Team for test series: Maiden call-up for Pujara, Yuvraj axed.

[zen]

Overall a good team. May be they could have squeezed in a reserve WK in place of either a batsman or a spinner

[achilles]

Both my picks make it. Sree is a definite starter. Che should make the cut but we might have to wait until the Saffie series.

[The Dark Horse]

Good team, happy for Pujara:two_thumbs_up:

[Gunner_Mania]

you are probably right - but even his presence on the bench sends a meaningful message to those out in the field.

What message and to whom? Are you telling me that if Tendulkar/Dravid/Laxman fail in the first test, they are going to be replaced by Pujara? Raina will play in the final eleven and even if he fails, I doubt the selectors or the captain are going to dump him on one failure.

[Gunner_Mania]

Both my picks make it. Sree is a definite starter. Che should make the cut but we might have to wait until the Saffie series.

I seriously hope they don't pay musical chairs with him. Select him for this series ask him to warm the benches and then pick Yuvraj for the next tour. He should go to South Africa along with Rain even if he doent get to play either in the Aus/ Kiwi series. In fact I would prefer to rest Dravid/Laxman for the Kiwi series and play Pujara and take hyim to the South Africa tour, but I highly doubt that given Dravid / Laxman dont play any other cricket these days and don't need the rest.

[thevortex]

Agree. But over the years the pitch conditions have changed in the sub-continent and the pitches have become slower and slower. Bowlers like Mishra (even if they try to flight and spin) wouldn't be able to do much because the ball spin is very slow to beat the batsman even if he is beaten in the flight (remember all of us tearing our hairs when mishra bowls those slow' date=' good for nothing overs). That's why I was wishing to have a tall spinner in the line up.[/quote'] I would not use Mishra as a yardstick when talking about spin bowlers willing to flight the ball. But yes, what I spoke of was the classical spinner. In today's fast game, it is a rare captain who can give his spinner the leeway to experiment and buy wickets. It is fast becoming a dying art.

More than the turn on the track' date=' what our spinners look for is some bounce on the track like the pitches at Mohali, Mumbai and Kolkata offer. Its the dead placid tracks of Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kanpur, Nagpur and to an extent Bangalore where these spinners have not had their best moments. Bangalore had decent bounce in the recent IPL, hopefully the pitch will retian some of that bounce for the test match. Mohali will be a tricky one, most likely a slow turner as due to the persistent rain, the curator will not get much chance to prepare a good bouncy pitch.[/quote'] That is because we have let other countries tell us that turners are "rank" while green tracks are passe`!! It is worth repeating what I have mentioned before - we should have no problems in dishing out a turning wicket. It is just as fair as a seaming one!

[achilles]

I seriously hope they don't pay musical chairs with him. Select him for this series ask him to warm the benches and then pick Yuvraj for the next tour. He should go to South Africa along with Rain even if he doent get to play either in the Aus/ Kiwi series. In fact I would prefer to rest Dravid/Laxman for the Kiwi series and play Pujara and take hyim to the South Africa tour' date=' but I highly doubt that given Dravid / Laxman dont play any other cricket these days and don't need the rest.[/quote'] I agree with you. I hope they don't ruin another career. This lad is a promising young man, who has, in the words of the very selectors, "... done well in the last two domestic seasons, and on sheer weight of performance he has muscled his way in. All cricket - domestic, A tours, international - was given weightage." Give him his fair chance in this tour or the next.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

Why do we have 3 spinners when half the batsmen can also bowl spin and fact that Mishra was poor the last time he played think P Kumar would have been a MUCH BETTER selection choice, dont understand the logic. Otherwise could have been worse, could be looking at the names Dinesh Kathik and Jadega or even Mithun! Is there no chance of P Kumar being still picked for test 2 or is this the final one?

[ZodiaC]

Pretty decent squad for starters. Glad that Pujara made it finally.

[Karan114]

For once, I can't disagree with the squad. Zaheer and Sreesanth will be tested bowling long spells as they have only been playing limited overs cricket since their comebacks from injury but if considered fit, they had to be selected.

[King Tendulkar]

Very good squad picked. Agree with major decisions in Pujara for yuvi and faith in Sree. Only gripe is Mishra who is VERY lucky to be in squad, particularly if he continues to pile on the pounds in an attempt to look like powar!

[Sooda]

Hope Pujara gets to play for the ROI, lets face it he wont make the first test. Instead of just rotting there, being in the squad will be a great exp for him to see Dravid and tendulkar close up. Bit owrried that Zak is not really in rhythm, from all accounts he did not bowl particularly hwell yesterday in the CLeague and got carted by Kohli. Not that that can be used as a serious guide to how he'll bowl in a test match. Still ...is it worth going with Ishant and Sree and two spinners

[Online]

Best of luck to CAP. I wonder if he will get a chance at all. Raina will be picked ahead of him. I guess eventually CAP will be tried as a replacement for RSD. (Though a legend like The Wall cannot be replaced etc...)

[VRV Singh]

Obviously we know if one of the opening pair's unavailable, Vijay comes in. But from those more aware of Pujara, what can we expect should say, Sachin picks up an injury? or VVS? Do we think CP will slot into the middle order or will we shuffle things to accomodate M.Vijay?

[Guest Shivani]

Excellent. Am more than happy with the selection.. But taking PK in the squad would have been good.. Anyways great line up! CP :two_thumbs_up: