Test line up

[Cricket Tragic]

Getting bored of all the talk around the India-Pak match. After the WC, our big task is to consolidate the number 1 position in tests. Big year coming up with tours to England and Aus (along with the WI). I think that Kohli is ready for tests and he should come in at number 6. The problem is that Pujara can't be dropped without a fair chance. There are talks that Yuvraj Singh might make a comeback. :facepalm: Imo, it's better to keep Yuvraj and Raina outside the test team. Pujara and Kohli should make the 15. If Pujara fails, get Kohli in. If he does well, wait for Dravid to quit. Then move VVS to 3 (his fav spot) with Kohli and Pujara at 5 and 6. Vijay will be picked as the third opener since he has done alright in tests but I'm not sure of his game overseas. Mukund/Rahane are possible future options. I have a feeling that Sehwag and Zaheer might quit ODIs along with SRT. Will be a good move imo. In the bowling, 3 seamers will be picked in overseas tests. Zaheer and Sree will make it but what are the options for the 3rd seamer? RP is good outside India and should get another chance. Ishant needs to work on his game. Harbhajan bowled well in the SA tests. Mishra has had his chances and Chawla isn't good enough. The spot for the second spinner in the squad would probably go to Ojha. Can Ashwin make an impact in tests?

[Karan114]

Agree with most of this (batting stuff as mentioned in that other thread). Third seamer is a huge problem. Unfortunately RP has faded away, putting on weight and struggling even in FC cricket. Ishant himself has really regressed. Sreesanth is brilliant when he gets it right but an average of 41 since comeback doesn't lie. Unfortunately there is not much cause for optimism here. Yeah spinners will be Bhajji and Ojha. Ashwin might get a go at some stage but I fear he won't be of much use in Tests where batsmen have more time to play themselves in and get used to a bowler's variations, which is Ashwin's main strength in limited overs cricket.

[Cricket Tragic]

Agree with most of this (batting stuff as mentioned in that other thread). Third seamer is a huge problem. Unfortunately RP has faded away, putting on weight and struggling even in FC cricket. Ishant himself has really regressed. Sreesanth is brilliant when he gets it right but an average of 41 since comeback doesn't lie. Unfortunately there is not much cause for optimism here. Yeah spinners will be Bhajji and Ojha. Ashwin might get a go at some stage but I fear he won't be of much use in Tests where batsmen have more time to play themselves in and get used to a bowler's variations, which is Ashwin's main strength in limited overs cricket.

Finally a reply B-> Sree will definitely play. We don't have an option. Inshant needs time off to work on his game. I haven't followed RP's domestic season but he would be a good option in England. That is a huge series for India. Australia at the end of the year also presents us with the best opportunity to win a series down under. The spinners aren't a huge issue for now since we are likely to play only 1 spinner and Dartby gets in whether we like it or not. He did bowl well in SA to be fair. It might be a good idea for Zaheer to retire from ODIs after the WC. We need him for the big tests over the next year or two. Might be a good option for Sehwag as well.

[rajmarie]

Finally a reply B-> Sree will definitely play. We don't have an option. Inshant needs time off to work on his game. I haven't followed RP's domestic season but he would be a good option in England. That is a huge series for India. Australia at the end of the year also presents us with the best opportunity to win a series down under. The spinners aren't a huge issue for now since we are likely to play only 1 spinner and Dartby gets in whether we like it or not. He did bowl well in SA to be fair. It might be a good idea for Zaheer to retire from ODIs after the WC. We need him for the big tests over the next year or two. Might be a good option for Sehwag as well.

IMO...RP needs to get back in county cricket. He became a very good bowler when he had 1 year there...but unfortunately....fail after being part of Indian team for almost a year. Ishant....no amount of Indian FC cricket will make him better. He should also go have a year in county. In Test...India should stick with Sree & Zak. WI dont require 3 seamers anyway. For Eng...we should look at Mithun....he did well on SL dead wickets. Main Test spinners should be Bhajji & Ojha.

[Karan114]

Finally a reply B-> Sree will definitely play. We don't have an option. Inshant needs time off to work on his game. I haven't followed RP's domestic season but he would be a good option in England. That is a huge series for India. Australia at the end of the year also presents us with the best opportunity to win a series down under. The spinners aren't a huge issue for now since we are likely to play only 1 spinner and Dartby gets in whether we like it or not. He did bowl well in SA to be fair. It might be a good idea for Zaheer to retire from ODIs after the WC. We need him for the big tests over the next year or two. Might be a good option for Sehwag as well.

Oh yes, Sree will definitely play due to a lack of options as you say...I was just saying that even his record of late isn't too good. Ishant could really do with a season in England - unfortunately the BCCI is blocking the development of a young talent, no surprises though. Pretty sure Zak will retire from ODIs, focusing on Tests for the last coupla years of his career.

