Indian A team in Africa

[Arjun]

The Indian A team in Africa have begun their training tour on a winning note, with a good win, although against one of the weakest FC sides they have faced. Bahutule had got the bulk of the 20 wickets, but Salvi and to some extent Munaf were impressive, especially Salvi, with the new ball. The batting was also quite good, with Dinesh Karthik making yet another statement to the selectors. It remains to be seen whether he can bat like a top-6 batsman, which is what the selectors have been looking for since the last 2 years. Other heroes hae been Gautam Gambhir and Dhiraj Jadhav. Hmmm.... interesting results.

Their true test will come against the Pakistan A team. Till then, they're just training there.

 

[V Reddy]

Where did you get the scores? How many did Karthik make?

I read today that 4 matches of the trination series will be shown on Ten Sports

 

[CrimeMasterGogo]

The scores are on CI at this link..

http://tinyurl.com/4cxxx


The performances of Balaji and Nehra to a smaller extent yesterday show that Salvi and Munaf still have a chance

I'm surprised Munaf didn't open the bowling...why?

 

[Arjun]

I'm surprised Munaf didn't open the bowling...why?

Good question. He sprays the new ball all over the place, while Bhandari and Slavi can use the new ball to good effect by moving it and putting it in the right place.

Salvi and Bhandari are better seam bowlers abroad than Balaji, as shown in averages of tours of the A-team and the Development Team. Balaji just bowls short and uses the low bounce of the local wickets to get his scalps, while Salvi is more accurate, and Bhandari is a sneaky bowler. In fact, a good Indian seam attack would have Salvi and Bhandari, with Pathan. Bangar is also a decent opening bowler, but is absolutely useless if played as a bits-and-pieces middle overs bowler.

 

[GermanShepherd]

It's good to see Aaviskar Salvi fit again. I rated him pretty highly based on what I saw of him at international and A level.

Once he's back in form, I certainly think India should pick him.

 

[Arjun]

I do hope Munaf improves his fielding. That will get him into the selection plans.

The most disappointing result was Bahutule's six wickets, since he's not in the selectors' plans. Besides, Anil Kumble is more or less an automatic selection and Amit Mishra is young, and can bat and field quite well. With Harbhajan regularly injured (hopefully he'll last long), the man to watch is Ramesh Powar, since he is the best batsman among all bowlers. Hopefully he'll perform better.

 

[Arjun]

At least 3 players (SS Paul, Yogesh and Dhoni) are just passengers. Was there any point including them? No Reetinder Sodhi?

 

[alexkumar]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200407260144.html.

ZIMBABWE XI were left staring defeat on the second day of their four-day cricket match against visiting India A at Harare Sports Club yesterday when they were bowled out for 259 to concede a first innings deficit of 161 runs.

India A, who made 420 off 103.3 overs in their first innings, look set to enforce the follow-on at the start of the third day today targeting an early finish to the match with an innings victory while the hosts' main hope now is to force an unlikely draw.


Only three Zimbabwe XI batsmen managed to score a half century while the rest of the team struggled against the India A attack.

All-rounder Elton Chigumbura, who batted at number six, topscored for Zimbabwe XI with 57 off 98 balls followed by impressive opener Brendan Taylor who made 56 off 93 balls while fellow-opener Vusi Sibanda added 51.

Chigumbura hit 10 fours, Taylor smashed 11 boundaries while Sibanda hit eight fours.

The third highest contribution for Zimbabwe XI came from Stuart Matsikenyeri who hit five boundaries on his way to 39 off 68 balls while number three batsman Mark Vermeulen smashed two sixes and a four before departing for 25 off 50 balls.

Captain Tatenda Taibu could only make three runs while Prosper Utseya (1 off 15 balls), Innocent Chinyoka (2) and Graeme Cremer (1) failed to reach double figures while paceman Edward Rainsford was left stranded on 13.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar, led the India A attack with four wickets for 71 off 22 overs while Aavishkar

Salvi took three wickets for 48 in 17 overs with M Patel claiming three wickets for 40 in 16 overs.


Earlier, India A's huge score was built around a fiery 103 off 91 balls by 22-year-old left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir, a fine 93 off 172 balls by fellow-opener Dheeraj Jadhav, another left-hander, and a fluent 96 off 100 balls by 19-year-old number six batsman Krishan Dinesh Karthik.

Zimbabwe XI are missing the services of the quintet of Dion Ebrahim, Tinashe Panyangara, Waddington Mwayenga, Tawanda Mupariwa and Mluleki Nkala through injury although they are expected to be available for selection for the second match at the same venue starting next Thursday.


DINESH KARTHIK rules!

 

[Langeveldt]

Are they going to Namibia to play? or is that just my imagination....

 

[marc71178]

Looking at that side, it's pretty much a full Zimbabwe team!

 

[Raj123]

anyone knows why rayudu isnt in the team?? isnt he generally the captain of "A" side.

 

[Arjun]

Rayudu does not have the best technique and temperament- he has struggled against Mumbai's bowlers a few times, in Ranji and in the recent Challenger Trophy. He doesn't last very long, and he has to look to stay at the crease longer to be considered an international prospect. His batting may be effective against Andhra, but he should make a few against Mumbai, too. He's not usually the captain of the A-team, but he is quite regular, until now.

 

[masterblaster]

I wouldnt be blown away by Karthik or this Indian A team yet.

Its some very poor opposition.

