provisionally agreed to the Ahmedabad and Mumbai Tests switching location, to Chennai and Mohali, the first Test starting on December 11. A scheduled three-day warm-up match has also been scrapped.
It’s clear that the Indian authorities are [...]

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English journeyman underestimates opposition

India beat the unbeatable Aussies - comfortably, too - in this autumn’s gripping Test series. Then they destroyed England in the first two one-day internationals, with more humiliation set to follow for Kevin Pietersen and his workmanlike team-mates.
If our maths is right, surely that entitles the Indians to call themselves world-beaters? They [...]

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That familiar collapsing feeling…

Abject England were bowled out for less than 100 in their final warm-up match before the start of their seven-match one-day series in India. Not a good omen for the real contest.
Kevin Pietersen’s tourists could only muster 98 all out, a feeble reply to the Mumbai President’s 222-7. Not that KP seemed [...]

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Freddie hits a ton. About time too

Andrew Flintoff struck an unbeaten century as England beat the Mumbai Cricket Association by 122 runs in the first warm-up match of their India tour.
It was Freddie’s first ton since the fourth Test of the 2005 Ashes series. What took you so long, Fredalo?
“We’ll play against better teams on [...]

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Can Kev do it without Mikey?

Much is going to be garnered from the 2008/2009 India trip. Can Harmy leave the house without becoming tearful and frightened? Is Pietersen really all that? And will anyone have the kind of nerveless mind to cope with balls turning at acute baffling angles? That man might well have been [...]

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