T Natarajan could make his debut at the SCG - TOI

[Norman]

I actually want Shardul to play.  

 

 

And lol at people saying Kuldeep should play as 3rd spinner. That'd be a bigger disaster than Lords 2018 as now we actually have an idea what happens when we go with just two seamers for a SENA test. 

 

On top of that, rain and cloud cover is forecasted. So there you go....

[G_B_]

India havr spin options. Even vihari can bowl spin.

 

India need a pacer who can ideally bat a bit and can bowl long disciplined lines at pace

[R!TTER]

5 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

 

India need a pacer who can ideally bat a bit and can bowl long disciplined lines at pace

And that guy is?

[Real McCoy]

4 hours ago, Stan AF said:

"The selectors had added Shardul Thakur (Mumbai paceman) as  ..
 

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/80020991.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-australia/india-vs-australia-t-natarajan-could-make-his-test-debut-at-the-scg/articleshow/80020991.cms

 

 

 

Looks like ICF is not getting its way again with the team selection. Cue the outrage in 3, 2 and ......

 

3 minutes ago, Norman said:

I actually want Shardul to play.  

 

 

And lol at people saying Kuldeep should play as 3rd spinner. That'd be a bigger disaster than Lords 2018 as now we actually have an idea what happens when we go with just two seamers for a SENA test. 

 

On top of that, rain and cloud cover is forecasted. So there you go....

 

Playing Nattu or Shardul will be a big mistake. Australia is a graveyard for medium pacers more than spinners. We all know how the Kumars were destroyed in the previous tour. Bhuvi in 2014-15 and Vinny in perth in 2012. Either go the way of Saini or Kuldeep. No in betweens. Kuldeep will help extract turn in Sydney (doesnt he have a 5fer there last time ) and will also help the over rate. Kuldeep got his debut cap in DHarmsala under Rahane so I'm waiting for Rahane to pick him again. Kuldeep is someone the aussies will have trouble with. They are poor players of spin apart from Smith.

[Stan AF]

@Real McCoy

Dude, It's not like I want nattu to play. But looks like the decision has already been made. So all the best wishes to him

[Stan AF]

https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/article/t-natarajan-to-make-test-debut-kl-rahul-to-return-india-pondering-multiple-changes-in-scg-report/700788

 

Also this article says along with Natarajan, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma will also play.

[urbestfriend]

Most probably it is fake news from TOI as Umesh's injury is not certain and Nattu is not yet drafted to the test team. 

 

Also it doesn't make sense when Saini has been in the bench as he is the first selection. Shardul is picked over Nattu as Shami's replacement, so it doesn't make sense to select Nattu when he doesn't even make it to the team as first choice when Shami is injured.

 

 

 

[Forever Indian]

IMO Saini should be preferred over Natrajan but Shardul should not be the next choice. Picking Shadul will be the Vinay Kumar choice. Even if Natrajan is picked it would not be a bad pick.

 

ICFers thinking Natrajan cannot last in Tests should take a look at his record that he has played 20 FC matches and has better average and much better Strike Rate than Saini. Also he has improved his pace to mid-130s which is similar to what Siraj has been bowling. Him being a Left Hander will also add variety and he gets the Left armer swing which should be handy.

[Lone Wolf]

20 minutes ago, Forever Indian said:

IMO Saini should be preferred over Natrajan but Shardul should not be the next choice. Picking Shadul will be the Vinay Kumar choice. Even if Natrajan is picked it would not be a bad pick.

 

ICFers thinking Natrajan cannot last in Tests should take a look at his record that he has played 20 FC matches and has better average and much better Strike Rate than Saini. Also he has improved his pace to mid-130s which is similar to what Siraj has been bowling. Him being a Left Hander will also add variety and he gets the Left armer swing which should be handy.

Nope even Bumrah Hazelwood were trundling at 133-135 kph mid test.  Test match requires endurance.  I won't be surprised he bowls 120 kph thunderbolts come 13th over.  Terrible terrible pick if it happens.  I'll take Shardul even over Nattu.  Saini is much better than these two though. 

