Kevin Pietersen left out in the cold | Update: Pietersen included in the squad

[Lord]

Why? He alone can't win ENG test matches when 5 out of 7 batsmen dont know how to hit a spinning ball. Also' date=' in ODI's yuvi's gonna take him out easily. But in tests, he might do a bit damage to our chances.[/quote'] I was sarcastic,but yeah he can win then test matches like he did in SL.though we should still win the series easily I say add Yuvi to test squad too

[Tridibans_16]

I was sarcastic,but yeah he can win then test matches like he did in SL.though we should still win the series easily I say add Yuvi to test squad too

On a serious note, Yuvi/Raina should not be anywhere close to our test team. You can add Gauti too on current form (Failing even in CLT as we speak).

[Crookbond]

[Tridibans_16]

Actually, I think it is good that KP is included. Now the English dressing room will lack humour and bonhomie and Broad/Swann etc. will underperform big time. Only if KP doesn't outdo these negatives with his batting

[Lord]

On a serious note, Yuvi/Raina should not be anywhere close to our test team. You can add Gauti too on current form (Failing even in CLT as we speak).

we gotta hv a no.6.current form of Rohit,Tiwary is bad too.so only Yuvi is left.decent left armer n has a decent record against England.deserves another shot.his place was only vacated bcoz of fitness issues,did decently in only Test he played in England

[Tridibans_16]

we gotta hv a no.6.current form of Rohit' date='Tiwary is bad too.so only Yuvi is left.decent left armer n has a decent record against England.deserves another shot.his place was only vacated bcoz of fitness issues,did decently in only Test he played in England[/quote'] How many chances has Tiwary been provided in Intl. matches? Apart from laying eggs on the benches, he did nothing in the T20WC. He should be given atleast 1 full series if the likes of Raina/Gauti are enjoying a free stay for series after series. (In the latters' case, it is actually year after year).

[Tridibans_16]

we gotta hv a no.6.current form of Rohit' date='Tiwary is bad too.so only Yuvi is left.decent left armer n has a decent record against England.deserves another shot.his place was only vacated bcoz of fitness issues,did decently in only Test he played in England[/quote'] Another point is that Yuvi has been in and out of the test team from 2003-04. He is just not been able to cement his place in this format of the game. I think we must groom some young blodo before our next set of away tours in 2013-14.

[Lord]

How many chances has Tiwary been provided in Intl. matches? Apart from laying eggs on the benches' date=' he did nothing in the T20WC. He should be given atleast 1 full series if the likes of Raina/Gauti are enjoying a free stay for series after series. (In the latters' case, it is actually year after year).[/quote'] Tiwary doesnt seem ready for tests for me,agree he should get more chances instead of talented failure Rohit.but not Tests Yuvraj has just hit a 200.he has good record against England.is a decent left arm option against a team that struggles that struggles against spin

[Lord]

Another point is that Yuvi has been in and out of the test team from 2003-04. He is just not been able to cement his place in this format of the game. I think we must groom some young blodo before our next set of away tours in 2013-14.

who'd that be? also I dont agree with this grooming business.if u r good u adapt.Rahul n Ganguly adapted.as did Cook wen he debuted in India.if Yuvraj fails give them a chance,its not like anybody is in red hot form anyway

[Tridibans_16]

Tiwary doesnt seem ready for tests for me,agree he should get more chances instead of talented failure Rohit.but not Tests Yuvraj has just hit a 200.he has good record against England.is a decent left arm option against a team that struggles that struggles against spin

Agree with everything you said. But my point is not that. We are always looking at things from Indian conditions' perspective. Do you think Yuvi has the technique to succeed in SA/Aus? He may very well hit a century in India, same is the case with Raina. Hence, both will cement their places for Eng/Aus series. Then come SA 2014 and guess what? We don't have any youngster ready in Test cricket if God forbids Raina/Yuvi fail there (Which I feel is very much a possiblity).

[SLICKR392]

So KP's in :afraid:

[Tridibans_16]

who'd that be? also I dont agree with this grooming business.if u r good u adapt.Rahul n Ganguly adapted.as did Cook wen he debuted in India.if Yuvraj fails give them a chance,its not like anybody is in red hot form anyway

For a start, you can't compare Rahul/ Saurav (in his prime) to any of our current batsmen (except Kohli). Your own comment has the answer. Yuvraj has been in the test side for many times but he failed to adapt unlike Ganguly/Dravid. Same with Raina.

[Lord]

For a start' date=' you can't compare Rahul/ Saurav (in his prime) to any of our current batsmen (except Kohli). Your own comment has the answer. Yuvraj has been in the test side for many times but he failed to adapt unlike Ganguly/Dravid. Same with Raina.[/quote'] I was just making the point how grooming is not all that important.Rahul/Saurav werent in thier prime wen they debuted. as for Yuvraj he has never had a decent run.first it was lack of a spot,then injuries n cancer,that has to be considered as well still u didnt answer?who'd u choose?

[SLICKR392]

we gotta hv a no.6.current form of Rohit' date='Tiwary is bad too.so only Yuvi is left.decent left armer n has a decent record against England.deserves another shot.his place was only vacated bcoz of fitness issues,did decently in only Test he played in England[/quote'] Agree to most of it. I wouldn't mind having Yuvi against England. But what's with the "deserves another shot". He has got a lot of shots and again in the other side of the plate an avg. of almost 35 isn't that bad of an average. I really hope he holds on to the spot if he gets a shot at No.6.

