Irfan Pathan stakes strong claim to take injured Praveen's place in Indian team

[King Tendulkar]

This crapthan delusion is getting serious now. STOP IT NOW BEFORE SELECTORS DO SOMETHING STUPID!

[Mariyam]

This crapthan delusion is getting serious now. STOP IT NOW BEFORE SELECTORS DO SOMETHING STUPID!

Selectors read threads on ICF?

[BeautifulGame]

Might be wrong but he ave less than 20 in Ranji trophy for Baroda without even a half century.So if we are considering him ODI at the moment he should be as a bowler not all rounder atleast not untill he scores some runs in domestic cricket. Pathan should score a lot in domestic cricket to be seriously considered a serious contender for all rounder spot.But if he can then he would definitely be a very good alternative to Jadeja in overseas conditions.But i dont think his his batting good enough for no.7 in ODIs atm.Trying to do that will only do more harm to him and India than good. But he deserved to be tried in last 2 ODIs in place of VK.If VK cant be dropped then Umesh and Aaron should be rested and Pathan and Nechim should be tried in their place.

[Number]

His batting is not that good to be considered as a proper ODI all rounder. T20 may be but in ODIs we need better batsman in all rounder.

[1983-2011]

The case for Irfan Pathan Picking a side for a tour of Australia is not an easy job. The gravity of the situation is realized in the manner in which Ravi Shastri started talking up Harbhajan Singh's chances leading up to the selection meeting. "He will get under the skin of the likes of Mathew Hayden and Andrew Symonds," the fervent commentator said. That's all fine except these cricketers don't play anymore. Wickets are what the five wise men and the team management would be more interested in, something Bhajji has been well short of recently. And he continued to be, with only two wickets to show for in three Ranji Trophy matches for Punjab. It means that India will be lacking immensely in experience - at least in the spin department - when they tour Australia, worryingly. And if Zaheer Khan doesn't get fit in time or even breaks down mid-tour, that will be true for our fast bowling unit as well. Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin have done very well in whatever chances they have been afforded since the debacle in England. But bowling in home conditions is a wholly different prospect to bowling abroad, especially where a small error in line and length is hard to judge. Even experienced bowlers tend to take their time adjusting to these demands when in Australia and the likes, so the Indian squad will have to be very wary of this fact. That Ishant Sharma has visited there earlier is a plus, but with Praveen Kumar pulling out, perhaps a lifeline has opened up. The name Irfan Pathan is one that comes to mind readily on most occasions. Not because he has done much in the last couple of years to catch our collective frenzy, but simply because his was - and perhaps still is - a rare talent. As far as Indian cricket is concerned at least, such players are a dime a dozen. Has anyone tempted us, kept waiting on tenterhooks, like this since Kapil Dev? None have come close and indeed if Irfan doesn't make a suitable career out of what has been only a shortened disappointment so far, it will be a terrible loss. Coming back to the squad, what has played up Irfan's name again? No, it isn't what he can possibly do on paper, but indeed the statistics that have been thrown up this Ranji season. In four matches, he has taken 21 wickets, with three five-wicket hauls and a best of 7 for 114. That number is backed up by more - 111 overs, an average of 14.14 and a strike rate of 31.5. Clearly he has bowled long spells, going at it with decent pace and swing. Considering the propensity of pitches in the domestic circuit to aid batting, these are no mean figures. A match-fit Irfan had been missing from the scene for the past two seasons and now that we have him at the forefront, this opportunity shouldn't be let past. Playing him gives us another incentive and it becomes clearer when we look at our batting strength. Unlike England, our main batsmen are fit and raring to go. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are back at the top and seem to be getting hungrier by the day. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman always tend to lift their game against Australia, so the middle order isn't a worry. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have started maturing into the batsmen they can be, and it is but heartening to see at a crucial time for Indian cricket. MS Dhoni is his usual self, with triple roles to take care of. Moreover, the presence of Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha is commendable. Rahane being in the squad takes care of two roles simultaneously, should we need an additional middle-order bat or back up the two openers. And Saha has been picked only on his keeping abilities as on a three-month tour, you just cannot go without an additional wicketkeeper. But once the top seven are taken care of, and they will falter at some stage, India's tail will be long and burly. Ashwin's maiden ton notwithstanding, Ojha, Aaron and Yadav do not make for comfort in the dressing room. Zaheer may or may not go and he is no consistent bat either. This is where Irfan coming in at No. 8 would make a whole lot of sense, again. Perhaps there will never be a stronger case for his comeback. December 5, when the selectors name Kumar's replacement, will be a decisive date. http://cricketnext.in.com/blogs/chetannarula/2970/62966/the-case-for-irfan-pathan.html

[MCcricket]

I havent seen Irfan bowling in last 2 Ranji games, the first few games he seems to have found his swing and made batsmen look like rookies, but still his action wasn't smooth and pace needed to be faster , he can be lethal if he bowls 130 to 140 k range with control, he was imroving though.

