Jump to content

Into the new season, and teams

1983-2011

By 1983-2011
in Cricket Talk

Recommended Posts

1983-2011 Newbie

1983-2011

Posted
Posted

I want to summarize my 11-part review series of the season that has just gone by with some points before the teams are announced tomorrow for the New Zealand Tests and the T20 World Cup. To be honest, the New Zealand Test series represents a no-win situation, because even a 2-0 series win will not tell us very much, while anything less than that will count as a failure. But it is a chance to implement some of the things that I have suggested in my previous posts. So as a summary, I will suggest 5 points that I think are most important to consider when the team is selected. This is not going to happen, but absolutely the single most important thing that needs to happen is the removal of Dhoni as captain from all forms of the game, and dropping him from the Test side. Over the past posts, I have reiterated many times why I think this is essential, so I will not repeat myself here. If this is not done, disaster looms for Indian cricket, and while we might manage a win against New Zealand, I see little to no chance of beating England and Australia, even at home. It will also inhibit the development of Wriddhiman Saha, whose time to be our number 1 Test wicket-keeper has most certainly come. V.V.S. Laxman needs to be the new Indian Test captain, and Gautam Gambhir needs to be made captain for the T20 World Cup. We have to be imaginative about our batting-order. It makes absolutely no sense to have Sehwag still batting at the top of the order, and to have Rahane carry drinks for another season. This will just serve to destroy RahaneÃÔ confidence and career, and it will not help us in the long-term, since I donÃÕ see Sehwag succeeding as opener against Steyn, Philander and Morkel in South Africa when we next tour. The time has come for Rahane to make his Test debut, and for Sehwag to move into the middle-order, which is where he wants to bat anyway. Virat Kohli needs to take DravidÃÔ no. 3 spot, and Viru needs to play at 6. We need to think of playing 3 seamers, at least as an option, and prepare wickets that will support seam bowling. Our bowling strength these days lies in seam rather than spin, and it will test our batsmen and show us who is capable of succeeding abroad as well as at home. Ashok Dinda has to get into the 15. But with Ishant Sharma not yet fully recovered from injury, this is a golden opportunity to give Irfan Pathan a go in Tests as well. He is high on form and confidence, and he has a chance to improve that against New Zealand. In the long term, having Irfan fire will be terrific for our Test prospects. He is the only player in India who can even be considered a Test-class all-rounder, so having him in the side allows us to consider playing 5 bowlers. In the long term, with R.P. Singh completely losing it, he also remains the only quality left-arm seamer in the country after Zaheer Khan. IshantÃÔ absence is unfortunate, though hopefully he will be fit soon; but it provides a great chance to rehabilitate Irfan. The selectors and Dhoni have conspired for too long against Irfan, and under another captain he may actually get a fair run. He should be fighting it out with Ashwin for the no. 8 spot, depending on whether conditions favor a third seamer or a second spinner. Finally, having Rahul Sharma in Indian colors in any form of the game is unwarranted, but having him be part of the Test 15 is a scandal. It is time to select Aksheya Darekar. Even if he doesnÃÕ get a Test, it will be good to have him in the picture, and will be a great boost for his confidence. Darekar, unlike Rahul, has actually performed in 4-day domestic cricket. But even more, he bowled circles around Rahul on the A tour to the West Indies. There is absolutely no justification for Rahul to be in the side ahead of him, his presence smacks of nepotism. I donÃÕ know whose blue-eyed boy he is, but it certainly isnÃÕ merit that has gotten him into the team. MY TEST TEAM AGAINST NEW ZEALAND Playing XI:

  1. Ajinkya Rahane
  2. Gautam Gambhir (V)
  3. Virat Kohli
  4. Sachin Tendulkar
  5. V.V.S. Laxman ŽÂ©
  6. Virender Sehwag
  7. Wriddhiman Saha (W)
  8. Irfan Pathan / Ravichandran Ashwin
  9. Zaheer Khan
  10. Umesh Yadav
  11. Pragyan Ojha

Reserves: [12]Cheteshwar Pujara [13] Ravichandran Ashwin / Irfan Pathan [14] Ashok Dinda [15] Aksheya Darekar MY TEAM FOR WORLD T20 Playing XI:

  1. Gautam Gambhir ŽÂ©
  2. Virender Sehwag
  3. Virat Kohli (V)
  4. Manoj Tiwary
  5. Suresh Raina
  6. Mahendra Dhoni (W)
  7. Irfan Pathan
  8. Ravindra Jadeja
  9. Ravichandran Ashwin
  10. Ashok Dinda
  11. Munaf Patel

Reserves: [12]Ajinkya Rahane [13] Rohit Sharma [14] Umesh Yadav [15] R. Vinay Kumar INDIA A TO NEW ZEALAND (Will be at the same time as world T20, in late September) Playing XI:

  1. Abhinav Mukund
  2. Vineet Saxena
  3. Cheteshwar Pujara
  4. Mohammad Kaif (V)
  5. Subramaniam Badrinath
  6. Dinesh Karthik (W)
  7. Harbhajan Singh ŽÂ©
  8. Praveen Kumar
  9. Shami Ahmed
  10. Ishant Sharma
  11. Aksheya Darekar

Reserves:

  1. [12]Dheeraj Jadhav [13] Suryakumar Yadav [14] Parwinder Awana [15] Pankaj Singh

Taken from: http://dailycric.blogspot.co.uk/

carnish Newbie

carnish

Posted
Posted
Laxman as captain? lolwhut? This is my test team: Gambhir © Rahane Pujara Kohli Sehwag Rohit Saha (wk) Ashwin Zaheer Yadav Ojha/Kumar Suck on it.
Rohit in and Sachin out :cantstop:
carnish Newbie

carnish

Posted
Posted
Nobody over 35 is allowed in my team' date=' sorry. And the bloke Rohit averages over 55 odd in FC cricket. Deserves a run.[/quote'] Yeah Rohit truly deserves a Run considering he hasnt got any in the last 5 ODIs :hysterical: Anyweyyzz Rohit is good but is down on confidence .. needs a break and needs to play the ranji trophy or some A games in the mean time
adi B Grand Master

adi B

Posted
Posted
Yeah Rohit truly deserves a Run considering he hasnt got any in the last 5 ODIs :hysterical: Anyweyyzz Rohit is good but is down on confidence .. needs a break and needs to play the ranji trophy or some A games in the mean time
:hysterical::hysterical:
Spiderguy252 Newbie

Spiderguy252

Posted
Posted
Yeah Rohit truly deserves a Run considering he hasnt got any in the last 5 ODIs :hysterical: Anyweyyzz Rohit is good but is down on confidence .. needs a break and needs to play the ranji trophy or some A games in the mean time
Kid averages 55+ in FC cricket, and a mere 32 in List A. Been playing the wrong format for years.
jairamesh Newbie

jairamesh

Posted
Posted
Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane Gautam Gambhir (V) Virat Kohli Sachin Tendulkar V.V.S. Laxman ŽÂ© Virender Sehwag Wriddhiman Saha (W) Irfan Pathan / Ravichandran Ashwin Zaheer Khan Umesh Yadav Pragyan Ojha
what a middle for the future :hysterical: the belly of team really taking shape.
India-KXIP fan Newbie

India-KXIP fan

Posted
Posted

India should give chances to all the youngsters in squad at positions they prefer, they don't have to start the 1st match but at least give them 1 Test each. We need to be ready for England and Aus, seniors may fail again so youngsters need some experience before these series'.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...