[pandey.jai]

What’s the opinion on Rohit Sharma saying that they would have preferred 20-25 days for preparation for this kind of a game?

I’m not sure I fully agree or disagree with this. For example Pujara was playing in county for a while already. So I don’t think having a specific period of time to prep is an all encompassing argument.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by pandey.jai

What’s the opinion on Rohit Sharma saying that they would have preferred 20-25 days for preparation for this kind of a game?

To play a test match at that level needs physical endurance, to win, it needs mental endurance. Clearly, he and the team were lacking it.

I still miss the physical fitness standards which were set under Kohli's leadership. Now the captain with protruding belly is setting the example for others.

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by pandey.jai

What’s the opinion on Rohit Sharma saying that they would have preferred 20-25 days for preparation for this kind of a game?

I’m not sure I fully agree or disagree with this. For example Pujara was playing in county for a while already. So I don’t think having a specific period of time to prep is an all encompassing argument.

After playing against each other in different clubs for nearly two months in a different format, a period of 25 days as a single team would have helped build a sense of team spirit again and of course practice matches would help identify and iron out wrinkles in the team.

Just my opinion of course. Would it have helped? Who knows? Maybe...

[AtheK]

Ideally everyone selected for WTC final should have left the country and regrouped together three weeks before the tournament, they could have practiced in Dharamshala for a week and then flown to England and probably had a practice match as well.

This is where IPL is the curse, BCCI can't think anything more then money and are just bad administrators. For such a high profile match, they should have thought this much, IPL trophy was still staying in India no matter who won. Players also to some extent are also busy thinking money, what was stopping Rohit sharma to tell MI that he will not take any further part in IPL, if he was backed by BCCI it would have been probably been an easier call. His own form was so bad that he must be thinking they might drop me next year, same for some of the other players.

Till players and BCCI keep putting IPL ahead of national interest we will continue to see this happening over and over again.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by AtheK

...what was stopping Rohit sharma to tell MI that he will not take any further part in IPL, if he was backed by BCCI it would have been probably been an easier call.

One simply does not say "no" to the Ambanis, whoever you are!

But seriously, I'm with the players on this one. As an Indian player, there's no way you can skip the IPL and expect to remain in favour. The BCCI will certainly not back you for opting out of their biggest cash-cow. Even more so if you're one of the 'names' that are so important to make the IPL what it is.

And also, if I had the choice between a shorter, more fun, less taxing job that allowed me to make much, much more money without having to spend time away from my family, why would I opt for the harder assignment? I can't fault any player for the same.

So unless the BCCI decides they want to prioritize WTC wins, or more probably, use their muscle to move things around so we get more time to prepare, I don't expect the players to be able to do anything about it.

But having said all that, looking at the way we just provided the Aussies with Ashes practice, I don't think it would have made all that much of a difference anyway, even if everyone skipped the IPL. We sure missed Bumrah and Pant and I guess a Test team overhaul is inevitable.

[antz.bin]

We need a Ranji Trophy opening batsman batting at #6 in SENA test matches.

The team has to believe that the top 5 can make it to Over #80 and then the #6 will have to face the 2nd new ball, and thrive! Thats the only way to score runs when playing overseas. Whats the use of all rounders like Jadeja, Ashwin, Shardul, Hardik, Washy if you can't even play a proper batsman at #6.

We lost the game by over 200 runs. We couldn't reach 300 in either innings when the opposition scored 450+ in their first! There are 450 overs to be bowled across 5 days in a test match so the average innings could be over 110 overs long and still there would be enough time to finish the match. Do we have the batsmen to bat out 110 overs in overseas conditions? When was the last time we batted 110 overs in a SENA test 1st innings? How often do we do it?

We lost the 2021 WTC final because we didn't score runs. It is the virtually the same team (barring the fact that we played Ashwin instead of the fast bowler then) and the same situation now. We have literally made zero progress since then.

Picking or not picking Ashwin is not going to make a difference as long as these guys don't relearn to make bucketloads of runs. Rohit Sharma is out of time. Historically, he was never good enough for the test team anyways. He should be fired from the Test Captaincy as soon as possible. Anyways he was out for half the WTC cycle for fitness issues and 4 other captains had to fill in.

Rahane at least showed some fight in both innings (he was injured in the 2nd). The rest at least had the excuse that they were playing IPL but Pujara was practically living in England for months and this is all he could come up with. Where is Vihari again? He isn't playing IPL either, isn't it? Why isn't Sarfaraz getting a game? He averages ~80 in First Class! How many does he have to score to make it?

Its high time we built a team with specialists and leave the likes of Umesh Yadav behind for good. Its ok if you can't take wickets if you at least hold up one end (like Ishant did) but gifting away boundaries in a test match where each run is fought over is criminal.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by am1m

One simply does not say "no" to the Ambanis, whoever you are!

Ya to ambani's and other owners and that is why we say no to ICC trophies. Hey but come on an Indian Club Team won the IPL for 16th time in a row, Yay

[Emvi]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Ideally everyone selected for WTC final should have left the country and regrouped together three weeks before the tournament, they could have practiced in Dharamshala for a week and then flown to England and probably had a practice match as well.

