Indian squad for SL series (-worma)
Since the squad has just been declared (ok, some time back...been a 'catch-up' day for me) so there's bound to be some prolonged discussion on it. So, here's kind of an open thread..unless you all have already beaten it to death :-)
My initial thoughts: With Gambhir(opener) coming in as a replacement for Kaif(middle order) there might be an alternative opening strategy (plan B, C) in mind on team management. Gambhir also seems to have caught the attention of the management from his test form and style, rather than just the Challenger performance(where he certainly wasn't the best on show)
Laxman did well enough to be in contention for future, but as we discussed the other day, his competitor Raina did well enough not be be dropped.
And Zaheer did not do enough to merit the 'recall'. Not even with the help of 'experience' argument. And in the absence of enough of the experienced names, Santh may get a playing opportunity early enough.
Finally, what's up with Aus...anyone surprised that the top scorers are the ones who failed the most in Ashes? Looks like business as usual in Aus team...although I feel the 'bull' in Hayden has been tamed for ever ;-)
My initial thoughts: With Gambhir(opener) coming in as a replacement for Kaif(middle order) there might be an alternative opening strategy (plan B, C) in mind on team management. Gambhir also seems to have caught the attention of the management from his test form and style, rather than just the Challenger performance(where he certainly wasn't the best on show)
Laxman did well enough to be in contention for future, but as we discussed the other day, his competitor Raina did well enough not be be dropped.
And Zaheer did not do enough to merit the 'recall'. Not even with the help of 'experience' argument. And in the absence of enough of the experienced names, Santh may get a playing opportunity early enough.
Finally, what's up with Aus...anyone surprised that the top scorers are the ones who failed the most in Ashes? Looks like business as usual in Aus team...although I feel the 'bull' in Hayden has been tamed for ever ;-)
posted by worma at
6:01 AM
32 Comments:
rajg: keep in mind the ODI team we had in Zimbabwe. Because thats always the reference point for selecting the new team(and not a 'clean slate' kind of team, otherwise Kaif and JP might have been dropped!)
ZK *was* already out. He's not back :-)
AA was in the team, did reasonably well in SL...did not do bad in Challengers...so..cannot be 'dropped'
I fel SS will get a chance, although maybe not rightaway. RP would be the first choice for the third seamer position(in case they do go for 3 seamers in the playing XII) mainly because of his better economy
I'm not sure if GG opening is going to be a straightaway move. I think it maybe more of a backup plan...if VS or SRT(more likely VS I think) fails in a few innings in a row(?).
I dont expect GG to be in starting lineup in first match...and Rao over Raina...AA is more likely to start as well...with RP as third seamer(or maybe Santh)
By
worma, at 10:00
prehistoric bird: Its better than the side SG was having for last two series(not that I am complaining or anything...). Ajit Agarkar has been better than Balaji recently(and when was Balaji effective in ODIs anyways?). Balaji's recent form has been very very patchy...and I hope he gets better for tests, for IMO he is our best bet in tests, atleast at home.
vick...was RP as expensive as Santh? Am suprised...didnt see the stats for Challenger...went by the perception I got...Santh bowled a lot of 'four' balls I felt. No?
By
worma, at 11:21
sure cricktip...if we want to groom an additional opener in ODIs then GG has shown enough through his test performance to stake the first claim. I wouldn't *yet* put him ahead of the SRT+VS combo...but we can soon see him if we get a couple of poor starts in the series(and also go on to loose the matches).
As to who, out of SRT and VS should move down....we'll have to wait and watch....cos there's a case for both of them. Although I still feel SRT is more stable at the top...and atleast when he gets in he makes it count most of the time....so from a long term perspective he should play there. As for VS...if he plays like he has been throughout his ODI career(at opening slot) then he *might* be shifted down
By
worma, at 11:44
prehistoric bird: My point on Agarkar, as I've made earlier also, is that yes sure he is inconsistent. So wait for him to do bad, and throw him out. Meanwhile if the other youngsters do well...they would anyway keep him out after that. Why do you need to drop him when he hasnt done any worse than some others.
And btw, I like Balaji as an attacking bowler. Just that somehow he doesnt have the cleverness for the ODIs...so it seems to me. As I said, he's number one pick for me in the test sides...even ahead of IP in home games..and probably both become num 1 in matches outside subcontinent.
I never meant we should groom separate bowlers for home and abroad. Just a statement that IP, as a test bowler, is more effective abroad.(not that he's played too many test series outside...)
By
worma, at 12:04
prehistoric bird, what exactly is it that you dont like about the team? What makes you(besides your 'faith') chose Balaji over AA or Santh or RP? Let him improve...he'll get back. Talent vise he's way up there with Pathan IMO.
By
worma, at 12:06
laks1234: but the new entrants are SS and RP...although RP has already bowled decently in Zim. So needs to be backed more until he fails.
