Why Indias 5 bowler policy at home is untenable in the long term

[Malcolm Merlyn]

In last couple of test series India is playing 5 bowlers in the side.While it may look attacking its not feasible to do this in the long term.

 

The reason is that when India tours outside they will reveryt to the 4 bowlers option and an extra batsman will come in as the lower order of Ashwin and Jadeja wont be as successful with the bat in overseas conditions neither will both of them play in an overseas test.

 

Someone like Karun Nair or Shreyas Iyer or even Tailunt Sharma may get a chance.The problen is that if one of these extra batsmen performs in overseas tests can you just discard him for the home tests?Can we have some batsmen who will only play when we tour outside?

 

Considering our 3 4 5 will be Pujara Kohli and Rahane and they are untouchable,will this 5 bowler strategy hold in long term?

[rkt.india]

No, they wont. Pandya will play as the 5th bowler or 4th seamer overseas depending on the conditions if we play only 1 spinner and bat at 7. They are preparing him for that role.

[express bowling]

41 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

No, they wont. Pandya will play as the 5th bowler or 4th seamer overseas depending on the conditions if we play only 1 spinner and bat at 7. They are preparing him for that role.

The management have clearly stated their intention to do this.

Edited February 19, 2017 by express bowling

[express bowling]

51 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Someone like Karun Nair or Shreyas Iyer or even Tailunt Sharma may get a chance.The problen is that if one of these extra batsmen performs in overseas tests can you just discard him for the home tests?

 

We have dropped a batsman who has scored a 300+ in the last test.... so won't be difficult even if some other batsman scores away from home.

 

But anyway.... Pandya is expected to play and not an extra batsman.

 

The real issue is Rohit Sharma.... the team may discard the 5th bowler to include him..... and  that may happen irrespective of whether he scores away from home or not.   Our management did this in the NZ test series when Rohit was fit.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Pandya is a poor batsman even in Indian condition let alone in overseas condition.There is no way he will play as a fifth bolwer unless the pitch is absolutely  flat.

 

 

[Malcolm Merlyn]

4 minutes ago, express bowling said:

We have dropped a batsman who has scored a 300+ in the last test.... so won't be difficult even if some other batsman scores away from home.

 

But anyway.... Pandya is expected to play and not an extra batsman.

 

The real issue is Rohit Sharma.... the team may discard the 5th bowler to include him..... and  that may happen irrespective of whether he scores away from home or not.   Our management did this in the NZ test series when Rohit was fit.

The reason Rahane was chosen over Nair because Rahane scored overseas.If another batsman does the same then good luck dropping him because you want to play a Jayant Yadav.This playing 5 bowlers wont last,no other team does it unless they have a World Class AR who can play in all conditions and perform consistently.

[Cricketics]

We need 5 quality bowlers. Don't care if have to drop a batsman or play an all rounder. If Pandya's bowling is good enough when we are touring,

then he should play overseas fixtures, yes even if that means that janta ka lal Rohit has to sit out for Pandya. 

 

We have enough coverage in batting with Ashwin or Jadeja and Pandya, even though not all of them might play together but whom so ever plays, is capable of scoring runs.

 

Our focus has to be on winning overseas tests and not drawing and for that we have to have 5 genuine bowlers.

 

[rkt.india]

Pandya did well in one of the 3-day games on last A tour to Aus, so, certainly there is ability.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Just now, Cricketics said:

We need 5 quality bowlers. Don't care if have to drop a batsman or play an all rounder. If Pandya's bowling is good enough when we are touring,

then he should play overseas fixtures, yes even if that means that janta ka lal Rohit has tonsit out for Pandya. 

 

We have enough coverage in batting with Ashwin or Jadeja and Pandya, even though not all of them might play together but whom so ever plays, is capable of scoring runs.

 

Our focus has to be on winning overseas tests and not drawing and for that we have to have 5 genuine bowlers.

 

 

Ashwin or Jadeja or Pandya will do zilch with the bat in overseas conditions.If Umesh Shami and Bhuvi dont take wickets in overseas condition Pandya will do Ghanta.Almost every team plays 4 bowlers.Test is a game for specialists unless you have a KapilDev hiding somewhere.

[express bowling]

1 minute ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

The reason Rahane was chosen over Nair because Rahane scored overseas.If another batsman does the same then good luck dropping him because you want to play a Jayant Yadav.This playing 5 bowlers wont last,no other team does it unless they have a World Class AR who can play in all conditions and perform consistently.

