Sreesanth or Ishant ? for the First Test at Ahmedabad

[cowboysfan]

Ishant's case makes no sense at all.is he saving himself for the world cup?.that is so laughable its not funny.he shouldn't even be in the world cup squad imo.we should have a policy of never picking a player with an injury to any series,let alone the WC.

[Fontaine]

It doesn't really matter. Both bowlers have continuously disappointed. Ishant/Sree both bowl a LOT of rubbish and they really only have the odd spell where they look good. The only real difference is Ishant is probably a better batsmen. I can understand why Sree was bowled though. Ishant is definitely going to play in South Africa as the pitches there will be perfect his bounce/pace. Might as well give Sree a chance to come into some form against new zealand because IF he doesn't and continues to unimpress then the selectors will seriously have to consider bringing in a replacement for him because the Saffies like Amla/Smith/DeVilliers will pretty much tear into his bowling if he's not in prime form.

[Sachinism]

It doesn't really matter. Both bowlers have continuously disappointed. Ishant/Sree both bowl a LOT of rubbish and they really only have the odd spell where they look good. The only real difference is Ishant is probably a better batsmen. I can understand why Sree was bowled though. Ishant is definitely going to play in South Africa as the pitches there will be perfect his bounce/pace. Might as well give Sree a chance to come into some form against new zealand because IF he doesn't and continues to unimpress then the selectors will seriously have to consider bringing in a replacement for him because the Saffies like Amla/Smith/DeVilliers will pretty much tear into his bowling if he's not in prime form.

Sreesanth doing well last time in SA might go for him

[ravishingravi]

There must be some problem here. Some people actually wanted Sreesanth based on the poll.

[Fontaine]

Sreesanth doing well last time in SA might go for him

It shouldn't. The selection should be based on merit, form, bowling combinations (right/left) and conditions. Rather than something that happened 4 years ago. And even if some selectors think Sree should be picked because of what he did in South Africa, then why not RP Singh who's consistently been one of the best bowlers when it comes to South Africa be it IPL/T20 world cup etc.

[fineleg]

It doesn't really matter. Both bowlers have continuously disappointed. Ishant/Sree both bowl a LOT of rubbish and they really only have the odd spell where they look good. The only real difference is Ishant is probably a better batsmen.

I agree with you Fontaine. Both Ishant and Sree have talent, but they are so distressingly inconsistent. The captain will never know what they are going to bowl - great spell or rubbish! But the thing is - at the present - do we have any alternatives for these two medium-pacers for the South Africa tour? Any real alternatives?? Sure in the squad we can take Munaf Patel or Praveen Kumar or some such - but they are even more tame than these two.

[Karan114]

Sreesanth doing well last time in SA might go for him

I was having a look at Sree's stats and they make for pretty grim reading since that brilliant tour of SA just under four years ago. Since that tour, he has played just eleven Tests (no doubt that lack of fitness and inability to get some rhythm going by bowling loads and loads of overs is the biggest problem) and picked up just 25 wickets at 44 (including this game). Basically that match winning spell against Lanka at Kanpur but not much else. Despite those awful figures we don't really have anyone other than him and Ishant to turn to, though Mithun did OK on some tough pitches in Lanka. But Sree is 27 (28 in February) so one would have hoped he would have kicked on a lot more by now. Hopefully he can get a run of games in by acually staying fit and get in the wickets again...starting with this game and series!

[Shakthi]

Bring praveen kumar he is a must in swinging conditions of South Africa

[Fontaine]

I agree with you Fontaine. Both Ishant and Sree have talent, but they are so distressingly inconsistent. The captain will never know what they are going to bowl - great spell or rubbish! But the thing is - at the present - do we have any alternatives for these two medium-pacers for the South Africa tour? Any real alternatives?? Sure in the squad we can take Munaf Patel or Praveen Kumar or some such - but they are even more tame than these two.

I would rather play RP Singh over Sreesanth any day. He never really got a genuine run in the India side. Not like Sreesanth who's been given chance after chance after chance. At some point you have to look at beyond talent. You have to look at desire, work ethic and determination and RP Singh has those in much greater quantity than Sree. Today's bowling was a prime example of just how immature and irresponsible Sree is: In his 2nd spell when he FINALLY managed to bowl two/three good deliveries in a row (to Ross Taylor) where he had one cut back in for a very close LBW shout, what does Sree do? Does he go right back to his marker and concentrate on setting up the batsmen again and focusing on consistently hitting that right line to the new batsmen? Hell no. Sree picks up the ball and pretends to throw it at the stumps in a meaningless act of aggression. He starts talking to himself, then walks back to his marker and then bowls a stupid short ball that barely rises up to Taylor's chest who easily pulls it for four on a slow, low track. Just when Sree finally showed some rhythym and a good line he completely wastes it by self destructing. This isn't new. He does this virtually every spell. Why can't the guy just shut up and focus on bowling a good, consistent line for just one spell?