Hello, Rahane here, anyone listening?

[Ultimate_Game]

Another good article by Siidharth Monga regarding non-selection of the likes of Rahane & Rohit Sharma in Tests and for getting a shot in odis, which by the way is not their strong suite...

Hello. My name is Ajinkya Rahane. I made my first-class debut as an opener in September 2007, in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy, which used to be played between Ranji champions and Quaid-e-Azam champions. I scored 143 in that match. In the coming season, Wasim Jaffer was dropped from the Test side, and he came back to Mumbai as an opener. So I moved down to No. 3. I might have scored a duck in my first first-class innings as a No. 3, but I ended that domestic season with an average of 56.50. Since then, if you take out one disappointing tour of the West Indies, with the India A side, I have never averaged below 56.85 in any first-class season. My overall first-class average is 63.35, and only 37.34 in List A. Accordingly, I was picked for the side that the touring Australians played against before the Tests in 2010-11. I was only 22 then. I scored a century in that first-class game, but lost out to Cheteshwar Pujara as replacement for Sourav Ganguly, who, too, had been scoring heavily in domestic cricket. I went back to Ranji and kept scoring runs, batting anywhere in the top three. I thought that gave me a better chance of making it to the Test side, because I could now play both as an opener and in the middle order. I was prepared to wait. After all we had three greats in the middle order and two settled openers. Then I saw the openers take rest. I saw the replacements fail. I saw the original openers come back and fail. My chance, though, came in ODIs, despite my averages in domestic cricket suggesting my stronger suit was not the limited-overs game. I was not one to complain. I made the most of my ODI debut, which came thanks to a glut of injuries to first-choice players. I made decent runs in that ODI series. Some even said I was one of the few bright spots on a tour of England where we lost practically everything. Now the middle order was failing too. I knew my chance in Tests couldn't be that far away. Pujara was injured, Suresh Raina had failed. For the home Tests against West Indies that season, India went back to Virat Kohli. He is a serious batsman, and I didn't see anything wrong in giving him more chances. Then came the tour of Australia, and I and my team-mate from Mumbai, Rohit Sharma, were both on that plane. He was a back-up middle-order batsman, I could fit in anywhere in the order should the need arise. We had both travelled a bit with the squad without getting our debuts. He too had a much better first-class average than List A, but had been persisted with only in limited-overs cricket. Still we were excited to come to Australia. It soon turned sour. Throughout the tour we saw the openers and the middle order fail with remarkable consistency - except for Kohli - but we never got our chance. Sometimes, especially a day before the Test, we would go to a corner in the nets, and give each other throwdowns. I can't reveal here what the team's reasons for persisting with failing batsmen were, but I read in some newspapers and websites that the selectors were wondering just the same. The captain and coach, though, reportedly said they were waiting for the selectors to make the tough calls. Anyway, the tour got over, I came back to India, and scored a hundred in IPL, which surprisingly made far more people ask why I was not being picked. I wished I had known earlier that it was so easy. Either side of that IPL, two of the greatest Indian batsmen ever - Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman - retired. Two places opened. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in, right? Wrong. Rohit was dropped for his poor run in the one-day game, which, at least statistically, is not his preferred format. Me, I lost out to Raina, who was now getting a third bite at the cherry. He failed again. The other place went to Pujara, who had recovered from his injury. He duly claimed it. Still, there were eight home Tests remaining. Raina had failed, and I was expecting a debut against England in Ahmedabad. Enter Yuvraj Singh, who had recovered from his illness and had scored a double-century in Duleep Trophy. As soon as he was named in the squad, I was sure I won't play the first Test. He is a left-arm spinner too, and they say Kevin Pietersen is suspect against them. Now a new season began with me not knowing where and for whom I will be playing. One day I am playing for India A against the touring Englishmen, the next I am playing Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, and in the next week I am carrying drinks for India. The Indian batting meanwhile keeps failing after the aberration in Ahmedabad. Calls for change are big as India trail 2-1. Now even Yuvraj has failed and has been dropped. Surely now I will play in Nagpur? I had another think coming. Ravindra Jadeja has scored two triple-centuries in Ranji Trophy, which I can't do because I don't even know when I will be released to play Ranji and when I will be asked to be the 12th man. Jadeja bowls left-arm spin too. I am confused, though. When openers fail, I am not picked; when middle order fails, I am still not picked. I wonder if I am good enough for this beast called Test cricket. Okay, I think, triple-centuries are not a joke. Let's see how Jadeja does. As a bowler he is steady, but India have three other specialist spinners in the side. On day two, Indian batting fails again. They are 71 for 4. Now that's a debut, I think. But enter the captain at No. 6. Oh well.

