BCCI Contract System

[Arjun]

Oh no.

My apologies Arjun. Just forget it

Don't hit yourself too hard. Although some suggested making Test openers out of Sachin, or even Ganguly (especially Ganguly- he tries to enjoy the benefits of ODI pinch-hitting, while the younger batsmen have to do the hard work of Test opening).

 

[SJS]

Don't hit yourself too hard. Although some suggested making Test openers out of Sachin, or even Ganguly (especially Ganguly- he tries to enjoy the benefits of ODI pinch-hitting, while the younger batsmen have to do the hard work of Test opening).

My dear friend,

I was trying to be funny and making fun of the selection and simultaneouly of the team managements policy of fiddling with the batting order and you kept replying seriously.

Hence the head banging

 

[Arjun]

My dear friend,

I was trying to be funny and making fun of the selection and simultaneouly of the team managements policy of fiddling with the batting order and you kept replying seriously.

Hence the head banging

I have to admit, I don't like smileys very much (I never use any myself), hence the head-banging reference. As for the selection policies, I had no idea you're joking, since there are still quite a few fans who are serious when they say the same.

 

[SJS]

I have to admit, I don't like smileys very much (I never use any myself), hence the head-banging reference. As for the selection policies, I had no idea you're joking, since there are still quite a few fans who are serious when they say the same.

Thats okay.

But I agree with you such a short list serves no purpose for Indian cricket. It just rewards those already in. It should have been a bigger and more comprehensive list.

It also shows that we have no bench strength. At least none that the selectors have identified as such.

 

[Arjun]

It also shows that we have no bench strength. At least none that the selectors have identified as such.

There is ample bench strength to replace this Indian team. Do they look like world beaters to you? Anyway, the junior coaches, as well as the state team and A-team coaches know there are players good enough to make the team, but don't get the chances. Worst of all, the Indian team has become an exclusive club, so under-performers in the team stay on longer, even when there are options available, performing consistently well.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Then whom do you want at number 7?

Even then, after five years of persistence, Pathan and Harbhajan (or any under-19 bowler who can bat) can be capable number 7 bats. There's no point playing a batsman at number seven, since you don't need one. Besides, Pathan and Harbhajan are better than all those wicketkeepers tried so far.

Basically, the Number 7 must have a batsman who has another skill to fall back on.

Someone who can bat would be a start.

 

[marc71178]

Then whom do you want at number 7?

Someone who can be relied upon to get more than just 10 or so runs.

Even then, after five years of persistence, Pathan and Harbhajan (or any under-19 bowler who can bat) can be capable number 7 bats.

5 years of persistence?

So this is now planning for the 2011 World Cup is it?!

 

[Arjun]

5 years of persistence?

So this is now planning for the 2011 World Cup is it?!

And why not? Anyway, Pathan's only 19 or 20, so he has plenty of time.

Someone who can bat would be a start.

Someone who can be relied upon to get more than just 10 or so runs.

And who is that someone?

 

[marc71178]

A specialist bat would get more than 10.

You do not pick someone who is nowhere near the standard required. You especially do not then say, "well in 5 years he could be the answer"

 

[Arjun]

A specialist bat would get more than 10.

You do not pick someone who is nowhere near the standard required. You especially do not then say, "well in 5 years he could be the answer"

That number 7 should also have another skill to fall back on. He's not going to get too many opportunities to bat, and when he does, his team is in dire straits. With another skill at hand, that number 7 can bat under a lot less pressure. He can't score too many from there, so he must try to contribute with another skill.

Whenever Kaif has come in, he has been under a lot of pressure to maintain a good average and get big scores and honestly, it has helped neither the team, nor him. They've also fallen short of bowling options repeatedly, and have played without a wicketkeeper. Not to mention several questions asking whether Kaif deserves a place in the team. Kaif has come up to number 4 and his batting has improved a great deal. It has helped him get more time to score more runs.

And who said Sehwag is of international standard? At least Pathan can get 10 batting as low as number 9 and can hit the big shots, even against Brett Lee, Muralitharan and Akhtar. How can anyone in the team get a chance to improve or apply his batting skills batting so low? Behind two rank tailenders? Sehwag, on the other hand, is just playing a lot of rash, technically incorrect swipes and isn't even getting 5! Even taking first strike at the top of the order!

Those who think Pathan can't score more than 10 runs know absolutely nothing about him. His junior coach, Sandeep Patil, said that he has the batting temperament of a top-6 batsman. A coach knows his player best.

This contract system could have been used to solve the team's problems of genuine openers, all-rounders and fast bowlers (not to mention wicketkeepers, a problem made out of their own policies), but is just giving some average palyers a long free ride and wealthy pay-packages, too.

 

[marc71178]

That number 7 should also have another skill to fall back on.

They also need to have the batting skill to bat at number 7.

 

[Arjun]

They also need to have the batting skill to bat at number 7.

