Moving on: Team for next test

[Desi Cartman]

here is a question : Should India play Bhajji just because he is having success against Ponting ?

[Guest HariSampath]

Aussies decide on team , 5 batters plus 5 bowlers or 6-4...then decide who are the best applicants for those jobs. They don't approach an issue like " we have to play Hayden, we can't drop Clarke..we need to play Tait" etc. the approach is always " who are the best available 2 openers....who are the best middle order batters..who are best positioned to bowl India out twice"...and the strategy is to win....get runs quickly..play aggressively irrespective of losing wkts or player's bad form...bowl aggressively and take wickets. Indians ( particularly Kumble) have been saying not an easy pitch to score runs. Nonsense...Australia got nearly 700 runs on same pitch at close to 4 an over . Indians are complaining about a pitch that was exactly a subcontinental pitch exported to Melbourne. It was on a similar slow , low pitch that we piled on 600 + against pakistan. Lets face it...Rahul Dravid played very poorly, so did everyone else INCLUDING Tendulkar. Sachin's cricket was very poor in BOTH innings ( yeas, I know ppl wil say he got 60 when others failed)...But to me when we had Aus out for 340, it was critical to make 400 to win the test, and that meant Sachin had to get 150...thats what I expected of India's best ever test batter...when it is crucial he has to deliver big...not a 50 and throw his wkt away. if a window of opportunity is available, seize it and make it count big...from that perspective Sachin failed . So did laxman and Ganguly.

[Guest HariSampath]

If I had to select a team I will approach it the following way. 1. I need to win the Sydney test..what do I need in my team ? Answer : I need a batting lineup that can stand up to Aussie bowling, I need a positive approach from batters, some depth in batting. I need as many bowlers to take 20 wkts. 2. How many batters : 5 or 6 ? Answer : Lets assume 6 specialists : Sachin Ganguly and laxman are 3 in the middle order. Lets solve the batting combination based on team needs. Sehwag has to come in as I need my team to get runs fast and attack the Aussies. That leaves one opener to be filled up. Dravid is certainly not opening, so I am left with the choice between Wasim Jaffer and Karthik. Jaffer has not proved to be successful and is temporarily on a down after that 200 in 2nd test at home. Karthik , whose keeping in the 3rd test was not very good, has a good record overseas in SA and Eng, but didn't do much in tests at home. He is also a good fighting batsman against quality bowling overseas, although not attacking, and he gives me the added flexibility of a keeper/opener. I would take this option for this test particularly as I have Sehwag opening. Inevitably I have to drop Dhoni, unfortunate , as he is the ODI captain etc, but I cannot consider all those things as I am selecting a 11 to win at Sydney NOW. My middle order already has 3 batters..SG, SRT and VVS. Thats 5 batters now, based on team needs for winning the test. Who is the 6th batter ? Its between Yuvraj and Dravid. Very tricky...at the end of the day, I would go with Dravid. He is a very good test batsman, woefully out of striking touch, but still able to bat one session. If Dravid had failed by getting out twice within minutes, I would have dropped him, but the small edge he has is the fact he has at least taken a very good look at the Aussie bowling, has the class and experience and probably a shade a better bet at this time than Yuvraj , who of course is the better stroke player and has got a magnificent 160 coming in at 60-4 recently. Dravid's slow batting derailed our test inngs twice, so I would probably ask him to bat at 5-6. So...Batting team is : Sehwag, KKD, SRT, SG, Dravid, VVS ( order is to be decided) 3. What do I need to take 20 wkts. 5 bowlers certainly. Now I have given myself the freedom to chose 5 bowlers , by balancing my batting needs. AK, Zaheer are my two best bowlers. That leaves 3 to be selected. First question...will Sydney spin a little ? very probably...so I cannot go with AK alone...and so, despite Harbhajan not doing anything great , at least he got 3 wkts and has taken 5fers 3 times in his last 5 tests for India...plus the fact he is only the second serious spinner in the squad and Sydney we know, does spin. I would apply the Dravid logic in giving Harbhajan the slot...meaning longtime experience and class, against a short term depression in form. Now I need 2 bowlers. I would certainly pump for variety in selecting a Right arm fast medium and a left arm bowler to lend variety, plus the crucial fact that of all top Aussie batters, Hayden, Jacques, Gilly Hussey...all left handers...so going with 3 left arm seamers doesn't suit strategy for team winning needs. It has to be 2 left arm and one right arm, and I have to choose between RP and Irfan. RP has not had too many tests recently...just this one test where he was just average, and never looked like getting 4-5 wkts or threatening. His side strain still seems to bother him and its affecting his pace too. I also have Irfan who is not too different from RP at the moment, but in view of the batting problems, Irfan at 7 , with a 100 in his last test , may have some confidence and add some depth to batting. That leaves one right arm fast bowling slot: Its a tough call, I would consider Pankaj Singh and Ishant , Pankaj probably is a yard quicker...certainly deserves a test slot, but maybe we can wait, why have him debut in a must win test. While Ishant has the confidence of a 5fer in his last test, and he has already been in intl cricket awhile. So I would go with Ishant for this test. My Final 11 would be:. 1. Sehwag 2. KKD 3. SRT 4. VVS 5. SG 6. Dravid 7. Irfan 8. Kumble 9. Harbhajan 10. Zaheer 11. Ishant I think the above 11 will be the best one to suit my team needs based on strategy and Sydney conditions, TO WIN at Sydney and NOT just from "accommodating who and dropping who" view point.

