Harbhajan 'surprised' at being dropped; is determined to make a comeback

[Crookbond]

Ojha isn't an attacking option. Sometimes for big series we need to back big players' date= Bhajji has been out of form, but he was our best not so long ago, to discard him ahead of one of the biggest test series will be a big blunder, which I'm sure selectors wont make.

I think it's the other way round. Ojha has never been used as an attacking option. I think we need to have some more confidence in this bloke. If we can do the same with Vinay Kumar, why not Ojha?

[Pagalpanti]

I think it's the other way round. Ojha has never been used as an attacking option. I think we need to have some more confidence in this bloke. If we can do the same with Vinay Kumar' date=' why not Ojha?[/quote'] I don't agree with this notion that Ojha has never been used as an attacking option. Of all the games he has played, I've never seen him once run through sides or create major troubles for batsmen. He bowls a tight line and length, hence stops the runs. He might've improved but if you can take Ojha who has terrible stats in test like Harbhajan in last 2 years, why not back Harbhajan who has always been a big game player for us. And not to forget, he is more than just a bowler. A handy bat as well as we need characters like him against Aussies, he gets under their skin.

[Crookbond]

I don't agree with this notion that Ojha has never been used as an attacking option. Of all the games he has played, I've never seen him once run through sides or create major troubles for batsmen. He bowls a tight line and length, hence stops the runs. He might've improved but if you can take Ojha who has terrible stats in test like Harbhajan in last 2 years, why not back Harbhajan who has always been a big game player for us. And not to forget, he is more than just a bowler. A handy bat as well as we need characters like him against Aussies, he gets under their skin.

Well, you may be right on he not being special etc. but he does bowl pretty neat. I think the bloke deserves a chance. I agree that Harbhajan gets the edge due to his lower order batting and a reputation to deliver in big matches. But currently, Harbhajan isn't around and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have given Ojha the go.

[MCcricket]

We cannot have selections based on past tours or reputations , if that was the case, RP Singh would have been the best bowler against England.Bhajji needs to find his mojo back, he is way of the mark, he cannot spin the off spinners even half as much as he used to , I believe the hand injury he had with split webbing in his career affected his ability to turn the ball prodigiously,his line is mostly wrong these days, no doosras, his actions lacks the bounce of old, he needs to discover his bowling of old.I am not saying he is done , only he can make his way back , I hope selectors don't just pick him and play safe if he has not improved drastically, Ashwin right now is our inform spinner.

[The Realist]

I don't agree with this notion that Ojha has never been used as an attacking option. Of all the games he has played, I've never seen him once run through sides or create major troubles for batsmen. He bowls a tight line and length, hence stops the runs. He might've improved but if you can take Ojha who has terrible stats in test like Harbhajan in last 2 years, why not back Harbhajan who has always been a big game player for us. And not to forget, he is more than just a bowler. A handy bat as well as we need characters like him against Aussies, he gets under their skin.

Get under whose skin? The current Aussie team is vastly different to the one faced on the last tour. Don't think they really care whether Darty plays or not. And just cannot pick players based on ancient history and whether he somehow riles the opposition. Current performances and form are much more important. Everybody saw what picking RP Singh based on past history in Eng achieved.

[Vijay.Sharma]

Jimmy paaji is a huge fan of Rahul Sharma' date=' so you never know..[/quote']Yeah! I am a fan of Rahul Sharma too...I think the guy can carry Kumble's torch - he just needs some guidance from the man himself and Rahul will be good to go

[Crookbond]

Is it time to look at Harbhajan as a Test only option? Harbhajan's ODI drought : http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/535365.html

Look at his ODI bowling career summary and one of the stats that stands out is his relatively high average in almost every year since 2005. In 2011 he has taken 17 wickets in as many games, at 41.29, while in nine games in the World Cup, he gave away 43.33 per wicket. In the ODI series in South Africa before that, he averaged 51.25 in five games, and in the Champions Trophy in the same country in 2009, his three wickets cost him 46.33 each. Clearly taking wickets in the shorter form has been a problem for Harbhajan. Not surprisingly, Harbhajan's bowling average is the poorest among Indian bowlers who've taken at least 50 ODI wickets since the beginning of 2005. Even Yuvraj Singh has done better, averaging 36.38 for his 80 wickets. Also, there are no other spinners in this list, which indicates how reliant India have been on Harbhajan. So how does Harbhajan compare with other top spinners in the world over the last six years? Here's how: there are 21 slow bowlers who've bowled at least 400 overs during this period (since January 2005), and among them Harbhajan is 14th in terms of average. Among the bowlers who've done better than him are Graeme Swann (average 23.56, economy rate 4.43), Saeed Ajmal (26.87, 4.21), Daniel Vettori (28.89, 3.96) and Shahid Afridi (32, 4.59).

IMHO, it may help resurrect Harbhajan's career. We can play him in ODI's "limitedly".

[Shane]

IPL only option.

[Crookbond]

IPL only option.

I subtly suggested he shouldn't be allowed to play IPL just like the bowling ban by CA on Shane Watson.

[Shane]

I subtly suggested he shouldn't be allowed to play IPL just like the bowling ban by CA on Shane Watson.

And I blatantly suggested he should quit international cricket.

[vamos_rafa]

Test,ODI or anything. He should get his rhythm back. He was very good in SA in tests but then floundered again in WI and England. He needs to get his rhythm back.Age is on his side.

[Crookbond]

And I blatantly suggested he should quit international cricket.

It's being a bit harsh, IMO.

[BERGKAMP]

It's being a bit harsh' date=' IMO.[/quote'] No it isn't, it is being more than reasonable. Darty should just quit international cricket altogether and concentrate on making it large in his other business interests.

[achilles]

I think whats being done these days should be taken as an amazing motivator by Bhajji. This is the first time Bhajji is facing such widespread criticism from close quarters and it is equivalent to annihilation for him. The only direction that Bhajji's performance should ideally be going is up. He'll be back.

[ganeshran]

He needs to bounce back for the sake of Indian cricket.

[achilles]

He has that uncanny knack of bouncing back when he's completely written off. He'll bounce back for the sport he took up when his father passed away, he'll bounce back for the pride of his country.

[Trichromatic]

I always thought that he can retain his place in ODIs. He might not take many wickets, but he gives 35-45 runs in middle overs on flat tracks. His ODI performances have more effect on results than test performance. He should concentrate on tests as India lacks wicket-takers there. But on the basis of current form he is more suited for ODIs.

[master22]

Enough of this dartby, we have better spinners

[Stuge]

Enough of this dartby' date=' [b']we have better spinners

when did this happen? :giggle:

He needs to bounce back for the sake of Indian cricket.

this

[The Realist]

There probably are better spinners out there but the problem has been that he has had a lock on the spinning slot despite declining performances - no young spinners have been given a consistent run over a number of games. Need to look to the future and move away from picking players based on ancient history.