India v England 2024 Test Series Preview

[00:00:00] Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Edges and Sledges Cricket Podcast.

[00:00:13] We have a full house today.

[00:00:14] I'm your host Ashwin Varun and DJ are joining me as well.

[00:00:18] Actually, in the second half of this week's show, we have a fun interview with the cricket

[00:00:22] badger who's collaborated with us a few times, but we'll get to all of that. Yeah, and the last time this happened, I think like Mukesh was going to bowl to Priti or something. That was the last time there was some double triple super over, but yeah, my mind was blown. Yeah, DJ, you want to ask? I think it's interesting that Varun said India was four down and then

[00:01:44] Rohit and Rinkusho. But to be honest, if I was traveling for honor and it's so great. I mean, it's just great. I love seeing the interactions because it makes me realize how real the interactions with the umpires are. The guys that like we are joking, but also we think he's Rohit Sharma, like his captain of India and all three formats. Somebody is also thinking shit, yeah, man, those in the dark, I don't give you another another another duck. So anyway, yeah, keep going.

[00:03:01] Yeah, and it was awesome. I mean, he was going at a runner ball for a long time. Sanju had

[00:03:05] come and gone. He'd got a lot of episode. It is great quality of... Anyway, we can get entirely distracted by talking about the quality of some of the government. Truly shoddy analysis if there ever was one.

[00:04:22] But yeah, I mean, you think kind of, they miss a few, they get a couple away and then the controversial moment arrives. Where on the last ball of the Super over bowl by Mukesh, it was intentional in the sense that you didn't deflect it intentionally, but they ran the extra runs in time, which is within the laws. I agree. Agreed. If we believe it, but it's the spirit of cricket issue, right? Because in both cases, you get the runs. And so, timed out, all of this stuff is now coming to the fore, right?

[00:07:00] But if we are the people who truly say, like, listen, get rid of the ballers,

[00:07:04] and because it's within the laws, we should stick to...

[00:07:07] I'm okay with that.

[00:07:08] I'm actually okay with it. finish it in all formats, right? Whether it's 20 of us or what? It just has to be like, no, but I think, you know, when I do think that I think think who should have gone out, it's just when I looked at that batting lineup, basically, it just had to be just well, right? It just had to because he's, he's had on

[00:08:20] and off for the last couple of games. But when he gets it, he

[00:08:23] can really talk it. So yeah, so ump saying, listen, I'm going to retire, bring in, it was Rinku eventually, and he's going to run for me

[00:09:44] basically. And you couldn't tell the Afghanistan Wall missed the wall. They got a single. Scores were tied in the super over, which doesn't mean boundary count, which incidentally Twitter was blowing up saying they hit the same number of boundaries in the smash. So I don't know what would have happened in the pre-rule change era.

[00:11:01] But rules have changed.

[00:11:02] It's another super over.

[00:11:04] Another super over means new bowler.

[00:12:01] not 15 for zero. Right?

[00:12:02] So that's an, it's an important guy.

[00:12:05] But that's an important part.

[00:12:06] When Rohit went off, this India had 15 runs and it said 15 for one because he was remarked

[00:12:09] as retired out and he walked back on.

[00:12:12] DJ, did the umpires make a mistake?

[00:12:14] I think they've got that one wrong.

[00:12:16] I think India actually, yes, it was a, it would have looked like a master stroke if

[00:12:20] it had come off.

[00:12:22] But what if there was a bowlers and run out on the last ball, right?

[00:12:26] You lose the game then. not have come back into playing that first Superover. But when he walked back out again, I think in that moment, listen, I guess Varad, let me oppose the question to you, versus being the final of a World Cup, the third match of a dead bilateral series that's kind of irrelevant to begin with, where the series has already been decided, this is where this is supposed to happen. This one should happen, right? So we learn. But this is all we have, right? But we win all the four.

[00:14:46] Yeah, he got run out of that in the second super over dude, but his yoga scores are high.

[00:14:47] I didn't call these a bad for your scores.

[00:14:50] It's for you.

[00:14:51] Yeah.

[00:14:52] It's for you.

[00:14:53] That's it.

