IF Dhoni selects Jadeja....

[Dravid_TheWall]

Lucky no Jadeja, at least we have an extra batsman!

[Crookbond]

Lucky no Jadeja' date=' at least we have an extra batsman![/quote'] The 7 batsman theory is just a psychological advantage, IMHO. Very few times has it really helped. You can almost count it on your finger tips.

[Dravid_TheWall]

The 7 batsman theory is just a psychological advantage' date=' IMHO. Very few times has it really helped. You can almost count it on your finger tips.[/quote'] Completely disagree. It has helped us on many occasions. Gives us the right balance. We always have played well with a 7th batsman. But Yusuf is more a bits and pieces player rather than a genuine batsman.

[Sachin=GOD]

Yusuf isn't a very useful player IMO. He does well with the bat once in 10-12 matches and fails in the rest. I'd rather have someone who can contribute regularly.

[Crookbond]

Completely disagree. It has helped us on many occasions. Gives us the right balance. We always have played well with a 7th batsman. But Yusuf is more a bits and pieces player rather than a genuine batsman.

The 7th batsman contributing to the win? Very unlikely. I would like to be proven wrong here. I can count on my finger tips of such occasions. Note - Please don't bring the bowling into picture, defeats the purpose. Also, restrict this to places where he have specifically played the 7th extra batsman (like Dinesh Mongia in the 2003 WC).

[J P K]

Amazed how this cycle goes on Drop Vinay Kumar (loads of crap) --- Play Dinda Done --- Result (no improvement) Drop Ravindra Jadeja(loads of crap) --- Play Yusuf Pathan Done --- Result (no improvement)

:cantstop:

[Crookbond]

We will do better than with that horrible hack Jaddu

I have no reason to believe so as of for now in this game. Did Yusuf bowl better? I don't think so. It's the battle of the better batsmen and if that's the case, I wouldn't have them both in the team once Yuvraj Singh comes back.

[Crookbond]

5ov for 30. Jadeja would have leaked 40 in 3 overs. Also we have power hitting from Yusuf. On his day YP can destroy any team. Jaddu even on his best day gets 30 off 20 thats it.

Lets see over a period of time how much Yusuf concedes. Jadeja has too done more than just well in selected ODIs. I agree Yusuf Pathan is a better batsmen than Jadeja. However, if it's batting the problem I would play Yuvraj Singh ahead of both, once he's back.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

Completely disagree. It has helped us on many occasions. Gives us the right balance. We always have played well with a 7th batsman. But Yusuf is more a bits and pieces player rather than a genuine batsman.

I agree, cant think of specific examples but 2003 WC when Dravid had the gloves was one of the big reasons we got to the final in much tougher conditions than WC 11. But Yusuf is a big hitter (albeit not consistent) which is what you need at 7 when chasing a high RR and without UV we dont have anyone bar MSD who can do this plus he is as good as Jaddu bowling.

[Dravid_TheWall]

The 7th batsman contributing to the win? Very unlikely. I would like to be proven wrong here. I can count on my finger tips of such occasions. Note - Please don't bring the bowling into picture, defeats the purpose. Also, restrict this to places where he have specifically played the 7th extra batsman (like Dinesh Mongia in the 2003 WC).

Our entire ODI success which began under Ganguly and Wright was partly due to 7th batsmen. No point putting in a pathetic bits and pieces player. Ideally you would want a genuine all rounder in that position, but in absence of that a proper batsmen will do which is what you are missing. I can't recall instances from top of my head but I know it definitely helps. Yusuf is still a bits and pieces player but a proper batsmen at 7 can be used as a floater. We played 7 batsmen v Pak in 2011 semi and Raina scored valuable runs at 7 with Dhoni at 6..that is a most recent example. Mongia in 2003 wc also played one crucial innings with late hits. You have to think of the bowling too, can't just ignore it, it gives you another part timer to roll their arm over to make up 10 overs. For next wc I would persist with 7 bats assuming Tendulkar is retiring: Sehwag, Gauti, Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni, Rohit.. It's the way to go until we find a useful utility player at 7, like shane watson or kallis who could be used as floaters. Including a proper bowler at 7 would lengthen tail and also if 4 bowlers can't do it, 5 don't make much difference. It's a batsmen's game in ODI and T20, as you saw today.

[Dravid_TheWall]

I agree, cant think of specific examples but 2003 WC when Dravid had the gloves was one of the big reasons we got to the final in much tougher conditions than WC 11. But Yusuf is a big hitter (albeit not consistent) which is what you need at 7 when chasing a high RR and without UV we dont have anyone bar MSD who can do this plus he is as good as Jaddu bowling.

