Future Indian team under Chappel's wing!

[sheerindianspeed]

Just yesterday Greg Chappel said that all India need was an express fast bowler in the team, and then it could match a team like Australia.Chappel was of the opinion that on pitches, like the one faced in Pakistan, one need a genuine quick bowler to win matches.

Considering India have some very bright propect playing knocking at the door, i think the future India team should look like this.


Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Lax
Yuvraj
Dhoni
Zaheer Khan
VRS
Munaf Patel
Kumble.

--Harb
--Irfan
--Sreesanth
--Kaif
--Gambhir

I've two express pacer in VRS and Munaf in Indian team, both of whome have the pace and the skill to make batsmen's life miserable on any pitch.I think under chappel we will be seeing Indian team having express pacers in the ranks soon, and also doing GREAT!

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by sheerindianspeed

Just yesterday Greg Chappel said that all India need was an express fast bowler in the team, and then it could match a team like Australia.Chappel was of the opinion that on pitches, like the one faced in Pakistan, one need a genuine quick bowler to win matches........

That's an interesting selection, and has a lot of potential. Yuvraj??? Keep him on the bench. The team needs those extra wickets to win the match, so an extra bowler should play.

You've picked Munaf Patel, and the advantage is that he can score more than a few runs, in big shots. That can help sneak in a fifth bowler. Sure, he's fast, he can make batting tough, but his batting, which resembles that of Justin Kemp, can be very effective in this team, complementing the likes of Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman (and also the other opener) very well.

You don't have to drop Irfan so quickly. He provides a lot of value addition to the side that you can't ignore. He may be carrying an injury, or using a faulty grip on the ball, or just lacks support, but he has the right raw material as a swing bowler. Work on the strengths rather than discard him on weaknesses. That said, even as you talk of express pacers, Zaheer at full pace can be quite destructive. His fielding is a worry, though.

Kaif doesn't provide any value addition to the team. He won't get you a big score, nor can he bowl enough overs to support the frontline bowlers. Mumbai's off-spinner Ramesh Powar will make a competent reserve spinner and should play in place of Kaif. VR Singh on the bench (if Zaheer's form and fielding are top) will make a good set of options. Otherwise that's a good team you've picked. The pace pack is definitely a lot better than those picked for India in the recent past. However, if they expect to take 20 wickets more often, they have to have a fifth bowler in their ranks.

[pug]

Even though at first I was averse to Dravid opening, if he's doing a good job then why not continue? Even though it will be a bit harsh on Gambhir and Jaffer, what could be a better solution to the opening quandary since the last god knows how many years. I have always thought that Dravid has an excellent temperament to open but since he didn't enjoy it, he should be given the choice of placement. If he now feels that for the best interests of the team, he should open, then he should.

[andyc]

I thought you loved Pathan...

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by Arjun

You've picked Munaf Patel, and the advantage is that he can score more than a few runs, in big shots.

One day you'll exaplin why all runs have to come in big shots?

Surely by that logic, Dravid must be dropped?

[adharcric]

Originally Posted by pug

Even though at first I was averse to Dravid opening, if he's doing a good job then why not continue? Even though it will be a bit harsh on Gambhir and Jaffer, what could be a better solution to the opening quandary since the last god knows how many years. I have always thought that Dravid has an excellent temperament to open but since he didn't enjoy it, he should be given the choice of placement. If he now feels that for the best interests of the team, he should open, then he should.

I think they should persist with Dravid as the opener until Ganguly is tried and tested, and either succeeds or fails. After that, move Dravid back to #3 and have either Gangs or Yuvi at #6, and bring back Jaffer/Gambhir to open. If we go for 5 bowlers, which we should be doing in the future provided they include Pathan and guys like Munaf Patel, Ramesh Powar and Piyush Chawla who can bat, then Dravid should be back opening if Yuvraj/Ganguly are in good form, otherwise in the middle-order if Gambhir/Jaffer are in better form.

[pug]

But if Dravid would suddenly feel comfortable opening, then what's the problem? I know Sehwag said that its not a long term change, but why not? Its not as if we don't have another superb player to take Dravid's no 3 slot.

[adharcric]

well yeah if dravid turns out to be flexible and confident both as an opener and #3, then that will give the indian team more options. at that point, where he bats should depend on whether gambhir/jaffer, yuvraj or ganguly is more deserving of a spot, and whether the team goes in with 5 bowlers (including pathan, who can bat).

[pug]

Why should Dravid be juggled to accomodate other players? I think he should be given a fixed spot soon (1 or 3, either way is fine). Other batsmen must meet the team requirements rather than the team meeting theirs. If a middle order batsman is in good form and wants to enter the playing side but the team only requires an opener, then thats just unfortunate, isn't it?

[adharcric]

Originally Posted by pug

Other batsmen must meet the team requirements rather than the team meeting theirs. If a middle order batsman is in good form and wants to enter the playing side but the team only requires an opener, then thats just unfortunate, isn't it?

This applies to Dravid as well. If he can bat comfortably both as an opener and a #3, then what's wrong with utilizing that advantage. If Jaffer/Gambhir as an opener and Dravid as #3 is better than Yuvraj/Ganguly in the middle order and Dravid opening, then Dravid can go at #3, and vice versa. If we need 5 bowlers, some of the batsmen will have to sit out for the team's sake. We're both saying the same thing pretty much, but if Dravid is comfortable opening, he should be given the job if it helps the team.

[no1_gangsta_786]

When dravid bats at number 3 and tendulkar at 4 where would laxman go?

[Sanz]

No. 5 with Yuvraj singh sitting out of the team. (That is when we play 5 bowlers, not likely for the next test though)

[honestbharani]

yeah, but it is good that India finally have some flexibility... Definitely one of the better contributions of Greg Chappell to the side.

[pug]

Originally Posted by adharcric

This applies to Dravid as well. If he can bat comfortably both as an opener and a #3, then what's wrong with utilizing that advantage. If Jaffer/Gambhir as an opener and Dravid as #3 is better than Yuvraj/Ganguly in the middle order and Dravid opening, then Dravid can go at #3, and vice versa. If we need 5 bowlers, some of the batsmen will have to sit out for the team's sake. We're both saying the same thing pretty much, but if Dravid is comfortable opening, he should be given the job if it helps the team.

That's mainly because India would want a fixed opening pair more often than not. So whether Dravid opens or comes at no three with G/J opening, it should be a fairly consistent selection. Shuffling Dravid up and down just because Gambhir is in form for one series and Yuvraj for the next would not be a really good idea. So if Dravid chooses to open for a while longer than we all think he will, then it is upto the other batsmen to show they are capable of coming in at no 5 and so on.