 

The 5th bowler will have to be a good batsman for this policy to work.

 

Jayant Yadav has looked really good so far with the bat and he may become the biggest factor for the success of this strategy in India along with the improved batsman-ship of Ashwin and Jadeja in the last 8 months or thereabouts.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Just now, express bowling said:

 

The 5th bowler will have to be a good batsman for this policy to work.

 

Jayant Yadav has looked really good so far with the bat and he may become the biggest factor for the success of this strategy in India along with the improved batsman-ship of Ashwin and Jadeja in the last 8 months or thereabouts.

 

Play extra spinner outside India ?That also Jayant Yadav??You wont play more than one spinner outside Asia.

[express bowling]

1 minute ago, rkt.india said:

Pandya did well in one of the 3-day games on last A tour to Aus, so, certainly there is ability.

That innings by Pandya was very impressive as wickets were falling all around him.

 

He  defended with a straight bat, left quite a few deliveries outside off stump and pulled well.

 

There is a lot to work with here if he can stop playing pre-meditated shots ( which he did not try in that innings due to the dire situation of his team..

 

He also played a good knock of 40 odd against the touring SA side in  late 2015 in a 3-day match, which had the likes to Steyn, Morkel and Philander bowling.

[rkt.india]

3 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Ashwin or Jadeja or Pandya will do zilch with the bat in overseas conditions.If Umesh Shami and Bhuvi dont take wickets in overseas condition Pandya will do Ghanta.Almost every team plays 4 bowlers.Test is a game for specialists unless you have a KapilDev hiding somewhere.

Ashwin has a test 100 overseas when our team was 4-5 down for nothing. Jadeja was a big factor with the bat that we won at Lords.

[express bowling]

9 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Play extra spinner outside India ?That also Jayant Yadav??You wont play more than one spinner outside Asia.

No... I was talking about playing Jayant IN India and thereby making it possible for the 5-bowler strategy to succeed IN India.  This is what I wrote earlier.

 

"  Jayant Yadav has looked really good so far with the bat and he may become the biggest factor for the success of this strategy in India  "

 

 

Out of India, we will probably replace Jadeja and Jayant with a pacer and Pandya

Edited February 19, 2017 by express bowling

[Malcolm Merlyn]

18 minutes ago, rkt.india said:

Ashwin has a test 100 overseas when our team was 4-5 down for nothing. Jadeja was a big factor with the bat that we won at Lords.

 

Yes in west Indies.Your point?

 

As usual you pick and choose one or two performances and try hyping that.BK scored 50 plus in tthat innings as well.

 

Heard the word "CONSISTENCY"

[Malcolm Merlyn]

19 minutes ago, express bowling said:

No... I was talking about playing Jayant IN India and thereby making it possible for the 5-bowler strategy to succeed IN India.  This is what I wrote earlier.

 

"  Jayant Yadav has looked really good so far with the bat and he may become the biggest factor for the success of this strategy in India  "

 

 

Out of India, we will probably replace Jadeja and Jayant with a pacer and Pandya

 

Pandya wont cut it.Cant bat.

[express bowling]

4 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Pandya wont cut it.Cant bat.

He looks like a different batsman in FC games where he plays with a straight bat.

 

Let's see what happens.  There are still 9 months or so left for the SA tour and he is fast learner.

Edited February 19, 2017 by express bowling

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Just now, express bowling said:

He looks like a different batsman in FC games when he plays with a straight bat.

 

Let's see what happens.  There are still 9 months or so left for the SA tour and he is fast learner.

 

Avg of 28 spread over 3 seasons.No he doesnt cut.

[express bowling]

Just now, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Avg of 28 spread over 3 seasons.No he doesnt cut.

It is true  that he was not that good in the earlier part of his career.

 

On the last A tour to Australia, I saw a fighting innings of 78  on a bouncy track, in a 4-day game.... and he looked good.

 

He is improving with both bat and ball in the last few months.

 

 

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Just now, express bowling said:

It is true  that he was not that good in the earlier part of his career.

 

On the last A tour to Australia, I saw a fighting innings of 78  on a bouncy track, in a 4-day game.... and he looked good.

 

He is improving with both bat and ball in the last few months.

 

 

 

AGain bring out one off performances.He just isnt a good enough batsman in tests.Yes can do a lower order power hitter job in LOIs.