England vs India, 3rd ODI, Edgbaston

England’s innings was competent rather than spectacular, and was again held together by Ian Bell, posting his third score over 50 in as many matches. Of the top order only Kevin Pietersen failed to contribute much, and he looked a little shaky against the spinners. Perhaps his dismissal by Chawla at Bristol was playing on his mind. Owais Shah hit 19 off 15 balls, including a fantastic six, but will be annoyed not to have stayed in longer. Some more hitting on the last few overs could have pushed England past 300 and helped establish his place in the side.

The Indian innings began quietly, the England bowlers keeping it very tight. Anderson and Broad are looking increasingly effective as a partnership, and I’m looking forward to seeing them bowl together in a test match. Anderson had Tendulkar caught on 8, the fifth time he has dismissed him this summer.

Unfortunately Tremlett once again proved expensive and Collingwood was forced to take him off after two overs that went for 20 runs. By the time Ganguly and Dravid both posted their half century, India looked to be cruising toward their target before Tremlett returned for a second spell and Dravid played on to his stumps before Ganguly nicked one to Prior.

Collingwood captained intelligently, bringing back Anderson before the end of the innings to take the crucial wicket of Mahendra Dhoni. India’s poor running between the wickets again showed itself when their last hope for victory, Yuvraj Singh, was run out.

India were once again comical in the field, and must have gifted England 20 runs, as well as failing to mke a run out. Their weakness in the less glamorous arts of the game are a major reason why they are a team with great players rather than a great team at the moment.

England lead the series 2-1 and if they can maintain this level of commitment should be favourites to win overall. Tremlett remains a concern, and Collingwood will likely want to bring back both Flintoff and Mascarenhas for the next match.

England vs India, Second ODI, County Ground Bristol

India levelled the 7 match series at Bristol yesterday in dramatic fashion, thrashing England’s fast bowlers and racking up 329 runs. Tremlett’s ten overs went for 73 runs and Dimitri Mascerenhas bowled four for 31. Tendulkar, hampered by an attack of cramp in his left hand, hit an agressive 99 before being caught behind to the bowling of Flintoff (TV analysis suggests that the ball may have hit his arm-guard rather than the glove).

England started well in reply and both Cook and Prior scored quickly, getting into the 30s before being dismissed off successive balls. Ian Bell hit a fluid 64 having been dropped on 1, but the wickets fell regularly throughout the innings, putting pressure on the batsmen. Flintoff managed to score 9 in four balls before slogging the fifth straight to Ramesh Powar on the boundary. England kept victory in sight until the very end as the run-rate crept up and up, and Mascarenas kept hope alive by smashing 52 off 45 balls, including 5 sixes. Broad chipped in, making 20 runs off the final over, and it was only in the last few balls that Dravid could be certain of victory.

The key issue for England fans must be the decision to drop Monty. India’s two spinners were their most economical bowlers and took key wickets, and without a full-time spinner England had no variation in their attack. Monty’s replacement, Chris Tremlett, was England’s most expensive bowler, and yet Collingwood continued to let him bowl towards the end of the innings when he had sufficient overs from Anderson, Broad and Flintoff to complete the innings.

There were problems for India too. Without Zaheer Khan their pace attack is considerably weakened, although they seem to have discovered a handy new leg spinner in Chawla. Their fielding was comical at times, and victory would have been considerably more comfortable without a litany of dropped catches and misfieldings.

England have important lessons to learn, and it is to be hoped that Collingwood can get to grips with captaincy sooner rather than later. There is the makings of a very strong side here.