Was Pujara's series performance best ever series performance by Indian batsman?

[velu]

1 hour ago, Trichromatic said:

Had all types of performances ranging from 1st gear to 4th gear. He did almost everything you could ask for.

 

1. Seeing off new ball in tough conditions - check

 2. Playing with tailenders and scoring quickly - check

3. Stonewalling - check

4. Big hundred - check

5. Dominating spinner - check

6. Not getting roughed up by pacers - check

 

7. Tiring the fast bowlers - check

[G_B_]

Wait hold on WI had a pop gun attack whole series in 1971?

 

[Cricketics]

Dravid in 2011 when everyone failed deserves a special mention. We did not win but he was class in that series. Bowling attack was pretty good too. Might not go down as the best effort but there was surely some "WALL" like batting on display. 

 

[singhprakash72]

6 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

Wait hold on WI had a pop gun attack whole series in 1971?

 

That was a transition period for WI as their bowling greats Charlie Griffith and Wes Hall had retired ...sobers was past his prime but Vanburn Holder was still decent. So if you want to compare with WI pace attack post 1975 to 1990 then it was probably Pop gun attack but by no means toothless.

[zen]

30 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

Wait hold on WI had a pop gun attack whole series in 1971?

 

It was not the ATG attack but many of our batsmen were mediocre. It was Gavaskar, supported by Sardeshi, that made Ind competitive (much like how Pujara’s performances here). Without Gavaskar, we may not have won the series 

 

Gavaskar averaged 150+ (750+ runs in just 4 tests) 

Sardeshi was around 85 

Rest were below 40 (some may be in 20s) 

 

Gave something to our bowlers to defend 

Edited January 7, 2019 by zen

[MechEng]

Can someone here answer what changes did Pujara make in his batting technique? @Cricketics @Ankit_sharma03 @Trichromatic or anyone?

 

I did not watch any game this series, but as far as I remember watching him earlier he had pretty slow reflexes to play genuine fast bowling. Was there a change in mindset or technique?

[MechEng]

How is Dravid's 2011 series comparable to this? Which was better qualitatively? Ignoring the series results.

[Cricketics]

7 minutes ago, MechEng said:

Can someone here answer what changes did Pujara make in his batting technique? @Cricketics @Ankit_sharma03 @Trichromatic or anyone?

 

I did not watch any game this series, but as far as I remember watching him earlier he had pretty slow reflexes to play genuine fast bowling. Was there a change in mindset or technique?

Mentally he has been batting more straight bat and looking to attack spinners. When I say attack, he hasn’t been trying to be Sehwag but more coming down the track and trying to make sure Lyon doesn’t get the turn and bounce which he is expected to get. Whenever Lyon tried to bowl in the rough, Pujara would come down the track and flick and play him on around the mid wicket region this series. He looked at eas and annoyed the heck out of Lyon and force- changed his line.

 

Similarly to fast bowling, he has batted more straight bat, less cut shots. That shows he has been mentally batting better. He has done same things before but not consistently but here he ket reminding himself about straight bat. Sachin did similar in 2004 when he kept gettinf out to drives so Tendulkar negated that from his game for few tests and started batting straight bat untill he get 3 figures. He mentioned this in His autobiography too.

 

Pujara won the mental battle from himself which he was starting to concede early. 

 

Rahane can take a leaf out of this as he is going through same patch what Pujara went and he can be as quality as Pujara.

 

 

 

 

[MechEng]

40 minutes ago, Cricketics said:

Mentally he has been batting more straight bat and looking to attack spinners. When I say attack, he hasn’t been trying to be Sehwag but more coming down the track and trying to make sure Lyon doesn’t get the turn and bounce which he is expected to get. Whenever Lyon tried to bowl in the rough, Pujara would come down the track and flick and play him on around the mid wicket region this series. He looked at eas and annoyed the heck out of Lyon and force- changed his line.

 

Similarly to fast bowling, he has batted more straight bat, less cut shots. That shows he has been mentally batting better. He has done same things before but not consistently but here he ket reminding himself about straight bat. Sachin did similar in 2004 when he kept gettinf out to drives so Tendulkar negated that from his game for few tests and started batting straight bat untill he get 3 figures. He mentioned this in His autobiography too.

 

Pujara won the mental battle from himself which he was starting to concede early. 

 

Rahane can take a leaf out of this as he is going through same patch what Pujara went and he can be as quality as Pujara.

 

 

 

 

The interesting part about playing Lyon on front foot here is that Dravid mastered playing Swann in 2011 in the UK on the backfoot, a total opposite approach compared to Pujara. Maybe Dravid is a more comfortable backfoot player or he is god level against off spin bowling.

[rkt.india]

8 hours ago, G_B_ said:

I would have said yes  

 

But looking at gavaskar in 1972 against that all time great bowling attack I think he should take that mantle

All time great bowling attack.

[rkt.india]

5 hours ago, singhprakash72 said:

That was a transition period for WI as their bowling greats Charlie Griffith and Wes Hall had retired ...sobers was past his prime but Vanburn Holder was still decent. So if you want to compare with WI pace attack post 1975 to 1990 then it was probably Pop gun attack but by no means toothless.

It was as toothless as they come. Vanburn holder averaged 33 with an SR of 83 in those days. Bernard Julien had an SR of 90, averaging 37.  

[diga]

5 hours ago, Cricketics said:

Dravid in 2011 when everyone failed deserves a special mention. We did not win but he was class in that series. Bowling attack was pretty good too. Might not go down as the best effort but there was surely some "WALL" like batting on display. 

 

Dravid should also get a special mention for that 2002 series in Eng where we drew 1-1 under Ganguly ...Both Bangar & Dravid blunted the English bowling and that was our first notable overseas result for a long time

[flamy]

5 hours ago, Cricketics said:

Mentally he has been batting more straight bat and looking to attack spinners. When I say attack, he hasn’t been trying to be Sehwag but more coming down the track and trying to make sure Lyon doesn’t get the turn and bounce which he is expected to get. Whenever Lyon tried to bowl in the rough, Pujara would come down the track and flick and play him on around the mid wicket region this series. He looked at eas and annoyed the heck out of Lyon and force- changed his line.

 

On the same note, when they plugged that mid-wicket gap, he got frustrated and got out. Of course, by then, he was on 193, and probably tired (if that applies to him). Something he can look to improve upon, to milk the spinners. Add to his repertoire.

[SK_IH]

1 hour ago, diga said:

Dravid should also get a special mention for that 2002 series in Eng where we drew 1-1 under Ganguly ...Both Bangar & Dravid blunted the English bowling and that was our first notable overseas result for a long time

Yes I would say Pujara is up against the Dravid for this crown. Dravid I remember, multiple efforts 2002, 2011, 2003 (Aus). I would add Pak as well because it was a series winning effort in the decider.

However, I think Pujara has edged out Dravid with this one, because its in Aus and its a series win.

[Straight Drive]

18 hours ago, ExtremeBrainfade said:

This. SMG vs WI in 1971.  Nothing comes close.  

Just checked if anyone else has done better than Sunny in debut test series.  More than 100 years this game is played and an Indian holds the record

 

Gavaskar - 4 tests- 8 innings -  774 runs

 

Next best

G Headley - 4 tests - 8 innings - 703 runs

 

Hunte - 5 tests - 9 innings- 622 runs

 

Link:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/367323.html

 

Edited January 8, 2019 by Straight Drive