canwesummarise the England vs india series of tests like this?

After India went 1-0 up at Lords - deservedly so - they reverted to type. The mentality was "We're ahead in the series. Three draws and we've won." A tactic they've tried before, and which can work in India but is dangerous overseas. So instead of playing five out-of-form batsmen, they played six out-of-form batsmen, reducing their bowling option sin the process.

And the ploy turned around to bit them.

Had they selected Ashwin instead of Rohit Sharma for the Third Test, things might've turned out differently - or at least not so bad.

As for India's fielding - it has long been appalling. There was nothing surprising there. In fact, India's catching and fielding was better than that of the 2011 team (three or four ageing batsman all trying to hide in the field...). Dhoni's wicket-keeping was abysmal, but that's par for the course these days. No team ever picks their best keeper (assuming there any decent ones to be found anywhere). They just pick another batsman and stick gloves on him. England's Butler is a promising attacking batsman, but distinctly below average as a keeper.

But the most striking thing about India was the lack of application when batting. How many got out chasing balls so wide of the off-stump that they ought to have been left alone? How many played stupid attacking shots (no doubt inspired by too much of that limited-overs nonsense) when a decent forward defensive was called for? The pained tones of Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box spoke volumes. Even at his current age, he could show the current Indian team a thing or two about concentration, application - and honest-to-goodness guts.

India tour Australia this winter. Three Tests. I can't see them being anything other than terribly one-sided.

Bowling - India were generally quite good, Kumar lacks some pace but he pretty much kept the ball in the right areas and he needs to, at his pace anything short, wide or over-pitched is going to disappear. Shami and Ishant bowled well in places. Pankaj has a good heart and kept running in but hasn't got much of a game - an outswinger and a scrambled ball and that's it. Aaron looked ok but needs some coaching and experience, he has genuine pace but sometimes no radar. Ashwin should play more often. Ishant bowling Root off a no-ball was just criminal. Root was smacking India around the park and then gets alet off with a piece of pure lazy bad cricket. Too often he bowled no-balls so it was inevitable that this would happen.

Batting - as I mention in another post none of the Indian players have practical experience of playing in English conditions and none really looked to have an idea of how to cope with the swinging/seaming ball. Only Vijay and Rahane looked good but they too were undone by having to carry the batting and didn't have much clue once Broad and Anderson learnt to pitch the ball up rather than bang it in short.

Fielding - especially in the slips there were too many spilt chances. You can talk about inexperienced slip fielders but that excuse wears thin after a bit. The technique might be poor but if you don't concentrate then you will drop chances. Elsewhere the outfielding of India was sloppy, too many overthrows and fumbles and players not backing up. The body language of India in the field said to me - "ok we won a Test, can we go home now?".

Wicket-keeping - Dhoni was poor, he doesn't dive that much or run up to the stumps to take throws in from fielders, he missed stumpings and run-outs and doesn't look bothered.

Capatincy - Dhoni seemed to captain like it was an ODI giving bowlers a few spells here and there but rarely setting fields to complement their skills or bowl to a set plan.

I'm sure there will be calls to sack everyone and start again, but India need to get their attitude right first otherwise you might just as well pick this XI again and get on with it. Nothing much will change until India decide to take test cricket seriously. Doubtless they'll perk up now and win a few ODI's and Dhoni will be appointed captain for life.

England 3, India 1

Indian bowlers were fine, just batting was too inconsistent and they rarely built a partnership it was always one good performance from either Vijay in first 2 tests, then Rahane and Dhoni, they never performed well collectively and the slips dropped to many chances and maybe would have taken another 100 runs from England scores throughout the series

India dropped it's confidence when Jadeja dropped Cook in the third test. That's when things turned.

Yes

Yes

India dropped it's confidence when Jadeja dropped Cook in the third test. That's when things turned.

Yes

Summarise !?! These All Set Up By ECB AND By B.C.C.I, (As Usual).