West Indies tour of India, Nov-Dec 2011

[Mystique_Myth]

get jadeja into the test team instead of playing Raina or Yuvi :P

[Sooda]

Regardless of first two tests results Praveen, MSD could sit out last test. Its imperative that NONE of the test squad for Aus are in the ODI squad vs WI. Rest have not played quite so much of late so match practice is not a bad idea. Albeit there are three tour matches so they will get some there too. I wish a few young bats could play-would improve our fielding for a start- but the seniors are still our best and need match time ahead of Aus tour. No 6 should be Puara if fit, if not Rohit- he should be more suited for test cricket than Raina or Yuvraj. A similar ploy to Vibhashs' would be good though it is not realistic as no continuity Test 1: Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, SRT, Sehwag, Laxman, MSD, Ojha, Praveen, Harbhajan, Ishant 2: Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, Rahane, Sehwag, Rohit/Pujara, MSD, Pankaj Singh, Bhajj, Ishant, Ojha 3: Gambhir, Mukund, Laxman, Tendulkar, Rahane, Rohit/Pujara, Saha, Umesh, Pankaj Singh, Ashwin, Mishra A good leggie would be useful in Aus so Mishra will be good to play in test 3, all three senior spinners could tour Aus maybe.. dont know if that is one spin bowler too many though

[Cricket Tragic]

Regardless of first two tests results Praveen, MSD could sit out last test. Its imperative that NONE of the test squad for Aus are in the ODI squad vs WI. Rest have not played quite so much of late so match practice is not a bad idea. Albeit there are three tour matches so they will get some there too. I wish a few young bats could play-would improve our fielding for a start- but the seniors are still our best and need match time ahead of Aus tour. No 6 should be Puara if fit, if not Rohit- he should be more suited for test cricket than Raina or Yuvraj. A similar ploy to Vibhashs' would be good though it is not realistic as no continuity Test 1: Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, SRT, Sehwag, Laxman, MSD, Ojha, Praveen, Harbhajan, Ishant 2: Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, Rahane, Sehwag, Rohit/Pujara, MSD, Pankaj Singh, Bhajj, Ishant, Ojha 3: Gambhir, Mukund, Laxman, Tendulkar, Rahane, Rohit/Pujara, Saha, Umesh, Pankaj Singh, Ashwin, Mishra A good leggie would be useful in Aus so Mishra will be good to play in test 3.

That rules Mishra out.

[Sooda]

That rules Mishra out.

Ha :P thought someone would say that. Maybe.. You forget Mishra is now our ace bowler-batsman. One funny cricinfo comment I read said Raina is a better bowler than Mishra, and Mishra a better bat than Raina. Lulz.

[King Tendulkar]

Regardless of first two tests results Praveen, MSD could sit out last test. Its imperative that NONE of the test squad for Aus are in the ODI squad vs WI. Rest have not played quite so much of late so match practice is not a bad idea. Albeit there are three tour matches so they will get some there too. I wish a few young bats could play-would improve our fielding for a start- but the seniors are still our best and need match time ahead of Aus tour. No 6 should be Puara if fit, if not Rohit- he should be more suited for test cricket than Raina or Yuvraj. A similar ploy to Vibhashs' would be good though it is not realistic as no continuity Test 1: Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, SRT, Sehwag, Laxman, MSD, Ojha, Praveen, Harbhajan, Ishant 2: Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, Rahane, Sehwag, Rohit/Pujara, MSD, Pankaj Singh, Bhajj, Ishant, Ojha 3: Gambhir, Mukund, Laxman, Tendulkar, Rahane, Rohit/Pujara, Saha, Umesh, Pankaj Singh, Ashwin, Mishra A good leggie would be useful in Aus so Mishra will be good to play in test 3, all three senior spinners could tour Aus maybe.. dont know if that is one spin bowler too many though

Glad to see you have finally stopped pimping Kaif:giggle:

[King Tendulkar]

I disgagree with all this expermentation stuff and resting players in this test etc etc. If players need rest then miss odis and ipl. Test team shoulkd be strongest possible, we need to get back to No 1, so need to win all games. I for one am not taking windies lightly. Must pick strongest team with oldies only not in team if we are genuinley dropping them and see guy coming in as permament replacement.

