Blundering ways of Indian selectors

[Sooda]

Parthiv has been an opener for almost all sides he has played for in shorter formats. So being a keeper-batsman should not be tough for him as he is used to it. Plus if you don't play him as an opener where exactly does he slot in? Surely number 6/7/8 does not suit his style of play. So, for team balance and for his own good, opening the innings in ODIs is the best thing for Parthiv and the current Indian team. Rahane IMO should be first played in test. By playing him in shorter format first, he may end up a bit like Rohit, confused about his game and the role in the team.

Youre right yes, I mean PP has opened in test match in Aus and scored a 60-odd too IIRC. Might be wrong. If he plays ideally he should bat in the top order... But, Id rather see a proper batsman, who is more likely to be a long term solution at the top tried out in this series. Im not sure it is necessarily the case that he'd need test cricket first, in fact Id have thought that giving a player ODI cricket to begin with gives him a taste of international cricket that will prove useful in the more demanding test arena

[Sooda]

z yadav too took 20 wicket in his first FC season in just 4 matches...this is not a bad start and the important thing, our bowlers learn when they play for national team, not in FC. Ishant was rubbish in his first test but then became better when he bowled to good batsmen. .

Theyre forced to learn when the play for the national team because of late they have been picked with very little FC background or experience. That Im sure has been to their detriment, they dont really have the skills to bowl at international level, they cant really know their bodies or technique very well... Im sure that has to be a factor in why our young pacemen have tended to start brightly only to fade away. When getting them to play say two seasons or so will see them develop skills and also physically and get more test match ready. R P Singh for instance was dropped and it was after a spell in domestic cricket that he returned a very good swing bowler.

[kabira]

should have selected Shikar Dhawan. He was selected against aussies when all our seniors were resting. Poor guy just played one game. Very unlucky. Its sad that guys like Rohit Sharma get chance after chance, but not enough opportunity to Shikar Dhawan. Also P. Ojha getting the axe for no apparent reason. But I guess Yuvi is doing the job as left armer and hence we won't play him anyways. Bhajii should have been rested for this leg of the tour.

[rkt.india]

NO WAY :omg: I meant List A record mate, w.r.t to Kumar. Obviously. And whilst Kumar has done it over a few seasons Aaron has done it in one. Understand that difference. No way near enough to be rewarded with a senior call up. Im not suggesting Vinay will tear asunder through all batting lineups that dare cross his searing path, but just that he deserves a place in the squad far more than Aaron does.

He had his chances but selectors should go for talent and potential...he neither has good enough talent not potential. For me he will do any good to India's future. If they were selecting a young team, they had to keep it in mind. our bowlers learn while they are in the team. Our FC cricket is not the best college for our bowlers to learn. RP Singh was nothing when he first came but he improved with the team and not in FC cricket.

[Cricket Tragic]

I think that if you have a raw fast bowler with tailunt, you should throw him in the deep end rather than waiting for 3-4 years in FC cricket. Their careers are short anyway. The question is whether we have someone like that.

[rkt.india]