Link... http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2012/content/current/story/597140.html

[The Realist]

Good article which illustrates the shambles that is Ind cricket. Another nail in the coffin of the nightmare Fletchoni era.

[SLICKR392]

Rahane is turning out to be an other Badrinath.

[The Outsider]

Three consecutive test series of sitting on the bench, one full year of your life, while the batting line up struggles to score 300 runs in an innings even on pattas. Watching Yuvraj, Raina, and Jadeja strut their wares about. Watching Gambhir and Sehwag struggle to get through the new ball. Watching Tendulkar struggle to put bat to ball. Being tossed around from one team to another within a week. Now two more months in the wilderness with no certain outlook of getting a game even against Australia.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

i feel so sorry for him. guy has done nothing wrong. he just doesn't have ANYONE backing him, either in the media or within the team. apparently, the only way you can get into the side now is by kissing someone's ass. scoring runs isn't gonna do it. and he is a genuinely good player too, one that you can enjoy watching. it disgusts me to even think that a pathetic wannabe test batsman like raina made a THIRD comeback into the side while this guy just kept waiting and waiting and waiting... F U C K indian cricket.

[Yoda-esque]

A comprehensive story about the malaise affecting Indian cricket

[Robelinda]

I fee sorry for him too, MASSIVE talent. In australia we would do anything for the glut of middle order talent you have in reserve, and are completely ignoring.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

I fee sorry for him too' date=' MASSIVE talent. In australia we would do anything for the glut of middle order talent you have in reserve, and are completely ignoring.[/quote'] when did you see him play?

[Eternal Atma]

GG, Kohli, and no6 spot are the ones that the likes of Rahane/Tiwary/Rohit should have been fighting for.

[Cabinet96]

I fee sorry for him too' date=' MASSIVE talent. In australia we would do anything for the glut of middle order talent you have in reserve, and are completely ignoring.[/quote'] Haha, yeah, I find it weird that England are currently leading this series, but if Rehane or Bardinath were available for England, they'd probably be playing. It's interesting to compare Root and Rehane. Both are young openers who could have played this game batting at 6. One averages over 60 in FC cricket, the other around 40. Yet it's the later who's playing, and for the side that's on top in the series to boot. Really strange really.

[maniac]

I fee sorry for him too' date=' MASSIVE talent. In australia we would do anything for the glut of middle order talent you have in reserve, and are completely ignoring.[/quote'] The fact that our bowling is so f***ed up we prefer someone who can even roll his arm over...hence the logic in playing Jaddu and Yuvraj over Rahane,Rohit or Badri. Eng and Aus don't have the same problem

[Old guy]

Haha, yeah, I find it weird that England are currently leading this series, but if Rehane or Bardinath were available for England, they'd probably be playing. It's interesting to compare Root and Rehane. Both are young openers who could have played this game batting at 6. One averages over 60 in FC cricket, the other around 40. Yet it's the later who's playing, and for the side that's on top in the series to boot. Really strange really.

they are different kind of players rahane has much more flair but right now root will be rated much higher as he played good innings away from home with his side not in good position (kohli hasnt done that in this series! just so u have bit of prespective.. :D ) wht if he does debuts... and fails? (how many batsmen play well in first series? not many imo ) knowing this team he will be kicked out of squad and raina will come in again thts why i wish we lose this game badly batting gets out under 100 in 2nd innings so that we can get rid of these players who are right now bigger then team and are worth nothing in reality :mad:

[Yoda-esque]

The fact that our bowling is so f***ed up we prefer someone who can even roll his arm over...hence the logic in playing Jaddu and Yuvraj over Rahane,Rohit or Badri. Eng and Aus don't have the same problem

Theek hai,replace Yuvi with Jaddu.But what of the top 4 batsmen?What is the rationale behind not replacing them? I have observed one common thing throughout this series. The top 3 have done a fair job getting us starts,but soon we are 150/6 or some such score. Number 4,5 and 6 are non existent.

