Similarities between test teams for 2006 WI tour and 2011 WI tour

[saneindian]

On the 2006 tour of WI, Sachin was missing through injury, Ganguly was dropped, Wasim Jaffer, Kaif, Yuvraj and even MSD were new to test cricket. Bowling line up had rookies like Sreesanth, Munaf, VRV etc Compare that with 2011 squad Sachin, Viru, Gauti are missing, Vijay, Mukund, Kohli, Badri etc are new to test cricket, but the bowling has lot of international experience. IMO the 2006 team of Sehwag, Jaffer, Dravid, Kaif, VVS, Yuvraj, MSD, Kumble, Irfan, Munaf, Sree, VRV was a relatively weaker team compared to the 2011 team of Vijay, Mukund, Dravid, VVS, Kohli, Badri/Raina, MSD, Bhajji, Zak, Ishant, Sree especially the bowling line up. In 2006 the bating line up had Sehwag, Dravid and VVS as leaders, 2011 will have Dravid, VVS and MSD as its leaders. 2006 bowling line up though was completely raw and had only Kumble (and Bhajji for 2 tests) as experienced bowlers, 2011 one has got our regular test attack which has been consistent for last 2-3 years. Overall , despite the absence of 3 key batsmen, the 2011 line up is still better than the 2006 one. WI too IMO were a better test side in 2006 than what they are now. I would back the class of 2011 to go one better than the 2006 tour and return with 2-0 in tests primarily because of a better bowling line up.

[Karan114]

Nice thread, saneindian. Yeah, the WI team is definitely worse than it was in 2006 - Lara, a younger Chanderpaul, Sarwan was actually a good player back then, Jerome Taylor was breathing fire throughout the series and Collymore was an underrated bowler. Fingers crossed our attack stays fit till the time of the Tests. Zak, Sree, Bhajji and Ojha should be the attack unless they prepare quick pitches and should be enough for their poor batting line-up.

[rkt.india]

But you need batsmen to sore runs too especially openers to give good start

[rkt.india]

Sreeshanth may not be the best second pacer there bacause of lack of swing..So lshant should get the nod ahead of sreshanth with the kind of rhythm he showed in ipl