[Shumi_21]

This is the first time NZ has helped us to get into a final instead of knocking us out. Thank you Kane Mama



Translation: Uncle Kane's clean food house.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by harry10

My 11 for oval will be-I won't play Iyer even if he is fit. He has a short ball issue and will be a sitting duck in England. Axar has shown he has the technique to play easily so why not play him as a pure batter.

We have to remember that Axar's major batting exploits have only come in Asian conditions. He's still untested in English conditions! No doubt he has a decent technique but expecting him to bat any higher than no.7 is asking for too much in foreign conditions. I feel Jadeja will slot in at no.5 since he's reasonable good facing the seamers & his batting over the last few years has gotten much better. Shreyas if fit should slot in inspite of his weaknesses, how else will you find out whether he's put in some work on the swinging ball or short ball. Same is the case with Gill, he's in red hot form but has only played 1 Test in England. I hear Iyer might be out for a bit as his scans haven't come out great so possibly KL will make a come back in the middle order, if not him then SKY. Selectors were in no mood to give a chance to Sarfaraz in Bangladesh, so forget about WTC Final!

[Joeboy]

Originally Posted by NPV

Credit to England, India and Australia for playing more games, definitely shows their commitment to test cricket, though England's success rate is much lower.

New Zealand played some great quality games but too few games overall.

Definitely Australia and India deserve to be in the finals, though we can't say with confidence if India will be able to beat the Aussies, fingers crossed!

India, Australia and England are the big three that dominate cricket and it is no surprise that they play more test matches as they bring more revenue than the other test playing nations.. So the teams other than the big 3 are allotted less test matches. Going forward I won't be surprised if only Aus, India and England make it to the WTC finals in the future. If ICC has to be fair they have to allot equal number of test matches to all the teams to give a fair chance of them qualifying for the WTC finals.

[kaps1311]

India will surely have to send the team early to get a feel of the english playing conditions. It is going to be tough beating Aussies in the english conditions. Since this is only one off test final there is no margin for error. There would be a few learning lessons from the last final though. Batting is going to be crucial. Bowling (pace) attack looks pretty sorted with Shami, Siraj & Umesh. With Ashwin, Axar & Jadeja's batting exploits India has good all round options.
At the end it is those 5 days how the pack of 11 perform as a team.
My playing 11 will be;
1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Jadeja
6) Bharat (wk)
7) Axar
8) Ashwin
9) Umesh
10) Shami
11) Siraj

[PreludeSH]

We should take a risk and have Umran Malik play in the eleven. Axar might not be useful in the conditions since his bowling has been forgettable. Kuldeep might add some variety to Ashwin/Jadeja.
The problem with depending too much on our lower order might backfire. They will not be dependable always when the conditions are bowler friendly especially for pace. We should have a pure batsman at No.5.

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by harry10

...My 11 for oval will be-

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Axar
Bharat
Jadeja
Ashwin
Shami
Umesh/Thakur
Siraj
...

Originally Posted by kaps1311

...
My playing 11 will be;
1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Jadeja
6) Bharat (wk)
7) Axar
8) Ashwin
9) Umesh
10) Shami
11) Siraj

There is NO WAY India plays all three: Axar, Jadeja and Ashwin.
Even in the last WTC final we played Jadeja and not Ashwin.

The top 4 & last 4 are pretty much fixed:
Rohit (C)
Gill
Pujara
Kohli

SKY
KL Rahul (WK)
Thakur [only medium pace all rounder]

Jadeja/ Ashwin (one depending on pitch)
Umesh
Shami
Siraj

It is a bit unfortunate that none of our batsmen can bowl. Sachin, Sourav, Yuvi, Sehwag could all pitch in with overs and have at times won the game with their bowling.

[Aakash118]

While our spin all rounders have been doing well with the bat but still batting one of these at 5 doesn’t make sense to me, even in this series RJ didn’t look as comfortable batting at 5 as he looks at 7. So a specialist batsman should be considered in place of Iyer. And if SKY comes in that position, he can play the role of Pant by counterattackng in case we lose 3 early wickets.
Also Thakur should be considered for no. 8 position, he can be equally good with the bat as our spin trio and obviously give the option of a fourth seamer. So my playing eleven will be this.
Rohit
Gill
Pujara
VK
SKY
Bharat/KL
RJ
Ash/Thakur (depending on pitch)
Umesh/Undakat
Shami
Siraj

[Shreyans_Jain]

For the WTC final, I will be tempted to go with KL Rahul as the keeper in place of Bharat for that one off test. I’d also prefer Hardik Pandya over Shardul Thakur for this single match, again for the X factor in English conditions and provided he is fit.
This can very well be an out of syllabus move that the Aussies do not expect. Again, a lot will depend on how the IPL goes and how his fitness remains. The main players should be going to England a couple of weeks before the test starts.