GG has already shown enough potential in his test form/style/attitude. If team is looking to groom a new (backup)opener, then I feel he surely has the first claim.
VVS...well I agree with you....but the problem is...if he keeps playing like this, it would be really tough to ignore his claim. Maybe as a specialist batsman supersub(in those matches where we decide to go with a batsman supersub)?
By
worma, at 12:15
Worma.
Do you think this supersub rubbish will carry till world cup?
By
Chandan, at 12:21
chandan...dunno mate...depends on what the captains say in their feedback to ICC (btw, there's a captains meet in Aus now...where RD is representing us). From what I know, all except Fleming have spoke optimism and positivity about the new rules. Although none of them outright praised it.
And many have talked about the changes we need in the new rules...as we also often discuss here.
I think the new rules have a good chance of surviving and permanence. Although maybe with some changes
By
worma, at 12:24
laks1234 I think Santh can be a big discovery...lets see how he copes with bigger pressure.
About VVS, mate, I have no qualms. I infact felt that he was rightly kept out of the WC squad(we did not miss him in a single match, proves the point doesnt it?). But what I mean is....after the WC...the way he was playing in the ODIs in Aus and Pak...if he hits that kind of form its really hard to keep him out.
I mean if a guy is looking to consistently win you matches with bat or ball alone....then you dont care much about the fielding...do you? Ok...you care but you find a way out of it.
Call me old-fashioned or sentimental...but I have a feeling that cricket, with all the new emphasis on fitness and fielding etc, is still more about bat and ball. Sure fielding, quick singles, smart catches have their roles to play. But if you get a real match winner with the bat or the ball..who is a liability in the field....you *still* gotta play him. try to make him less of a liability in his weak area...but *still* play him!
Eg...Inzy is just good enough now to not be a liability in his fitness and fielding. So what..he wins matches for Pak.
Another example...Nehra...if he gets his WC bowling form...I'm ready to play him at all costs
More...Aus won the WC not because they were fit and fielding well etc(sure those were contributors)...but because they had real talent in batting and bowling.
I guess what I'm trying to say is...in the order of prioity...batting and bowling comes above fielding and fitness
By
worma, at 12:57
alvin: agree with most of your thoughts. Although I dont think Lax was kept out of the ODI team because of SG. From what I have commonly read, GC was against his ODI inclusion after the SL series.
Anyways....I dont think its about SG and VVS in the same team...we need to have matchwinners...all XI of them...whoever they are and however they win the matches
By
worma, at 12:59
esvee..which one would you have selected VRV or Santh?
I ask that because RP was already there in the ODI team. Would be tough on him to drop him without giving enough chances. And its not as if he bowled badly in Challenger(sure not as good as VRV maybe)
By
worma, at 13:14
worma I don't know if you saw Balaji during the games but he looked really awful.
By
Anonymous, at 13:26
@worma
in that case definitely santh. performance and stats are one thing and intuition is quite another ... looking at santh u feel he is a natural fast bowler ... he is attacking intelligent keen and ready ... not to say VRV is not ... may well be ... but at the moment santh is really HOT
By
Gaurav, at 13:26
yeah roublen...i did see him briefly...and agree with you. He probably bowled only one good ball in the entire series(and we know which one was that ;-).
Thats why I think he didnt deserve to be picked ahead of any of those selected now
By
worma, at 13:27
@worma
yes u r right abt balaji ... he has been unlucky with injuries tho ... i really admired his attitide and natural swing ... i hope he gets it all back together son
By
Gaurav, at 13:29
yes gk agreed. He's keyed up..lets see if he can maintain it on the bigger stage. Thats why probably he may get to play the first match itself(though only if if we play three seamers)...although I felt RP with better economy might also have done well.
esvee...I'm not saying VRV should not get a chance. Just that it would be injustive on RP to drop him without sufficient chances. We dont want that old system of irrational selectorial decisions to come back(however talented a newcomer may seem like, this is about consistency of the process)
By
worma, at 13:30
@worma
Against SL playing 2 spinners that too of the quality of HS and Kartik is tantamount to suicide ... they are master players of spin ... we have to go for the pacers ... and for gods sake dont prepare slow low tracks !!
By
Gaurav, at 13:32
@esvee
i was absolutely hypnotized by piyush chawlas spell ... this kid has amazing talent ... we shud nurture him in the best way possible
By
Gaurav, at 13:33
gk...yeah I would also think 2 spinners can be too much :-)..esp because we have SRT back. Maybe one of the games might see Karthik as a supersub...esp if we play with 4 bowlers and 6 batsman(and I mean 6 specialist bastman without JP).
About the wickets...well Indian ODI wkts are always with lots of runs..hardly any support to any kind of bowlers (and definitely not for SL 'spinners' of slow low wkt variety). Although opening match is at Mohali...which would become a lottery due to dew at night.
