India A

[punjabiplaya]

rayadu!! i have been saying for years A tours should be be given priority... so players on the fringes of each test team can play each other in different countries therefore there techniques get better,and im sure if there played like test matches ...and discounts and free admmison to school children..would be a resounding sucess and players who are sucessful can move too the first team and first team members will have to stay hungry and always look over there shoulders!!!

[NeutralCat]

Who is Saxena? Is he good, is he the future?

[rkt.india]

Uthappa has been even worse than Vijay right.. not too sure though. Yes Mukund aside Jaffer and Chhopra are the best domestic openers' date=' hardly bodes well for the future. Perhaps Kartik can open as specialist batter[/quote'] Jaffers does not open for few years now.

[saneindian]

I don't think any openers have done particularly well this Ranji season. If you purely go by numbers, Vineet Saxena and KB Pawan has the most runs for openers, but both have bolstered their averages and runs purely by one spectacular performance, that is by the 257 that Saxena scored in the Ranji Trophy finals and by the 251 not out that Pawan scored against Saxena's team in the league matches. Otherwise, their batting have been strictly okay. The other people among the top 5 openers would be Chopra and Vijay, and both of them have been pretty much quiet all season barring a couple of stellar performances that has kept them in the mix. Shikhar Dhawan has not even scored a century in his ten Ranji innings this year.

Akshat Reddy, the 20 yeard old opener from Hyderabad, played in the last u-19 WC and played a brilliant knock vs England u-19 in that tournament. Stylish batsman with a compact defensive technique and a brilliant fielder. If we are looking for someone younger beyond the Vijays and Chopras, he could be the man.

[Magneto]

Akshat Reddy, the 20 yeard old opener from Hyderabad, played in the last u-19 WC and played a brilliant knock vs England u-19 in that tournament. Stylish batsman with a compact defensive technique and a brilliant fielder. If we are looking for someone younger beyond the Vijays and Chopras, he could be the man.

Akshat is surely promising, and has already notched up 4 centuries in the Ranjis. But most of them are against minnows, so it would be good to given him some time and a couple of seasons and hopefully a stint at the Elite League before putting him in the big league. One for the future, surely (the way Shikhar Dhawan was 8 years ago).

[Sooda]

What is the point of picking someone like Koomar in the 'A' team when you know that he isn't good enough for test cricket?

I know, in theory they could feature; in Kumars case he has been one of the best domestic pacemen in recent years. He has been in EPT tournos/

Jaffers does not open for few years now.

I know. but he still is a better option there than several younger candidates

[Sooda]

Akshat Reddy' date=' Dhawan, Mandeep Singh, Robin Bist, Manoj Tiwary, Raina ©, Surya Yadav, Jadeja, Uday Kaul, Rishi Dhawan, Pankaj Singh, Dinda, Aaron, Nechim, Abdullah[/quote'] Nice, I had not even heard of Reddy. Youd stick with Raina though he has not set the test scene alight?

[Sooda]

When does the A team to tour WI get selected? Tour starts on May30th, hopefully the IPL would have ended by then I think?? Would be interesting to see if they go for an experienced side, or the likes of Suryakumar and Bisht Think we should go for an experienced XI, current squad players and give them some experience overseas- Mukund, Rahane, Pujara ©, Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, Saha, Irfan Pathan, Dinda, Pankaj, Apanna, Darekar S Yadav, Awana, Spinner Hopefully our next test squad will not look different on the batting front... Ltd Overs A team- Uthappa, Mukund, N Ojha, Pujara, Pandey, S Yadav, Menaria, Nechim Ahmed, Awana, Darekar,...

[rkt.india]

When does the A team to tour WI get selected? Tour starts on May30th, hopefully the IPL would have ended by then I think?? Would be interesting to see if they go for an experienced side, or the likes of Suryakumar and Bisht Think we should go for an experienced XI, current squad players and give them some experience overseas- Mukund, Rahane, Pujara ©, Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, Uday Kaul, Irfan Pathan, Dinda, Pankaj, Apanna, Darekar S Yadav, Awana, Spinner Hopefully our next test squad will not look different on the batting front... Ltd Overs A team- Uthappa, Mukund, N Ojha, Pujara, Pandey, S Yadav, Menaria, Nechim Ahmed, Awana, Darekar,...