[00:14:54] That's the side of the year.

[00:14:57] I don't think I think we a son who I've talked to. Yeah, firstly, Samson, Samson also didn't get much of a game because- This one ball in the main innings are going on. Face one ball in the main innings and I was like, do you imagine being Sanju Samson, you've come for this and you've

[00:16:22] really not done anything, you've actually given away the buys at the end.

[00:16:25] There was no need for him to throw that at the last second they cut the cameras and they said a bitch noise kind of also warming up and when you get eleven to defend you shouldn't give it to a spinner but realistic like people who are loading it is a great captain citizen but realistically one of

[00:17:41] them if you have eleven to defend and you have a point of view, send it into us on Twitter or in the comments if you're watching this on YouTube about whether the amps got it wrong. But on final kind of closing thoughts, did this T20 series actually help us in any way in World Cup preparation? No, I don't think so. In fact, I was going to say I have one question.

[00:19:03] Let me first address you. I think I don't team. For me, that I think that's what it's gonna be. Yeah, I think it's gonna be. He plays the land of cricket, which we need to play to win.

[00:20:20] Yeah, in theory, I should you.

[00:20:22] I think they saw from Jithesh what they wanted to

[00:20:25] in terms of an attacking mindset.

[00:20:26] So I am gonna be optimistic and we'll talk about it extensively more. We've got to move on, but I don't think Rohit and Koli both find a way into the top seven. I just don't know how you do it, Tripset differently. I think they'll find a way. They'll find a way, and that will remain, unfortunately. Our top six call it will be sub-bar. But we have to talk about the test cricket.

[00:21:40] We love how quickly we can pivot as Krivenian cricket fans, and then equivalent to will

[00:21:43] do this on the show.

[00:21:44] DJ, I know at the second half, We can remember the something. Yeah, exactly. He took 27. We can turn three test matches. Yeah. Because Shahbaz played the first test match if you remember. Oh, what a throwback there. And you have boomerang Saraj. And then,

[00:23:00] yeah, from a batting standpoint, Warren, I the lion's right. Yeah, and he is a better keeper. There's no doubt. Yeah. So to answer the question, it's being reported in the news, but it's being reported by a BCCI source. So unclear if it's actually official, but there it is being reported that it's been informed he'll keep right. DJ, as we get to the end of this first half of

[00:24:22] the segment, I believe you have a quiz prepared first. Do you want to walk us through this or walk

[00:24:25] out? It's just we have no idea what to do and unleash you one hint for a question if I have a hint. So let's do that. So who wants to go first? Younger brother, elder brother, beauty before age. Given if it says birthday this weekend, so maybe we go with the birthday.

[00:25:41] Beauty before age, by the way. Oh, that is the I think it's an important question. No, no, it's one hand. You've used up your one hand. So Varun, you get one point. Ashwin on zero. In 2021, India secured a historic test series win against England at home. Who was the captain of the

[00:27:02] Indian team during that series? It was it was very right. Dumbbeth. Seventh question, Ashwin for you. Which Indian Batter scored a double century in the first test match of the 2021 series against England? Indian Batter double century? Sorry, just say England Batter double century. England Batter double century. Yeah, sorry.

[00:28:20] Jorut.

[00:28:21] That is correct.

[00:28:22] I thought you said, I remember it.

[00:28:23] I didn't remember it.

[00:28:24] No, no, no.

[00:28:25] Jorut.

[00:28:26] Sorry.

[00:28:27] Again, I'm going

[00:29:41] to akshara Patel.

[00:29:42] I'm just going to double check this on so.

[00:29:45] Because you said 27 weekends, we just talked about it. So, yeah. Okay, I'm the one. That is right. It's the Narendra. I would say it like, I would least, how do I do the fourth test? Because I'm only four tests. See, at the garban, right? The last one. See, I think there's a pink ball test, which is the third one. Nice. So, birthday weekend price for you.

[00:31:03] What is it?

[00:31:04] Four, three, just about, right?

[00:31:05] Who's keeping score?

[00:31:06] Who's keeping score?

[00:31:07] Who's keeping score?

