All-time Test XI: India Part V1- Spin Bowlers

[SachDan]

The candidates Anil Kumble India's greatest match-winner, his role in 43 victories putting the 23 wins inspired by the spin quartet in perspective. Kumble claimed 288 wickets for 19 runs each at a strike-rate of 44 in those matches. Only the second bowler to claim all 10 in an innings, his 619 victims place him third in the overall list. Kumble was as much a presence as a performer: tough but fair, inspired as well as inspiring. Bishan Bedi Jim Laker once said his idea of heaven was to watch Ray Lindwall bowl from one end and Bedi from the other. Trevor Bailey wrote that "Bedi was much more than just another great bowler; he was above all an artist who brought to his craft a beauty that was timeless." His 266 wickets in 67 Tests meant that this was no beauty without cruelty, for Bedi teased the batsmen to their doom. Erapalli Prasanna His first 100 wickets came in just 20 Tests, as the offspinner used flight to make the batsman lunge for the ball that never arrived. His run up was deceptively simple, and fielders near the wicket swore they could hear the "whirr" of the ball as it approached the batsman. His decision to complete an engineering degree early in his career and then selectorial manoeuvres later restricted his appearances to 49 Tests. Subhash Gupte The legspinner's record of 149 wickets in 36 Tests did not do him justice in the years when India's catching was the worst in the world. He was the first Indian to claim all 10 wickets in a first-class innings, and with Vinoo Mankad formed the first pair of great spinners to operate together. "To me," wrote Garry Sobers who played against him, "Gupte was a better bowler than Shane Warne." Bhagwath Chandrasekhar One of few bowlers in history capable of producing the "unplayable" ball. He bowled his legspinners at medium pace, which was incredible given that his arm had been weakened by a childhood attack of polio. Played the crucial role in India's first wins in England and Australia. Continues to hold the Indian record for the most wickets in a series, 35, against England at home and has over 1000 first-class wickets despite not having played county cricket. Harbhajan Singh The first Indian with a Test hat-trick, he had 32 wickets against Australia in a three-Test series. A modern offspinner at home in all three forms of the game, Harbhajan bowls the doosra and recently has developed the happy knack of getting runs in the lower half of the order. Chosen by Muralitharan as his successor, capable of matching his own aggregate number of wickets. Dilip Doshi One of only two bowlers (the other being Clarrie Grimmett) to claim a hundred Test wickets after making a debut in the 30s. Having to compete with Bedi for a slot restricted the younger Doshi's international appearances, but he was a world-class performer who would have walked into any other team. S Venkataraghavan Good enough to play for India at 18, he was still playing 18 years later but had to contend with the more successful Prasanna through much of his career. He was the better batsman and an outstanding fielder at gully, and easily the fittest spinner of his generation. His 8 for 72 against New Zealand was the best in an innings among the quartet. Vinoo Mankad Held India's aggregate record, 162 wickets, for years before Bedi relieved him of it. Figures of 8 for 55 and 4 for 53 inspired India's first Test win, against England. Mankad had a slightly round-arm action and his control was remarkable. Flight was his weapon, as a contemporary pointed out, adding, "to rely on the vagaries of the wicket would have been a reflection on the purity of his art". http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/475753.html Tough..really tough this! I'll go for Kumble and Bedi.

[Rajan]

9.Kumble 10.Bedi 11.Prasanna the spinners' selection depends also on the composition of the other in the top and middle order, especially if Vinoo Mankad is selected as an All rounder at 7 or not.if Mankad is picked, (he so richly deserves a spot due to his all round skills, opened batting for india, has 231 as highest score), then Bedi would have to be benched . 1.Gavaskar 2.Sehwag 3.M.Amarnath 4.SRT 5.Vijay Hazare 6.Kapil Dev 7.Vinoo Mankad 8. Dhoni .9.Kumble 10.Prasanna 11.Mohammed Nissar 12.Bedi would be my XI for matches away

[Sir john]

Kumble gupte chandershekar

[riwi999]

Totally agree that Vinoo Mankad deserves a place in the XI. In which case, Bedi would get benched. Mankad (all-rounder) Prasanna Chandra Kumble

[vamos_rafa]

Kumble is our all time greatest spinner for sure. Though I have not seen the rest of them playing apart from Harbhajan, who IMO needs to put in a bit more to be considers, but going by what I have read and heard I would go for Bedi and Prassana.

[vamos_rafa]

The candidates Bishan Bedi Jim Laker once said his idea of heaven was to watch Ray Lindwall bowl from one end and Bedi from the other. Trevor Bailey wrote that "Bedi was much more than just another great bowler; he was above all an artist who brought to his craft a beauty that was timeless." His 266 wickets in 67 Tests meant that this was no beauty without cruelty, for Bedi teased the batsmen to their doom. I think Murali would enjoy reading this about Bedi :--P

[Rajan]

Kumble gupte chandershekar

all the 3 are leg spinners.there is no left arm spinner or Off spinner in the team... besides Chandra and Kumble are almost fastish leg break bowlers, not orthodox..

[ravishingravi]

Bedi Chandra Kumble

[SachDan]

From what one read or heard from former players, Prasanna is as good as any other Indian spinner! If our combination permits three spinners, Prasanna has to be there.

[ina_jawaan]

S. Venkat? 'avin' a laugh intcha? Mankad is a SHOEHORN because he was not only a great spinner but India's greatest all rounder before Kapil Dev (also a better bat than Kapil - set world record opening stand of 415 with Pankaj Roy). In fact I would have Mankad also open the batting with Gavaskar. To partner him - got to be an offie. Step forward EAS Prassanna (Harbhajan Singh's DADDY - and with a legal action) - end of.......