Whats the benefit of sending Irfan with A side who does not look to have any future in tests, same can be said about Pankaj, rather have some young fast bowlers like Shami, Nechim, Kulkarni, Shukla, Aaron, Tyagi, etc. I wont mind even Yadav to get some more experience and they can be rotated.

[Sooda]

Whats the benefit of sending Irfan with A side who does not look to have any future in tests' date=' same can be said about Pankaj, rather have some young fast bowlers like Shami, Nechim, Kulkarni, Shukla, Aaron, Tyagi, etc. I wont mind even Yadav to get some more experience and they can be rotated.[/quote'] What is the point of the Ranji trophy tournament?

[rkt.india]

What is the point of the Ranji trophy tournament?

Ranji Trophy is an important tournament, but it is just one thing. It does not mean you pick a player closed eyes. There is a thing called eye for talent and potential. If you only need to pick players on stats, you dont need selectors. Pathan is not a solution. He is a tried and tested failure. Rather than wasting A matches and tours on Pathan, I would try and play new bowlers to show their talent. There is nothing new that Pathan can show to us or selectors. They also know what is about. It is the unknowns we are to try on A tours, uncapped bowlers. If selectors are to pick Pathan for tests, they can pick him without sending on A tours based on his FC performance. BTW, I dont see Pathan as a test bowler. Sending him on an A tour will be a waste of an opportunity. We don't need a 5 over bowler.

[Chandan]

What is the point of the Ranji trophy tournament?

Ranji Trophy is an important tournament, but it is just one thing. It does not mean you pick a player closed eyes. There is a thing called eye for talent and potential. If you only need to pick players on stats, you dont need selectors. Pathan is not a solution. He is a tried and tested failure. Rather than wasting A matches and tours on Pathan, I would try and play new bowlers to show their talent. There is nothing new that Pathan can show to us or selectors. They also know what is about. It is the unknowns we are to try on A tours, uncapped bowlers. If selectors are to pick Pathan for tests, they can pick him without sending on A tours based on his FC performance. BTW, I dont see Pathan as a test bowler. Sending him on an A tour will be a waste of an opportunity. We don't need a 5 over bowler.

I'll say Rkt is correct here about Pathan. Irfan in tests, that too in India, below 130ks/h, without relentless accuracy and swing is useless. If selectors want him, then our bowling coach has to work hard on him, otherwise he is not going to do any good to India. But is there anyone better? Frankly, I can't think of any. Dinda can be tested in the A tour but I don't have much high hopes from him in tests. Who else is there? Because for 10 tests within 6 months at home we will need at least 5-6 seamers ready and 3-4 spinners. Hope the selectors pay attention to this aspect and plan the A tour accordingly.

[rkt.india]

I'll say RKT is correct here about Pathan. Irfan in tests, that too in India, below 130ks/h, without relentless accuracy and swing is useless. If selectors want him, then our bowling coach has to work hard on him, otherwise he is not going to do any good to India. But is there anyone better? Frankly, I can't think of any. Dinda can be tested in the A tour but I don't have much high hopes from him in tests. Who else is there? Because for 10 tests within 6 months at home we will need at least 5-6 seamers ready and 3-4 spinners. Hope the selectors pay attention to this aspect and plan the A tour accordingly.

There is always hope out of hope. We have young seamers coming in. We are not going to get any ready made bowlers. We will have to create them through tours like these. I would send few of Yadav, Aaron, Dinda, Kulkarni, Nechim, Tyagi, Awana, Shami, and Rahul Shukla, etc. and let all play a match or two rather than one bowler playing every match. These guys need to tour more and more to get the knowledge of playing in different conditions and improve.

[ShebbySB]

The test squad players but who aren't in the first XI should be included in the India-A team like Rahane,Rahul Sharma,Varun Aaron etc.After Dravid's retirement test team will look like this:-Gambhir,Sehwag,Pujara,Sachin,Laxman(there is no sign of retirement),Kohli,Dhoni,Ashwin,Zaheer,Umesh,Ojha/Ishant(Ojha in sub-continent & Ishant abroad).Rahane is the 3rd opener,Rohit is the reserve batsman,Saha is the 2nd keeper,Rahul Sharma is the 3rd spinner & Aaron is the reserve fast bowler.So the India-A should look like this:- Rahane Mukund Mandeep Manoj Suryakumar Yadav Robin Bist Saha/U.Kaul Rahul Sharma Aaron Awana Shami Ahmed Manish Pandey,Dinda,Veer & a good young spinner will be in the squad too. I haven't included Raina,Irfan as they are only good in the ODI & t20 while Praveen,Vinay,Jaddu aren't good enough to play test cricket.Bowlers like Abu Nechim,Rahul Shukla,Pawan Suyal,Sudeep Tyagi,RP Singh,Anwar Ahmed,Gony & VRV Singh can also push for a place in the squad if they consistently perform well.But if a seamer got to be selected in to the A squad or Test squad he should be atleast 137kph/85mph+.