[00:31:08] Who's keeping score? to talk about a little bit more of the India England Test Series. But if this is all you've listened to so far, hit the like button on YouTube or subscribe button. We're at one tip one hand on all the social networks we'd love to hear from you. And we'll be right back to talk a little bit more about the England Test Series.

[00:33:40] Come back from that break and you're still listen to podcasts on, and you can follow me on Twitter at cricket underscore badger. James, I'm gonna ask you a question which I should have probably asked you a long time ago. For our listeners that aren't familiar with terminology, what is a cricket badger?

[00:33:42] A cricket badger, it's almost an insult really,

[00:33:44] using cricket dressing rooms where,

[00:33:46] I mean, Australians call people cricket nuffies. fans that represent India, fans that represent England, and we'll be getting their immediate reactions after the day's play. Fantastic. Now that you've mentioned it, we should get into the cricket. James, I'm gonna ask you the hardest questions first, right? Obviously we've heard about Harry Brooke not being there at the start of the tour, which we'll come to and we'll talk about

[00:35:00] possible combinations for England and things like that.

[00:35:04] But even before the series is started,

[00:35:07] there's been talk about pitches It's always going to be a tough tour. Obviously, basketball is kind of in the equation. As you mentioned, pitches. I think any England player going to India is going to be concerned about the pitches because it is a fear of the unknown or certainly spinning track potentially which England aren't particularly great on and haven't been in the past. So the pitches

[00:36:24] will be spoken about a lot of things. pictures and particularly test ready. And so you want to see Test Cricket that goes into the fourth and the fifth day is what I'm hearing. There's five days for a reason, aren't there? A test of a player is to test cricket is called Test Cricket because it's a test and you test yourself against the very best players in all sorts of different circumstances and in different conditions.

[00:37:42] And it's a test of your stamina, it's a test of your concentration, it's a test of your

[00:38:43] don't really have a chance. There's got to be some kind of balance between the two in my opinion anyway. Yeah, and there's a larger discussion to be had about the future of Deskricket with

[00:38:48] South Africa sending kind of second string teams to New Zealand with, I mean, the West Indies,

[00:38:58] sent seven debutants, I think, to Australia. So I think there's a larger discussion over there.

[00:39:04] But what I'd put to you is... Having feeling that it makes cricket more of a lottery, right? Those types of pitches. But India seem to come up on top a lot more when it's when it's waited in favor of the

[00:40:22] bowlers.

[00:40:23] If I was in charge of the Indian cricket team a direct or whatever in charge of Indian cricket, I'd be saying, make it spin like mad against the England butters, Howard.

[00:41:40] Yeah, and there's also the aspect that the team to believe they were good enough, which is a big thing in any sport. He got fitness levels up to a more than acceptable level, because I think

[00:43:03] that was a problem, maybe historically with some Indian side. And that's a problem for England going there because sometimes you kind of go to a place where you kind of host a nation and you think, well, at least if we're better's a very level headed kind of leader and I think there's a kind of perception from outside of cricket teams that the captain does everything all the players kind of like listen to his every word and Virat will be very important

[00:45:42] in that dressing room still you know just because hely. I really don't. No, he's back to his best with the bat, which he seems to be enjoying his time on the field as well. And we saw him in South Africa contributing. In the second test, there wasn't that much of it in the first test, which was a little bit clueless So it's gonna be very, very tough for England. I mean, I've seen a few comments, Ben Dukett saying, he's probably gonna play the reverse sweep as a form of defense. And I understand what you're saying. Is he spoken to Alex Curry?

[00:48:23] I understand what he's saying because you need to have some outshots,

[00:48:25] or not outshots, but some get down to the other end shots saying, you know, there will be times where we can't do that. So I think it's going to be a watered down version of basketball. They can't just go gung-ho against this India side in Indian conditions. It'll be just a recipe for disaster. It'll be five-neal, it'll be over before you know it. So they're going to have to play with a little bit of common sense as well. And I mean, I think there's a misconception, I think sometimes

[00:49:40] around this basketball thing that it's all about hitting fours and sixes. It's not.