[Rohan495]

harisampath very good line up. No need for players like Dhoni who dont have a good technique, SCG is a ground where runs can come at a easier pace. Karthik has shown that he has a more than a handy technique. I like how you drafted Pathan in the Squad it helps india in both batting and bowling. Ishant will be a good bowler esp in Aus. Yuvraj can wait seems that the middle order will have vacancies sooner than later.

[fineleg]

Dhoni's spot in Tests in Aus needs to be questioned. I agree. MSD seems to be at sea against Aus bowlers in Aus pitches.

[fineleg]

My Final 11 would be:. 1. Sehwag 2. KKD 3. SRT 4. VVS 5. SG 6. Dravid 7. Irfan 8. Kumble 9. Harbhajan 10. Zaheer 11. Ishant .

Hari Sampath, Good analysis. I still think Bhajji is useless and wont do squat. But otherwise this looks as something we can try. I like to try this 11 for Sydney. PS: Do email this analysis you have done to Kumble :thumbs_up:

[Chandan]

And no body has mentioned how to rectify the mistakes that we made in the first test. Do you really think that selection was the only thing that wrong at the MCG test? Just read that article about how Poting dismantled our team with the clinical execution of the cunning plan they had for us. Just go and read that article (posted in the 1st page) and then discuss what needs to be done in the second test.

[Guest HariSampath]

^..This is a "team thread"...of course we may discuss team play, but that may be another topic.

[fineleg]

And no body has mentioned how to rectify the mistakes that we made in the first test. Do you really think that selection was the only thing that wrong at the MCG test? Just read that article about how Poting dismantled our team with the clinical execution of the cunning plan they had for us. Just go and read that article (posted in the 1st page) and then discuss what needs to be done in the second test.

Our Kumble and team should be discussing that, unless they will listen to us :D

[Guest HariSampath]

And no body has mentioned how to rectify the mistakes that we made in the first test. Do you really think that selection was the only thing that wrong at the MCG test? Just read that article about how Poting dismantled our team with the clinical execution of the cunning plan they had for us. Just go and read that article (posted in the 1st page) and then discuss what needs to be done in the second test.

Yes Chandan, I have discussed the following points as the logic behind my team selection. 1. Team needs for winning, and not "accomodating or dropping who" view. 2. Batting..the opening choice and the consequent effect on the team's batting. Dravid slow batting issue. Need for positive play at the top..More big innings expected of mo batters, Sachin's failure to get a big 100, so also Saurav's and VVS not going on. 3. Bowling..need to have a bowling lineup that will challenge and dismiss Aussies twice. Balanced Right/left bowling that will address left handed batters of Aus...playing 5 bowlers. Fielding ( nothing can be done about it...with so many 30+ players..slow running btwn wkts and ground fielding can be improved, but only slightly...also all these 30+ are playing for bat/ball skills so we cant drop them)..Just hope we hold every single catch

[jf1gp_1]

My Final 11 would be:. 1. Sehwag 2. KKD 3. SRT 4. VVS 5. SG 6. Dravid 7. Irfan 8. Kumble 9. Harbhajan 10. Zaheer 11. Ishant

my concerns on the above 11. Jaffer who scored a double just 2 test ago is supposed to be on a down while sehwag who hasnt scored anything in any form or level of game is supposed to get quick runs. Kartick is expected to open play a long inning and then keep while we play 2 spinners. Mind you one of those spinners is unlikely to take wickets. With bhaji in the team we almost got 20 aus wickets but scored less than 200 in both the innings so i would still go with that extra batsman than 5 bowlers. without dhoni/yuvraj the aggressive batsman are in top 4. so who plays with the tail