[rkt.india]

The test squad players but who aren't in the first XI should be included in the .

Why not first XI players like Rohit, Kohliu, Rahane, Pujara. If we are not playing any series during that time. It will be a good learning trip for them to bat in tough conditions.

[ShebbySB]

Why not first XI players like Rohit' date=' Kohliu, Rahane, Pujara. If we are not playing any series during that time. It will be a good learning trip for them to bat in tough conditions.[/quote'] I've included Rahane but Rohit,Kohli,Pujara will be regulars in the test squad from now on.But yes they can play abroad in the India-A team if there is no international schedule.

[rkt.india]

I've included Rahane but Rohit,Kohli,Pujara will be regulars in the test squad from now on.But yes they can play abroad in the India-A team if there is no international schedule.

If there is not international cricket at that time, they can go to WI and have some priceless experience of playing there. It will help them settle in test cricket.

[Sooda]

^Pathan could be an allrounder for India. Not a front line bowler. That is how I would like to see him tested. On an A tour and if he does not perform then we know. I agree that stats in Ranji are not everything but you are going totally the other way- may as well have nets sessions and any bowler who can bowl a few spells at 135 kmph+ should play for India A . Pankaj has been the most consistent bowler in India for the last few seasons, and is not much slower (if slower at all) than Kulkarni. Tyagi has been nothing but injured for the last two years sadly. Even if say Aaron and Nechim are nippier what benefit has that got them over a sustained period of time in India domestic first class tourno- not much. and Shami Ahmed again has a little bit of pace and a couple of good showings for EZ - is it that easy to get into the A team..? And I would not have them play just one match each, surely more of them would need to be seen. Send a 15 or 16 man squad stick with pretty much the same XI unless injury or a poor display strikes a player On the batting front yes the first line of fringe players- Mukund, Rahane, Pujara, Tiwary, Rohit. It would be good to see them tested abroad. I hope most of those make it to the squad to face NZ in the test series at home.

[rkt.india]

^Pathan could be an allrounder for India. Not a front line bowler. That is how I would like to see him tested. On an A tour and if he does not perform then we know. I agree that stats in Ranji are not everything but you are going totally the other way- may as well have nets sessions and any bowler who can bowl a few spells at 135 kmph+ should play for India A . Pankaj has been the most consistent bowler in India for the last few seasons, and is not much slower (if slower at all) than Kulkarni. Tyagi has been nothing but injured for the last two years sadly. Even if say Aaron and Nechim are nippier what benefit has that got them over a sustained period of time in India domestic first class tourno- not much. and Shami Ahmed again has a little bit of pace and a couple of good showings for EZ - is it that easy to get into the A team..? And I would not have them play just one match each, surely more of them would need to be seen. Send a 15 or 16 man squad stick with pretty much the same XI unless injury or a poor display strikes a player On the batting front yes the first line of fringe players- Mukund, Rahane, Pujara, Tiwary, Rohit. It would be good to see them tested abroad. I hope most of those make it to the squad to face NZ in the test series at home.

I pick players based on talent and potential and if they do well in FC that is good, but when our FC performers does not do much which we have seen in case of likes of Pathan then this is the way to go forward. Select potential talented bowlers and sent them to A tours. Pathan is not a newcomer. It is 9 years since he debuted. He is a veteran now and still is not any better than any youngster coming in. Pathan can play as an alrounder in ODIs, but in test you need specialists. In tests, Pathan can play as 5th bowler who can also bat 6 or 7, but not in as four front line bowlers.

[saneindian]

Mukund, Rahane, Dhawan, Pujara ©, Rohit, Mandeep, Robin Bist, Uday Kaul, Rahul Sharma, Iqbal Abdulla, Dinda, Pankaj Singh, Aaron, Parwinder Awana, Bhuvneshwar Kumar