***Official*** India in Pakistan

[Sudeep]

There are two problems with the Indian team that need to be solved if they are to win tournaments consistently-

• A genuine all-rounder in Tests and ODI's who bowls seam, swing or pace
• A tearaway pace bowler who can attack the batsmen in the early overs

Rather than keep all swollen heads happy, the people in charge should focus on these issues.

Since the search for a genuine all-rounder who bowls seam, swing or pace has gone on since forever now without fruitful results, aren't they trying to make one out of Irfan Pathan?

 

[SJS]

Pathan is easily the most improved cricketer in India. In 18 test matches and 48 ODI's he has overcome his initial slow start and more than made up. If Indians are not willing to accept that he is their answer to the prayers for an all rounder (besides Dhoni of course) I think ....... forget it.

 

[Arjun]

And rather than keeping on mentioning this point, you could recognise that such players don't exist as yet, so they need to try alternatives.

And how do you know? Have you even come to India?

Before you talk of something you know nothing about, do your homework.

There are a lot of things I don't know about English cricket, but I don't go about saying that there is no quality spinner or that there are no competent reserve batsmen. I always ask.

 

[Arjun]

Since the search for a genuine all-rounder who bowls seam, swing or pace has gone on since forever now without fruitful results, aren't they trying to make one out of Irfan Pathan?

But if you expect him to transform instantly into an Indian Andrew Flintoff, forget it. The team doesn't need him to do that.

This is what I have in mind. Pick one all-rounder who bowls seam/swing, then Irfan, then the next best seamer/pacer, then you can safely pick both Kumble and Harbhajan, even away from India. This contender (let's call him the Indian Justin Kemp) will score enough runs alongwith Irfan, to make up for the sixth batsman. Moreover, he can also bowl enough overs of steady medium/MF pace to support Irfan and his partner, who can attack freely. You then have batting till eight, and five bowling options.

One may brand this Indian Kemp a bits-and-pieces player, but there are three contenders who have been bowling well as strikers (not stock bowlers) for their Ranji sides, and two of them are also key batsmen in their teams. Why not try it out? You don't have to drop Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble or Harbhajan to get one of them in.

 

[marc71178]

So where are all these world class all-rounders and 95mph quicks then?

 

[foe]

Pawar/selectors/media/fans/parliamentarians/Kolkatans have bowled a googly to the Indian team mangement which is impossible to play.

1. If they do not select Ganguly (unless someone in the middle order, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Laxman fails in a manner to justify the change) and make him sit on the bench
- they are going to be hanged for treating a former skipper with disrespect and
- their effigies will be burned in Kolkata and
- parliament stalled in Delhi PLUS
- there will be a clamour for him to be included in future games.

2. If they select Ganguly to open the innings (this is the only spot where the other batsman - Gambhir- and his supporters cant crib)
- they are going to be hanged for making a sacrifical goat of Ganguly and attempting to finish his career (if not get him killed by Shoaib) and
- their effigies will be burned in Kolkata and
- parliament stalled in Delhi PLUS
- there will be a clamour for him to be included in future games in the middle order.

3. If they include Ganguly in the middle order and drop Yuvraj or Laxman
- they are going to be hanged either for discontinuing the policy of supporting youth as started by the earlier (read Ganguly+coach) management while older players(read Sachin/Laxman) are being shielded OR
- of using a Godfatherless guy as a convenient scape goat while ageing superstars are being pampered and - their effigies will be burned in Chandigarh or Hyderabad and
- parliament stalled in Delhi PLUS
- there will be a clamour for him to be included in future games in the middle order.

4. If they include Ganguly in the middle order and drop Tendulkar
- they are going to be hanged - sorry shot dead by an execution squad in Pakistan itself - and
- their will be rejoicing in the streets of India for the killing of Ravana Chappell and
- parliamentarians will go back to the business taking bribes for asking questions in Parliament on what should be done with the bodies in Pakistan PLUS
- Kolkatans will start burning effigies and rasta rokos to have Ganguly back as captain.

