Steve Smith and David Warner's return won't worry Indian pacers: Gambhir

[Nikola]

NEW DELHI: Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has backed the Indian team to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy when they travel for the proposed four-match Test series in beginning December 3.

Virat Kohli's side, in the 2018/19 series, became the first Indian side to beat Australia in a Test series in their own den. The series featured stellar performances from batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant and Kohli and the fast bowling battery featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma.
But that series saw both Steve Smith and David Warner missing out as they were serving a ban for their involvement in the 'sandpaper-gate' controversy around ball-tampering. This time round, they are expected to be part of a strong batting line-up. But Gambhir believes that the Indian pacers will still pose a threat.
"India has the fast bowlers to challenge any team in any conditions. I am sure with success on the last tour of Australia in the bag, if we go to Australia, we will be serious challengers to the hosts," said Gambhir.

Gambhir also expressed his opinion on the men's T20 World Cup, which is in doubt amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ICC has not yet made any decision on the tournament, currently slated to be held in October-November in Australia.
"Look, these are not easy decisions to make. It has to be a well-thought-out call. I am sure ICC will clarify their stand sooner than later. It is important that they take everyone else in confidence," said Gambhir.

 

Cricket in India has come to a standstill since mid-March and Gambhir believes the sport would resume in the country only when the COVID-19 situation gets better.
"Personally speaking, whenever the time is right, cricket in India will resume," said the 2007 World T20 and 2011 World Cup winner.
"Well, it depends on multiple factors. I am absolutely confident that BCCI will take a calculated call on this.
"No one is in a hurry as human lives are far more important. At the same time, some bit of cricket will immensely help in uplifting the mood of the nation. So it is a delicate decision...a bit of catch 22," he added.

The 38-year-old also has backed BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to put forward his candidature for the post of ICC chairman, saying it will be good for the country to have their representation in the top management of the International Cricket Council.
On July 1, Shashank Manohar stepped down from the post of ICC chairman after twin two-year tenures at the helm. Deputy chairman Imran Khwaja has assumed the responsibilities of the chairperson until a successor is elected.

"I am not privy to what Sourav Ganguly is thinking. But yes, it will be good if India can have their representation in the top management of the ICC," Gambhir told IANS. "India deserves democratic representation in the ICC," he stressed. Cricket South Africa's Director of Cricket Graeme Smith has also supported Ganguly to take over as ICC chairman.

 

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/steve-smith-and-david-warners-return-wont-worry-indian-pacers-gautam-gambhir/articleshow/76997189.cms

 

Edited July 16, 2020 by Nikola

[Nikola]

I do agree that our pace attack can cause trouble against smith & warner but i still feel the trio of warner, labuschagne & smith on flat aussie wickets have better chance of winning series. My prediction is 3-1 or 2-1 in favor of aus.

[Ankit_sharma03]

ohh they will make a diff and add to that marnus isnt same anymore, if nything even cummins starc wont be same as last time they wud come better and more planned this time

[Nikola]

Playing xi comparison between 2018 series and last series Australia played.

 

    2018                                  2020

            

 

Except head (who was top scorer in 2018 series as well), their all batsman have been changed from that series. So it's not that just warner & smith coming back but their whole batting lineup looks different now.

Edited July 16, 2020 by Nikola

[Suhaan]

Not sure about Warner,but Smith is certainly going to cash in as his record against us suggests,he will definitely live up to our expectations,Warner though may come with maybe one big score for this is going to be a long series

Labuchagne is surely up against (probably )his first biggest challenge,so pressure will be on him

Indian pacers won't either sit idle and wait for things to happen,they for sure will attack Warner as he sems vulnerable this time around , Labuchagne needs to watch out,we might see Saini there ,Umesh won't start there ,if he does ,rest assured Warner will devour everything on his way

 

 

 

Edited July 16, 2020 by Suhaan

[Nikola]

4 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

Not sure about Warner,but Smith is certainly going to cash in as his record against us suggests,he will definitely live up to our expectations,Warner though may come with maybe one big score for this is going to be a long series

Labuchagne is surely up against (probably )his first biggest challenge,so pressure will be on him

Indian pacers won't either sit idle and wait for things to happen,they for sure will attack Warner as he sems vulnerable this time around , Labuchagne needs to watch out,we might see there Saini ,Umesh won't start there if he does rest assured Warner will devour everything on his way

 

 

 

Excited for this series just like i was for NZ series but at times we have played really poor cricket. The way we played in NZ series i am really disappointed but before series started we all were so excited and no one could really predict result and thought it would be such a close series but in end it was one sided whitewash. I hope we get to see fight from both teams in Aus vs India series atleast.

Edited July 16, 2020 by Nikola

[maniac]

4 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

Not sure about Warner,but Smith is certainly going to cash in as his record against us suggests,he will definitely live up to our expectations,Warner though may come with maybe one big score for this is going to be a long series

Labuchagne is surely up against (probably )his first biggest challenge,so pressure will be on him

Indian pacers won't either sit idle and wait for things to happen,they for sure will attack Warner as he sems vulnerable this time around , Labuchagne needs to watch out,we might see Saini there ,Umesh won't start there ,if he does ,rest assured Warner will devour everything on his way

 

 

 

Ishant round the wicket to Warner should be the strategy. Ishant is similar to Broad in bowling style and equally good if not better in helpful conditions. Hope Bewda and his vanar sena pays attention.

[maniac]

Wasn’t Smith Jadeja’s bunny or Am I thinking Michael Clarke?

[Nikola]

9 minutes ago, maniac said:

Wasn’t Smith Jadeja’s bunny or Am I thinking Michael Clarke?