[Cricket Tragic]

Mithun? Not sure about that. He tried hard but didn't really look very impressive to me. It's amazing how dire the fast bowling options are.

[panther]

england will be a real test for india in swinging conditiond can wait

[cowboysfan]

Tests are a whole different beast than loi cricket.Ashwin will not even be a consideration for a some time because of Bhajji.I also think Raina will be part of any test squad in the near future,he can work on his weakness .Ishant will always be in the picture,i hope he regains his fitness and starts bowling like he did against australia in 2008 when he won the man of the series award.

[Raghav_12]

I think it's right time to get Kohli in test team. Also Pujara should be given a fair run and he has shown enough promise in given chances to deserve that. It would be a fallacy to consider Yuvraj for test matches based on his heroics in World Cup. As third opener M Vijay can be given some more chances or take Rahane is that role. I don't see any logic in suggesting that Laxman should move to no. 3. He has immortalized himself in 2010 by batting at no. 5 and no body in world can do a better job than Laxman at that position. As of now Pujara and Kohli can take their chances at no 6 and once Dravid is gone, which should not be really far away, Pujara can move to no. 3. In bowling top two seamers for England/WI tour would be Zaheer and S Santh. For third one selectors need to take risk and blood somebody fresh. All other options like Ishant, RP, Munaf, Irfan etc have been done and dusted.

[Karan114]

All other options like Ishant' date=' RP, Munaf, Irfan etc have been done and dusted.[/quote'] I wouldn't put Ishant in that list, despite all his problems. What he badly needs is a solid FC season just working on his bowling away from the pressures of international cricket, ideally in England. No doubt he has regressed but there is still something there to work on and India desperately need it. Agree about the others.

[Raghav_12]

I wouldn't put Ishant in that list, despite all his problems. What he badly needs is a solid FC season just working on his bowling away from the pressures of international cricket, ideally in England. No doubt he has regressed but there is still something there to work on and India desperately need it. Agree about the others.

Yes, I would agree with that. An extended run on pacers friendly surfaces may bring old Ishant back. May be a county stint can work for him. Still selectors should look for blooding somebody fresh now. May be rkt.india will have some suggestions :cantstop:

[Karan114]

May be rkt.india will have some suggestions :cantstop:

I can't imagine who he might have in mind :winky:

[Cricket Tragic]

Yes' date=' I would agree with that. An extended run on pacers friendly surfaces may bring old Ishant back. May be a county stint can work for him. Still selectors should look for blooding somebody fresh now. [b']May be rkt.india will have some suggestions :cantstop:

:hysterical:

[Raghav_12]

I can't imagine who he might have in mind :winky:

I can imagine but afraid to take name :winky:. 90% of his posts in last one or two months have been about one particular guy only..:cantstop:

[Karan114]

I can imagine but afraid to take name :winky:. 90% of his posts in last one or two months have been about one particular guy only..:cantstop:

I know dude, was being ironic :cantstop:

[VRV Singh]

Lil concerned with spin options. Unconvinced about Ojha at Test level. Bhajji has underwhelmed. Where are the other options? Leggies coming through? Batting looks in good shape. Pujara is one to be excited about. M Vijay is decent at best, but about now is the time to get other opening options around the squad + possibly Kohli Trundlers will be trundlers...not sure what else to say

[Cricket Tragic]

I'm less worried about the spin options in the near future. We might need the second spinner in the WI but not in England and Australia. If we have the seamers in decent form, we have a shot at winning in Eng and Aus.

[rajmarie]

I'm less worried about the spin options in the near future. We might need the second spinner in the WI but not in England and Australia. If we have the seamers in decent form' date=' we have a shot at winning in Eng and Aus.[/quote'] Well...the options for seamers are Zak, Sree, Ishant/or anybody else. Spinners cant be discounted either. What if Bhajji is injured. 2nd spinner will be very important...hence the selectors needs to make sure he has the confident to get the job done.

[rkt.india]

Yes' date=' I would agree with that. An extended run on pacers friendly surfaces may bring old Ishant back. May be a county stint can work for him. Still selectors should look for blooding somebody fresh now. May be rkt.india will have some suggestions :cantstop:[/quote'] What can I say? I already have given quite a few suggestions regarding to him in many a threads. other than that its about practicing hard in the nets and bowling with some purpose there, not just putting it here and there and feeling good about your bowling. He is lacking in confidence right now. He needs to watch his old bowling videos of Aus 2008 tour and Aus tour to India in 2008 and needs to assess what he did right then and he is not able to repeat that now.....He has done it before..I see no reason why cant he do well again..he is still very young..Its all about grit and determination rather than anything else.

[DomainK]

Good that we are finding some good talents (Pujara/Kohli etc) who can be groomed to replace the biggies as they retire. The challenge before us is to maintain the momentum even when these big players are gone.