**Official** India in Bangladesh

[adharcric]

That might not be the greatest idea, but he should be considered at one-down if neither Dravid nor Kaif will bat there.

 

[TT Boy]

I hate too say this but Razzak isn't Test Material yet he can't bowl 25-30 if needed and Enamul Haque jnr is a special player he isn't the typical bangladeshi SLA he attacks and tries to get wickets and can turn a match at any moment.

Just took 6/106 vs Sri Lanka A

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/srilanka/engine/current/match/282697.html

I agree Razzak's a bit of a no frills merchant, looks like an intelligent kid and he knows how to bowl to his defensive orientated field but I really would be surprised if he had much success bowling like he does (currently) in the test arena.

 

[Perm]

That might not be the greatest idea, but he should be considered at one-down if neither Dravid nor Kaif will bat there.

Why is Dravid unwilling to bat there? To me he would be the perfect number three, in theory atleast. Able to continue with the scoring rate when India are on top, but equally able to consolidate after losing an early wicket.

 

[TT Boy]

I don't really know why I posted this last night: Enamul's recent record is actually pretty solid and he's just taking 6 wickets against Sri Lanka A, as shown above. Ashraful is clearly ahead of Aftab in the batting stakes, after the latter's two (perhaps three?) terrible shots to get out in the World Cup. I can't see why Saqibul won't get a go though.

I like Aftab has a great eye, all the kid needs to learn is some shot selection and he will be a decent enough batsman. For he has the qualities a subcontinent batsman would need, absolutely glorious of his legs and definitely a guy you just need to watch for aesthetically he can be very attractive.

Is he still bowling?

 

[Perm]

He hasn't been doing as much in recent times, not with Saqibul regularly filling in his overs in ODI cricket.

 

[silentstriker]

Do you want Sehwag out of the test side on a permanent basis?

Pretty much, yes. Unless he shows the ability to score runs in a place like England, as you said. Doors should never be closed completely, but we know what his issue is, and until he can score runs on non-flat pitches, he has to go.

 

[Perm]

Pretty much, yes. Unless he shows the ability to score runs in a place like England, as you said. Doors should never be closed completely, but we know what his issue is, and until he can score runs on non-flat pitches, he has to go.

Totally agree, but all the selectors see is runs. For example, the century he scored against Bermuda the other day should basically assure his place in the ODI side for the next 6 months or maybe even a year.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I like Aftab has a great eye, all the kid needs to learn his some shot selection and he will be a decent enough batsman. For he has the qualities a subcontinent batsman would need, absolutely glorious of his legs and definitely a guy you just need to watch for aesthetically he can be very attractive.

Is he still bowling?

Aftab is never going to be a decent batsmen IMO until he gets a brain.Has anyone seen his dismissals in this WC?.I expect him and Ashraful to be related or something.God,these two have so much the talent but...

 

[honestbharani]

He has played almost 50 first class games and still has an average under 30, until he starts scoring some runs for India A and Tamil Nadu then I think the selectors should stick with the incumbent Dhoni. No need to replace what isn't broken.

Dhoni is not as good as Karthik with the gloves and his average is not all that significantly better than Karthik's either, given that he played most of his FC games in the plate division.

 

[adharcric]

Why is Dravid unwilling to bat there? To me he would be the perfect number three, in theory atleast. Able to continue with the scoring rate when India are on top, but equally able to consolidate after losing an early wicket.

Dravid is solid at 5 as well so I would think his decision is aimed at giving someone else a chance up the order. Really, someone like Kaif should get that opportunity; all along, he has been wasted down the order because Dravid has been at 3 and superior batsmen have been at 4/5. Dravid works at 5 as long as we don't put Sehwag at 3 instead.

 

[Perm]

Dhoni is not as good as Karthik with the gloves and his average is not all that significantly better than Karthik's either, given that he played most of his FC games in the plate division.

They have played around the same number of FC games and Dhoni has an average of almost 35. That would be fairly standard for a WK I would have thought, considering he has played 15 test's and has an average of 30. I don't think that Dhoni is as bad as people make him out to be, he isn't likely to drop many catches and though he may not look as fluent as Karthik he is definately good enough at test level as far as I'm concerned.

Dravid is solid at 5 as well so I would think his decision is aimed at giving someone else a chance up the order. Really, someone like Kaif should get that opportunity; all along, he has been wasted down the order because Dravid has been at 3 and superior batsmen have been at 4/5. Dravid works at 5 as long as we don't put Sehwag at 3 instead.

I see, I forgot Dravid had been fairly constant down at #5. I do think that he should probably take charge a little bit more and bat himself a little bit higher, but that's just a personal preference. Kaif's numbers at #3 are very good, probably shows that he needs a little bit of time to get himself in and that could be his best position if he does force his way back into the ODI side, means that either Sehwag will be dropped or start opening though.