Tell you what they should take disciplinary action against half the bowlers in the side and play eight batsman or better still....
Announce that since they have been informed Pakistan has decided to make seamer friendly pitches they are going to drop all spinners and play to score heavily with
Sehwag, Gambhir/Jaffer, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pathan, Agarkar, Zaheer/RP

Not bad with 'FOUR' seamers, one off spinner, one leg spinner and one left arn leg spinner.

SUPERB !

I think I should apply for healer/dealer/wheeler for the BCCI problems

One of the best posts i have seen!!

PS:even if the selectors manage to accomodate Ganguly,laxman,tendulkar,dravid ,yuvraj etc etc etc in the team, our Politicians will still find a reason to Stall parliament

 

[Pratters]

Dungarpur has made a comment that Ganguly should be in the XI for the first test. Seeing he is one of the 4 people who are going to choose the team for the first test, thats significant.

 

[Sanz]

And how do you know? Have you even come to India?

Before you talk of something you know nothing about, do your homework.

There are a lot of things I don't know about English cricket, but I don't go about saying that there is no quality spinner or that there are no competent reserve batsmen. I always ask.

Rather than attacking him, why done you come up with the allrounders who can bowl like Imran Khan and Bat like Sunil Gavaskar ? All you have mentioned is the names of JP Yadav and Joginder Sharma who are not international class either with the ball or with the bat.

 

[nightprowler10]

Replacing Agarkar with Harbhajan wouldn't be the right way to go, I think. If you want two spinners, by all means, but keep 3 pacers nevertheless. And no, Ganguly is not the same league as the other specialist bowlers. So, I would go with
1. 6 batsmen, 1 w/k, 3 (medium) pacers, 1 spinner
2. 5 batsmen, 1 w/k, 3 (medium) pacers, 2 spinners

I think you guys would be better off with:

5 batsmen, 1 w/k, 4 pacers, 1 spinner.

Those 5 batsmen include Sachin, who is also a quality spinner, and those 4 pacers include Pathan, who is also turning into a quality batsman. Besides, your 1 w/k can bat well on his day. The 1 spinner being Kumble, who is more than enough in the spin department for Pakistan to handle. But you have to have 4 pacers for these pitches, I'm sure that is what Pakistan will be doing. Here's my India XI:

Sehwag
Gambhir
Sachin
Dravid
Laxman/Yuvraj
Dhoni
Pathan
Agarkar
Khan
Kumble
and that other new pacer

I don't know if Laxman is capable of replacing Gambhir in the opening slot or not.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Who The Heck Is Rafatullah Mohammed.

 

[Pratters]

I think you guys would be better off with:

5 batsmen, 1 w/k, 4 pacers, 1 spinner.

It would be much more logical to play 5 bowlers. I would go in with 2 spinners and 3 pacers though.

Even when Prabhakar alone played for India, it was not uncommon for India to go in with 5 bowlers like in this test match http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1995-96/NZ_IN_IND/NZ_IND_T3_08-12NOV1995.html

The line up should be

Sehwag
Jaffer/Gambhir (depending upon who is in form - Jaffer is as things stand)
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dhoni
Pathan
Agarkar
Kumble
Zaheer
Harbhajan

However I dont think it is likely that India will go in with 5 bowlers. Whether they will include Ganguly and who will then be omitted is any one's guess.

 

[Pratters]

Sehwag
Gambhir
Sachin
Dravid

Dravid and Sachin inter changed in batting order..

I don't know if Laxman is capable of replacing Gambhir in the opening slot or not.

He isnt. He doesnt feel comfortable while opening and his stats when he opened despite this fact show the same.

 

[marc71178]

Those 5 batsmen include Sachin, who is also a quality spinner, and those 4 pacers include Pathan, who is also turning into a quality batsman.

Although Pathan is scoring some runs, I'd say your definition of "quality" is a very low one to be fair.

 

[adharcric]

Although Pathan is scoring some runs, I'd say your definition of "quality" is a very low one to be fair.

well, pathan is certainly playing LIKE a quality batsman at the moment. yet, that doesn't necessarily make him a quality batsman. he needs to bat like this for a longer period of time before we can make that claim, especially in a nation where the label 'quality batsman' has been given to the likes of dravid, sachin, sehwag, etc. . .