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
KL Rahul (wk)
H Pandya / Thakur
Jadeja
Ashwin
Siraj
Umesh
Shami

The top 4 and bottom 4 are automatic picks. Ashwin has to play. Not only is he our no. 1 spinner, his presence on the field has an uplifting impact. Just like Kohli’s. Brilliant tactical mind, always aware of what is happening.

That’s a damn strong and well rounded side for a single test in England.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Even in the last WTC final we played Jadeja and not Ashwin.

In the last WTC Final, both Ashwin & Jadeja played on a green top at Lords alongwith 3 seamers! Reason given by the team management was that its their best XI.

Originally Posted by Aakash118

So a specialist batsman should be considered in place of Iyer. And if SKY comes in that position, he can play the role of Pant by counterattackng in case we lose 3 early wickets.

Thats precisely the reason SKY has been drafted into the Test Squad. He hasn't been able to replicate his T20 success in ODIs yet & his overall domestic record isn't that great in 5 day format. Hopefully the move comes off.

[harry10]

As per Rohit whoever gets eliminated from IPL early will head over to England early for preparation. So, we must all hope this season Punjab wins so all our test playing 11 can reach early including Rohit

I don't think much tinkering will be done to squad. If Iyer isn't fit KL will play at 5. Under no circumstances SKY should play at 5. He isn't a test player and bcci should stop this rubbish and give chances to worthy players like Sarfraz. This stupidity may mess SKY'S white ball form and we need him more in that.

If Iyer is fit then only change in current squad should be Siraj in for Axar. Jadeja will play and Ashwin was our best bowler in last WTC final. Thakur shouldn't be played as he has no match practice.

KL shouldn't replace Bharat as WK is a specialist job in tests and KL won't be able to take the load for 5 days.

Anyways long time to go for the final. Good to see Samson back in ODI squad. Sky had a last chance to show he can do something in ODI as for now he hasn't been able to adapt properly.

[KPR]

Rohit and Rahul will make KL open in this WC test. This is what I feel. For sure with his KLass innings he will put our other batters in tremendous pressure within the first 5 overs itself.

[ike]

Originally Posted by vamsi.kona

With regards WK, like goal keepers in football, their work is mostly viewed from the one or two chances they might have missed or errors that they have made irrespective of the overall performance. I believe Bharat has shown very good abilities, given the way he kept with very few errors in the first three tests which were on tracks which heavily favoured spinners, and arguably require far more skill and reflexes when compared to standing back to a pacer. I would like the selectors to stick with him in tests for the simple reason that he looks a better keeper than the competition right now. And it's not like he cannot bat. He has shown that he has the ability to bat, just requires to adjust the mindset a bit. His domestic record shows he is a good bat.

Same for Alex Carey as well. He has had a poor series with the bat but has kept really well in unfamiliar conditions to unfamiliar bowlers. Didn't notice anyone giving credit to him for that.

Originally Posted by PPS

Since WTC Final is a one-off test, don't be surprised if Team Management entertains thoughts of playing KL as a wicket-keeper to strengthen their brittle batting!

Weakens the batting & keeping. Bharat is surely a better keeper than KL, and as a batsman he is untested in foreign conditions but isn't it time to move on? Rahul has been carried by the team for long enough.

[Dieseltuned]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

This is the first time NZ has helped us to get into a final instead of knocking us out. Thank you Kane Mama

Attachment 2428399

Translation: Uncle Kane's clean food house.

ha ha that's a good take on kane mama . For those not from Mumbai Mama Kane is a decades old eatery just outside Dadar station very famous for their vada.

Regards
Diesel

[khanmaj]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

For the WTC final, I will be tempted to go with KL Rahul as the keeper in place of Bharat for that one off test. I’d also prefer Hardik Pandya over Shardul Thakur for this single match, again for the X factor in English conditions and provided he is fit.

Lets hope that all these will be match fit post IPL marathon and there would not be any wildcard entry in the 11 based on IPL performances.
Wicket keeping in Test matches is a different ball game than T20 or ODIs. A better keeper with batting skills should be preferred over a better batting with some keeping skills.

[HappyRider]

My playing 11 for WTC final would be

1) Rohit
2) Gill
3) Pujara
4) Kohli
5) Jadeja
6) Hardik
7) Bharat (wk)
8) Ashwin
9) Umesh
10) Shami
11) Siraj

Gives us option of playing 4 seamers without having to drop Ashwin. Its a bad idea to drop best spinner in your team. Though I am not very convinced about Umesh, I don't see any better options. May be Unadkat with experience and variety?