[Lord]

Agree to most of it. I wouldn't mind having Yuvi against England. But what's with the "deserves another shot". He has got a lot of shots and again in the other side of the plate an avg. of almost 35 isn't that bad of an average. I really hope he holds on to the spot if he gets a shot at No.6.

agree.let it be his final shot

[Tridibans_16]

I was just making the point how grooming is not all that important.Rahul/Saurav werent in thier prime wen they debuted. as for Yuvraj he has never had a decent run.first it was lack of a spot,then injuries n cancer,that has to be considered as well still u didnt answer?who'd u choose?

Though as you pointed out in one of youe earlier posts, we certainly have very limited pool. Tiwary needs to be given more chances. In the near future, I see U.Chand as a potential (say after 2 years), also Rahane should be tried out. What I am saying is that all these experimentation can only be done in Indian conditions. hence this Eng/Aus series. You can't expect them to simply turn up and perform in SA/AUS/ENG. Remember Mukund in Eng last year? Also, as bad as his form is, Rohit Sharma would be a better bet than Yuvi/Raina in the long term (strictly speakiing of Tests). His technique is just too good for him to fail consistently in the longer format. Also, he plays the pull/hook shot pretty well. Even Yuvi at times is perturbed by the short ball.

[Lord]

Though as you pointed out in one of youe earlier posts, we certainly have very limited pool. Tiwary needs to be given more chances. In the near future, I see U.Chand as a potential (say after 2 years), also Rahane should be tried out. What I am saying is that all these experimentation can only be done in Indian conditions. hence this Eng/Aus series. You can't expect them to simply turn up and perform in SA/AUS/ENG. Remember Mukund in Eng last year? Also, as bad as his form is, Rohit Sharma would be a better bet than Yuvi/Raina in the long term (strictly speakiing of Tests). His technique is just too good for him to fail consistently in the longer format. Also, he plays the pull/hook shot pretty well. Even Yuvi at times is perturbed by the short ball.

Rahane is an opener.different case.he should replace Gauti for sure as for Rohit,if his technique is so good,why does he fail so consistently in ODIs,its not like he gets out slogging,misses straight deliveries. I dont agree with thinking too ahead,atm we have England tour to think about n Yuvraj is best option there.u are acting as if Eng n Aus series dont matter at all n will be a cakewalk, as I said,if a player is good enough he will adapt.Mukund was exposed,had nothing to do with grooming,u could groom him for 5 years n still he'll fail also I dont get how playing on flat Indian pitches 'grooms' you for Aus/SA series

[Tridibans_16]

Rahane is an opener.different case.he should replace Gauti for sure as for Rohit,if his technique is so good,why does he fail so consistently in ODIs,its not like he gets out slogging,misses straight deliveries.

Should have made that clear. Yes, he should play in place of Gambhir, IF GAMBO FAILS in first two tests. I can see Gambo getting atleast 2-3 more chances.

I dont agree with thinking too ahead,atm we have England tour to think about n Yuvraj is best option there.u are acting as if Eng n Aus series dont matter at all n will be a cakewalk,

Actually ENG/AUS series does matter a lot. But whatever chances we might take in terms of team selection, has to be tried at home and not abroad. I don't see any other occasion to try out 'these youngsters' except for our home series. In India, I bet 8 out of 10 youngsters will be able to score runs. Even Yuvi/Raina/Gambo will score runs in the next series and will retain their places, only to be exposed again in overseas conditions. So only question to you is, if they again fail come next year (as has been the case in our last 3 away tours), what will you do? You won't have any backup then.

also I dont get how playing on flat Indian pitches 'grooms' you for Aus/SA series

Its any day better than debuting/palying suddenly after xxx years in Aus/Eng. Anyway, unless you try out your bench strength, you can never have a clear idea about your backup players.

[Lord]

Should have made that clear. Yes, he should play in place of Gambhir, IF GAMBO FAILS in first two tests. I can see Gambo getting atleast 2-3 more chances. Actually ENG/AUS series does matter a lot. But whatever chances we might take in terms of team selection, has to be tried at home and not abroad. I don't see any other occasion to try out 'these youngsters' except for our home series. In India, I bet 8 out of 10 youngsters will be able to score runs. Even Yuvi/Raina/Gambo will score runs in the next series and will retain their places, only to be exposed again in overseas conditions. So only question to you is, if they again fail come next year (as has been the case in our last 3 away tours), what will you do? You won't have any backup then.

again u r thinking way too ahead.first let win the next series. bolded statement is where u r wrong.batting in India isnt all that easy,specially against top attacks like Eng n Aus.Raina averages a grand 20 in India,GG has been struggling even in Indian conditions since last 2 years,so its not all that easy.having an out of form player who is likely to fail over an inform player who gives a decent bowling option just bcoz the player might(highly unlikely) succeed in overseas conditions is ridicluolously risky. if Yuvraj succeeds in England-Aus series which is likely thats all that matters as it'll help win the series,if the said player fails in India he'd be dropped anyway,then again u'll be looking for backup. if Yuvraj fails next year after succeeding in India,I'll drop him n try the next option,but he'd hv deserve that chance as he does NOW against England

Its any day better than debuting/palying suddenly after xxx years in Aus/Eng. Anyway, unless you try out your bench strength, you can never have a clear idea about your backup players.

u cant try just for the sake of it,give the best option a go,whether its home or away. again I'll say if player is good he'll adapt,if he isnt no amount of grooming on pattas can help him in Aus/SA series

[Sachinism]

Time to worry lads