Name any player who has that batting skill for number 7, that other skill and can play for India. Maybe Powar, Bahutule and Pathan, and most probably Dinesh Karthik, but somebody has to select them and give them opportunities and support.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Let's look at who the other seven nations bat at number seven:

Chris Cairns
Michael Clarke
Geraint Jones
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Mark Boucher
Dwayne Bravo
Moin Khan

All quite capable of long and large innings at any level.

 

[SJS]

Considering Bahutule as a future India prospect is a joke.

 

[marc71178]

Name any player who has that batting skill for number 7, that other skill and can play for India.

Dinesh Mongia?

 

[Dasa]

And who said Sehwag is of international standard? At least Pathan can get 10 batting as low as number 9 and can hit the big shots, even against Brett Lee, Muralitharan and Akhtar. How can anyone in the team get a chance to improve or apply his batting skills batting so low? Behind two rank tailenders? Sehwag, on the other hand, is just playing a lot of rash, technically incorrect swipes and isn't even getting 5! Even taking first strike at the top of the order!

Geez, until Sehwag began this run of poor form, you were praising him as he was the only one in the Indian team who was good at your beloved six-hitting, which is of course what wins matches. So he's going through a rough patch, it doesn't mean he's not of international standard. Players not of international standard do not make Test 300s.

 

[Arjun]

Dinesh Mongia?

Dinesh? No way! Sehwag is a better bowler, and so is Sachin, and both are better batsmen.

Geez, until Sehwag began this run of poor form, you were praising him as he was the only one in the Indian team who was good at your beloved six-hitting, which is of course what wins matches. So he's going through a rough patch, it doesn't mean he's not of international standard. Players not of international standard do not make Test 300s.

This rough patch has lasted not one, not two, but FOUR tournaments! It's gone on far too long! Sehwag, at present, can't even BUY a run! His technique is awful, he's not getting bat to ball and hasn't hit a six in a very long time! The very fact that he gets a Class A contract is beyond belief- he's not of the same calss as Sachin, Laxman and Dravid! Nor is Harbhajan seasoned enough for that Class A.

Considering Bahutule as a future India prospect is a joke.

He's a more serious prospect than the present lot.

 

[SJS]

He's a more serious prospect than the present lot.

I am sure there is something about his 'seriousness' which you know that no one else has noticed

By the way, this shining young prospect is going to be 32 years old in 3 months time

His performance (in the 2 tests he has played) so far would have been great if we switched his batting and bowling averages of 13.0 and 67.7 around. Inspires a lot of 'serious' confidence


In the 8 ODI's he has played his batting average of 7.7 and bowling average of 141.5 would be even more remarkable if switched around

His bowling strike rate of 147 would be the best in the world if it were for his batting

Very serious young talent indeed

 

[Arjun]

I am sure there is something about his 'seriousness' which you know that no one else has noticed

By the way, this shining young prospect is going to be 32 years old in 3 months time

His performance (in the 2 tests he has played) so far would have been great if we switched his batting and bowling averages of 13.0 and 67.7 around. Inspires a lot of 'serious' confidence


In the 8 ODI's he has played his batting average of 7.7 and bowling average of 141.5 would be even more remarkable if switched around

His bowling strike rate of 147 would be the best in the world if it were for his batting

Very serious young talent indeed

That 'seriousness' is his batting average of 33 and bowling average of 27 in as many as 8 years of FC cricket. Yet he's never given a fair try. Just because he had two bad Test matches, does it mean he shouldn't be picked again? He's in form right now, and surely deserves a Test and ODI recall. Didn't Balaji average 189 after 2 Tests? Yet he got picked for the tour of Australia and got 3 Test matches in Pakistan. Doesn't Agarkar, with an average of 44 after 4 years, still stay in the team? Bahutule's FC figures are better than his Mumbai teammate's.

Who cares if he's 32? Even if a good player is 40, he deserves to play if he performs. Sachin will last for 3 or 4 more years. He may retire at age 37 or 38. Steve Waugh, Wasim Akram and Allan Donald retired at an old age of 38. Age is just a number and nothing more. In fact, Parthiv Patel is too young to play international cricket.

The Indian team has faced the pinch of lacking a genuine all-rounder for far too long and the BCCI must take the responsibility for this. There have been as many as 5 all-rounders to choose from, but while most of them don't get a fair try, those in the team end up as specialists. Look at how effective an all-rounder can be in the team. You have 4 specialist bowlers, and they're either doing too much work in Tests, or let down by the part-timers in ODI's. The batting looks good till number 7- a batsman at 7 can give the top 6 more freedom to play their strokes. The Indians are fielding no wicketkeeper in ODI's and a very average one in Tests, but the presence of an all-rounder or even two could give them the option of playing a genuine wicketkeeper, and there are a few.

The contract system should have been used to achieve this.

 

[Arjun]

One player I would like to see more of is Gaurav Dhiman. He's an under-19 player, who opens the bowling and can bat quite well- the kind of player the Indian team should have.