[vayuu1]

The article says nattu as cover ,cover for injury,not playing and for those saying Saini is erratic based on his odi performance here where teams were scoring 350 for fun, forget longer format is his stronger suit.

[vayuu1]

Guy can bowl longer spells,can reverse as well

[G_B_]

2 hours ago, R!TTER said:

And that guy is?

 

Whoever is doing that in the nets....something only team management are privy to.

[G_B_]

I think given that the two spinners and maybe vihari will bowl 40 overs between them its likely that the 3 pacers will have to share 50 overs. Of which the third pacer will bowl the least.

 

So the key question is can Natrajan keep it above 135 (apart from obvious slower balls) and keep it tight for 12 to 15 overs. This needs to be done in bursts of 4 to 5 over spells. 

 

 

 

 

[R!TTER]

From the evidence of whatever we've seen in their intl careers it's, well frankly only one guy -

Now You could argue nets is a valid form of gauging how well a better or bowler is going to do, I [prefer competitive matches though!

[G_B_]

Thakur will defo add with the bat around 15 to 20 runs on a decent deck

 

 

I also think he can bowl flat out for 10 overs in a day in 2 to 3 over spells

 

If you play thakur than vihari needs to chip in woth 5 to 6 overs to complete that 5th bowler quota

 

All depends on the pitch. If its on the flatter side but does have something in it for spinners than maybe thakur makes sense. If you need more pace support then saini or natrajan.

 

 

[Norman]

Thakur will defo add with the bat around 15 to 20 runs on a decent deck
 
 
I also think he can bowl flat out for 10 overs in a day in 2 to 3 over spells
 
If you play thakur than vihari needs to chip in woth 5 to 6 overs to complete that 5th bowler quota
 
All depends on the pitch. If its on the flatter side but does have something in it for spinners than maybe thakur makes sense. If you need more pace support then saini or natrajan.
 
 

Fifth bowler quota? Don't we already have Jadeja to do that? And he's much more than just a fifth bowler...

Why would we need Vihari and Shardul?

[express bowling]

1 hour ago, Lone Wolf said:

Nope even Bumrah Hazelwood were trundling at 133-135 kph mid test.  Test match requires endurance.

 

In his first 15 tests, Bumrah has been great at

sustaining 140 k+ even in his last spell of the day.  His endurance is top class.

 

In the last test, he did trundle in his last 15 overs ... probably because of injury to Shami, Umesh and Ishant. His responsibility and workload has been too much.

 

He probably wants to make sure that our last experienced pacer stays fit.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Lone Wolf said:

 

 I won't be surprised he bowls 120 kph thunderbolts come 13th over.  Terrible terrible pick if it happens.  I'll take Shardul even over Nattu.  Saini is much better than these two though. 

 

Agree.

 

In Ranji Trophy, Natarajan has not been good at sustaining pace.

 

[Real McCoy]

32 minutes ago, G_B_ said:

Thakur will defo add with the bat around 15 to 20 runs on a decent deck

 

 

I also think he can bowl flat out for 10 overs in a day in 2 to 3 over spells

 

If you play thakur than vihari needs to chip in woth 5 to 6 overs to complete that 5th bowler quota

 

All depends on the pitch. If its on the flatter side but does have something in it for spinners than maybe thakur makes sense. If you need more pace support then saini or natrajan.

 

 

You don't pick a bowler for his batting abilities BTW Saini and Kuldeep can hold a bat and are on par with Thakur in tests and are better than him in bowling

[express bowling]

Just now, Real McCoy said:

You don't pick a bowler for his batting abilities BTW Saini and Kuldeep can hold a bat and are on par with Thakur in tests and are better than him in bowling

 

 

Agree. 

 

We anyway have batting till 8, in the form of Ashwin.

 

And both Saini and Cool-dip are decent batters. 

 

 

[Real McCoy]

1 hour ago, vayuu1 said:

The article says nattu as cover ,cover for injury,not playing and for those saying Saini is erratic based on his odi performance here where teams were scoring 350 for fun, forget longer format is his stronger suit.

He didn't bowl that well in the second tour game in the second innings. Actually none of the main bowlers succeeded and it was on a lively track in SCG albeit they bowled in conditions that have eased out by then.