Yeah it does help. India always do well with this strategy. When they have changed from this, they have mixed results. Only play 5 main bowlers maybe if the wicket is really flat but in India we don't have the bowling stocks to play 5. Play to your strength which is batting. Likes of Viru, Raina and UV are capable part timers if used smartly in a match situation.

[Vijy]

I also remember Mohd. Kaif's two knocks at No.7, including a century against Zim. The 7 batsman theory works better in more bowler friendly conditions - for instance Dada was a usual 5th bowler in seaming conditions and Sehwag, etc were good on spinning pitches. On the other hand, a No.7 will not be required to bat often on flat tracks and a 5 bowler (with a bowling all-rounder) strategy would make more sense. @Dravid_TheWall - For the next WC, I don't think we'll have the services of Yuvi and MSD. We must unearth a proper replacement for Dhoni and a utility player like Yuvraj. I wonder how the domestic allrounders such as Shukla, etc would fare.

[Crookbond]

Our entire ODI success which began under Ganguly and Wright was partly due to 7th batsmen. No point putting in a pathetic bits and pieces player. Ideally you would want a genuine all rounder in that position, but in absence of that a proper batsmen will do which is what you are missing. I can't recall instances from top of my head but I know it definitely helps. Yusuf is still a bits and pieces player but a proper batsmen at 7 can be used as a floater. We played 7 batsmen v Pak in 2011 semi and Raina scored valuable runs at 7 with Dhoni at 6..that is a most recent example. Mongia in 2003 wc also played one crucial innings with late hits. You have to think of the bowling too, can't just ignore it, it gives you another part timer to roll their arm over to make up 10 overs. For next wc I would persist with 7 bats assuming Tendulkar is retiring: Sehwag, Gauti, Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni, Rohit.. It's the way to go until we find a useful utility player at 7, like shane watson or kallis who could be used as floaters. Including a proper bowler at 7 would lengthen tail and also if 4 bowlers can't do it, 5 don't make much difference. It's a batsmen's game in ODI and T20, as you saw today.

We played Raina against Yusuf and Raina is not a 7 player FCS. I am not against playing 7 batsman, I am against accommodating a bits and pieces player at 7. Yusuf needs to demonstrate his credentials with the bat. Apart from a couple of innings, haven't seen him do so. I would rather play a specialist batsman like Tiwary or a specialist bowler like Rahul Sharma. Currently, I advocate for a bowler as our bowling is weak. The reason we reached the WC 2003 final - Tendulkar scoring runs plus Nehra, Zaheer and Srinath picking up 15 or so wickets each. I don't remember the 7th batsman coming into picture.

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

I also remember Mohd. Kaif's two knocks at No.7, including a century against Zim. The 7 batsman theory works better in more bowler friendly conditions - for instance Dada was a usual 5th bowler in seaming conditions and Sehwag, etc were good on spinning pitches. On the other hand, a No.7 will not be required to bat often on flat tracks and a 5 bowler (with a bowling all-rounder) strategy would make more sense. @Dravid_TheWall - For the next WC, I don't think we'll have the services of Yuvi and MSD. We must unearth a proper replacement for Dhoni and a utility player like Yuvraj. I wonder how the domestic allrounders such as Shukla, etc would fare.

huh?? where will they be then???? Both are 30.

[maniac]

Just the fact that Jaddu wasn't in this team gave me and some of the indian fans the confidence that we will chase 330 easily...that is the kind of impact Jaddu has on people's mind lol

[Tendulkar_Bhai]

Just the fact that Jaddu wasn't in this team gave me and some of the indian fans the confidence that we will chase 330 easily...that is the kind of impact Jaddu has on people's mind lol

Very true!

[Dravid_TheWall]

We played Raina against Yusuf and Raina is not a 7 player FCS. I am not against playing 7 batsman' date=' I am against accommodating a bits and pieces player at 7. Yusuf needs to demonstrate his credentials with the bat. Apart from a couple of innings, haven't seen him do so. I would rather play a specialist batsman like Tiwary or a specialist bowler like Rahul Sharma. Currently, I advocate for a bowler as our bowling is weak.[/quote'] If you read my previous post, I also said Yusuf is a bits and pieces player and would prefer a proper batsmen. Tiwary is not suited for no7 role. A no7 is a finisher, whether steadying innings or hitting big. Tiwary can't really hit big. Yusuf deserves an opportunity because right now it is not wc and we should look for utility player.

[Ultimate_Game]

7 batsmen formula works for us and let's keep it that way. It's not as if we are keeping a great wkt taker on the bench by playing the 7th batsman. But I do hope we play Rahul Sharma if we get to the final

[Manny_Pacquiao]

i would play jaddu just for his fielding.

[Vijy]

I wonder why PK hasn't been able to translate his List A batting record into ODIs, since his List A record is that of a bowling all-rounder. Perhaps it's because he's sent in at No. 10 or something.