What should be our test squad for Australia tour?

[Austin 3:!6]

First time we will be touring Australia to defend our series win of last tour. Its imperative we get this tour right so that people don't call the previous tour as an one off fluke. To get things right...we must get our team selection right. Below is my choice of 16 players to board the plane for Australia:

 

 

Openers:

Rohit

Mayank

Rahul

 

Middle Order:

Pujara

Kohli

Rahane

Gill

Vihari

 

Wicket Keeper:

Pant

 

All Rounder:

Pandya

 

Spinners:

Ashwin

Jadeja

 

Seamers:

Bumrah

Shami

Ishant

Saini

 

Reserve Players (will only board the flight if any of the above gets injured unfortunately)

Shaw

Saha

Kuldeep

Bhuvi

Umesh

 

[diga]

It will be a bigger squad due to Covid related restrictions.. (isolation for a week or more) . 

 

My guess , it will be a 25 member squad 

[Gollum]

Will be 25-30 member strong, 100%. 

[BacktoCricaddict]

3 hours ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

First time we will be touring Australia to defend our series win of last tour. Its imperative we get this tour right so that people don't call the previous tour as an one off fluke. To get things right...we must get our team selection right. Below is my choice of 16 players to board the plane for Australia:

 

 

Openers:

Rohit

Mayank

Rahul

 

Middle Order:

Pujara

Kohli

Rahane

Gill

Vihari

 

Wicket Keeper:

Pant

 

All Rounder:

Pandya

 

Spinners:

Ashwin

Jadeja

 

Seamers:

Bumrah

Shami

Ishant

Saini

 

Reserve Players (will only board the flight if any of the above gets injured unfortunately)

Shaw

Saha

Kuldeep

Bhuvi

Umesh

 

Even if it is only a 16-man squad, a place must be found for Shaw.  Time for Rohit Sharma to "rest from tests."  He has played 5 tests in Australia over the past 5 years and averaged 30 something with a high of 63, that too while batting at #6.   Unlike strike rates, experience is over-rated.  

 

  

Edited October 9, 2020 by BacktoCricaddict

[putrevus]

No need for Rahul also to be in test squad. Gill has to open.

[poyzzplaidwell]

Give Gill, Shaw a go. Include Porel as well. Rest of the team more or less same as last time.

[Austin 3:!6]

1 hour ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Even if it is only a 16-man squad, a place must be found for Shaw.  Time for Rohit Sharma to "rest from tests."  He has played 5 tests in Australia over the past 5 years and averaged 30 something with a high of 63, that too while batting at #6.   Unlike strike rates, experience is over-rated.  

 

  

 

1 hour ago, poyzzplaidwell said:

Give Gill, Shaw a go. Include Porel as well. Rest of the team more or less same as last time.

 

I want Shaw to open as well, especially in Australia where ball would come nicely onto the bat on those true wickets. But lets be real, Rohit Sharma wont be dropped and surely will be opening, atleast in first couple of test matches.

 

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

No need for Rahul also to be in test squad. Gill has to open.

 

Rahul is in too good a form to ignore. He needs to open in all 3 formats according to me. We have too many openers and Gill is somewhere 4th or 5th in pecking order. Best bet for Gill will be to get a constant run in the middle order for now.

[putrevus]

Just now, Austin 3:!6 said:

 

 

I want Shaw to open as well, especially in Australia where ball would come nicely onto the bat on those true wickets. But lets be real, Rohit Sharma wont be dropped and surely will be opening, atleast in first couple of test matches.

 

 

Rahul is in too good a form to ignore. He needs to open in all 3 formats according to me. We have too many openers and Gill is somewhere 4th or 5th in pecking order. Best bet for Gill will be to get a constant run in the middle order for now.

We have seen enough of Rahul and Rohit in test matches. They won't become Bradmans out of the blue. They are what always were, batsmen with glaring technical weaknesses.White ball cricket and red ball cricket are toally different.I am not sold on Shaw either.Gill should have played test match in NZ.

[velu]

Probably Dhoni is not bad option

Playing tests in T20 already 

[sandeep]

42 minutes ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

I want Shaw to open as well, especially in Australia where ball would come nicely onto the bat on those true wickets. But lets be real, Rohit Sharma wont be dropped and surely will be opening, atleast in first couple of test matches.

The cough syrup conspiracy came up at just the right time to oust Shaw and create a chance for Rohit to morph into test opener, when he was never a red ball opener in his life.  

[sandeep]

6 hours ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

Spinners:

Ashwin

Jadeja

Yes the Karn Sharma selection was a debacle.  But you can't just go to Aus without a wrist-spinner in the squad. Kuldeep has to be there for sure, and a bonafide leggie. 

[SK_IH]

Did I just read Rahane in that squad? Bhai maaf karo aur aage badho.

 

[Gollum]

25 minutes ago, SK_IH said:

Did I just read Rahane in that squad? Bhai maaf karo aur aage badho.

 

This, this and this. Ok with any squad as long as you keep Rahane out of the picture. Bahut seh liya dhokha. 

[Gollum]

Shaw

Gill

Mayank

Rohit

Che

Kohli

Vihari

Pant

Saha

Jadeja

Ashwin

Kuldeep

Ishant

Shami

Bumrah

Saini

Bhuvi (just for D/N test depending on conditions, that too only if he is fully fit)

 

17 members with Bhuvi in picture only for Adelaide test. 

[Serpico]

Btw what is Iyers situation in red ball format? His 1st class avg is 50+ but with a strike rate of 81. Thats Sehwag tier.. can he be tried out at 6?

[Austin 3:!6]

1 hour ago, sandeep said:

Yes the Karn Sharma selection was a debacle.  But you can't just go to Aus without a wrist-spinner in the squad. Kuldeep has to be there for sure, and a bonafide leggie. 

His form is a worry though. Worth trying Chahal in test matches?

[sandeep]

4 minutes ago, Serpico said:

Btw what is Iyers situation in red ball format? His 1st class avg is 50+ but with a strike rate of 81. Thats Sehwag tier.. can he be tried out at 6?

Iyer has a Kambli-esque short ball issue.  He can get away with it in Indian conditions, bullying FC bowlers.   But he has to show major progress before being seriously considered for test match cricket.

[Ankit_sharma03]

we are taking a 25 member squad which will also have LOI players 

[Ankit_sharma03]

2 hours ago, sandeep said:

Iyer has a Kambli-esque short ball issue.  He can get away with it in Indian conditions, bullying FC bowlers.   But he has to show major progress before being seriously considered for test match cricket.

 

also plays to across and far away from body , will struggle against both swings

[Ankit_sharma03]

Smith everyday is being tested against short stuff and getting in awkward position to often now so make sure to take saini , he is the one who can bowl that length consistently .