If Ashwin goes wicketless in this test, should he be replaced by Vihari?

[Vijy]

Ashwin should play in the 3rd test, where they should be (in principle) some assistance for spinners. however, in the 2nd test, depending on the nature of pitch, it may not be a bad idea to get vihari in.

[neel roy]

After his bombastic interview in cricinfo selectors captain TM wont dare drop him 

[Prabhdeep Singh]

I believe Deepak Chahar is there as a net bowler, he can replace him if 2nd test pitch is similar to this, bring back Ashwin for Cape Town:

 

D Chahar

S Thakur

M Shami 

J Bumrah

M Siraj

[G_B_]

Will be interesting to see if maharaj plays at joberg. I have a feeling Olivier will come in his place. Sa made a selection blunder this test. He will be a handful at Jo berg.

 

Once again not blaming Ash but this sort of deck really dont suit spinners. 

 

Ultimately it is a test of team management metal and temperament.

 

[putrevus]

Ashwin has done just fine in this test.What will Vihari do?

Edited December 30, 2021 by putrevus

[SRT100]

19 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Ashwin has done just fine in this test.What will Vihari do?

 

Make Kohli look better by scoring less runs than him.

[rkt.india]

4 hours ago, G_B_ said:

Will be interesting to see if maharaj plays at joberg. I have a feeling Olivier will come in his place. Sa made a selection blunder this test. He will be a handful at Jo berg.

 

Once again not blaming Ash but this sort of deck really dont suit spinners. 

 

Ultimately it is a test of team management metal and temperament.

 

Oliver was injured, not a blunder

[R!TTER]

11 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

We did try that once at perth.

You know Joburg 2018 was nothing like Perth right?

[Adamant]

11 hours ago, Chakdephatte said:

Replace him with whom? Vihari, of all people?

 

If you want to strengthen the batting, remove Dracula. 3,4,5 are the real problem, Ash is not.

Getting 0 wicket for 60 runs is a problem unless you choose to ignore it. 

[Chakdephatte]

1 hour ago, Adamant said:

Getting 0 wicket for 60 runs is a problem unless you choose to ignore it.

We don't need Ashwin to win in South Africa. But no, he is not a problem. He is not going 0 for 60 in every match. Rahane does nothing every match, he is the weakest link in our lineup followed by Pujara-Kohli.

 

People are being impatient, it's just first match of the series. Either you back a player or you don't. 

[sensible-indian]

2 hours ago, Adamant said:

Getting 0 wicket for 60 runs is a problem unless you choose 

When did he give 60 runs?

[sensible-indian]

1 hour ago, Chakdephatte said:

We don't need Ashwin to win in South Africa. But no, he is not a problem. He is not going 0 for 60 in every match. Rahane does nothing every match, he is the weakest link in our lineup followed by Pujara-Kohli.

 

People are being impatient, it's just first match of the series. Either you back a player or you don't. 

Thats the issue.

 

Imagine telling a spinner...

 

I will give you a 5 over spell and if you dont pick wickets in SA, then imma drop you.

 

First innings first spell he was bad...then imrpoved.

 

Second innings he was actually good...

 

But since pacers are doing well  we dont need him..

 

He is surplus in this test and maybe next test too.

 

Better to drop a player than have rhe sword hanging over him asking him to pick a wicket in 5 over spells.

 

Its just ridiculous.

 

He could pick up 2 wickets and still end the test wuth 20 average...

 

Thats how little he has bowled. .

 

[sensible-indian]

Agree with OPs point tho.

[Sgattick10]

Should be horses for courses. If it's green mamba, play either Vihari Or Chahar in Ash's place 

[G_B_]

so what are the expectations from Ashwin?

 

How many runs and wickets and for him not to be a problem. To be fair in the WTC final we played spinners on a seamers deck with no purchase for spinners. We paid the price even if Ashwin picked up 2 wickets per innings. NZ dropped their spinners and played 5 pacers.

 

For me personally Ashwin needs to average 15-20 runs per innings for this series with the bat to justify not picking up wickets.

 

 

[vijaydude]

Quite a graveyeard for spinners. Much like the Ahmedabad pitch earlier this year. Kudos to Ashwin for being on a hat-trick here. Could have bowled better earlier this match, then again he didn't get a single delivery with close-in fielders til the end.

[sensible-indian]

1 hour ago, G_B_ said:

so what are the expectations from Ashwin?

 

How many runs and wickets and for him not to be a problem. To be fair in the WTC final we played spinners on a seamers deck with no purchase for spinners. We paid the price even if Ashwin picked up 2 wickets per innings. NZ dropped their spinners and played 5 pacers.

 

For me personally Ashwin needs to average 15-20 runs per innings for this series with the bat to justify not picking up wickets.

 

 

We didntvpay the price cos a spinner was selected.

 

We paid the price cos batsmen didnt score enough.

 

Another 100 runs and spinners would have won us the game.

 

Heck, even 140 target would have got close had Kane NOT escaped with the narrowest margin.

 

He himself admitted he took DRS out of hopeand it clicked.

 

First innings we made a blunder by not having leg slip for Kane or he was gone for duck and the entire test would have turned upside down.

 

Thats life.

 

You need luck and a few things to go your way.

 

But when taking decisions, we need to take everything into account and go for the best course of action.

Edited December 30, 2021 by sensible-indian

[sensible-indian]

3 hours ago, sensible-indian said:

Thats the issue.

 

Imagine telling a spinner...

 

I will give you a 5 over spell and if you dont pick wickets in SA, then imma drop you.

 

First innings first spell he was bad...then imrpoved.

 

Second innings he was actually good...

 

But since pacers are doing well  we dont need him..

 

He is surplus in this test and maybe next test too.

 

Better to drop a player than have rhe sword hanging over him asking him to pick a wicket in 5 over spells.

 

Its just ridiculous.

 

He could pick up 2 wickets and still end the test wuth 20 average...

 

Thats how little he has bowled. .

 

Lol.

[Real McCoy]

he is the sole spinner in the squad. even in a pace friendly track, a spinner is needed to hold one end up if the innings lasts longer and speed up the over rate. This pitch is not conducive for spinners and has never been so. even warne and murali struggled. too much reaction from one test while trimurthis have been performing far worse. having said that, if jaddu was available, I prefer him in overseas conditions and its also necessary to keep ashwin from making "oversmart" comments.

[G_B_]

I think the third test pitch supports inclusion of an extra spinner.

 

Jo berg hmm no. India should go batter heavy there.