Harbhajan is injured indeed!

[fineleg]

Are you serious? Look man you know exactly what I'm referring to. I dont find it necessary to show you those articles. Too many, just too many.

This is correct. Both YS and HS have given too many BS interviews - recently HS has been performing somewhat better in Tests, but YS in Tests is a miserable failure. I'd rather YS learns how to play spin first.

[King Tendulkar]

Well dhoni has been miserable in tests as well but gets no stick. Strange really

[fineleg]

MSD has not been great in Tests battingwise. But he is a good keeper, and hence he MSD still >>> YS in utility value for Tests. Miserable in Tests == YS without a question.

[King Tendulkar]

MSD has not been great in Tests battingwise. But he is a good keeper, and hence he MSD still >>> YS in utility value for Tests. Miserable in Tests == YS without a question.

I agree he has flopped in tests. But in limited overs cricket like Dhoni he has been brillinat. But does not get any kudos for it. I repeat there is a dislike for the punjabi in your face attitude at the fiery nature of them. Which is hypocritical as dada is loved for his attitude and Gambhir is also loved for elbowing aussies. Why not love our punjabi fier brands? Especially Bhaji who has been performing in all forms of cricket for his country. Always gives 110% and contributes with bat and fields well.

[punjabi_khota]

Wtf...the haters already forgot his partnership with Zak in the first test which probably saved our asses...humm. That was the kind of stuff people talk about when they say he is a fighter. He scored like 3 fifties against them in consecutive matches.

[King Tendulkar]

Wtf...the haters already forgot his partnership with Zak in the first test which probably saved our asses...humm.

The fact is 95% seem to be haters. Inordinate amount of hate towards the sadarji

[cochise]

I have immense respect for Bhajji...he is resented by the opposition players and fans and by his own countrymen as well and he still goes out there and gives it his all. Now, that is fighting against the odds!

[Rajan]

harbhajan should immediately send the medical certificate to Adam Gilchrist. otherwise he would blame that Harby is shying away from Delhi test because he is afraid of bowling to aussies in india.by the way did Kumble fax the medical certificate for sitting out the last match.

[cochise]

No point....they will say he bribed the doctor...even if he faxes them the doctor also won't be enough. As per Gilly's original comments on them being afraid of greentops....I can understand him saying that Ganguly (despite his 144 at Brisbane which flies in the face of that claim) was afraid of a greentop as he is a batsman...but Harbhajan? After all, he is a bowler and IF he was so scared of a greentop (even though he batted well in Australia even though he is a bowler, which flies in the face of the claim as well), he could play a get out shot and no one would think any different. And as for bowling, I can't see a greentop being too bad for Bhajji either as he would get good bounce, which is one of the components of his bowling armoury. Sometimes, the logic of these cricketers escapes me. Sometimes I wonder if we overrate the intelligence of these cricketers...

[Guest HariSampath]

Its amazing how many folks "believe" all these med certificate/physio report etc. You know BCCI can get any certificate it wants , in order to get out of a tight spot, thats what physios are there for. Pure and simple, Bhajji was asked to sit out for the sake of a returning Kumble. Now that Bhajji is sure to play at Nagpur, lets watch the fun and see who "gets injured". But Gambhir has partially solved the problem, as now Dravid will be asked to open. Pathetic situation; as Dravid is low on scores and confidence, he couldnt even come out and face the heat today evening, but was forced to come out after the nightwatchman Ishant too got out.

[cochise]

Hari, You seem to know the inner workings of the team...you reckon it was Dravid that was not keen to come out and not Kumble's decision to send Ishant in? Do tell.

[Guest HariSampath]

No...I dont think Dravid can decide such issues like nighwatchman, because that has to be Kumble's decision. Also, I dont think Dravid is such a player who will "refuse" to go out, he is a fighter and will try to do his best. But the facts are, he has not been in great form over last 2-3 series and is facing pressure on his place. Ganguly, vvs and Sachin have all got big runs, its just Dravid alone who hasnt got a big one. But in view of these things, usually a skipper will have a quiet "chat" with his #3 or #4 player before making a decision on the night watchman, and thats what must have happened today. But I too feel sending Ishant was a negative move, sending out a signal that we are not trying to win, but trying to survive this test match. That by itself is a huge boost for Aussies, and shouldnt have been given.