[00:49:44] It's about being positive in defense, havingte. You've got to kind of bend yourself into a series. So I didn't think India were the best in that week. We played a New Zealand side that weren't necessary at their best, either.

[00:51:00] I think West India's side too.

[00:51:01] But I think a fairly few cheap wins, we're going to score 400. We don't care if you get 380 will score 400.

[00:53:27] focuses on hitting runs with the bat. But the teams that have won in India being England in 2012

[00:53:36] had Monty and Swann. Who are the Monty and Swann of this side? I mean, if England had, tell me what's the blueprint for England to win this series? Because you're not going to India to just

[00:53:42] make up the numbers, right? If you're the team management, they will win. I don't think the Indian batters necessary play spin that well. So we saw Joe Root get five for eight, Ahmedabad, didn't we, last time, winning away to every loads of wickets. They played him atrociously. So I think if India spinners can bowl well, as Monte and Groms Von Prude that's a season,

[00:55:01] you need some runs on the board to protect you spinners though.

[00:55:03] That's where the kind of the downfall might come

[00:55:05] because you can't just be bold out from 180 success and in the future I guess fit into is playing again very very soon indeed but so Jack Leach will be one of the spinners they've taken Tom Hartley from Lancashire 24 years old another slow left armour I doubt they'll play both slow left armours but we will see you got a show Bashir from Somerset who is an off break bowl who's only played really

[00:56:23] at the smattering of first-class games for Somerset well thought off

[00:57:25] threat to India throughout the series is a different thing. But there is a potential for both Rian and I think it's far and far and his brother playing for the under-19s.

[00:57:30] They could be in tandem for England next time they visit India. You'll be lying away sweating

[00:57:37] there DJ because those two when they actually reach their potential, India got no chance.

[00:57:42] You have an routine shammis brother ball, mom a bright one. But as a South and he can bet you said absolutely. Yeah, he can get he can score runs too. So I'll go Adel Rachid that wants to play that's great. He reminds me quite a bit of Adel Rachid in a way. Obviously, Lake Spinner, I think Rach was a better batter.

[00:59:02] From what I've seen of Rhean Armed, he comes in further down the order of Falestershire and gets

[01:00:03] for the first couple of tests, let's say. Yeah, I think the batting is relatively easy, particularly now Harry Brooks withdrawn because

[01:00:09] any kind of controversy that's been on certainly on social media should benefit folks play

[01:00:16] as the Premier Keeper or should Johnny Birsto play as a Keeper batter?

[01:00:21] And then folks can certainly bat anyway.

[01:00:22] But obviously with Harry Brook going home, there's now room for probably both of them

[01:00:27] in the side. upright openers and Keaton Jennings has just caught 100 for the England Lions. He got 100 on a Chennai track, I think, on his debut. But ever since then, he really did struggle. We've got the openers in place. I was disappointed they didn't bring Keaton Jennings back in, actually, when they had the opening with Harry Brooke going home. I hope Harry, whatever the

[01:01:41] reason is for Harry going home. I hope he's going So, you know, it's a joke at four. Ben Stokes will come in at five. I only made maybe six, because he did drop to six. It depends on whether he's going to be playing purely as a batter,

[01:03:00] or whether he's playing as a or a rounder.

[01:03:02] And in recent times, he's played as a batter.

[01:03:05] I've not really heard anything about whether he's fit to bowl or not. and then you've got a combination of the likes of Rian Ahmed and Ben folks six and seven. Is that a bit short on Betty? Do you need one more batter? I mean, Daniel Lawrence has been called up to cover Harry Brooke, but I don't think Daniel play. So you've got, sorry, bad, missed out best though, haven't I? Bester will be five, Stokes will be six. And then you've got seven folks in Rian Ahmed,

[01:04:22] sort of seven and eight. And then Jack Leach. I'm going to put Jack Leach at nine, really, for eight. And then that leaves you with two quick bowls to maybe support. I guess it's a city can. So Jimmy, and of course, there's no broad anymore. No, no broad. Who's the other quick? In the squad, I mean, Oli Robinson, and Oli Robinson is,

[01:06:46] but I don't think they probably know too much about some of the surfaces out there. England maybe got criticized in the recent world cup for being a little bit too

[01:06:50] stats-based, but they might have to be with some of these surfaces because they'll have to look at

[01:06:54] what's happened there in the past and who's done well there in the past before they picked their

[01:06:58] side. Take a look at the surface and then pick the 11. But yeah, it's going to be interesting.