[pensionplan]

Hmm...Another Irfan Pathan thread.

[1983-2011]

Hmm...Another Irfan Pathan thread.

we will see more in the coming days:winky:

[CG]

Fact is dhoni does not have confidence in him ,So he will not play him .

[pensionplan]

we will see more in the coming days:winky:

Hopefully not the ones mocking him or writing his cricket obituaries.

[Lord]

Picking a side for a tour of Australia is not an easy job. The gravity of the situation is realized in the manner in which Ravi Shastri started talking up Harbhajan Singh's chances leading up to the selection meeting. "He will get under the skin of the likes of Mathew Hayden and Andrew Symonds," the fervent commentator said. That's all fine except these cricketers don't play anymore. Wickets are what the five wise men and the team management would be more interested in, something Bhajji has been well short of recently. And he continued to be, with only two wickets to show for in three Ranji Trophy matches for Punjab. It means that India will be lacking immensely in experience - at least in the spin department - when they tour Australia, worryingly. And if Zaheer Khan doesn't get fit in time or even breaks down mid-tour, that will be true for our fast bowling unit as well. Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin have done very well in whatever chances they have been afforded since the debacle in England. But bowling in home conditions is a wholly different prospect to bowling abroad, especially where a small error in line and length is hard to judge. Even experienced bowlers tend to take their time adjusting to these demands when in Australia and the likes, so the Indian squad will have to be very wary of this fact. That Ishant Sharma has visited there earlier is a plus, but with Praveen Kumar pulling out, perhaps a lifeline has opened up. The name Irfan Pathan is one that comes to mind readily on most occasions. Not because he has done much in the last couple of years to catch our collective frenzy, but simply because his was - and perhaps still is - a rare talent. As far as Indian cricket is concerned at least, such players are a dime a dozen. Has anyone tempted us, kept waiting on tenterhooks, like this since Kapil Dev? None have come close and indeed if Irfan doesn't make a suitable career out of what has been only a shortened disappointment so far, it will be a terrible loss. Coming back to the squad, what has played up Irfan's name again? No, it isn't what he can possibly do on paper, but indeed the statistics that have been thrown up this Ranji season. In four matches, he has taken 21 wickets, with three five-wicket hauls and a best of 7 for 114. That number is backed up by more - 111 overs, an average of 14.14 and a strike rate of 31.5. Clearly he has bowled long spells, going at it with decent pace and swing. Considering the propensity of pitches in the domestic circuit to aid batting, these are no mean figures. A match-fit Irfan had been missing from the scene for the past two seasons and now that we have him at the forefront, this opportunity shouldn't be let past. Playing him gives us another incentive and it becomes clearer when we look at our batting strength. Unlike England, our main batsmen are fit and raring to go. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are back at the top and seem to be getting hungrier by the day. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman always tend to lift their game against Australia, so the middle order isn't a worry. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have started maturing into the batsmen they can be, and it is but heartening to see at a crucial time for Indian cricket. MS Dhoni is his usual self, with triple roles to take care of. Moreover, the presence of Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha is commendable. Rahane being in the squad takes care of two roles simultaneously, should we need an additional middle-order bat or back up the two openers. And Saha has been picked only on his keeping abilities as on a three-month tour, you just cannot go without an additional wicketkeeper. But once the top seven are taken care of, and they will falter at some stage, India's tail will be long and burly. Ashwin's maiden ton notwithstanding, Ojha, Aaron and Yadav do not make for comfort in the dressing room. Zaheer may or may not go and he is no consistent bat either. This is where Irfan coming in at No. 8 would make a whole lot of sense, again. Perhaps there will never be a stronger case for his comeback. December 5, when the selectors name Kumar's replacement, will be a decisive date. http://cricketnext.in.com/blogs/chetannarula/2970/62966/the-case-for-irfan-pathan.html

that is one more reason to pick him,he has experience of Aussie conditions n has done well there in last 2 tours

