*Official* - India in West Indies

[Nate]

From my observation, he's a very athletic guy but I'm not sure if he's making the best use of his run-up. He runs in hard but there isn't a gradual build-up of momentum as you'd expect. Neither is the gather and transfer of energy through the delivery stride. In the end, he just ends up muscling it down and that's perhaps the reason why he is slower than he looks to be. Still 85 mph or so is nothing to be scoffed at.

That's the same issue with almost all West Indian pacers.

And Martin, WAG. Hope for WI Cricket yet.

 

[GotSpin]

Although Junior Bravo hasn't exactly set the world on fire lately he needs to be persisted with. Seems to be lacking some cricketing brains at the moment, as shown by his dismissal last night, but I can definitely see him averaging in the high 40s in the not too distant future. He doesn't have any glaring technical difficulties and was playing spin with ease yesterday until he decided to spoon a catch up.

 

[Jono]

Just heard Martin's presser.

That was worthy of rivalling Ajmal's from last year.

Awesome stuff.

 

[Cruxdude]

Haven't watched much of this series but quite disappointed with Badri's struggle. Think he might have just shot himself with his struggle after the bright start in the T20s. Still hope he is given a chance in the test series. A failure there though might sound the death knell for him.

 

[Cevno]

He really only struggled last match tbh.

Before that he was looking decent before he got out.

 

[Dissector]

So what is the likely lineup in the tests? If Vijay and Mukund open with Dravid and Laxman in the middle order, there are two spots for Kohli, Badrinath and Raina. It's possible that Dravid could be asked to open instead of Mukund allowing all three to be picked. And of course given his recent form, Dravid could be omitted altogether though I doubt they would risk having a lineup with 5 inexperienced batsmen.

It's a real pity Pujara is injured; this could have been a really useful series in his development.

 

[indiaholic]

Didn't know where to post this, but loved this interview of Zaheer.
Dailymotion - Walk the Talk with Zaheer Khan - a News & Politics video

 

[Cevno]

Mukund and Vijay will open.

Dravid opening ruined his form one time and i doubt he will do it again and Mukund deserves a chance.

So 2 slots left between Kohli,Badri and Raina. Personally i would pick Badri and Kohli but Raina won't be a bad pick at all on such pitches.

 

[Cruxdude]

He really only struggled last match tbh.

Before that he was looking decent before he got out.

Hmm haven't seen any of the games and from the scorecard it seems like he has kind of struggled to score runs in the whole series. Could be wrong.

 

[jeevan]

Mukund and Vijay will open.

Dravid opening ruined his form one time and i doubt he will do it again and Mukund deserves a chance.

So 2 slots left between Kohli,Badri and Raina. Personally i would pick Badri and Kohli but Raina won't be a bad pick at all on such pitches.

Plus this Indian squad is just about the most meager in terms of part timer bowling resources. No Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj(or before that Ganguly). Worth a thought to play a fifth bowler who can bat a bit(choices arent great either) or ?

Under the circumstances Raina edges out Badri.He isn't a better bat, but the role is different.

 

[honestbharani]

Plus this Indian squad is just about the most meager in terms of part timer bowling resources. No Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj(or before that Ganguly). Worth a thought to play a fifth bowler who can bat a bit(choices arent great either) or ?

Under the circumstances Raina edges out Badri.He isn't a better bat, but the role is different.

I don't see why Raina's part time off spin should be considered > Badri's part time offspin, tbh... esp. in a test match situation.

 

[Bun]

I don't see why Raina's part time off spin should be considered > Badri's part time offspin, tbh... esp. in a test match situation.

considering how many overs raina has senr in in odis as compared to badri, fair call that raina will get th nod, should it come to their bowling skills.

 

[GotSpin]

considering how many overs raina has senr in in odis as compared to badri, fair call that raina will get th nod, should it come to their bowling skills.

This is an English speaking forum. Kindly read the rules

 

[Bun]

This is an English speaking forum. Kindly read the rules

Speaking?

 

[jeevan]

I don't see why Raina's part time off spin should be considered > Badri's part time offspin, tbh... esp. in a test match situation.

Raina has bowled his part time off spin in tests, and to reasonable effect so far.

 

[Cruxdude]

This is an English speaking forum. Kindly read the rules

Totally unnecessary comment for the quoted line.

 

[Top_Cat]

WAFG Anthony Martin, great interview. Love that he's not just jovial but intense about what he does. Great stuff.

Didn't get to see the game, is he any good? haha

 

[shivfan]

Yeah, I'm yet to see any real evidence of momentum meaning anything between matches, let alone between series.

Reducing the series to a 3-2 defeat would go some way towards saving face, though. So there's something to that.

Well, scratch that now....

India in West Indies 2011: Barath, Rampaul return; still no room for Gayle | Cricket News | West Indies v India | ESPN Cricinfo

I thought the natural follow-up in order to get some momentum would be to include Gayle in the team for the final ODI in front of his Jamaican crowd, giving him some practice before his return to the side for the first Test at Sabina Park.

Well done, WICB, you've now ensured that there will be little or no crowds for the final ODI and the first Test, which is stupidly being played from Monday-Friday when there are no public holidays. Jamaica's holiday system is now modelled on the US system, not the British, so most working folks only have two weeks a year, and how many of them are going to take time off from work to see a WI side sans Gayle? In addition, it's in the middle of the school exams, so working people are going to save their hols for the summer holidays. It makes no sense in playing this first Test during the week, and not over a weekend....

 

[GotSpin]

Well, scratch that now....

India in West Indies 2011: Barath, Rampaul return; still no room for Gayle | Cricket News | West Indies v India | ESPN Cricinfo

I thought the natural follow-up in order to get some momentum would be to include Gayle in the team for the final ODI in front of his Jamaican crowd, giving him some practice before his return to the side for the first Test at Sabina Park.

Well done, WICB, you've now ensured that there will be little or no crowds for the final ODI and the first Test, which is stupidly being played from Monday-Friday when there are no public holidays. Jamaica's holiday system is now modelled on the US system, not the British, so most working folks only have two weeks a year, and how many of them are going to take time off from work to see a WI side sans Gayle? In addition, it's in the middle of the school exams, so working people are going to save their hols for the summer holidays. It makes no sense in playing this first Test during the week, and not over a weekend....

I may remember incorrectly but I don't think Windies had to much of a choice in scheduling

 

[biased indian]

I may remember incorrectly but I don't think Windies had to much of a choice in scheduling

BCCI to blame for that also ?