[01:07:04] In previous tours or some previous tours of India, that's fine. It's a bit of an unknown form. It's a commercial as one that a lot of England supporters are the one to go to. Yeah, but yeah. I like it as well. It's a quite different grounds and maybe slightly different surfaces and what have you, so we'll see. Going to be interested to see what each of those venues serves up

[01:08:20] because obviously the last time England went there,

[01:08:22] it was in a bubble, wasn't it?

[01:08:23] I don't know.

[01:08:24] You can't read too much into the last tour

[01:08:25] because England was staying in a hotel, wrong. But I think this India team will see off this England team. But I really hope I'm wrong. If not five, no, maybe four one. Maybe England can have one of those games where route gets a double turn and the bowlers back him up. But I fear for this England team over the next few weeks are really do. As I say, I really hope I'm wrong. But I am a little

[01:09:43] bit.

[01:09:44] Let's go for one the more optimistic of the Root to be England's top scorer. Yeah, fair, fair, fair call. Top Wicket take up. This is tough because you've got to pick between Ashwin and Jodieja. And there's Akshara as well. I don't know, to be honest. Akshara interests me. If he definitely plays and plays all

[01:11:00] five, I mean, he was breaking records last time. Wasn't England either completely underestimated advice of versa. And the one thing with Indian funds is that they don't like being told what to do, do they? Or how to be? And I totally get it from colonialism and all the rest of it, always being kind of like one of the smaller nations suddenly finds yourself with loads of power and loads of money. It's our turn now. Stop telling us what to do. It's our turn to kind of

[01:12:22] rule the roost. But yeah, just because to ring a head to a hotel and say, can you take the deep fried Mars bars off the menu and give us some nice healthy food? You won't find deep fried Mars bars. You might find some boondas or like bacordas and stuff. But I think that's about everything,

[01:13:43] James. Thank you so much for walking us through the evening. be some moral policing issue that's going to arise. If it's a disputed catch like you saw on the World Test Championship, fine with Cameron Green and Schuvman, some kind of Ashwin non-striker thing, there's going to be a moral policing issue. That's going to divide the Twitter version or

[01:15:03] the X-Men series. It wouldn't be an endearingment series unless something like that happened.

[01:16:04] be a catch-taker on a boundary with the fielder with the foot off. It's going to be something.

[01:16:08] It's all going to kick off. You mentioned the World Test Championship earlier when you talk about the future Test cricket. This is a blue-ribboned series, the Ashisies as well in the year against

[01:16:15] Australia in recent years. But that's the big three. I think if the ICC has got any co-honies at all,

[01:16:22] they need to really have a look at Test cricket and stop it being just dominated by three teams.

[01:17:25] world to love test cricket and the ICC to show its love of test cricket by getting, you know, if you're going to have a world test championship, make teams play each other. I mean, India never

[01:17:31] play Pakistan. If it's going to have to be a neutral venue, make it a neutral venue. But if you

[01:17:35] have a genuine world test championship, where everybody plays each other, make them play each

[01:17:39] other. Yeah, the only time we ever get to see India against Pakistan is when they are conveniently

[01:17:44] drawn against each other in the ICC global gonna please everybody, but maybe having what Rob Key suggested the other day of a three month window where nothing but test cricket is played or something so that you get the likes of violin taking on. I mean, on the cricket budget podcast,

[01:19:01] we've often said, if India come to play England,

[01:19:05] hop across and play Ireland for a test definitely have you back then. We definitely have you back to tell us what they did right. But James, one more plug for the Cricket Badger podcast and then stick it into Google, Cricket Badger podcast. It's cricketbadgerpod.com is the website, A cricket underscore badger on Twitter. All right. This is the edges and slitches. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And this is the edges and slages cricket podcast. We're at one tip one hand