[vamsi.kona]

Stokes had a bad knee and as such rested. And the entire Bazball is possible because many in the team have good experience in T20's. So Indians playing in IPL isn't a big problem. The problem is we have been carrying average players in the team for the past 4 years.

[TheHkrish]

For Test Matches does India have a fast bowling all rounder ( Similar to what Hardik can offer) under the wind ?. There would be a South Africa tour at the end of the year 23 , What could be the Pace attack for this. We would need someone slightly taller quick who can extract the bounce better than last time. The Caribbean pitches can support spin than the Protea's conditions. Got curious and had to ask this somewhere , hope I am not hijacking the Incredible Ashes discussions.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by TheHkrish

What could be the Pace attack for this. We would need someone slightly taller quick who can extract the bounce better than last time.

Prasidh Krishna is the only one who comes to mind, but he's been injured for a while. I believe the Team Management is aware of the requirement for a tall hit-the-deck kinda bowler for certain conditions.
I don't really see Hardik Pandya play any Test Cricket at all in the future!

[khanmaj]

Originally Posted by redCherry

I disagree to the part in bold above.
We too know our priorities, and that's IPL for us, and that's not going to change unfortunately

Absolutely spot on. BCCI and Indian players do have their priority and that is IPL + limited over cricket. There is hardly any batsmen or bowler in the domestic cricket who has potential for test matches. People talk about how the current batting lineup is below average in every condition but the question is who would replace them! Heck even there is not a single bowler in the domestic be it Fast or spin who has caliber and stamina to play test cricket for a long period. I think its time to shift our priority as well Watch India in limited overs game and switch to test matches when SENA play among themselves.

[deathwalkr]

Talking about fast bowlers, how good is Umran Malik? Don't see much about him other than in IPL where even under Dale Steyn he did not seem to make much of an impact.

Domestic circuit? County cricket?

[harry10]

Originally Posted by khanmaj

Absolutely spot on. BCCI and Indian players do have their priority and that is IPL + limited over cricket. There is hardly any batsmen or bowler in the domestic cricket who has potential for test matches. People talk about how the current batting lineup is below average in every condition but the question is who would replace them! Heck even there is not a single bowler in the domestic be it Fast or spin who has caliber and stamina to play test cricket for a long period. I think its time to shift our priority as well Watch India in limited overs game and switch to test matches when SENA play among themselves.

I won't blame the players.
Let's be realistic.

If you are offered anywhere between 5crore to 17crore to play 14 matches lasting 2 months of your time, will you deny it? Most of us won't. Especially knowing fully well 2 facts-

1- BCCI won't let any player who is marketable skip IPL.

2- Indian team selection primarily depend on IPL performances.

I don't see BCCI the greedy employer changing itself. But, what they can do if willing is to make separate teams for White ball and Red ball. All format players are a stupidity in this age of so many leagues and national duty cricket. Just like Australia and England are doing. Will reduce workloads and injuries too.

And there are lots of batters and bowlers in domestic doing quite well. They are just not selected cos they aren't playing IPL and even if they are playing they aren't in favoritism of management. Ishan Kishan will play as keeper in West Indies series. How is he even selected with that awful weakness against moving ball in a test team is easy to see, Captain is Rohit Sharma for MI and Indian team. While domestic performers like Upendra Yadav and Akshay Wadkar are ignored royally.

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

Talking about fast bowlers, how good is Umran Malik? Don't see much about him other than in IPL where even under Dale Steyn he did not seem to make much of an impact.

Domestic circuit? County cricket?

Umran doesn't have very good domestic stats. Plus will his body hold up to bowl 15- 20 overs a day in test cricket is debatable.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

Talking about fast bowlers, how good is Umran Malik? Don't see much about him other than in IPL where even under Dale Steyn he did not seem to make much of an impact.Domestic circuit? County cricket?

Apart from pace, right now he doesn't possess any other skill! He still needs to work on his bowling. There was a golden opportunity to test him against Australia when they toured here, but he wasn't selected! Before trying him out in Tests, he needs to be tried in 'A' tours which have completely stopped. Very few pace bowlers in the world managed to get any movement at that pace, only 2 come to mind - Shane Bond & Dale Steyn. Arshdeep I believe right now is playing County Cricket.

[harry10]

So Pujara was the only scapegoat.

BTW, Ishan Kishan has played only 4 Ranji matches in last 3 Years and he recently even pulled put from Duleep Trophy. Selectors have to be lauded for absolutely ignoring WTC loss and domestic performances.

Rahane plays 1 Test based on IPL performance and is back to being VC.

