It was a mistake not to play Panesar – Flower – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Monty-Panesar-c2024 for the series’ opener at Ahmedabad which saw the Indian side claiming an overwhelming nine-wicket win.
The tourists favoured the pace trio of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501 had to do the bulk of the bowling, and while the off-spinner held up his end of the bargain, his failure to get support eventually allowed the home side to post a whopping 521 for 8.
In contrast, the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PP-Ojha-c2198, who ended the match with 9 wickets.
Their performances further allowed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 to enforce the follow-on after taking a 330-run lead, and despite the English batters offering considerable resistance in the second innings, the early damage was always too big to overcome.
Flower conceded that he misread the track and should have included Panesar as the second spinner in the side. The left-arm spinner was in good form when he last featured for the national team earlier in the year.
While he did not reveal whether the team will omit a seamer, he confirmed that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IR-Bell-c1597’s place remains the only spot vacant at this moment in time. The middle-order batsman flew back home on paternity leave.
"With hindsight yes, it was a mistake not to play Panesar in Ahmedabad," Flower said. "I didn't expect that pitch to turn as early as it did. In fact, once we saw it turning early in the game I thought it might deteriorate more and I was surprised on day four and five how well it played. I certainly misjudged that pitch.
"There might be a little more bounce in Mumbai which will help our seamers. Of course we have to bring in a batsman, but on any other changes I'd like to see the pitch first.
The second Test starts on November 23, at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820.
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