[Sooda]

^ Not playing seniors is not so much to rest them, more to try out younger guys. Good oppo this being a series at home versus a good-but-not-great team. Kaif is my hero !! He did deserve a call up about three years ago, but sadly his boat has sailed. :((

[BERGKAMP]

gambhir sehwag dravid tendulkar laxman kohli dhoni ashwin ishant pk aaron squad mukund rahane yadav ojha

[saneindian]

Sehwag should not be risked till the 3rd test. Let him play 2-3 Ranji matches before picking him for the 3rd test provided he is 100% fit, else let him play Ranji matches till the time the team departs for the Aussie tour around 10th Dec. Same with the likes of Yuvraj, Rohit and Pujara. If they have recovered from their injuries, let them be playing these Ranji matches to test their fitness. Ishant was injured but has been bowling in the domestic t20s for Delhi. Not sure if thats the ideal way of testing his fitness for the longer format. Would it be worth the risk of playing him in the 1st test without knowing how fit he is? We need to ensure we don't see any of our bowlers breaking down in the middle of a test match. From that angle, even Ishant should not play the 1st test and ideally be asked to play in the 1st round of Ranji matches starting from 3rd Nov. Same with Sreesanth who hasnt played a competitive match since the 4th test in England. Ask him to play ranji matches. Not having picked Bhajji for the ODIs, it will not be right to pick him for the tests either. If the plan was to let him go back to domestic cricket and rediscover his bowling form, dont pick him either till he has played first couple of rounds of the Ranji matches. Raina should not be picked for test matches anymore. Needs to play more first class cricket to overcome some of his technical deficiencies. Also unless the team management wants to pick Yadav/Aaron in the final 11, no point them warming the bench. Reease them to play Ranji matches. The 1st test squad- Gambhir, Mukund, Dravid, SRT, VVS, Kohli, MSD, Ashwin, PK, Umesh Yadav, Ojha, Rahane, Mithun, Mishra

[King Tendulkar]

Yuvraj and Rainas test carrers should be ended. Kohli, Rohit, Pujara, Rahane and Mukund are the ones who should be given chances now

[BeautifulGame]

I am not sure about Praveen in India.Maybe deserves a chance in the 1st couple of test atleast after performances in WI and Eng but not sure he will really succeed in our conditions.Either way i would go with Gambhir Mukund Dravid / Laxman / Sachin (Two of the 3.Rotated so that couple of youngsters could be blooded before Aus tour ) Pujara (If fit ) otherwise Rohit Kohli Dhoni Ashwin Mishra (Or maybe Chawla could be given another try not sure) Yadav / Aaron Praveen / Ishant Most important thing is none of the players selected for Aussie tour should be included in WI odis and the whole squad should be sent to Aus to get accustomed to their conditions as soon as the test series vs WI is over. Very much doubt BCCI will think like that though

[King Tendulkar]

I am not sure about Praveen in India.Maybe deserves a chance in the 1st couple of test atleast after performances in WI and Eng but not sure he will really succeed in our conditions.Either way i would go with Gambhir Mukund Dravid / Laxman / Sachin (Two of the 3.Rotated so that couple of youngsters could be blooded before Aus tour ) Pujara (If fit ) otherwise Rohit Kohli Dhoni Ashwin Mishra (Or maybe Chawla could be given another try not sure) Yadav / Aaron Praveen / Ishant Most important thing is none of the players selected for Aussie tour should be included in WI odis and the whole squad should be sent to Aus to get accustomed to their conditions as soon as the test series vs WI is over. Very much doubt BCCI will think like that though

Mishra and Chawal should be no were near test squad. You only pick a leggie if genuinley good enough and not just for the sake of it.