[AtheK]

Guys like Sarfaraz who have been piling runs are ignored without even a mention, how more disheartening can it get. Even Jaiswal has been batting so well, but is ignored in favor of a captain who is on his way out with no fitness and no form.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by harry10

So Pujara was the only scapegoat.

Any news or statement that Pujara has been dropped on account of performance? It looks logical as he doesnt play any other form so break cannot be a reason unless he has been injured or has personal committment/ emergency. Very poor selection and high time people make noise on such blunders.

Sarfaraz & Easwaran not been selected even after such consistent performance in domestic cricket. Saini on what grounds? Disappointing. Moreover, high chances of Sehwag being the chief selector so I guess more thoughtless selections in future (unless he really gives more credit to Ranji than IPL)

[deehunk]

West Indies batsmen will feast on Saini and Jayadev, both are forced selection in to Indian cricket team. There is no place in the team for top bowlers of domestic cricket, selection of one match wonder is questionable.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by deehunk

West Indies batsmen will feast on Saini and Jayadev, both are forced selection in to Indian cricket team.

Unadkat has the best red ball record in domestic cricket, plus the left arm angle and the game to suit low, slow pitches. Deserves the call up.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Guys like Sarfaraz who have been piling runs are ignored without even a mention, how more disheartening can it get. Even Jaiswal has been batting so well, but is ignored in favor of a captain who is on his way out with no fitness and no form.

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Sarfaraz & Easwaran not been selected even after such consistent performance in domestic cricket. Saini on what grounds? Disappointing. Moreover, high chances of Sehwag being the chief selector so I guess more thoughtless selections in future (unless he really gives more credit to Ranji than IPL)

Originally Posted by deehunk

West Indies batsmen will feast on Saini and Jayadev, both are forced selection in to Indian cricket team. There is no place in the team for top bowlers of domestic cricket, selection of one match wonder is questionable.

Originally Posted by Eddy

Unadkat has the best red ball record in domestic cricket, plus the left arm angle and the game to suit low, slow pitches. Deserves the call up.

BCCI and selectors have never made any attempt to make fans aware of why someone is selected or why someone is dropped. Responsibility towarda fans and BCCI are alien to each other.

Unadkat is a red ball beast. Navdeep Saini has the height and pace to trouble batters on seaming wickets and he has a good red ball record too. We need to infuse more bowlers for this WTC cycle rather than rehashing same old ones so it's good these guys getting chances.

Easwaran has so much better domestic record than Ruturaj but he won't be selected as opener cos he doesn't play IPL for Thala's team or Rohit's team. Do remember it was Dhoni who told selectors to pick Rahane for WTC final cos Rahane now plays for Chennai.

Sarfraz should migrate to USA and play their leagues and mint money. He won't be selected here cos he has no backing of any kind and merit is a moot point in selections.

Just saw this on Redditt. As much as I dislike Aakash Chopra he sometime presents facts. Pujara is equivalent to Kohli and better than Rahane as per stats but he is dropped cos he doesn't have huge fan following. While the worst average is of Rahane and he is made VC again just after 1 match where he was actually out on 17 if Cummins hasn't overstepped. While people like Ashwin who is the biggest contributor in making India reach WTC final was benched. Indian test cricket is doomed.

Honestly as fans we should boycott watching India games unless bcci starts caring for the game and not just money. Won't happen but it should.

[PPS]

No point blaming the Selection Committee, I doubt they have much of a say. Its really the Captain & Coach who decide majority of the players. Rahane is no longer a contracted player, but you make him Vice-Captain after just 1 good match sums up the 'process' & lack of vision!

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Any news or statement that Pujara has been dropped on account of performance?

You never know, Pujara could be back for the SA tour after the WC if the youngsters fail!

Saini on what grounds? Disappointing.

I don't think Saini played the last Ranji season, so not sure on what basis he's been selected. He just landed in England to play 4 county games & now he's been selected for WI. If the Selectors were so serious they could have rested Siraj who's been playing non-stop. More likely Saini will cool his heels in WI now!

Originally Posted by deehunk

West Indies batsmen will feast on Saini and Jayadev, both are forced selection in to Indian cricket team. There is no place in the team for top bowlers of domestic cricket, selection of one match wonder is questionable.

Unadkat has more than a decent record in domestic & he isn't exactly a youngster. Mukesh Kumar has been picked based on his domestic record. Lets see how that goes.

[Fx14]

CWC qualifiers - West Indies in danger of missing out on the ODI WC too?

Their loss to Zimbabwe just makes it tougher for them to qualify.