[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by harry10

Here, players are injured but magically healed once IPL starts.

The onus on that would be partly from BCCI's side as well. I would think they would also be exerting sufficient pressure on their players to be available for IPL, well because, Money.

[Shumi_21]

Originally Posted by PPS

Santner had a side strain. He wasn't benched.
Iyer played a good knock in the 4th innings in Bangladesh sometime back on a turning pitch. The way our batsman batted this series Iyer will now start looking like a great player of spin suddenly

Santner was still doing drinks duty in Mumbai. I felt his "injury" is of the "back spasm" variety that conveniently happens to Indian players, especially Axar Patel
Iyer played that innings in Mirpur before his new stance that ruined his spin game. Back in 2017, Iyer scored almost run a ball 200 against Lyon & O'Keefe in a practice match, days before Australia spun us out in Pune. Even in the domestic circuit, Iyer had the reputation of destroying all types of spin, even on minefield pitches.

Originally Posted by harry10

By the way these dates collide with Perth test as well. Players will surely be distracted to know how much more money they will get.

Generous of you to assume that our batters will last 3 days on a fresh Perth wicket.

Originally Posted by harry10

By the way Aussies were playing Shield games to prepare for BGT. They don't even think for a second to skip IPL and a fat pay cheque if it's coming in their way of performing in international matches. Here, players are injured but magically healed once IPL starts.

I don't condone some Indian players' preference for the IPL, and the likes of Ishan and Shreyas have been punished too. But it's an unfair comparison to say the Aussies skipped IPL to focus on internationals. A fairer comparison would be to check whether they skipped their own Big Bash League too.

Meanwhile, I watched the highlights of the Australia vs Pakistan ODI. Steve Smith looks in sublime form. So do Pat Cummins & Mitchell Starc. The pitches are also expected to do a lot in terms of seam movement and bounce, since it's the beginning of the cricket season in Australia.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Shumi_21

Santner was still doing drinks duty in Mumbai. I felt his "injury" is of the "back spasm" variety that conveniently happens to Indian players, especially Axar Patel

Kuldeep Yadav wasn't picked for the Australian tour citing 'chronic groin' issue but he was was very much there in the dressing room in Mumbai & even bowled a few deliveries during nets!

Generous of you to assume that our batters will last 3 days on a fresh Perth wicket.

This isn't the WACA. Australian pitches have slowed down over the years but obviously still quicker & bouncier than Asian pitches.

But it's an unfair comparison to say the Aussies skipped IPL to focus on internationals. A fairer comparison would be to check whether they skipped their own Big Bash League too.

The likes of Starc missed the IPL for several years to concentrate on Internationals & Ashes! The pay cheques given in Big Bash cannot be compared to IPL.

Originally Posted by padmrajravi

The ideal team is one without Rohit and Kohli with Bumrah as captain and Pant as vice-captain. If BCCI wants to manage Bumrah's workload, let them do that in white ball cricket. He needs to play all tests other than dead rubbers.

I hope Selection Committee is brave enough to appoint Pant as Test Captain for the England tour in June. I know his captaincy wasn't great in the IPL but there's nobody else. There's no point playing Bumrah in home tests if we're going to dish out rank-turners!

Originally Posted by harry10

Bcci sending KL and Jurel for A game is useless. Are they confirmed starters in the 11 for 1st test?

With Rohit most likely to miss out on the 1st or 2nd or both Tests, KL unfortunately is a sure-shot starter. I do not think Team Management has much confidence in Sarfaraz, seeing the way he was shunted down to no.8 in home conditions! Would love to see how he copes down under.

[am1m]

Guys who've watched more of the recent Test matches live (I usually follow on Cricinfo), who is the better keeper, Pant or Jurel?

Would it make sense to have Jurel keep and play Pant as a batsman?

[harry10]

Originally Posted by am1m

Guys who've watched more of the recent Test matches live (I usually follow on Cricinfo), who is the better keeper, Pant or Jurel?

Would it make sense to have Jurel keep and play Pant as a batsman?

Jurel is a better keeper.
Was watching India A game.
Easwaran flopped again today. KL made 4 so Gambhir will make him opener for 1st test
Jurel made 80 and looked so good on this spicy pitch.
He should play in 1st test as specialist bat if Pant is keeping.

Gill can open with Jaiswal
Jurel can be 3 ( he batted at 6 today but was at the crease in 3rd over itself. So he can do it.)
Kohli 4.
Pant 5.
Sarfraz 6.
Jadeja at 7.
And so on.

If they play KL as opener then Jurel can replace Sarfraz. Ideally I want Sarfraz to play atleast 2 matches to see if he has the capability to play on these pitches or not.

[rx100]

Originally Posted by harry10

Jurel is a better keeper.
Was watching India A game.
Easwaran flopped again today.