[carnish]

I guess irfan is a right choice now that PK has failed in fitness and unless we have zaheer fully fit i guess we should get a left hand seamer in our side... no point getting one more right hand trundler from the domestics rather than having a bit of variety in irfan or for that matter RP Singh considering that both of them have experience of playing in australia and the current aussie side is not so good against the swinging ball as was exposed in south africa and to some extent yesterday against bracewell also

[urbestfriend]

Irfan says he can better debut season for India

Pathan has said he is fit and fresh, and in line to better his performance in his debut season for India - 2003-04 - after emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy's Elite group so far, with 21 wickets. It's a timely return to form with the selectors due to name Praveen Kumar's replacement for the tour of Australia on Monday. "I feel I am one step ahead of what I wanted to be in terms of the way I am bowling," he told ESPNcricinfo. He did not want to talk about selection but reasserted his goal. "My dream is still to play for my country, play for that jersey, play for the pride. I would do anything. I would go and bowl 100 overs if need be; I would keep performing to fulfil my goal." Irfan's last international match for India was during the 2009 World Twenty20; his last Test match was against South Africa in April 2008. He spent most of last season out with a severe back injury and even his IPL stock was plummeting as his bowling lost its prodigious swing. "The whole experience was enlightening," Irfan said about his recovery from the back injury. "When you are fit you do not concentrate on yourself, you concentrate on the batsman - how to set him up, how to lure him into your trap. At least you try; it might work at times and it might not at other times. When you are not fit, when your action is not within your control; that is when the trouble starts." The trouble, though, seems to be in the past. This Ranji season Irfan has had three five-wicket hauls - the first two, against Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, came in the second innings, but last week he overwhelmed Delhi in the first innings with both the new and old balls to pick up a seven-wicket haul. "At the moment the way the ball is leaving my hand is nearly the way I want it to leave," Irfan said. "It is a very good sign. At the same time I have been quite lucky and quite blessed to perform well for Baroda so far. If things progress in the same fashion I really think this season is going to be even better than the 2003-04 one." He had announced himself during India's tour of Pakistan in March-April 2004 during which he took 12 wickets in the three Tests. In the past Irfan had said he regretted being the first-change bowler for India, as bowling with the old ball did not help him get as much swing as would have liked. Now, though, he says he has learned how to use the old ball much better. "The new ball has been wonderful, but I have a very good feel of the old ball and that is a positive sign for me. If you are getting set batsmen out with the old ball, it is most pleasing." Irfan said the guidance of fast-bowling coach TA Sekar, who worked on Irfan's bowling action after the 2011 IPL, has played a big role in him re-building his confidence. "He worked hard with me for a couple of months post the IPL with the idea that by the time the domestic season arrived my [tweaked] action would be second nature." Sekar had helped Irfan in 2007 when Irfan had a disastrous year: he was sent back to India midway through the South Africa tour. He lost his confidence then but Sekar worked hard with Irfan to make sure he would not fall apart This time the pair worked closely again with Irfan sending Sekar his match videos. Sekar even travelled to Rajkot to watch Irfan during the Syed Mushtaq Ali domestic Twenty20 tournament. "Primarily, he changed my whole body alignment going towards the target," Irfan said. "In the past I was bowling with a mixed action but we corrected that. That has actually made my line much tighter, it has helped me keep my wrists straight and importantly allowed me to bowl where I want to bowl." Irfan played the JP Atray turnament, the Challenger Trophy and the Syed-Mushtaq Ali Trophy to refine his action. "I knew by the time the Ranji Trophy comes I should be on top of my game, I should be match fit and I should be bowling the way I want to bowl. It was a process of two months but by the first match of the Ranji season I was on top of my game." Irfan said he is spending less time in the gym than in previous years but "more and more" time on the ground. One of the reasons Irfan had been dropped from the India setup was that he had lost a few yards of pace. He said he is bowling at good speeds now but does not bother about what the speedometer's readings say. "It is very important for me to have that zip off the pitch with which I can get a batsman lbw. When I lost out on a lot of things, when my action went wrong, people started talking about my pace, my wrist position, my swing. A lot of things were not going towards the target. But after the IPL if you look at my dismissals I have got them bowled, lbw, caught-behind or caught in the slips. That is a sign that I am getting the right zip from the pitch and I am bowling at the correct speeds. "I need to stop looking at the speedometer. If I can concentrate on dismissing batsmen by swinging it late, or making them play and miss, keeping them troubled with my lengths, then speed can take care of itself." He said a good example of the way he should bowl was his performance on the first day of the match against Haryana, when he took just one wicket but kept the batsmen guessing. "I was beating the bat and I was very happy with my bowling."