 

[GladiatrsInBlue]

Although Pathan is scoring some runs, I'd say your definition of "quality" is a very low one to be fair.

IKP has played some "quality innings" but still there is no way that one can label him as a "quality batsman".

IKP is a high quality bowler who also happen to be handy with the bat.Hope he destroys Pak team with both bat and ball in the cmming series, that would be awesome.

 

[nightprowler10]

Although Pathan is scoring some runs, I'd say your definition of "quality" is a very low one to be fair.

I never said he is a quality batsman. I just think he is turning into one little by little based on some of his recent innings.

 

[adharcric]

I never said he is a quality batsman. I just think he is turning into one little by little based on some of his recent innings.

hmm good point. fair enough.

 

[pug]

It would be much more logical to play 5 bowlers. I would go in with 2 spinners and 3 pacers though.

Even when Prabhakar alone played for India, it was not uncommon for India to go in with 5 bowlers like in this test match http://ind.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1995-96/NZ_IN_IND/NZ_IND_T3_08-12NOV1995.html

The line up should be

Sehwag
Jaffer/Gambhir (depending upon who is in form - Jaffer is as things stand)
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dhoni
Pathan
Agarkar
Kumble
Zaheer
Harbhajan

However I dont think it is likely that India will go in with 5 bowlers. Whether they will include Ganguly and who will then be omitted is any one's guess.

The one big problem with 5 bowlers is the long tail they make up. Agarkar at no 8 as such is not a very comforting thought for the batsmen before him. And considering that he's one of the better medium pacer batsmen (barring pathan) and if someone else is chosen, that brings Kumble/Zaheer/harbhajan up the order. Although you would expect the top order to score runs, it doesn't always happen (previous series vs Sri Lanka) and having a tail with a certain level of batting prowess is certainly crucial. So I don't see them going with 5 bowlers.

With 4 bowlers in the side, I think the spin duo will have to be separated. Not only Sachin, but Sehwag also can bowl. But I have a feeling Ganguly might be expected to deliver some pacers.

 

[Pratters]

The one big problem with 5 bowlers is the long tail they make up.

With Dhoni, Pathan, Agarkar - it isnt as bad a situation as it was in the past. An extra bowler gives a bigger chance to take 20 wickets..

But you brought up a relevent point regarding - would Agarkar be a certainty to play.

If he does play, the 5 bowler option looks more solid to me - specially since in recent tests the guys like Dhoni, Pathan have shown grit to rescue the team when we see the scenario of the majority of the top 5 failing. India repeatedly played with the composition in the 90s even after Kapil retiring.

It has to be kept in mind also that Kumble will not find wickets as suited to him as they are in India and an extra bowler could do the Indians a world of good.

But will they have enough faith in their top 5 plus Dhoni plus Pathan? I think they should but its unlikely they will.

 

[adharcric]

With Dhoni, Pathan, Agarkar - it isnt as bad a situation as it was in the past. An extra bowler gives a bigger chance to take 20 wickets..

But you brought up a relevent point regarding - would Agarkar be a certainty to play.

If he does play, the 5 bowler option looks more solid to me - specially since in recent tests the guys like Dhoni, Pathan have shown grit to rescue the team when we see the scenario of the majority of the top 5 failing. India repeatedly played with the composition in the 90s even after Kapil retiring.

It has to be kept in mind also that Kumble will not find wickets as suited to him as they are in India and an extra bowler could do the Indians a world of good.

But will they have enough faith in their top 5 plus Dhoni plus Pathan? I think they should but its unlikely they will.

i'm not sure agarkar is the seamer we want to help us take 20 wickets, even though he may be a better option with the bat than rp singh. let's see how it goes. what playing XI india opts for will be really interesting ... gambhir or jaffer, ganguly or yuvraj or a 5th bowler, agarkar or rp singh or zaheer khan, harbhajan or kumble (if only one spinner) ???