[Guest HariSampath]

my concerns on the above 11. Jaffer who scored a double just 2 test ago is supposed to be on a down while sehwag who hasnt scored anything in any form or level of game is supposed to get quick runs. Kartick is expected to open play a long inning and then keep while we play 2 spinners. Mind you one of those spinners is unlikely to take wickets. With bhaji in the team we almost got 20 aus wickets but scored less than 200 in both the innings so i would still go with that extra batsman than 5 bowlers. without dhoni/yuvraj the aggressive batsman are in top 4. so who plays with the tail

I have arrived at that 11 by applying selection logic based on team's needs and winning . Each selection/non selection has been justified. Karthick has to keep wickets and open..at this level nobody can complain , and as KKD is just 22 he is expected to be fit. We have to play 2 spinners because Sydney wicket has historically helped spinners, and this one is no different. If wicket breaks up on 4th/5th day even slightly, we certainly need 2 spinners in the 11. What if Kumble has a bad day off ? Without a 2nd spinner , we will be forced to use Sachin or Sehwag, neither is a genuine test match bowler. It was not a question of almost getting 20 wkts...; firstly we did not get 20 wkts, and also 2nd inngs they were batting to declare. Bhajji got Hayden and Ponting, and didn;t bowl badly. The issue was the Aussie openers got to a 4 runs/over start of 135 and 83 in both inngs against Zaheer and RP..that cost us heavily. We cant bowl a unidimensional 2 left armers . RP with just 2 wkts in both inngs at about 4 rpo has to be left out now and Ishant brought in. Irfan at 7 and Kumble at 8 ensure batting depth, both are batters with test hundreds. Yuvraj and Dhoni miss out due to needs of team balance and slots available. If we go in with both of them and also 4 bowlers, it means we have batters till Dhoni at 7, this is a waste and doesn't help team purpose of trying to win games

[Rajan]

except Ishant for RPS, i will go in with the same team for Sydney. Jaffer has proved his class on tough pitches in South Africa, West indies and England.It is just gross injustice to drop him after one test. He may be a slow learner but he is keen and is our best bet as an opener.Guys, just give him one more test. As an opener Dinesh Karthik is a walking wicket against the moving ball, even in Indian pitches. He is in very poor form.No way he can open and have any success in Australia.Sorry. Dhoni might have failed in both innings at MCG, but he is certainly a fighter. He will do better in Sydney. he deserves another chance.He has as good a chance to perform as Sehwag.He is our best WK and must play. I have expected RPS to be fully fit and hit the deck at MCG but unfortunately the malaise that affects the indian seamers has spread to him, he was off colour and bowled with lot of self doubts, was not his usual bouncier self, bowled way down leg and gave away easy runs.He can be replaced by Ishant.at least the left handed Aussie batsmen can be tested with a varied attack.

[Parth]

Whats the pithc like in Sydney.

[gator]

Whats the pithc like in Sydney.

most likely, it will have average bounce and the ball will come on to the bat well and will assist some spin... India will ideally need 5 bowlers to finish aussie innings to less than 400.... and our batters who like the ball coming onto the bat will find it to their liking... Bottom line - Sydney is our best chance of notching a win... we mess it up, fuggidit....

[Hawkeye]

Sehwag Jaffer Dravid Sachin Laxman Ganguly Dhoni Pathan Kumble Zaheer Ishant Sharma With this line up we bat to 8 so that even if Sehwag screws up it should not affect the runs on the board so dramatically whereas if he shines then Ponting will be scratching his head. Sharma might go for a few but we do need some variation with a right hand seamer in the team. Sehwag can help Kumble in the spin dept. Remember that Australia have and will probably stick to their RH fast, LH seam/swing and RH seam line/length combination. Dravid must not open and I can only hope that the rumours posted elsewhere of this happening are plainly untrue.

[BERGKAMP]

lets fight fire with fire, the job of sehwag and yuvraj is to get us to 100 in the first session and then let the big boys do the rest sehwag yuvraj dravid tendulkar laxman ganguly dhoni pathan kumble khan rp singh

[Yuvraj4Captaincy]

Jaffer Dravid Laxman Tendulkar Ganguly Yuvraj Dhoni Kumble Harbhajan Zaheer Another Pacer

[Yuvraj4Captaincy]

How can u pick sehwag...he shouldnt even be in 16 man squad imo..... retain the same teeam

[Yuvraj4Captaincy]

if sehwag cant score on flat tracks against no name domestic bowlers...hwo can u expect him to score against aus. if past reputation is dat imp..maybe we can get sunil gavaskar to open for us.