It seems Irfan has lot of media friends, he is making all the right noise in the media from last couple of days...Lets see how he does this time, if he makes a comeback :nervous:

[Cricket Tragic]

Last couple of days? He has been giving interviews regularly since he was dropped.

[vamos_rafa]

This is what I hate about this guy. Few good matches and he jumps the gun again. I did not either bother reading the article. After reading the title itself, my reaction was like :facepalm:.

[Old guy]

i dont want him in team i think some young pacer should be given oppertunity

[Needforspeed]

There should be a higher price put on comebacks. Anyway I hear that he is bowling at 118-125 K this season. That kind of pace is not going to impress the Aussies. Check out this Article in the Times of India about Irfan. [

B]Times of India, Dec 4, 2011 Irfan a contender to replace Praveen for Australia tour Irfan has taken 21 wickets in four Ranji games for Baroda so far this season. (TOI Photo)MUMBAI: At 18, Irfan Pathan was hailed as 'the next big thing in Indian cricket'. The next superstar, as he bowled his way into the hearts of fans, with his prodigious swing back in 2003. At 21, three years later, he became 'Indian cricket's biggest tragedy'. He was even back from the South African tour in December 2006 because of poor form. Since then, there has been nothing but a fight to stay fit and come back into the Indian team. For the last two years, Pathan has been so badly hit by a back injury that he wasn't able to play a single first class match. At 27, he again presents a strong case to replace an injured Praveen Kumar in the squad for the Test series in Australia. Playing after a lengthy gap following injuries to his back and hamstring, the left-arm seamer has made an impact. Irfan has taken 21 wickets in four Ranji games for Baroda so far this season. It is a haul that includes three five-fors which have come at a measly average of 14.14. Though he faces stiff competition from Karnataka seamers Abhimanyu Mithun and Vinay Kumar and a few others too, the 'decision-makers' may tilt more towards Irfan's all-round package and experience, especially in Australian conditions. Sreesanth's ouster from the race due to injury has only boosted the Baroda man's case. Most of the experts TOI spoke to -- including a few national selectors -- were excited with Irfan's return. TA Sekhar, the bowling consultant with Delhi Daredevils, saw Irfan bowl at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi, where he took seven for 114. "He is a much improved bowler now because he is getting the ball to move both ways. I saw him bowl in Delhi and was quite impressed. A left-arm seamer is at his best when he brings the ball into the right-hander," Sekhar told TOI. With Irfan, the pertinent point, besides swing, is pace. Is he up to it? "He was never that quick, but if you can move the ball while clocking around 132 km/hr, it is good enough," reasons Sekhar. "He is a hard working cricketer, and that shows in his comeback performances, as well as his fitness," says a national selector. A member of the national selection panel spells out where Irfan holds the edge. "In Irfan's case, he is an all-rounder and at present, India needs all-rounders," he says. There are skeptics too. Like Rajat Bhatia, who was part of the seven scalps which Pathan took against Delhi at the Kotla. "He was getting the ball to move, but he was bowling around 118 km/hr and at that pace he is going to put little fear in the minds of Aussie batsmen," says Bhatia. Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar is even more blunt. "Let's not get excited over Pathan because he is taking wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Against Delhi, it took him 30 overs to take seven wickets. In the same match, Ashish Nehra took nine wickets. Why are we ignoring him? The important thing is, is he bowling fast? If he can't touch 135, there is no point taking him Down Under," he says.

[vvvslaxman]

He has to prove it on the ground then talk.

[Stuge]

he is like this ATM again

[ViruRulez]

He talks too much. BTW has Mithun not been announced as a replacement already. To be honest, Irfan is far better suited than Mithun for the tour but only if he can keep his mouth shut. But he never stops speaking. :yawn2: