Aussies and the intense desire to not only perform in tests but have a long test career.

[patriot]

We see that in exceptional athletes like Mitchel Johnson. Even someone like Michael Clarke. How many of our Uthappams and Raina's think in that direction ? With a far more senior "front runner" like Yuvraj, should we expect any better ? I just can't help but compare Yuvraj Singh with Michael Clarke. Clearly, no one can debate that purely on natural talent, Yuvraj is in another zone. He has shown that with many a scintilating ODI performances. But, I think it is a very apt comparison. Not only because both of them started at the same time, but also because they both have very colorful off the field lives. They both started out in the 2000 Under-19 World Cup. Michael Clarke had then marvelled about Yuvraj's insane timing and touch. Michael Clarke debuted 4 years after Yuvraj did for his team. Six years hence, Michael Clarke is his side's premier test bat. Nearly 5K test runs , 50+ test average. A quintessential evolved Aussie cricketer. Yuvraj in a decade's of cricket is still a " youngster" , who has gotten a test berth because of the TINA factor and on hopes that his ODI performance will translate to his test game. Clearly, even after a decade of international cricket,( apart from a ODI few knocks here and there) he still has not improved one bit in his game against spinners and is still clueless about negotiating the swinging and seaming ball. More importantly, how many of our new players give us any hope, that they want to embrace test cricket as the be all and end of cricket ? I envy the Aussies.

[EnterTheVoid]

Ponting could have resigned from captaincy to concentrate on his batting, but nope, carrying the additional burden and not doing too bad either; Australia are by far and away the best ODI side and their recent test performances are promising. Even if Ponting did resign, who would they give the captaincy to ? Puppy dawg ?

[yoda]

So you cherry picked one success story from that side and a failure from your own side to declare that we suck? :giggle: Why not compare Brett Lee and Zaheer? One has ended his test career for the sake of IPL while the other has battled injuries as well and is our main strike bowler in tests. And what about the new ones like Dhoni, Gambhir and Vijay? Can't believe you are *****ing about the #1 team in the world. Wonder what you would have said during the pathetic 70s, 80s and 90s.

[Sachinism]

Sree stop bigging up Ponting for no reason. He has been doing pretty poorly recently. He made a double against a crappy side who dropped him on 6 and made a 100 against England who fed him short balls which he put away happily one after the other. Apart from that he's pretty much struggled

[EnterTheVoid]

He made a double against a crappy side who dropped him on 6 and made a 100 against England who fed him short balls which he put away happily one after the other.

And hows that his fault ?

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[99.94]

One has ended his test career for the sake of IPL while the other has battled injuries as well and is our main strike bowler in tests.

Pretty harsh. Brett Lee worked his ass off to get back in to the team..

[Chorazin Reto]

Yuvraj is unamused!! http://im.rediff.com/cricket/2007/aug/27celeb-yuvraj.jpg

[Akshat]

So you cherry picked one success story from that side and a failure from your own side to declare that we suck? :giggle: Why not compare Brett Lee and Zaheer? One has ended his test career for the sake of IPL while the other has battled injuries as well and is our main strike bowler in tests. And what about the new ones like Dhoni, Gambhir and Vijay? Can't believe you are *****ing about the #1 team in the world. Wonder what you would have said during the pathetic 70s, 80s and 90s.

Hasn't brett lee taken more than 300 test wickets while Zaheer is yet to reach even 250? How is Lee inferior here? But the example of Gambhir and Dhoni are apt. Australia doesn't have anyone as successful as these two from the next generation. But then don't they have Johnson as supremely successful than any of our young generation pace bowler? They also have plenty of option in the pace department while we have very few.

[patriot]

So you cherry picked one success story from that side and a failure from your own side to declare that we suck? :giggle: Why not compare Brett Lee and Zaheer? One has ended his test career for the sake of IPL while the other has battled injuries as well and is our main strike bowler in tests. And what about the new ones like Dhoni, Gambhir and Vijay? Can't believe you are *****ing about the #1 team in the world. Wonder what you would have said during the pathetic 70s, 80s and 90s.

Brett Lee's perennial acute injuries means that he is not fit to bowl in the test format anymore. In any case , Lee has well over 300+ wickets both in tests and ODIS for Australia. Zaheer has a long time to go before he gets there, if at all. But heck in terms of attitude and ambition towards the longer format, you would have to give Zakky an A. But Zaheer is a decade old hand. My beef is against the "new" bees. Gambhir's case is slightly complicated. He was on the fringes for a long time, before he settled into a permanent slot in the team. He has been in and out, not given a long enough run at the start, unfairly dropped ...etc etc. Debuted in 2004, but settled into the team only in 2008. He learnt it the hard way but is one helluva hungry and ambitious test player now. The crux of my point is that none of these guys in their early 20's seem to show any intent or fierce desire to eke out a long test career. It doesn't seem to be as important to them. They are just plainly content at playing for India. Theek hai, chance mila toh tests mein dekhenge attitude. The Rainas, Rohit Sharma's, etc. Yuvraj's spot in the team is definitely questionable and will be up for grabs if he continues flattering to deceive. Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar are in the December of the career . Technically that is 4 spots available in the next 2 years or so. How many guys do we see solely eyeing those test spots not worrying about other forms of international cricket/ IPL ? If we continue umpteen chances to someone like Yuvraj Singh in the test team, I am afraid the selectors would have done a terrible disservice to the side.