This is where IPL is the curse, BCCI can't think anything more then money and are just bad administrators........

.......Players also to some extent are also busy thinking money, what was stopping Rohit sharma to tell MI that he will not take any further part in IPL, if he was backed by BCCI it would have been probably been an easier call.

Till players and BCCI keep putting IPL ahead of national interest we will continue to see this happening over and over again.

I had similar concerns when I initially posted these back in 2021-

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...ml#post5140811 (The IPL Thread)

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...ml#post5141234 (The IPL Thread)

1. The Scheduling- With teams facing each other twice in the tournament and 2 more new teams in the fray, the IPL will be longer than ever, meaning International fixtures(mainly test cricket) 'might' get sacrificed. More the number of teams, more the opportunities for upcoming players, true. The 4th edition of IPL had 10 teams contesting, I remember. However, we have seen more and more players ditching their national duties in favour of the IPL. If this is what people want, who am I to complain? Call me old school, I love test cricket more.

2. IPL performance based player selection policy for test matches- Is Ashwin a victim of this?
Is Ajinkya Rahane not the Test player that he was before because of trying to be a better IPL player? I don't know.

Even in the pre-IPL era, BCCI was probably richest cricket board, IPL has only brought more riches. I am actually in awe of BCCI's clout in the world of cricket. Adding two more IPL teams is great and maybe a few more teams in the future. But, why can't we have teams divided into 2 groups, playing each other within the respective groups? This way the schedule can be compacted. Too much commercial implications to do so? Maybe. IPL definitely has revolutionized cricket big-time. IPL needs to flourish, at the same time 'cricket' needs to stay alive. Yes, there are multiple cricket leagues all over the world. But how many Indian players feature in those leagues? One? None? Budding Indian cricketers playing in alien conditions would have done a world of good to them. Probably BCCI thinks it's not worth a 'circus'.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by pandey.jai

What’s the opinion on Rohit Sharma saying that they would have preferred 20-25 days for preparation for this kind of a game?

Apart from 20 day preparation a couple 3-4 day games against a strong 'A' team is ideal preparation I feel. As we have seen in the past, as the series progresses the Team plays better. I'm more disappointed that the team couldn't win that rescheduled 5th Test in England & series in SA than this WTC final!

Originally Posted by AtheK

This is where IPL is the curse, BCCI can't think anything more then money and are just bad administrators. For such a high profile match, they should have thought this much,

IPL has been happening since past 15yrs now in that very same window. BCCI has also come to an agreement with other Cricket Boards to release their respective players for the IPL. If anything, BCCI should use its influence & shift the location & month of the WTC Final!

what was stopping Rohit sharma to tell MI that he will not take any further part in IPL, if he was backed by BCCI it would have been probably been an easier call.

This year MI was somewhat in contention to qualify for the playoffs. Last year inspite of knowing in the middle of the tournament that they wouldn't qualify, they kept playing Bumrah in each & every game!

Originally Posted by antz.bin

We need a Ranji Trophy opening batsman batting at #6 in SENA test matches. Whats the use of all rounders like Jadeja, Ashwin, Shardul, Hardik, Washy if you can't even play a proper batsman at #6.

You mean 6 specialist batsman + keeper ? In that case we'll only have 4 bowlers. This used to be the preferred combination 2 decades ago when we had part timers like Tendulkar & Ganguly who could roll their arm over.

Rohit Sharma is out of time. Historically, he was never good enough for the test team anyways.

Not many seem to know that Rohit averages 50+ on India's last tour of England in 2021!

[am1m]

Gotta love Cricinfo:

"R Ashwin, despite being left out of the XI, remains the No. 1 Test bowler."



https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/i...-spots-1381404

[kavensri]

Moving on from India and Indian cricket, one of the most eagerly waited series (in the modern history) is getting started tomorrow. McGrath has again predicted aussies to win 5-0. But, I think that it could be close series. But hard to predict though.

[rx100]

Originally Posted by kavensri

Moving on from India and Indian cricket, one of the most eagerly waited series (in the modern history) is getting started tomorrow. McGrath has again predicted aussies to win 5-0. But, I think that it could be close series. But hard to predict though.

And England continues to make merry with their aggressive approach. Scored at 5 runs per over and declared with few overs remaining on day 1. Boy oh boy, have to really admire the way they play test cricket.

[Bhargav7]

Originally Posted by rx100

And England continues to make merry with their aggressive approach. Scored at 5 runs per over and declared with few overs remaining on day 1. Boy oh boy, have to really admire the way they play test cricket.

Let us wait for the response from Australia. As much as I like England's approach, I believe Australia is one team that cannot be bullied. I see Aussies to have a fairly good total on this absolutely flat deck.

[jkrishnakj]

I was watching the match for sometime. There were a couple of reverse scoops that Root did against the likes of Boland and Cummins. Sent them for 6. Such audacious batting by Root.

I have a feeling that Aus will fold up soon.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by rx100

Scored at 5 runs per over and declared with few overs remaining on day 1.

The declaration was surprising given that Root was going strong at one end and they were able to get in just 4 overs by stumps.

They could have targeted a huge first innings score to create pressure on the Aussies. Declaring if Root got out would have been better.