Can't call him bunny but he did trouble smith in indian conditions. Idk if he can do same in aus conditions (maybe on day 4/5)

 

Edit: smith averaged 40.66 against Jaddu in 2017 tour. (122 runs from 355 balls, out 3 times)

Edited July 16, 2020 by Nikola

[Suhaan]

12 minutes ago, Nikola said:

Excited for this series just like i was for NZ series but at times we have played really poor cricket. The way we played in NZ series i am really disappointed but before series started we all were so excited and no one could really predict result and thought it would be such a close series but in end it was one sided whitewash. I hope we get to see fight from both teams in Aus vs India series atleast.

Umesh should not start there,reasons

1)He will waste a spot

2)His inability to control anything but SG balls makes him loose control and give freebies to even tailenders will make things difficult for India upfront

3)If Warner gets going at the start of the series he will be more menacing than Smith,so we need to tie him down and Umesh is one who will actually boost his confidence as i anticipate him coming first change(if moron Kohli plays him)

Our batting will do fine in Aus even if they give 2013 Ashes kind of pitches,Shaw will shine as will Pant, don't see Saha either there,we need batting cushion against more focused attack this time around

Aussie s will come hard as will we,cracker of a series

Mai kuch jada toh nahi bol gaya,dekhte hain

Edited July 16, 2020 by Suhaan

[Suhaan]

7 minutes ago, maniac said:

Wasn’t Smith Jadeja’s bunny or Am I thinking Michael Clarke?

Jadejas bunny was Clarke in 2013,Smith, i dont think so

[Ankit_sharma03]

8 minutes ago, maniac said:

Wasn’t Smith Jadeja’s bunny or Am I thinking Michael Clarke?

it was clarke but jadeja was the only bowler who had smith in trouble when they toured australia but thats a different story with indian pitches n SG ball. WIth SG ball on indian pitches jadeja has troubled best of the best , its diff to identify which of his deilvery turn and which one doesnt ....

Edited July 16, 2020 by Ankit_sharma03

[nevada]

8 hours ago, Nikola said:

I do agree that our pace attack can cause trouble against smith & warner but i still feel the trio of warner, labuschagne & smith on flat aussie wickets have better chance of winning series. My prediction is 3-1 or 2-1 in favor of aus.

They seem flat when the Aussies bat but deadly when our batsmen bat! Hope we win the toss and pile up huge totals or else, batting with scoreboard pressure, our batsmen crumble like cookies. If we have to chase anything above double digits in the 4th innings, Lyon will hurl some grenades and make sure we never reach the target.

[nevada]

7 hours ago, Suhaan said:

Umesh should not start there,reasons

1)He will waste a spot

2)His inability to control anything but SG balls makes him loose control and give freebies to even tailenders will make things difficult for India upfront

3)If Warner gets going at the start of the series he will be more menacing than Smith,so we need to tie him down and Umesh is one who will actually boost his confidence as i anticipate him coming first change(if moron Kohli plays him)

Our batting will do fine in Aus even if they give 2013 Ashes kind of pitches,Shaw will shine as will Pant, don't see Saha either there,we need batting cushion against more focused attack this time around

Aussie s will come hard as will we,cracker of a series

Mai kuch jada toh nahi bol gaya,dekhte hain

Yes, no Umesh please! Not even in the squad. 

[Deleted_User_1]

At the risk of repeating ad infinitum, I will say one last time ...

[SK_IH]

Well, it ll be carnage and damage would be done by Warner before Smith steps in. I hope Indian batsmen match their scores as they did in 2014-15 but the loss is inevitable.

[Stan AF]

Don't count your chickens yet, gambhir. Between them they have like 25+ 100s in Australia in the last 7-8 years alone. And I have not yet added the new kid on the block Labuschagne.

 

Bottom Line: Aussies always score heavily at home.

Edited July 17, 2020 by Stan AF

[Lone Wolf]

I guess we do have a shot at winning the series if we make right selections (wishful thinking knowing Bewada & kolli).  Kuldeep must play D/N test he might be difference in that game.  In Gabba I'd like to see Saini too.  I hope Gill also plays instead of Rahane but can't see that happening at least till 3rd test. 

Kohli had a average series last time so he may play well here.  I guess our biggest trump card against Aussie killing machine of Warner Smith & Labu is Kuldeep. 

[Ankit_sharma03]

3 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

I guess our biggest trump card against Aussie killing machine of Warner Smith & Labu is Kuldeep. 

kuldeep hasnt been in form and his confidence is low as well. 

Key is to score runs so our bowlers come in play. One of the reason for 8-0 whitewash in 2011-12 was that our batsman were even struggling to put 300 on board. 

Key wud be pujara n openers- this time aussie bowlers will come up targetting pujara for sure. 

[Lone Wolf]

10 minutes ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

kuldeep hasnt been in form and his confidence is low as well. 

Key is to score runs so our bowlers come in play. One of the reason for 8-0 whitewash in 2011-12 was that our batsman were even struggling to put 300 on board. 

Key wud be pujara n openers- this time aussie bowlers will come up targetting pujara for sure. 

Kuldeep took a 5fer last time in Australia.  Not many sub continent  spinners have done that in their maiden inns there.  Besides having a wrist spinner in a D/N test can come very handy.  Heard Kuldeep is trying to increase his pace these days.  I'd back Kuldeep over TTfs like Ashwin in overseas. 

Pujara may not enjoy a big series this time. Say whatever Indian batting cannot compete with Aussie batting in their own den.  We may be blown away in Gabba & D/N game (first two tests in fact)  if we go with our usual approach which has barely yielded us results.  I think we will have to try out of the box & give chance to Saini & Kuldeep.