[patriot]

Mitchell Johnson gave the finger to IPL and a potential million + bucks to be fit and fiery fir Australia in tests. I wish we had such players.

[Gunner_Mania]

Mitchell Johnson gave the finger to IPL and a potential million + bucks to be fit and fiery fir Australia in tests. I wish we had such players.

MJ can, not our 'superstars' even if there was no million bucks involved, the 'prima donnas' would be arm twisted to play in the IPL. I agree with the sentiment of your OP though, this was exactly what Rahul Dravid echoed a few weeks ago - whether the next generation of Indian cricketers had the hunger or the desire to represent India in the Test arena. Some people above have mentioned the cas eof Gambhir, Dhoni etc. It is precisely why Yuvraj's attitude , hunger desire become highlighted so much more - when you see that they all came into the time pretty much at the same time, but UV has not fulfilled his potential. The fault doesn't entirely lie with the cricketers though, a part of the blame goes to the Board also who have given no thought about replacements of the Fab4 over the next couple of years. They are focus has been on making money via the IPL and just like any other politician their vision is only for as long as they are on the seats. They couldn't care a $h*t about India's cricketing fortunes after their time.

[99.94]

I’m not sure what the situation is like in India, but over here I don’t think anything will be put ahead of wearing the baggy green. There is a lot of respect for those who have worn it in years gone by and test cricket is part of culture in the summer. The Boxing Day Test, the opening test of the summer at the GABBA, it’s just the only thing to have on your screens during the summer (as well as the Australian Open) and I guess having the Ashes always helps young kids when aspiring to their heroes. Maybe the situation is different over there and kids care more about bashing balls around and earning a million dollars in the IPL.

[achilles]

I think Australia and to some extent England are the only two countries which give considerable importance to Test cricket. But yes, since India has become the No.1 Test side in the world, BCCI has again started taking Tests quite seriously. First, they forced a reluctant CSA to play Tests, when CSA wanted to only play 7 ODIs. Now, CA has been asked to play Tests when they tour us. From the players' perspective, you can't really blame them for choosing T20s over Tests. No one wants to perform in front of empty stadiums. Even Sachin became the Highest run-getter in cricket history in front of an almost empty stadium. The new bunch of players need to be shown why Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport. But first, we need to reach out to the public coz the general public prefers watching 6s and 4s nonstop and a 350+ total score in 3hrs over a possible 400 in a day.

I’m not sure what the situation is like in India, but over here I don’t think anything will be put ahead of wearing the baggy green. There is a lot of respect for those who have worn it in years gone by and test cricket is part of culture in the summer. The Boxing Day Test, the opening test of the summer at the GABBA, it’s just the only thing to have on your screens during the summer (as well as the Australian Open) and I guess having the Ashes always helps young kids when aspiring to their heroes. Maybe the situation is different over there and kids care more about bashing balls around and earning a million dollars in the IPL.

Sorry mate. Its the same in your part of the world- 1. http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2009/12/23/two-thirds-of-oz-cricketers-would-reject-ca-contract-for-ipl-58817/ 2. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Players-may-walk-away-to-play-in-IPL-CA-told/272468/ 3. http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2010/03/07/choice-to-quit-first-class-cricket-and-play-ipl-a-no-brainer-nannes-82091/ 4. http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2010/02/21/oz-players-retirement-from-first-class-cricket-highlights-a-disturbing-trend-berry-77827/

[Mamu]

Question is if this league were held in Australia and the show managed by CSA -- how many of these Oz players would have sat down on the sidelines and watched?

[achilles]

I think its just a bit of the stick we get for having a successful league. When ECB & CSA retire the 50 over List A formats for the lucrative Pro 40's, they're changing according to the times. When we will do it, we will be killing cricket. When England & South Africa introduced T20 cricket, it was okay. When we did the same thing but turned it into a global success, we became demons of cricket. Strange world.

[EnterTheVoid]

Good to see you mellowed Achilles, enjoy reading your posts more often now.

[achilles]

^ Thank you. You can look forward to my posts now :two_thumbs_up:

[Bradman99]

Good to see you mellowed Achilles' date=' enjoy reading your posts more often now.[/quote'] Same :winky:

[Sooda]

There are still guys like Vijay, Pujara, Rahane and Kohli have done v well in domestic cricket the longer version. They seem to value that pretty highly-reflected by their success in Ranji. They may not have the same regard for tests that Dravid or Laxman have/had with the advent of IPL and all- but there is every chance that with the right oppos and development they can become quality test batsmen. With the Clarke and Yuv comaprision- some Indian players I think have been blooded too early. Whilst Clarke could come into the side having played 4 or 5 years of domestic cricket and ironed out alot of his flaws prior to his Intl debut- Yuvraj had to learn in the harsh spotlight of it as a 19 year old. Who knows, maybe a few years of Ranji would have seem him mature a bit personally and as a player and he and India would have been better for it. I think the same hold true for bowlers like Irfan, RPS, even Ishant who all come in pretty much straight in from U19 level and start so brightly only to fade away. Perhaps a few years plying their trade and learning the arts in domestics might help...Raina another case in point, started really well but had to be dropped before his second coming saw him mature as an International class ODI bat...