[cochise]

Yep, your reasoning is sound on the signal given by sending Ishant...I felt the same way...it was a total shock to me when I saw it on TV. I was flabbergasted. And Dravid hasn't been in great form but I hope it turns around for him tomorrow and he gets some runs under his belt and his confidence back. He has been, of late, trying to play a game that is not his own...forcing shots etc. Now, he is in a kind of a situation where he can play his normal game.

[Rajan]

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/376468.html Kirsten, however, defended the decision to send in Ishant. "Certainly, in all the cricket I have played in my time, and it's no different here, we always ask the No. 3 or 4 batsman if they want a nightwatchman. And it was requested that a nightwatchman be used. This is what happens every single time, in every situation, and there are very few batsmen who don't want a nightwatchman." But in following the norm India had put two men who had bowled 65 overs between them at No. 2 and 3 that was cricinfo. obviously Dravid had requested for Ishant to be sent in. Hari, did you check with srikkanth whether Harbhajan was rested for Delhi? I think you are wrong.

[Guest HariSampath]

^ @ Rajan..I agree that Dravid MAY have asked for a nightwatchman, and so Kumble sent in Ishant. But this is what I had posted earlier ( see 2 posts above)...captains do have a few words with their #3 or #4 before making that decision, but that decision is STILL the captain's. In this case, Anil most probably spoke to Dravid, who may have felt he didnt want to risk batting 4-5 overs, so Anil sends in Ishant, .....fine...but wait...IF captains DONT want to send in a nightwatchman because their view of the game situation is diff,they will still ask #3 or #4...and even if both batters are reluctant to go in , and if the captain is very keen on having a specialist at the crease, he sends in the first available volunteer for the job,maybe Sachin, Sourav or VVS ,or even Dhoni. The idea here is that the team's interest and the captain's gameplan take priority over the individual's preference whether or not to risk their wicket. So, at the very minimum, we can conclude that both Kumble and Dravid were not too confident or aggressive in their approach towards trying to win a test, but were only worried about getting out/losing a test...so we got Ishant in. On the subject of nightwatchmen , I would like to mention a small interesting anecdote here, concerning WG Grace. Once, when Gloucestershire were playing playing some other county in a championship game,the other team got allout with a few minutes to go for stumps. In those days,it was customary and automatic for the scorers to automatically put down WG Grace's name at the top of the batting order,but that evening a member of the team went up to him and said " I was just wondering Doctor,if it is very wise of us to risk your wicket now,perhaps someone can stand in ?" .Dr WG Grace tugged at his long beard as he strapped his pads on,and asked " If you dont think that I can survive for 10 minutes tonight, son, who in England can ? " :D I think that sums up the issue .

[Rajan]

On the subject of nightwatchmen , I would like to mention a small interesting anecdote here, concerning WG Grace. Once, when Gloucestershire were playing playing some other county in a championship game,the other team got allout with a few minutes to go for stumps. In those days,it was customary and automatic for the scorers to automatically put down WG Grace's name at the top of the batting order,but that evening a member of the team went up to him and said " I was just wondering Doctor,if it is very wise of us to risk your wicket now,perhaps someone can stand in ?" .Dr WG Grace tugged at his long beard as he strapped his pads on,and asked " If you dont think that I can survive for 10 minutes tonight, son, who in England can ? " :D I think that sums up the issue .

[Willow_on_fire]

The fact is 95% seem to be haters. Inordinate amount of hate towards the sadarji

yes...it is a fact....screw these haterz...they are a puny bunch with a puny heart who like to suck up to their Gora masters...and hate the fellow Indians like Bhajji & UV...it is a shame...but there are many suckholes who are regionalist scums....fak them...:winky: They don't care less, how many times...Bhajji or Yuvi have won India matches...they just wait for their bad form....and pounce like hyenas...what a shame...typical weakling attitude.

[Willow_on_fire]

I hope these haterz get the message!!!!!!!!!!!