Anil Kumble's Captaincy might cost us this test match.

[DomainK]

Chances are that at Mohali we will get a turning wicket and we might actually two or more specialist spinners. As far as Kumble is concerned, he should understand the situation and offer retirement. If he does not do it voluntarily, Chika should make the suggestion telling him clearly that its difficult to keep him as the captain and it will look very bad if he is sacked from captaincy while still playing.

[DomainK]

Ponting is going for frequent bowling change, so that the game doesn't drift and the batsmen don't get too comfortable facing the same bowler.- cricinfo Are you taking notes, Anil?

[Fontaine]

Ponting is going for frequent bowling change, so that the game doesn't drift and the batsmen don't get too comfortable facing the same bowler.- cricinfo Are you taking notes, Anil?

Too late for this test match, but hopefully he can learn how to utilize his bowlers better as well as set better fields in the next couple of test matches.

[The Outsider]

Kumble's captaincy has been very very ordinary. The start of Australia's second innings was the only time we looked like winning the test and the relentless pressure that Dhoni exerted on Australia meant they were crawling along at a snail's pace and lost Hayden and Ponting before they could have any impact on the game. Of course, Dhoni was supported by a superb spell from Ishant and Zaheer but the field placings and bursts that he used them in were his own creation. Despite his tailendish test batting, I think it's time to give Dhoni a shot as captain.

[Chandan]

Chances are that at Mohali we will get a turning wicket and we might actually two or more specialist spinners. As far as Kumble is concerned, he should understand the situation and offer retirement. If he does not do it voluntarily, Chika should make the suggestion telling him clearly that its difficult to keep him as the captain and it will look very bad if he is sacked from captaincy while still playing.

Any links DomainK?

Kumble's captaincy has been very very ordinary. The start of Australia's second innings was the only time we looked like winning the test and the relentless pressure that Dhoni exerted on Australia meant they were crawling along at a snail's pace and lost Hayden and Ponting before they could have any impact on the game. Of course' date= Dhoni was supported by a superb spell from Ishant and Zaheer but the field placings and bursts that he used them in were his own creation. Despite his tailendish test batting, I think it's time to give Dhoni a shot as captain.

Kumble's captaincy was even less than ordinary. It was too one dimensional and he hardly had any plans for the situation. It was rubbish, though I shouldn't use such a word for him as he has been a great bowler for us over the years. Dhoni brought a different energy level to the field and for once I could feel the intensity in Indian players. The moment Kumble came, it was lost. If Mohali is a turning track, then a half fit Kumble will only hurt our chances. I thought, if Kumble could rest for this match and come back for the third test, it might suit him since Kotla has been quite receptive to his bowling!

[DomainK]

No link Chandan, just considering the possibilities. Knowing Kumble, I dont think he will give Australia what they want. I remember how livid he was when SA got a track of their liking and won. And then of course the next pitch was ordered by Kumble. Considering his own form and the lack of a quality spinners in the Australia side, he would prefer one with some turn.

[Chandan]

No link Chandan' date=' just considering the possibilities. Knowing Kumble, I dont think he will give Australia what they want. I remember how livid he was when SA got a track of their liking and won. And then of course the next pitch was ordered by Kumble. Considering his own form and the lack of a quality spinners in the Australia side, he would prefer one with some turn.[/quote'] It doesn't happen that way DomainK. Pitches can't be prepared in 3 days. So if it was not a turning track, it'll remain a flat track even for this test. Kumble just cannot do anything now.

[Dinx - the Jinx]

No link Chandan' date=' just considering the possibilities. Knowing Kumble, I dont think he will give Australia what they want. I remember how livid he was when SA got a track of their liking and won. And then of course the next pitch was ordered by Kumble. Considering his own form and the lack of a quality spinners in the Australia side, he would prefer one with some turn.[/quote'] Hey just curious to know, whether you have any proof for this. I mean - I for one would be delighted to know if Indian Captains do have a say on the pitches and if curators actually listen to our captains and make pitches accordingly. Since the start of this century, I dont think that has been the case and the curators prepare tracks of their likings than the captain's. Prime example - Nagpur track in 2004 series. From your post, I learn that Kumble can have a say on the pitch, which makes me happy. To confirm my happiness, can you give some solid proof. And then of course the next pitch was ordered by Kumble I'm not sure about this claim, cos Mumbai wicket has always been that way. It can never become a fast track or atleast a half decent pitch. So I dont think Kumble had anything to do with the wicket in Mumbai against SA. Moreover Kumble did not play in that game. It was Dhoni whop captained and won that match. In the next post someone writes that pitches cannot be altered within a few days. Well.. it can be... all they have to do is stop watering the pitches, from the time they get the order from the captain/coach. This would leave the pitch dry and as soon as the match starts, you can see cracks appearing and dusts coming off the pitch. This is possible even in Mohali, if they remove all the grass today and stop watering the pitch, by the time the match starts this friday, it will become more spin friendly.