 

[alexkumar]

R Gavaskar on 56 not while Dinesh Karthik was unbeaten on 52

India A in control of second four-day match

By Lawrence Moyo
AN unbeaten century partnership for the fourth wicket put India A in control of the second four-day match against Zimbabwe XI at Harare Sports Club yesterday after another impressive bowling performance by the visitors* skipper Sairaj Bahutule.

At close the tourists, who won the toss and elected to field, were 117/3 in reply to Zimbabwe XI*s first innings total of 152 all out with number four batsman R Gavaskar on 56 not while Dinesh Karthik was unbeaten on 52.

Zimbabwe XI pace bowler Tinashe Panyangara had made his presence felt when he took three quick wickets to leave India A at 12/3 early in their reply before the unbroken fourth wicket stand that brought the Indians back into the game.

Panyangara removed openers Dheeraj Jadhav (6) and Gautam Gambhir (3), the batsmen who inspired India A to victory in the first match as they scored 196 runs between them in a huge total of 420

India A won the first match at the same venue by nine wickets inside three days and they go into the second day today looking at posting a comprehensive first innings total that will lay the foundation for a huge victory as they trail by 35 runs with seven wickets in hand.

It was another terrible day for the Zimbabwe XI batsmen as none of them reached 50 with five of them failing to reach double figures as leg-spinner Bahutule, who took 10 minutes in the first match, claimed four middle and low order wickets for just 27 runs in 14.1 overs.

Number seven batsman Chamunorwa Chibhabha topscored for Zimbabwe XI with 41 runs followed by Stuart Matsikenyeri, who batted sixth, with 28 and number four Mark Vermeulen who scored 23.

Scorecard

Zimbabwe XI first innings

V. Sibanda lbw b SS Paul 1

B. Taylor c Dhoni b A Salv 11

E. Chigumbura c Dhoni b A Bhandari 15

T. Taibu c Dhoni b A Bhandari 11

M. Vermeulen st Dhoni b Bahatule 23

S. Matsikeyeri c Khartik b Bahatule 28

C. Chibhabha c Dhoni b Powar 41

T. Panyangara c Gavaskar b Bahatule 4

D. Hondo c Jadhav b Powar 4

W. Mwayenga st Dhoni b Bahatule 9

M. Cremer not out 1

Extras (nb 3, w1) 4

—

Total (all out 58.1 overs) 152

Fall of Wickets: 1-3, 2-23, 3-41, 4-41, 5-87, 6-108, 7-116, 8-141, 9-142, 10-152

Bowling: A. Salvi 10-1-28-1, SS Paul 9-2-29-1, A. Bhandari 13-3-38-2, A. Powar 12-3-30-2, S. Bahatule 14.1-4-27-4

India A first innings

D. Jadhav c Taibu b Panyangara 6

G. Gambhir c Taibu b Panyangara 3

S. Srinam lbw b Panyangara 0

R. Gavaskar not out 56

D. Khartik not out 52

Extras 0

—

Total (for three wickets, 28 overs) 117

Bowling (to date): D. Hondo 5-2-11-0, T. Panyangara 9-3-30-3, 5-0-37-0, W. Mwayenga 6-0-28-0, G. Cremer 3-0-8-0.

 

[Arjun]

Grrrrr.... why does Bahutule have to take the bulk of the wickets? He'll rarely or even never get picked!

 

[Arjun]

The Indian A-team have won yet another match- Scores here.

Given the opposition, it may not seem much, but at least 5 of these players should be considered for national selection.

So, Dhoni can bat a bit. But just a bit. Dinesh Karthik can fit into a top-6, but an Indian top-6? Powar's performance as a bowler has been decent. Salvi and Bhandari were rather disappointing, but they can be picked for the national team- all options should be kept open, even SS Paul. Bahutule as leading bowler? Well....

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Can someone tell me more about this Dinesh Karthik fella..?

 

[V Reddy]

Can someone tell me more about this Dinesh Karthik fella..?

Check out these links

Profile

A boy with a sense of occasion

Another possible future B.Tech member in the team

Basically keeping wise , Patel and Karthik are on the same path but batting wise he is at a higher level and is much more suited to onedayers than Patel is. Last season was his breakthrough season with the bat as he batted well in the U-19 WC with big hitting coming in the slog overs. He scored a century in the Ranji Semis and Final against the two best bowling attacks in the country i.e., Mumbai and Railways. Mumbai attack is the India A one which is playing in Zim at present and Raliways includes Sanjay Bangar, Harvinder Singh, Murali Kartik , Parida and Zakir Hussain. Last year wasn't his best keeping wise as it coincided with his steep growth in height and so had problems adapting. I personally only saw the Ranji final and his keeping was solid in that game. He must have adapted to the height problems then. His batting was just excellent. I am looking forward to watching him play in the tri-series .

 

[Arjun]

That Railways attack is not that great, except for Karthik, JP Yadav and Bangar. Mumbai is a formidable Ranji team, though.

The Indian team doesn't need a wicketkeeper-batsman. They need a wicketkeeper who can hold catches, complete stumpings and runouts, and hold on to the ball all the time. Parthiv Patel has to practice more, while Dravid should go back to slips, where he is more effective. Why a wicektkeeper-batsman, even a bowling all-rounder would be sufficient!

 

[Arjun]

Another win for India A

Now, MS Dhoni has made some sort of record, with 11 dismissals in the previous match. He has scored some runs then, but is it enough?

Rohan Gavaskar bowled a good spell. The Indians have another bowling option which may last long.

The real test comes against Pakistan A. With the series being televised, we will know how good they really are.