Pankaj Singh

[kingjulian]

I dunno....but i think his action literally mirrors that of Ashish Nehra's (Yes i'm aware one is a left and the other is a righty)

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by kingjulian

I dunno....but i think his action literally mirrors that of Ashish Nehra's (Yes i'm aware one is a left and the other is a righty)

So what? Ashish Nehra has played so much cricket for India.

[Arjun]

He's (at present) just another run-of-the-mill bowler from the domestic scene- already, we've had (and let pass) Gagandeep, Paul and Bose, and maybe Vinay Kumar too. In fact, Vinay Kumar is decently fast, moves the ball well, and is also good without the ball- possibly scores over Pankaj in multiple aspects.

To get ahead, Pankaj needs to work harder on his batting and fielding, given the rather tight competition for places for specialist seam bowlers. He's already one of the better fielders, and can do his bit lower down the order, but more lower-order runs can help a lot.

He also seriously needs to improve his T20 bowling, as he falls way back there, and there is a clear vacancy for seamers in T20.

To sum it up, he's still behind one Vinay Kumar, shares a lot in common with other seasoned seamers who couldn't make the grade, and may fit in as a multi-role utility player, instead of a specialist, and imrpove his record across formats. Excluding him for the likes of Dinda, Tyagi, Mithun, Umesh and Unadkat, though, is baffling.

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by Arjun

He's (at present) just another run-of-the-mill bowler from the domestic scene- already, we've had (and let pass) Gagandeep, Paul and Bose, and maybe Vinay Kumar too. In fact, Vinay Kumar is decently fast, moves the ball well, and is also good without the ball- possibly scores over Pankaj in multiple aspects.

To get ahead, Pankaj needs to work harder on his batting and fielding, given the rather tight competition for places for specialist seam bowlers. He's already one of the better fielders, and can do his bit lower down the order, but more lower-order runs can help a lot.

He also seriously needs to improve his T20 bowling, as he falls way back there, and there is a clear vacancy for seamers in T20.

To sum it up, he's still behind one Vinay Kumar, shares a lot in common with other seasoned seamers who couldn't make the grade, and may fit in as a multi-role utility player, instead of a specialist, and imrpove his record across formats. Excluding him for the likes of Dinda, Tyagi, Mithun, Umesh and Unadkat, though, is baffling.

I don't think his batting or fielding should be a concern at the moment.We just need a tall-fast test match bowler.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by Anku31

I don't think his batting or fielding should be a concern at the moment.We just need a tall-fast test match bowler.

Let's just see how it shapes up now. Zaheer seems a perpetual injury worry, and all the bowlers, Zaheer included, are poor on flat decks, and wear out after their fifteenth over. Maybe Pankaj has a shout at that. There's a little too much competition between Zaheer, Ishant, Sreesanth and Praveen, and it will be difficult for Pankaj breaking in there. On the other hand, with India's bowling weakness flaring up due to the lack of a fifth bowler, if he can score runs, adding up to Bhajji and Praveen, he has a very strong case. Pace is a difficult ask from the man, much as it is a screaming requirement, so he needs to get both wickets and runs for his FC team, then for India. He offers just as much with the ball as the top four and if he can get runs on a regular basis, he can play as a third seamer in India or even the fourth seamer abroad. He should easily sneak in ahead of Munaf Patel.

Replacing one of Zaheer, Sreesanth, Ishant or Praveen is out of the question, and even then, he can't help India win matches, so the best he can do is as the fifth bowler.

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by Arjun

Let's just see how it shapes up now. Zaheer seems a perpetual injury worry, and all the bowlers, Zaheer included, are poor on flat decks, and wear out after their fifteenth over. Maybe Pankaj has a shout at that. There's a little too much competition between Zaheer, Ishant, Sreesanth and Praveen, and it will be difficult for Pankaj breaking in there. On the other hand, with India's bowling weakness flaring up due to the lack of a fifth bowler, if he can score runs, adding up to Bhajji and Praveen, he has a very strong case. Pace is a difficult ask from the man, much as it is a screaming requirement, so he needs to get both wickets and runs for his FC team, then for India. He offers just as much with the ball as the top four and if he can get runs on a regular basis, he can play as a third seamer in India or even the fourth seamer abroad. He should easily sneak in ahead of Munaf Patel.

Replacing one of Zaheer, Sreesanth, Ishant or Praveen is out of the question, and even then, he can't help India win matches, so the best he can do is as the fifth bowler.

Yeah.Can make to the squad as a fifth bowler for sure.But I don't see it happening as he wasn't even given a place in the emerging players' squad for Australia,even after being the top wicket taker of the season.There can't be anything more disgusting than that.

[Arjun]

Originally Posted by Anku31

Yeah.Can make to the squad as a fifth bowler for sure.But I don't see it happening as he wasn't even given a place in the emerging players' squad for Australia,even after being the top wicket taker of the season.There can't be anything more disgusting than that.

That Emerging Players tournament is essentially a contest among development cricketers, essentially young cricketers who are future prospects in the next few years. These don't even have official status. Looking at the average age and domestic experience, it doesn't make the omission so bad, as Pankaj Singh would be an adult playing with kids in that place. Already Vinay Kumar is chipping away lots of wickets as the token experienced player.

Emerging Players cricket is too small for him- he should be playing regularly for Board XI as well as a more proper India A, and play in every single tour FC/List-A game India plays. He shouldn't be just in contention for India Emerging, but India Seniors.

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by Arjun

That Emerging Players tournament is essentially a contest among development cricketers, essentially young cricketers who are future prospects in the next few years. These don't even have official status. Looking at the average age and domestic experience, it doesn't make the omission so bad, as Pankaj Singh would be an adult playing with kids in that place. Already Vinay Kumar is chipping away lots of wickets as the token experienced player.

Emerging Players cricket is too small for him- he should be playing regularly for Board XI as well as a more proper India A, and play in every single tour FC/List-A game India plays. He shouldn't be just in contention for India Emerging, but India Seniors.

That's a valid point.But why Dhawan,Tiwary,etc. in that squad?? If they can go,why can't Pankaj??

[Arjun]

They're token experienced players. Someone like Vinay Kumar or even a fully fit Irfan or Yusuf would be appropriate to lead or guide the team. Besides, Tiwary and Dhawan still have some distance to cover before getting any more India caps.

It is the selection of Umesh, Unadkat, Mithun, Tyagi and Dinda in the national side ahead of Pankaj Singh that's a matter of concern.

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by Arjun

It is the selection of Umesh, Unadkat, Mithun, Tyagi and Dinda in the national side ahead of Pankaj Singh that's a matter of concern.

It is a big matter of concern.It is questionable to BCCI why the leading wicket taker of the season wasn't picked in the national team & mediocres like Mithun & Unadkat are getting so many chances.
Tyagi & Unadkat won't even make to the full strength playing XI of their domestic sides.

[Prince EWS]

Yeah the fact that Pankaj wasn't picked for the Emerging Players tournament is a non-issue; it's not a genuine A team and isn't supposed to be.

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Yeah the fact that Pankaj wasn't picked for the Emerging Players tournament is a non-issue; it's not a genuine A team and isn't supposed to be.

But after such a superb season,he should have been in the squad for the tour of West Indies.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Anku31

But after such a superb season,he should have been in the squad for the tour of West Indies.

I don't really know where to start with this post. There are so many things I take issue with that I think I'm just going to leave the thread and pretend it didn't happen.

[Anku31]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

I don't really know where to start with this post. There are so many things I take issue with that I think I'm just going to leave the thread and pretend it didn't happen.

[Hurricane]

From those youtube clips his front arm looks awkward.