[DomainK]

Hey just curious to know, whether you have any proof for this. I mean - I for one would be delighted to know if Indian Captains do have a say on the pitches and if curators actually listen to our captains and make pitches accordingly. Since the start of this century, I dont think that has been the case and the curators prepare tracks of their likings than the captain's. Prime example - Nagpur track in 2004 series. From your post, I learn that Kumble can have a say on the pitch, which makes me happy. To confirm my happiness, can you give some solid proof. And then of course the next pitch was ordered by Kumble I'm not sure about this claim, cos Mumbai wicket has always been that way. It can never become a fast track or atleast a half decent pitch. So I dont think Kumble had anything to do with the wicket in Mumbai against SA. Moreover Kumble did not play in that game. It was Dhoni whop captained and won that match. In the next post someone writes that pitches cannot be altered within a few days. Well.. it can be... all they have to do is stop watering the pitches, from the time they get the order from the captain/coach. This would leave the pitch dry and as soon as the match starts, you can see cracks appearing and dusts coming off the pitch. This is possible even in Mohali, if they remove all the grass today and stop watering the pitch, by the time the match starts this friday, it will become more spin friendly.

I do not have any proof. Officially the curator does not have to take instructions from the captain....anywhere. But quite a lot of things happen unofficially also. Can a captain get a pitch per his requirement? I would imagine yes.

[DomainK]

It doesn't happen that way DomainK. Pitches can't be prepared in 3 days. So if it was not a turning track' date=' it'll remain a flat track even for this test. Kumble just cannot do anything now.[/quote'] Well, like Dinakkar pointed out, a difference can be made in 3/4 days time. And I am quite sure that if any instructions went from the captain, they went on the second day of the last test if not before. Thats more than enough time to give it the touches needed.

[Dinx - the Jinx]

i hope we get a wicket where we can hold the advantage

[Fontaine]

The disapointing aspect of this whole thing is that the Indian captain is lobbying for a spinning track when our BEST bowlers are fast bowlers. Zaheer/Ishant outperformed Johnson/Lee/Clark. Yet we have a spinner who's on his last legs in Kumble, and another one in Harbhajan who's average and the captain wants to tilt the entire match in favor of these two instead of rewarding our fast bowlers, with a swing/pace pitch AND one that will take spin on the 4/5th day which is a lot more fair spirited. Can you imagine how discouraging that would be for a fast bowler like Khan or Ishant? You've just come off from a performance where you dominated the Aussie's and as a thank you and reward from your captain you hear him announcing how the next test match will be a spin friendly one where more than two spinners might be picked. No wonder India sucked for so long on foreign tours when we had this kind of spineless attitude from the likes of Kumble.

[Chandan]

The disapointing aspect of this whole thing is that the Indian captain is lobbying for a spinning track when our BEST bowlers are fast bowlers. Zaheer/Ishant outperformed Johnson/Lee/Clark. Yet we have a spinner who's on his last legs in Kumble, and another one in Harbhajan who's average and the captain wants to tilt the entire match in favor of these two instead of rewarding our fast bowlers, AND going for a pitch that will take spin on the 4/5th day which is a lot more fair spirited. Can you imagine what how discouraging that would be for a fast bowler like Khan or Ishant? You've just come off from a performance where you dominated the Aussie's and as a thank you and reward from your captain you hear him announcing how the next test match will be a spin friendly one where more than two spinners might be picked. No wonder India sucked for so long on foreign tours when we had this kind of spineless attitude from the likes of Kumble.

But where has he been lobbying for any turning track? I don't think Kumble ever lobbys for any kind of pitch. Do you have a link to support your statement?