Gone With 2009

[Dhondy]

...are Ajantha Mendis, Monty Panesar, Stuart Clark, Neil McKenzie, Shane Bond, Makhaya Ntini, Ravi Bopara, Chamunda Vaas, Andrew Flintoff, Munaf Patel. Ten players. Let's classify them. Losers- Mendis, Panesar, Bopara, Munaf, McKenzie. Mendis and Panesar were unidimensional tricksters without heart, shown up by players with more skill, and more steel- Herath & Swann respectively. They should have never kept their replacements out in the first place, but their selectors, like the rest of the world, got carried away by all that jazz. Ditto for Bopara. Heart of marshmellow, replaced by the steely Jonathan Trott. Never to come back. Highly overrated. McKenzie has been replaced by another non-specialist opener in Prince, and it's a bad replacement. The replacement is about to be replaced. Munaf Patel, possibly the worst player to have ever donned an Indian shirt, and I am not refering to his bowling. Terrible attitude, no fitness, nightmarish fielding, nil effort. Bye, Munaf. Senescence- Vaas, Ntini- Two greats for their sides, given the extra series or part thereof for sentimental reasons, letting their sides down badly, shown up by younger men. Never give an ageing, declining bowler that memento Test. Kumble illustrated that in 2008. Fitness- Flintoff, Bond- Huge talent, let down by their fragile physique. Irreplaceable, both. Neither will go down as greats, or shouldn't. Longevity matters. Please see under Glenn McGrath. Unlucky- Stuart Clark- Paid the price for Australia's Ashes failure. His 30- something age belies his usefulness to the Aussie side when they were banished all over the park by the South African bats, crying out for some control in the home series (Clark was injured). However, Australia won against SA in the return series without him and didn't need him against Pakistan. A sad loss nevertheless.

[Show_stopper]

Dhondy you really think Mendis will not get a chance against Eng,Aus,SA sides? Hes never faced them in Tests. Could be worth atry against them atleast initially. Agree with your analysis of him though.

[Sooda]

Bit harsh on Munaf there. Theres still a more than useful ODI bowler lurking in there if he CAN get his fitness up. He started late in the cricketing life, not that should be an excuse... I think Bopara has got heart, just not actually very good. Not least as a no 3 test bat. there might be room for him in the ODI side yet. He's plying his trade in MZ domestic cricket now poor guy.

[Show_stopper]

Oh I agree that we have mostly seen the end of Munaf. Don't ever see himbeing a decent bowler..ODI batting is evolving far too rapidly for the likes of him to cope up with.

[suraj]

...are Ajantha Mendis, Monty Panesar, Stuart Clark, Neil McKenzie, Shane Bond, Makhaya Ntini, Ravi Bopara, Chamunda Vaas, Andrew Flintoff, Munaf Patel. Ten players. Let's classify them. Losers- Mendis, Panesar, Bopara, Munaf, McKenzie. Mendis and Panesar were unidimensional tricksters without heart, shown up by players with more skill, and more steel- Herath & Swann respectively. They should have never kept their replacements out in the first place, but their selectors, like the rest of the world, got carried away by all that jazz. Ditto for Bopara. Heart of marshmellow, replaced by the steely Jonathan Trott. Never to come back. Highly overrated. McKenzie has been replaced by another non-specialist opener in Prince, and it's a bad replacement. The replacement is about to be replaced. Munaf Patel, possibly the worst player to have ever donned an Indian shirt, and I am not refering to his bowling. Terrible attitude, no fitness, nightmarish fielding, nil effort. Bye, Munaf. Senescence- Vaas, Ntini- Two greats for their sides, given the extra series or part thereof for sentimental reasons, letting their sides down badly, shown up by younger men. Never give an ageing, declining bowler that memento Test. Kumble illustrated that in 2008. Fitness- Flintoff, Bond- Huge talent, let down by their fragile physique. Irreplaceable, both. Neither will go down as greats, or shouldn't. Longevity matters. Please see under Glenn McGrath. Unlucky- Stuart Clark- Paid the price for Australia's Ashes failure. His 30- something age belies his usefulness to the Aussie side when they were banished all over the park by the South African bats, crying out for some control in the home series (Clark was injured). However, Australia won against SA in the return series without him and didn't need him against Pakistan. A sad loss nevertheless.

While good summary- too many harsh comments there

[Dhondy]

Meant to be harsh. Time's short. Can't pussyfoot around. BTW, Sooda, RR, this is for Tests only- you can take that as a default for any post of mine. Otherwise, wouldn't have included Flintoff.

[Show_stopper]

Meant to be harsh. Time's short. Can't pussyfoot around. BTW, Sooda, RR, this is for Tests only- you can take that as a default for any post of mine. Otherwise, wouldn't have included Flintoff.

I was referring to Tests as well. As I said I feel you're correct with regards to all players. Its just that I feel we haven't seen the last of Mendis against the 'White' teams( racist, i know). Nevermind I think its quite clear where you stand regarding that.

[panesarv]

I also don't think Mendis is over. I think he will come back.

[Shehezaada]

Mendis is definitely not over....he will still be effective against everyone except for IND and PAK. Rest is up to him....he has to bring back the control that made him so deadly in 2008 and he has to be brave. If he puts in the hard work, doesn't try 6 variations in one over, he'll be fine in the future.

[The Outsider]

Lee? Most likely has played his last test. Probably in the Flintoff/Bond category.

[saneindian]

Is Murali gone too? I get a feeling Sanga might not play him again once he reaches 800 wickets and will prefer to give Randive a game ahead of Murali with Herath being the lead spinner in tests in SL.

[gaurav92]

How did Munaf went? I thought he never came into terms as a consistent fast bowler in India