Indian domestic season 2005-06

[Arjun]

The schedule for the Indian domestic season 2005-06 has been announced here. Railways against ROI will be a good, competitive match, though a seven-match series between the current full-strength Indian side (minus Kaif, JP Yadav) would do against a Central Zone/UP/Railways team. The Central team may win the series.

Duleep before Ranji? You've got to be joking. How do they know whom to pick for the Zonal sides? Moreover, you'll see the best, then the rest by such a schedule. Dumb. Even dumber to have Zimbabwe's A team as a foreign entrant.

The Ranji groupings are a bit odd, given that both teams promoted are in the same group. Group A (Mumbai, Railways, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Bengal, Gujarat, TN) looks highly competitive, and there is no obvious relegation contender, but Bengal are not in the best of form these days. In Group B, Services are not likely to save too many matches, let alone win some, while Haryana and UP may prove to be a surprise package this season. Baroda rode on the heroics of Yusuf Pathan and Rajesh Pawar and maybe they will do so again, this time. Can Punjab build on their performance in the drawn final and win the trophy? Can Mumbai retain lost glory? Can Maharashtra create a few upsets with the ex-Mumbai frontliners now with them? Can Railways defend their title? Worth a watch.

[Tim]

Its a shame the NZ 'A' side isn't playing in it anymore. I thought that was going to be a regular thing.

[ramkumar_gr]

Originally Posted by Arjun

The schedule for the Indian domestic season 2005-06 has been announced here. Railways against ROI will be a good, competitive match, though a seven-match series between the current full-strength Indian side (minus Kaif, JP Yadav) would do against a Central Zone/UP/Railways team. The Central team may win the series.

Duleep before Ranji? You've got to be joking. How do they know whom to pick for the Zonal sides? Moreover, you'll see the best, then the rest by such a schedule. Dumb. Even dumber to have Zimbabwe's A team as a foreign entrant.

The Ranji groupings are a bit odd, given that both teams promoted are in the same group. Group A (Mumbai, Railways, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Bengal, Gujarat, TN) looks highly competitive, and there is no obvious relegation contender, but Bengal are not in the best of form these days. In Group B, Services are not likely to save too many matches, let alone win some, while Haryana and UP may prove to be a surprise package this season. Baroda rode on the heroics of Yusuf Pathan and Rajesh Pawar and maybe they will do so again, this time. Can Punjab build on their performance in the drawn final and win the trophy? Can Mumbai retain lost glory? Can Maharashtra create a few upsets with the ex-Mumbai frontliners now with them? Can Railways defend their title? Worth a watch.

As always it would be Mumbai,Railways,Punjab and Baroda will start as favourites.
UP and Maharashtra could be the dark horses.

Is it true. On what basis the Duleep Trophy team would be selected.

Top run getters. My prediction:

Dheeraj Jadhav
S Sriram
Amit Pagnis

Top wicket Takers
R Ramkumar
VR Singh
K Parida

[Arjun]

Look at this Mumbai XI-

• VR Mane
• Wasim Jaffer
• Indulkar
• Shetty
• Mazumdar
• Wilkin Mota (RM-change)
• Ramesh Powar (OB)
• AB Agarkar (RFM-new)
• Manish Bangera (WK)
• Wide open for a spinner
• AM Salvi

Compare it with the all-new Maharashtra lineup-

• Jadhav
• Aphale
• Abhijit Kale
• HH Kanitkar
• Dhruv Mohan
• Sairaj Bahutule (LBG)
• Khirid (RM-change)
• Kulkarni (SLA)
• Satbhai(wk)
• Iqbal Siddique (RMF-new)
• Munaf Patel (RF?-new)

Looks very even, doesn't it? This match will be worth a watch.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by Tim

Its a shame the NZ 'A' side isn't playing in it anymore. I thought that was going to be a regular thing.

They've never come to India, but it wouldn't be too bad, as long as they're a reserve team and not a bunch of academy players.

[Barney Rubble]

Originally Posted by Tim

Its a shame the NZ 'A' side isn't playing in it anymore. I thought that was going to be a regular thing.

England 'A' played in it last year, too, I think. They did alright as well.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by Barney Rubble

England 'A' played in it last year, too, I think. They did alright as well.

That was no A-team, more of an academy side. Jones and Pietersen did well, but the rest were dreadful.

[Arjun]

Who do you think will be this seasons' heroes? My top 5:

1. Joginder Sharma
2. Amit Mishra
3. Yusuf Pathan
4. Suresh Raina
5. Munaf Patel

[Arjun]

Some Twenty20 series is being shown on DD Sports, with a match played in Gwalior just ended now, between Lankan and Pakistani reserve teams. Suresh Perera (remember him? He's got a new hairdo) took 4 wickets to win the match.

[honestbharani]

yeah, looks like inspite of Dalmiya's reservations, Twenty20 is here to stay here in India. About time we had a nationwide first class Twenty20 competition with good TV coverage.

[Arjun]

Today's match was strange. Chasing a target of 170 against the young Lankans, an Indian team full of has-beens like Wassan, Amre, Khoda and Rahul Sanghvi won the match on the last ball!

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by honestbharani

yeah, looks like inspite of Dalmiya's reservations, Twenty20 is here to stay here in India. About time we had a nationwide first class Twenty20 competition with good TV coverage.

The nationwide first-class 20-20 won't be too far, but don't expect good coverage if DD Sport is given the telecast rights. They rarely show the full scorecard, they don't show anything apart from that little bar at the bottom, and when they show player profile, they show 'ODI' stats of someone who has never played an ODI. Once, a ball was going to a fielder who was not visible- the camera caught a large sightscreen blocking him!

[Arjun]

Atul Wassan's in blistering form, long after he retired from international cricket! What could have been.......

[Salamuddin]

Originally Posted by Barney Rubble

England 'A' played in it last year, too, I think. They did alright as well.

That England A team lost both matches they played in the Duleep trophy.
They lost every game on tour, in fact, barring a game against a second string Tamil Nadu side.

However, Kevin Pietersen was outstanding for them.

[Prince EWS]

Unless Zimbabwe actually have an international series at the time, they wont actually be sending their A team. They will be sending a pretty much full-strength team, I'd say.

I think their A team could be better than their full strength team anyway. That shows you how bad the selection has been...