Why not 5 bowlers?

[Sehwag1830]

Considering that he is not going to last more than 10 overs in entire test match as batsman , i think team management should ask him to be prepared to bowl at least 20-30 overs in the test match as we are playing on turning track. There is no point having a player who can't last more than 50 balls in a test match playing as a batsman only. He is very decent off spinner on spinning track

[Crookbond]

OR bring him down the order and play him at No.5/6 as a floater when the bowlers are tired!

[GautiMaan]

Why not 5 bowlers? Since both Irfan and Ashwin can bat,would it not be prudent to play irfan as an allrounder with Ashwin providing additonal firepower down the order?Irfan can be good with the new ball while zak could also mentor him before he retires.

[Old guy]

Since both Irfan and Ashwin can bat' date='would it not be prudent to play irfan as an allrounder with Ashwin providing additonal firepower down the order?Irfan can be good with the new ball while zak could also mentor him before he retires.[/quote'] irfan in tests? no thnx

[SLICKR392]

/\ He said that he would come down the order if India finds a good opener. With Rahane sitting on the bench wonder what sort of opener they are awaiting?

[Pagalpanti]

2 pacers played, only 1 of them took wickets and only 2 out 20. Why the hell would they want to add a 3rd seamer? If at all they decide to go with 5 bowlers (which is unnecessary) they'd go with Chawla.

[deathmonger]

irfan in tests? no thnx

why not. he's not playing as a frontline bowler. he'll do better than raina, even in overseas conditions. he plays the short ball well. and the 1-2 wkts he gets will be a bonus.

[ShebbySB]

I'll back Irfan for tests.He deserves another chance,if not a bowler surely as an all-rounder.It'll allow us to play 5 bowlers in the sub-continental conditions spcially when we've got a player like Ashwin at no.8.

[GautiMaan]

irfan in tests? no thnx

As an allrounder,he would do just fine

[vvvslaxman]

Irfan as test batsman > Rohit, Raina for most conditions. But as far as bowling goes , he has to prove at the domestic level. Let him focus on ODIs for the time being. Even if he returns he will at best be a support bowler not a main bowler. Besides that, it is not wise to play 3 seamers in Indian conditions. You would rather go with 3 spinners. Preferably a leggie.

[GautiMaan]

2 pacers played' date=' only 1 of them took wickets and only 2 out 20. Why the hell would they want to add a 3rd seamer? If at all they decide to go with 5 bowlers (which is unnecessary) they'd go with Chawla.[/quote'] Think of tougher opposition and different conditions.

[Crookbond]

The problem with playing the 5th bowler is that you will always have one bowler under bowled especially in India.

[ShebbySB]

Irfan as test batsman > Rohit' date=' Raina for most conditions. But as far as bowling goes , he has to prove at the domestic level. Let him focus on ODIs for the time being. Even if he returns he will at best be a support bowler not a main bowler. Besides that, it is not wise to play 3 seamers in Indian conditions. You would rather go with 3 spinners. Preferably a leggie.[/quote'] Then he can be the 2nd seamer if we play 3 spinners.Seamers on Indian conditions are mostly supporting bowlers anyway.

[Old guy]

im only thinking abt bowling here but if ur planning to play him at 6 then he needs to be very solid batsman just bcos raina is crap does not means we dont have another options its jsut bad selection we have players like rahane,tiwary waiting

[Crookbond]

I don't see any reason why not to play Rahane at the top - Raina should be shown the door.

[Trichromatic]

The problem with playing the 5th bowler is that you will always have one bowler under bowled especially in India.

This. Zaheer and Yadav didn't get many overs. This happens most of the time when pitch is spin friendly. 3rd seamer would mean lesser overs to each bowler and won't have much benefit. We can go with 3 spinners, but it would mean dropping your one of the first choice seamer which is not a good idea if we want them to be ready for overseas matches.

[GautiMaan]

im only thinking abt bowling here but if ur planning to play him at 6 then he needs to be very solid batsman just bcos raina is crap does not means we dont have another options its jsut bad selection we have players like rahane,tiwary waiting

Irfan may not be as solid as rahane,but irfan+ashwin would make up the deficit of a specialist batsman.Maybe in India there wouldnt be a need,but it is surely something worth experimenting?

[deathmonger]

let's see how he performs in ranji. but the odi/t20 lineup has been strengthened a lot i belive by inclusion of irfan. strong tail with irfan and ashwin. plus he is a decent loi bowler.

[Old guy]

Irfan may not be as solid as rahane' date='but irfan+ashwin would make up the deficit of a specialist batsman.Maybe in India there wouldnt be a need,but it is surely something worth experimenting?[/quote'] we already have very long tail after ashwin no one can bat dhoni cant bat abroad...so ur saying we go into matches with 2 openers who can play swing bowling a rookie no 3 ... a atg player who is near his end and virat kohli who still hasnt proved himself at test level.. and after tht ..irfan ,dhoni,ashwin ?

[Lord]

rather we play Irfan at 8 with Ashwin at 9.in place of a pacer.that would ensure we get 400 almost everytime.spinners do most of the work anyway thats only if he can last 5 days though