If we pick players on basis of potential, why dump them without giving enuf opportunities? -Akash Chopra While Team India basks in the glory of the World Cup honour, we must certainly spare a thought and laud the Indian selectors for meticulously deciding on a team that brought us this ultimate glory. They are men who are often confronted with tough choices and their decisions prove crucial in deciding the country's chances at the International arena. So, one must give them credit in all certainty. While it's relatively easy to pick a squad and then the final XI if your best players are fit, available for selection and most importantly in-form, striking the right combination is still a challenge. Even though we cracked the code during the WC campaign, something seems to have gone completely awry in the first International series post the WC triumph posing questions of serious concern. While most key players made themselves unavailable, Zaheer and Sreesanth joining that list too, Praveen Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun got a look in. Mithun, the leading wicket-taker in 2009-10 domestic season, left everyone impressed with his only international exposure against Sri Lanka a year ago. Praveen may not have played for India in the longer format but has been the spearhead of Uttar Pradesh's bowling line-up. He took wickets in heaps, thanks to his ability to move the ball both ways and the immense control he possesses. Hence, giving Praveen an opening in the longer format should not raise eyebrows. Mithun too, after impressing one and sundry in his debut series, quite unexpectedly, fell out of favour and is making a comeback of sorts. Again nothing wrong with that. But before going any further, allow me to take you a few months back to the series in South Africa. India had picked two rookies in Jaidev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav. The two didn’t quite enjoy a spectacular domestic season to merit the selection, but I’m assuming that the decisive factor was the potential. While Unadkat played in one Test match, Yadav warmed the bench throughout the tour. On their return from South Africa, they went on to represent their respective Zone sides in the only four-day domestic tournament left in the season - the Duleep Trophy. While they didn't quite set the world on fire, they did enough to leave an impression. Since Umesh was in the Central Zone, I saw his exploits from close quarters and can vouch for his decent showing. He did beat the batsmen for sheer pace. Unadkat took 5 wickets in his only outing for West Zone which isn't too bad either. Both played sporadically for their franchisees in the IPL and hence didn't do much to write home about. Now, only a few months down the line, both Unadkat and Yadav have been conveniently given a cold shoulder even as Zaheer and Sreesanth have opted out. If we picked them on the basis of 'potential', then why dump them without giving enough opportunities to realize that potential? It won't surprise me if we go back to them after a year like we have with Mithun. While there's nothing wrong in trying new talent, there certainly has to be a method to this madness, for this inconsistency might send out the wrong signals. Every time they are picked to fill-in, the players know that their days are numbered unless they take a five-for or score a century on debut. Playing under such tremendous pressure may affect their psyche and also hamper their performance. Also, spare a thought for Pankaj Singh, the guy who took 53 wickets in the last first-class season, took his team from Plate Division to the trophy, impressed everyone during Duleep and Deodhar trophy and yet hasn't managed to get a chance. Yes, he did get to play an ODI a year ago (in which he didn't get any wickets) but is that enough to test anyone's skills? What about his sterling performances in the domestic season? I therefore reiterate the importance of rotating the players while they are at their peak. It's imperative to have Zaheer Khan standing at mid-on while nurturing a rookie. The key is to include our bench strength into the fold and avoid using them as stop gap arrangements. One must plan ahead rather than wait for the eleventh hour for things to go off track. If you invest faith in a certain player, you put your judgment on the line too. In case your faith in the player is fickle, it's only wise to back your own judgment to give the player long enough rope, lest we must be prepared to lose a lot of promising players. Source: http://cricket.yahoo.com/columns/aakashchopra/19/19aakashchopra

[rkt.india]

Akash Just Reiterated what I have been saying for so long on ICF.:two_thumbs_up:

[achilles]

Akash has written a great article. I'm sure he still feels bad of the way he was unjustifiably discarded.

[putrevus]

this guy is nuts, as they saying goes "you don't need to see whole bowl to see if rice is cooked you just need to taste one bit". Jaydev just does not have enough pace to be test level bowler, you don't have to play him 50 matches to know it.Until he improves his pace has no place.He played in that match only because Zak got hurt it was a disaster. Yadav just has no skills as a bowler other than his speed and he is no brett lee so no point in giving him more chances. Both these guys need to pick wickets in domestic circuit and show they are ready to be picked for team India. Chopra should know this better both those guys were taken to SA to gain experience by being with senior team and working out with them and not play in that tour.Ishant also went to England in 2007 but never played any matches he was there just to gain some exposure.

[saneindian]

Akash would do well to check a few facts. Mithun got picked for India, went to Sri Lanka played a series. Did an ok job. Then did absolutely nothing at the start of the domestic season with some poor performances, hence was out of favour when the team for SA was announced. On the other hand , Unadkat had done well on the India A tour, was called by Kirsten during the SL series (along with Yadav) to practice with the team, did well in the emerging players tournament after the Sri Lanka series, bowled well in the Irani Trophy match and had a better start to the domestic season. Hence was preferred over others. Yadav was picked for SA purely for his pace (even though he had not done much on the India A tour), emerging players tournament on in the Duleep Trophy. But had bowled with good pace , hence was selected for SA. Post the SA series, Unadkat and Uadav have been in terrible form, Mithun on the other hand improved as the season went on. Hence the comeback to the team.