I hope SL weren't watching the Challenger series :-)
By
worma, at 13:35
@worma
hey .. i thot first match was at nagpur .... the worst thing is if we have wickets like we did in the west indies series of 2002 ... pathetic batting paradises ... that was some of the most boring cricket ever ... same with the pak series last year
By
Gaurav, at 13:37
@alvin
yes vvs is an excellent player to be subbed out ... after producing a magical inns hopefully :-)
By
Gaurav, at 13:39
esvee...where would you get to watch Jadhav in tests?..dunno if he would get any chances soon(even if SG doesnt make it back)
Rayudu...whats up with him? Is he playing in this season? Part of South Zone squad(I dont remember, although did check it out earlier)?
And yes, I was also very keen to watch Chawla. After the first match which B lost...I was disappointed that he got a chance so late, and in such a hopeless situation(although he did turn, despite the due...and bowled a googly to fox the well set Rao). But was so happy that he got his due in the finals. I was also wondering if SRT would have gone and talked to him!...just my thought...seemed like something which SRT would do :-)...because he knows the value of encouraging the youngsters...and also maybe because he would recognise a leg spin talent so much better
By
worma, at 13:39
gk..you're right...first match at Nagpur..second at Mohali. And I am expecting the same kind of pitches as we have been seeing in recent past. NO indicators to suggest any changes (GC may take that up...but he probably has no idea yet).
Frankly I dont enjoy the Indian matches at all....its so heavily biased in favour of batting...but what to do
By
worma, at 13:42
alvin: me doing fine mate...just been erratic on this blog lately.
Yes I agree with you...VVS should always be watched....he can hit a real purple patch...and then his good batting would outweigh all those flaws(yes even the one about not being able to accelerate..heck atleast he would get the runs in the starting point...we miss even those a lot of times:-)
Supersubbing him is a good idea....but can only work in those cases where strategically we decide to go for a specialist batsman supersub
And btw, as I said earlier, even when(if) SG returns....I dont think we should alter the plans about Lax according to that. Just keep a consistent policy of picking players based on their matchwinning potential and form and rest would fall in place
By
worma, at 13:45
esvee..thx for those updates...havent seen too much of these guys...only glimpses during Challenger(that also couldnt watch too much)
About Uthappa...well most have struggled against the pace of VRV, Santh etc in this tournament...Rao and Yuv also. I saw him play balaji with comfort later on.
And Chawla...well I saw him rip some of the legspinners also. And lets remember that this was an ODI...once be bowled when opposition were romping...other time when they were defending a small total...and against a good opening start from SRT and Vidyut
Agreed about U19 batting.
By
worma, at 14:03
yep..Chawla is 16 and Nadeem is 15+ :-)
By
worma, at 14:04
cricktip..about VVS outlasting dravid..sure doesnt look likely...but then stranger things have happened in the past. Could you have thought, during those hay days of SG, SRT opening combo...that RD could possibly outlast SG(and possibly SRT) in ODI cricket!
By
worma, at 14:52
yeah...would be real tough task for RD...we've been used to SG as captain, with his influence on the board allowing him a free hand at the 'playing' aspects of Indian cricket, that we've forgotten what hell our captains go through :-)
Lets see if anything's changed for RD...and also how strong an influence is GC on our administration.
By
worma, at 15:26
alvin...about super sub..sure if we go for extra bowler then we need a batsman/allrounder to supersub. Lax has a place....anyways...right now the focus is on the young guns...raina and rao...lets see how they do. They had a trial by fire....two away series...against top ranked ODI teams(Nz and SL)...and with our experienced guys in batting lineup not in so good form. Hopefully they get a more comfortable situation now with SRT back....and with kaif and yuv also having started coming back to some form
By
worma, at 15:50
anothony...Agakar did nothing wrong during his last show in Zim(well nothing worse than the rest atleast) and Challenger was also ok for him. So I guess we've to wait and see if he does bad in future...then he may go out..with little chances of coming back if the youngsters do well.
And to be fair....I've read him openly deny that he's an allrounder. He himself said that to be that one has to be more consistent and a matchwinner with the bat, which he's not. I dont think he can control what others(esp the media) chose to tag him with.
By
worma, at 17:38
I liked Agarkar before when he went all out. The Agarkar of the 99 World Cup and the 99-00 Australian tour. He pitched it too short too often in those days, but otherwise he was great. I don't like this new trundling Agarkar we've been seeing lately. Bowling within yourself is fine but bowling within yourself should not mean ambling to the crease. That's the same problem I had with Balaji's bowling in this recent Challenger series.
By
Anonymous, at 18:49
et tu, Sachin? Then Fall, Ganguly!
the straighter neo, disagree about Srinath. Perhaps not the greatest attitude, but a great bowler, and he won India plenty of test and oneday matches.
I think more highly of Gambhir and less highly of Raina (he could change my mind) than you. Basically agree on the rest, though I think VVS should not be out of the WC 2007 picture.
By
Anonymous, at 19:45
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