Early thoughts are that the decks will be quick over there. Possibly play 2 spinners in the first two tests but the last test is going to be a pink ball test in Jamaica and might only go 2-3 days 
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@Aceman what do you think the team will be for WTC? Out Inglis in Green? I can see a situation where Green comes in and bats 3 or opens. Here is a first go for WTC final.
Uzi
Marn
Green
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Cummins
Boland
Lyon
If Bush Horse is fit he will play ahead of Boland. But other than that your team is spot on.
Some suggestion he might’ve been carrying a bit of a shoulder niggle in the IPL at the moment. Missed the last RCB game I think.
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This looks as if it might possibly be considered match fixing, throwing the match, whatever…
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IPL Suspended immediately due to the Pakistan conflict. CA is organising flights out for our blokes ASAP
And the PSL is being moved to UAE after one of the stadiums was targeted by an Indian drone attack.
Surprised the Indians didn’t wait for the IPL to finish before nuking Pakistan.
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Kohli has told the BCCI that he is retiring before the next series. They are refusing to accept his resignation and are telling/begging him to stay with the team throughout the series with England.
I had a boss refuse to accept my resignation once.
Made a grand total of zero difference.
It’s a bloody weird thing to try and do.
Aussie cricket legend Bob Cowper has died at the age of 84.
The Ashes hero is reported to have died in Melbourne on Saturday morning after a long battle with cancer.
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I would prefer he plays the series as well
India’s attempts to get Kohli to stay on for the series against England weren’t successful, so that’s it, Virat has played his last test match.
Incredible player and a great competitor. Occasionally that fiery nature probably saw him cross the line but even so I have always admired his up for the fight demeanour and willingness to go toe to toe with the opposition when the heat was really on.
Having said all that, his record certainly declined appreciably over the final 5 years to the point where he retires with a test average of 46.85 that is good but not spectacular. His feats and record in the white ball formats, which he’ll continue to play, will paint more of a picture of sustained excellence.
With Rohit and Virat suddenly gone within a week of each other it really does feel like the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for their team. They are never short of options though!
He’s been ■■■■ for a good 3-4 years, so he’s made the right decision to call it a day in Tests. ODI he’s still pretty useful, but as we saw in the home series here, he lacks the patience and given his appalling behaviour throughout the series and him looking to intimidate a teenager on Test debut, he knew he was on the wane. I can’t put him in all-time Test great status given his average is now just in the mid-40s. He’s not in Steve Smith’s class.
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One of the all time greats imo
Is in the conversation as the best ODI player of all time, same goes for T20
He has really transformed India from a team who were pretty meek on the field, to a team of guys who refuse to take a backwards step
Amazing test player. For a long time, his average away from home was better than his average at home. In the top 3 of the past 15 years.
The game will miss him. Not only for his talent but also his personality
Massive respect for going out on his own terms instead of having to be pushed as well
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When assessing him as a test player in isolation he’s absolutely below Lara, Sachin, kallis, Ponting, smith types of the modern era. His drop off was too big.
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I have him above Smith, Root and Williamson as the best of the past 15 years
Their careers are still going, so it depends how they go at the end as well
All time, I have Lara,Sachin and Ponting above him
Are you speaking specifically about test cricket in isolation when you say this? Or are you including white ball as well?
Is there any argument that he’s Not the best short form player of all time?
I’m not trying to be antagonistic. GQ.
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His drop in Test batting average takes him completely out of the discussion, in my opinion.
You can talk about how good he was at his peak, sure.
But the cut-off for ‘Great’ Test batsmen has been Douglas Jardine’s 48.00 for pretty much as long as I can remember.
Kholi retired at 46.8.
Not only is he not Root, Smith, Williamson, he’s not even Dougie Walters.
Then you get into some theory-saving and talk about 30 tons and 31 50’s and obviously that is elite.
But it’s still special pleading, imo.
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