BBC BLOGS - Test Match Special

The gloves are off for "The Payback Series"

Adam Mountford | 15:04 UK time, Monday, 10 October 2011

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The first thing I noticed when I opened my copy of the Hyderabad Times this morning was a full page advert promoting the forthcoming one-day series with England. The headline was "Time for Vengeance - The war between India and England resumes from 14 October."

This was accompanied by a picture of several members of the India side dressed in army combat gear holding bats and stumps as if they were guns and other weapons. The sponsors of the ODIs are describing the forthcoming matches as "the Payback Series".

I think you can safely say that the Indian public were hurt by what took place in England over the summer - and they are looking for revenge.

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Champagne moments on TMS this summer

Adam Mountford | 14:25 UK time, Sunday, 25 September 2011

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"England have won ... they are the top ranking Test nation in the world and for English supporters, hallelujah to that"

This is how TMS commentator Henry Blofeld described the moment at Edgbaston when Tim Bresnan took the winning wicket to confirm England as the official number one Test side for the first time in their history.

The beginning of England's reign as number one is perhaps the most obvious "champagne moment" of a summer which finally drew to a close at The Oval on Sunday evening.

I say summer - 2011 will also be remembered as a year where rain of a different kind often tested the patience of players, spectators and broadcasters alike.

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My County XI of the season

Kevin Howells | 11:55 UK time, Tuesday, 20 September 2011

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This job I hate. Whoever I pick in a County XI will upset somebody and I'm sure they will let me know.

It is a difficult job when you factor in how many games each player played, on what surfaces and what sort of form their respective sides were in.

I have little opportunity to watch Division Two cricket, so that had to be taken into account. This was the XI I first drew up. Can I stick with it?

1) Marcus Trescothick (Somerset): He's about the only one I think I can get away with without anyone coming back at me. More than 1,600 runs with six hundreds. Moving along now...

2) Michael Carberry (Hampshire): Played in only nine games because of his well-doumented health scare, but look at his three hundreds and the team's turn-around in form after his return, which roughly coincides with that amazing late run they embarked on. I acknowledge it was more the Hampshire middle order and bowling, rather than the top order which didn't fire early in the season. Carberry also has a presence in the field and I don't think there is a better opener, aside from Trescothick, turning out in the county game.

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