[kubrickian]

Some of you guys are picking Bhajji ? Are you kidding me ? He should go back to domestic cricket for 1 season and prove himself there first. It has to be Ojha and the 2nd spinner should be Ashwin.

[rkt.india]

Ajinkya Rahane could be rewarded with Test berth Ajinkya Rahane is set to go places. Indications from the selection committee are that the Mumbai opener is set for Test promotion. The 23-year-old batsman is likely to be included in the India squad for the Test series against the West Indies starting next month. This means that Rahane will, in all probability, be on the plane to Australia as well. When the selectors meet in Kolkata on October 28, there will be jostle for places in the Test squad as most of the seniors are likely to return. And yet, Rahane is expected to make the grade. Å©e looks good and we need to balance the squad with youngsters and seniors, said a selection committee source. Ū see him in the 15-member squad surely if not in the playing XI straightaway, the source remarked. Who Rahane will replace is an interesting question, but the selectors seem to have run out of patience with Suresh Raina. The thinking in the selection committee is to pick a player for the West Indies series keeping the Australian tour in mind. The selectors are looking for players with solid technique for the testing tour Down Under. And Raina, who has struggled to negotiate the short ball, may not fit the bill. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman are expected to return. The fitness status of Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag should be known in a couple of days. How different the look of the bowling attack will be is yet to be known but Varun AaronÃÔ performance at the Wankhede on Sunday is certain to force the selectors to revisit their gameplan. But sources say the real worry is not in the pace department. Kris Srikkanth & Co are believed to be wracking their brains overs the look of the spin department. Conventional wisdom may demand the recall of Harbhajan Singh, but the selectors seem to think differently. Unless MS Dhoni puts his foot down, Harbhajan, a veteran of 98 Tests, may have to wait longer for his 100th Test appearance. http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_ajinkya-rahane-could-be-rewarded-with-test-berth_1602750

[vayuu1]

Some of you guys are picking Bhajji ? Are you kidding me ? He should go back to domestic cricket for 1 season and prove himself there first. It has to be Ojha and the 2nd spinner should be Ashwin.

Spot on mate bhajji has to regain his form if he wants to strech his test carrier and unless mishra and chawla shows any signs of improvement ,they should not be selected, see in australia we need swingers and hit the deck kind of bowlers ,so pk,u.y and v.a should be there,i,d say ojha would be my pick in the first test coz he adds variety to this attack and seeing oz struggle against reverse swing aaron should be in the team against windies,so to prepare him for oz tour.

[Sidhoni]

Viru(if fit, if not then Mukund) Gambo Wall Goddy VVS Rahane MSD Aaron Ashwin Ishant Yadav/Sree

[ganeshran]

Dhoni should be rested IMO.

[King Tendulkar]

Dhoni should be rested IMO.

Whats all this resting from tests everyone wants. sums up were we go wrong. We need to win all tests and go at them with best team. If players need rest, then rest in odis, champs league and IPL. Dhoni should miss out odis against windies. But tests he must play

[ganeshran]

Whats all this resting from tests everyone wants. sums up were we go wrong. We need to win all tests and go at them with best team. If players need rest, then rest in odis, champs league and IPL. Dhoni should miss out odis against windies. But tests he must play

Tests are coming first and Dhoni is drained out. He needs rest from both Test and ODIs. It will be a better challenge to test the team of the future. As far as Champions league and IPL is concerned, I am sure players will take rest from them as soon as their test and ODI pay packets are comparable to what the players earn in IPL. If the financial loss of missing both are same, then players will obviously give more preference to international cricket.

[Blue Panther]

Whats all this resting from tests everyone wants. sums up were we go wrong. We need to win all tests and go at them with best team. If players need rest, then rest in odis, champs league and IPL. Dhoni should miss out odis against windies. But tests he must play

Naah, dhoni deserves a break, we play the most number of matches in world now, and captain dhoni has not only played every match, he played the useless champions league. They better give him some rest before the all important aussie tour. ****ing india cements owner srinivasan won't give him a rest from ipl or champions league. Forget it.