 

[adharcric]

The prospect of trying out new players has become far more viable now that even the BCCI have advocated the policy. You'd have to think they'll "rest" Sourav, Sachin and (drop him, please) Sehwag. Consider Uthappa, Gambhir, Kaif, Yuvraj, Dravid and Badrinath as the batsmen. Dhoni and Karthik will make the squad. Should Bhajji be dropped? Is Chawla ready? The biggest question is probably what the hell they have in store for Pathan ...

 

[Perm]

The prospect of trying out new players has become far more viable now that even the BCCI have advocated the policy. You'd have to think they'll "rest" Sourav, Sachin and (drop him, please) Sehwag. Consider Uthappa, Gambhir, Kaif, Yuvraj, Dravid and Badrinath as the batsmen. Dhoni and Karthik will make the squad. Should Bhajji be dropped? Is Chawla ready? The biggest question is probably what the hell they have in store for Pathan ...

Chawla is still too young in my books. Use Kumble as the sole spinner and have Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth and Munaf Patel as the other bowlers. Karthik should not play infront of Dhoni, and especially not as a specialist batsman in either ODI's or Tests. I would hope that the selectors would rest/drop Sehwag and Tendulkar as well as possibly Laxman or Ganguly. This would free up an opportunity for Kaif and Yuvraj to make their claims as Test players.

1. Gambhir
2. Jaffer
3. Dravid
4. Kaif
5. Ganguly
6. Yuvraj
7. Dhoni

I don't want to deprive the side of too much experience in the batting department, so Ganguly get's to stay. It was a toss up between him and Laxman for the #5 spot really, either could fill it. Kaif and Yuvraj both need opportunities at Test level while Sehwag quite clearly isn't good enough and Gambhir+Jaffer should be the opening combination. Dhoni has the gloves sealed, IMO.

 

[adharcric]

Perm, I was talking about the one-day side.

 

[Salamuddin]

Chawla is still too young in my books. Use Kumble as the sole spinner and have Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth and Munaf Patel as the other bowlers. Karthik should not play infront of Dhoni, and especially not as a specialist batsman in either ODI's or Tests. I would hope that the selectors would rest/drop Sehwag and Tendulkar as well as possibly Laxman or Ganguly. This would free up an opportunity for Kaif and Yuvraj to make their claims as Test players.

1. Gambhir
2. Jaffer
3. Dravid
4. Kaif
5. Ganguly
6. Yuvraj
7. Dhoni

I don't want to deprive the side of too much experience in the batting department, so Ganguly get's to stay. It was a toss up between him and Laxman for the #5 spot really, either could fill it. Kaif and Yuvraj both need opportunities at Test level while Sehwag quite clearly isn't good enough and Gambhir+Jaffer should be the opening combination. Dhoni has the gloves sealed, IMO.

Can't honestly see how anyone could pick Ganguly over VVS Laxman in a test side......

 

[Perm]

Perm, I was talking about the one-day side.

Ah apologies, still my sentiments regarding Chawla and Karthik remain the same. Too young, and not good enough. Definately should drop Harbhajan until he starts performing, bring in Powar as the 1st choice spinner.

Can't honestly see how anyone could pick Ganguly over VVS Laxman in a test side......

The fact he has been in better form?

 

[Salamuddin]

Ah apologies, still my sentiments regarding Chawla and Karthik remain the same. Too young, and not good enough. Definately should drop Harbhajan until he starts performing, bring in Powar as the 1st choice spinner.



The fact he has been in better form?

Very marginal at best. Ganguly averaged 42 in RSA opposed to Lax's 38.....

Lax has been a better test player than Ganguly overall, no question about it.

 

[Perm]

Very marginal at best. Ganguly averaged 42 in RSA opposed to Lax's 38.....

Lax has been a better test player than Ganguly overall, no question about it.

True, but Ganguly's good ODI form has to count for something. I know they are completely different formats but scoring runs for your country is exactly that, I know Laxman hasn't had the same opportunities but I feel if it came down to Laxman/Ganguly that the selectors would be wiser to choice Ganguly.

 

[Evermind]

But honestly, just because India had one lousy day and lost to Bangladesh, doesn't mean we'll have a lousy time in this series as well.

Christ, no wonder the non-performing Indian team is worshipped as a collective of demi-gods by fans all over the country. India have been having an awful number of "lousy days" since 1983 - they're a substandard team with an absolutely abysmal away record. The got to the finals of WC 2003 because of Tendulkar and lucky draws, and then got humiliated in the finals.

They're very lucky they didn't get through to the super 8s this time.

 

[Salamuddin]

True, but Ganguly's good ODI form has to count for something. I know they are completely different formats but scoring runs for your country is exactly that, I know Laxman hasn't had the same opportunities but I feel if it came down to Laxman/Ganguly that the selectors would be wiser to choice Ganguly.

ODI form should have no relevance whatsoever to pickinga test side...



Laxman has averaged 48.33 over his last 60 tests as opposed to 35.47 for Ganguly ? I know who I'd rather have......