Pathan in danger of being axed for England tour

[J P K]

With India's young guns blazing in the Caribbeans, it has been a rather frustrating experience for dashing all-rounder Yusuf Pathan, who will have to do something dramatic to escape the axe when the team for the England tour is announced. At a time when the youngsters are showing such appetite on field, Pathan has been left to do pretty little during the last week of his stay in the Caribbean. Batting at number seven, the swashbuckler isn't required to flex his muscle as the young bats preceding him are leaving him with no work to do. The Baroda cricketer didn't even get an invitation to bat in the second game which ought to have added to his anxiety as only 82 runs have come from his last eight innings. It was his century against South Africa in his last ODI in early January which earned him a berth in the World Cup but since then he hasn't been in the best of forms - neither in World Cup nor in the IPL. He had reasons to flash his blazing eyes and pump his fist after taking two crucial West Indian wickets in the second one-day match on Wednesday. Though Pathan has been useful with ball, India look at him as an all-rounder but he hasn't quite reaped on its investment so far. Pathan has 778 runs from his 53 matches and even though he comes too late down the order, his average of 28.81 isn't pleasing the purists. He has claimed 33 wickets at 38.70 from these matches but his economy rate of 5.52 per over is anything but sensational. Pathan's bowling is not quite dispensable presently given the keenness of young Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina to turn their arms over. Rohit, the other day, openly expressed his desire to send down a few overs and it must have set the alarm bells ringing for Pathan. "I would love to bowl and am hoping captain would toss the ball up to me," Sharma had said after his heroics in first one-day match last Saturday. Pathan needs a favourable turn of luck, a promotion up the order or a sudden batting collapse like situations which have long odds against from happening. The wicket for the third and fourth one-day international here in Antigua is a batter's delight and young Indian top order is licking its finger in anticipation. If Pathan doesn't do something to please his fans or the selectors in the remaining week of his tour, he would live with the uncertainty for a few months till it is time to announce the ODI squad for the series against England. The options for the selectors would be brimming to the full given how young Rohit, Virat Kohli, Subramaniam Badrinath have seized their moment. Even little-valued openers Shikhar Dhawan and Parthiv Patel have had a half century against their names. With the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh set to return, Pathan is in the danger of being elbowed out. He knows he needs to produce runs and his famous big-hitting as the currency of his off-spin bowling presently isn't much to give wind to his career. http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/174540-pathan-in-danger-of-being-axed-for-england-tour

[aseemraina]

I don't think the selectors will axe Yusuf Pathan.. The selectors aren't that stupid..

[Sir john]

not going to happen :headshake:

[flamy]

He wasted a great opportunity today

[cowboysfan]

i dont think he would have been picked anyway,way more tougher to bat in England .Rohit will probably replace him in the lineup.

[Cricket Tragic]

not going to happen :headshake:

Why not?

[Sid]

Why not?

Coz Sir John said so :finger:

[CSK Fan]

Do we really need a Yousuf Pathan type of player? He has the potential to change games single-handedly but they come few and far in between. On the other hand, even the slowest of our batsmen, have enough shots in their repositary to turn it on when needed. We should go more for formal batsmen than big hitters

[jairamesh]

unlikely, Yusuf's game has created a perception that will always make us critical of his failures. But he always delivers in one or two games every series (incl his big test in SA). Can't expect him to succeed every game with the bat the way he is expected to play. And I hope he never changes his game play. It would be a shame.

[Sid]

I had my reservations about his selection even on this tour,he is far too inconsistent.

[Cricket Tragic]

Coz Sir John said so :finger:

:cantstop: On topic: We have so many tailunted young players waiting for a chance. Pathan performs once in 25 games and that's not good enough to get into the best team in the world. It shouldn't be, anyway.

[CSK Fan]

unlikely, Yusuf's game has created a perception that will always make us critical of his failures. But he always delivers in one or two games every series (incl his big test in SA). Can't expect him to succeed every game with the bat the way he is expected to play. And I hope he never changes his game play. It would be a shame.

Even at the cost of keeping a more consistant batmen out? Does India with its really strong batting need a big hitter?

[Andy]

Get Rohit in for England Tour.

[cowboysfan]

It all depends on who is available for the tour and there is no guarantee the regulars will be available after a grueling test match series.

[Sid]

WC showed we really dont need a "once in a blue moon hitter" type of a batsman,rather we need a good finisher like Raina.

[Sachin=GOD]

Pathan doesn't deserve a place even in this team - and thats saying a lot considering the number of seniors that are resting for this tour.

[saneindian]

Looks like he is still not 100% fit. He played through the IPL with an injury and even here looks hampered but is somehow playing through pain to ensure he keeps his spot. His bowling has been disappointing so far on the tour. On tracks assisting spin, he has now bowled as well as he can (again the injury has had an effect). But dont think he is going to lose his spot soon primarily because of lack of alternatives. Hopefully he can make some meaningful contributions in the remaining ODIs.

[gaurav92]

Yusuf Pathan = Tukka Hitter. :agree: I will surely not have him for the English tour.

[NareshK]

Pathan doesnt deserve to be dropped as he didnt get enough chances to perform of late but I dont think the seaming conditions in England will suit his style of play. Having said that, the same was said about him regarding South African conditions but he played some great knocks there and looked better than other established batsmen. Surely he should be promoted up the order for the last couple of games to give him more of an opportunity.

[rkt.india]

He is best player to bat at no. 7...an average of 28 for no. 7 batsman is not bad and he has taken 33 wickets too. There is no other batsman apart from raina who can bat at that no. in this team. Otherwise they need to play an extra bowler at that number like ashwin who can bat too.