[Sachinism]

Players are picked on the basis of IPL performances.

[vvvslaxman]

I am surprised they keep ignoring Praveen from Test squad. He has better first class credentials and experience than Mithun. He is a clever bowler who can pick up few wickets upfront. Since Sree and Zak left. they have to look for the next best options. In Srilankan conditions you need swing options. Ishant is not a swing bowler. Mithun is not a swing bowler. Munaf is not a swing bowler. Praveen is. RP is. Irfan is. So they have picked most unfit set of bowlers for the given conditions. I repeat again and again. India's strength is swing. So they should pick players based no that strength. Througout Indian history with an exception of Srinaht hit the deck bowlers never helped India win matches.

Glad Praveen justified my faith.

[Chandan]

Now Aniruddha Srikkanth for EPT!! How many goof ups will this selection committee do?

[Sachin=GOD]

Now Aniruddha Srikkanth for EPT!! How many goof ups will this selection committee do?

and they're getting an extension IIRC. Overall this selection committee hasn't been bad but yeah, some of the decisions over the last few years have been quite shocking.

[Trichromatic]

Selectors sending out mixed signals - More

Former chairman of selectors Kiran More has said the decision to recall 38-year-old Rahul Dravid to the limited-overs side for the England tour reflected poor planning by the current selection committee. "I think they have made a lot of changes recently," More told Reuters. "And the changes they have done are not looking ahead. I don't know what their thinking is but I know things have not gone very correctly." More said that while the decision to recall Dravid was because a batsman of his calibre was needed to hold the batting together in tough conditions, it wasn't a forward-thinking decision. Dravid scored two centuries in the first two Tests in England but last played an ODI for India in September 2009, during the Champions Trophy in South Africa. Dravid, who was surprised at his recall, said he would retire from ODIs after the England series. "They needed an experienced batsman, looking at some of the players who have been exposed on this tour. In English conditions you need to have a batsman who can carry the innings and that's the reason he [Dravid] has been picked. "After the World Cup they (selectors) should have taken a call and thought about building a team for the next World Cup also," More said. "To win another World Cup or dominate world cricket, there needs to be proper planning but that's not happening. It's been a little haywire." India's pace attack for the limited-overs leg of the England tour comprised Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel and Vinay Kumar. Zaheer was subsequently ruled out of the series and left-arm seamer RP Singh was named his replacement. The selectors - led by chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth - left out fast bowler Sreesanth, who is part of the Test squad, from the 16-man limited-overs squad and More said such decisions would send out wrong signals to the players. "The players are also confused. Now Sreesanth is not part of the one-day team though he is bowling well. I don't know what confidence you are giving to Sreesanth. He was part of the World Cup team but he is not part of the [current] one-day team. Yusuf Pathan could have played a few games ... he's not a bad player. They are not sending proper signals to the players."

From cricinfo

[rahuld9]

correct stuff from him

[Septimius Severus]

Agreed with More

[rkt.india]

And ishant should havw been rested. He has been overworked an the last two months. He would have played seven tests on the trot. We cannot burn him, west indies and aus series are coming and they are playinn him odi series. When will he get recovery time?

[Jayaram_IND]

And ishant should havw been rested. He has been overworked an the last two months. He would have played seven tests on the trot. We cannot burn him' date=' west indies and aus series are coming and they are playinn him odi series. When will he get recovery time?[/quote'] Especially since he is the leader of our attack and the best bowler we have presently suited to Australian conditions.

[rkt.india]

Especially since he is the leader of our attack and the best bowler we have presently suited to Australian conditions.

Yes and zak may not be available because of injury.