[maniac]

Theek hai,replace Yuvi with Jaddu.But what of the top 4 batsmen?What is the rationale behind not replacing them? I have observed one common thing throughout this series. The top 3 have done a fair job getting us starts,but soon we are 150/6 or some such score. Number 4,5 and 6 are non existent.

I know where this is going to end up :haha: Fine I agree SRT should retire soon that leaves one spot but we don't have a luxury to pack our team with specialist batsmen...Also most of these guys have never played test cricket and very little international cricket,so just because they have showed glimpses of promise doesn't neccesarily mean they will set the world on fire....so we need to go one at a time. Pujara for Dravid Jadeja for Laxman ----------- for SRT/---------------- for Gambhir Thats good enough we can't to have a x1 filled with rookies

[Old guy]

Theek hai,replace Yuvi with Jaddu.But what of the top 4 batsmen?What is the rationale behind not replacing them? I have observed one common thing throughout this series. The top 3 have done a fair job getting us starts,but soon we are 150/6 or some such score. Number 4,5 and 6 are non existent.

lol ...as top order player u have to carry on see in india its much easier against newer ball just have decent technique to play bit of swing u dont even need to play it just leave anything outside off and u will do fine :giggle: but u have to carry on o...only pujara in top order carried on other then tht sehwag always went after scoring 30-40 and gambhir struggled his way to 50 after tht one will slog other will poke game over :P also yes i agree middle order has put no fight for england prior has done so well now this new guy root..kp came in form and he is making it count oo and even trott even in bad form never throws it away on other other hand our of form player get out on stupid shots :(( in this series bowling did all right i jsut blame batting unles ofc monty is greater then murali and warne :dontknow:

[Yoda-esque]

I know where this is going to end up :haha: Fine I agree SRT should retire soon that leaves one spot but we don't have a luxury to pack our team with specialist batsmen...Also most of these guys have never played test cricket and very little international cricket,so just because they have showed glimpses of promise doesn't neccesarily mean they will set the world on fire....so we need to go one at a time. Pujara for Dravid Jadeja for Laxman ----------- for SRT/---------------- for Gambhir Thats good enough we can't to have a x1 filled with rookies

Contrary to what you think,this isn't a SRT witch hunt. I am a rational thinker and will give credit where it is due. I just cannot understand the blind love that a non performer can have. Replace SRT with any other player who has not been performing for such a long time and then tell me your opinion. Sometimes,I wonder how India doesn't have a monarchy. I mean our psyche is perfect for such an environment.We love to follow and follow blindly whether it is SRT,Rajni or Rahul Gandhi. Not an individualistic society at all.

[maniac]

Contrary to what you think,this isn't a SRT witch hunt. I am a rational thinker and will give credit where it is due. I just cannot understand the blind love that a non performer can have. Replace SRT with any other player who has not been performing for such a long time and then tell me your opinion. Sometimes,I wonder how India doesn't have a monarchy. I mean our psyche is perfect for such an environment.We love to follow and follow blindly whether it is SRT,Rajni or Rahul Gandhi. Not an individualistic society at all.

SRT has failed in the last 2 test series...He wasn't as bad as he was made out to be in Aus and Eng compared to everyone else. Don't have the patience to do a stats hunt right now as this topic has been done to death. As far as SRT goes...I agree time has come to start thinking of an exit strategy or even an ulitimatum but there is nothing wrong if he got a long rope. It is completely fair to have different yardstick for a proven performer and a rookie. And you don't get too many proven performers like SRT Any way don't want to steer the topic and derail the thread....We seem to over-estimate our riches,if people downplay Jaddu's FC record than what's wrong in downplaying other FC performers?Rahane and Rohit are good but they will be given a chance when the right time comes which atleast for one of them is now. There isn't been any injustice carried out like it's made out to be. If any the only 2 people given a long rope right now is MSD as a captain and Ishant the bowler(who btw extended his career) which is good because I always beleived in his tailunt

[Robelinda]

when did you see him play?

Seen all his IPL innings, his ODI's for India, seen a few televised first class innings. Looks all class. Cant argue with his FC average either, been so unfairly treated.

[India-KXIP fan]

Should be in but not as an opener (opener for LOI's only). Had an average of 8 as opener in 5 overseas FC matches. He's a middle order batsman, bats at 4 or 5 I think in Ranji as well. I know he doesn't open.

[indiefan]

He'll probably get his chance when he goes out of form.. which will be an excuse for keeping him out of the team for a longer time.