Easwaran and Ruturaj have both failed miserably in all three innings so far. I wonder when these domestic bullies will adjust to foreign pitches. Now, as you rightly mentioned, all eyes will be on Sarfaraz.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by rx100

Easwaran and Ruturaj have both failed miserably in all three innings so far. I wonder when these domestic bullies will adjust to foreign pitches. Now, as you rightly mentioned, all eyes will be on Sarfaraz.

Easwaran is a domestic heavyweight but he has about 1 50+ score in 8-9 knockout Ranji games! Not too sure about his India 'A' record especially in SENA countries. You ultimately have to make an impression in such games to be in contention. Ruturaj I do not know what the fuss is about in red ball cricket, apart from CSK fans hyping him up for no reason!

[handsofsteel]

Originally Posted by PPS

Easwaran is a domestic heavyweight but he has about 1 50+ score in 8-9 knockout Ranji games! Not too sure about his India 'A' record especially in SENA countries. You ultimately have to make an impression in such games to be in contention. Ruturaj I do not know what the fuss is about in red ball cricket, apart from CSK fans hyping him up for no reason!

One guy who’s really impressed in the last few years is Sai Sudarshan. He grabbed his chance in SouthAfrica with both hands . Early days yet in Aus, he scored a hundred. Lefty to boot. Good time to blood him.
Regarding Gaikwad, he’s a talent for sure but is taking time to mature. Sometimes luck is so rotten for some people that they are unable to make their limited chances count. Rajat Patidar for example. He got a long enough run in the England series and flopped miserably. But to those who have seen him in full flow, the guy can play the fastest of bowlers with equanimity. Now nobody knows if and when he gets another chance. Such is life.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by handsofsteel

One guy who’s really impressed in the last few years is Sai Sudarshan. He grabbed his chance in SouthAfrica with both hands .

Sai Sudarshan looked really compact & decent in the limited opportunities he's got in ODIs. Unfortunately he's not in the Squad for the Australian tour. They may perhaps ask him to stay back for the 1st Test depending on Rohit's unavailability.

Now nobody knows if and when he gets another chance. Such is life.

Thats why its so very important to stamp your authority & make it count whenever you get an opportunity!

[hothatchaway]

watching the India A vs Oz A game. Things do not bode well for India in red ball cricket if the reserves are also at sea. Easwaran does not cut it. He is not even the next Akash Chopra and Chopra was not all that bad, just that he could never get going. But with Nohit looking to run away and from the available squad, he will probably open with Jaiswal. I rarely watch T20 so do not know why I keep reading about Gaikwad. He looked good today, there is a touch of class. But could never get going and was exposed in both innings.

But what a find Jurel is. He looks head and shoulders above everybody else. He can and should make the first eleven purely on his batting. He was a revelation against England at home but watching him handle the pacers on a lively wicket against the Oz bowlers was such a pleasure. He should definitely be number 6 in the batting order and in all probability, will spend the bulk of the time batting with our useless tail. This guy is good.

KL Rahul seems to be living a nightmare. Just watch his dismissal in the highlights. He should not be in the eleven. Our top order just looks pitiful on paper if Easwaran is to open in the tests with Jaiswal, who is an untested quantity down under. M/S Gill and Kohli will probably be walking wickets, so Pant at 5 will be the main hope and the prized scalp. I would have been tempted to open with him and Jaiswal but that is just a mad gamble, having your main batsman exposed at the word go. One of Rana/Reddy would make the xi along with three seamers. Jadeja would again make the eleven and add to the list of liabilities; his bowling is likely to be ineffective there and his batting is just poor. Washy would be a better option as a spin bowling allrounder. Add Siraj to the list of useless members of the eleven.

The balance sheet of the proposed eleven looks hopelessly lopsided.

[harry10]

Easwaran and Rahul can't be our 2nd opener.
They looked terrible against the new ball.
Jurel is again top scorer for today and should be a confirmed start. Now watch dumb management selecting Rahul and not picking Jurel.

Second positive was Prasidh. Traditionally hit the deck bowlers do well on Aussie pitches and he is tailor made for that. Plus he has worked on his line and length which is much better now. I would select him over Akashdeep or Siraj which I know won't happen for first test. Mukesh too bowled well but he is in reserves so no chance of selection unless there is a player ruled out of squad for injury (like 2021).

Anyways, Pak is simply demolishing Aussies in 2nd ODI. Chasing 164 they are at 0-86. Saim Ayub is finally realising you don't need to hit every ball at this level. Something Fraser mcgurk hasn't realize yet.

Also, I was quite surprised Aussies playing Starc and Hazelwood this series. With BGT just round the corner I expected them to be careful about these guys. Cummins being captain is playing which is still understandable.

[AtheK]

Good, no more another WTC heartbreak.

I think WTC venue should also be moved around, enough of it being England. It should be the home country of previous winners, so this time it should have happened in Australia.

Coming to BGT, have no hopes, which hopefully works for us. They should move back Gill to opener till the other walking wicket joins, and play the current walking wicket Kohli at 3. Another unpopular opinion could be maybe try Washington as opener. That way they can still retain the below team but others play at there own position.

Jaiswal
Gill
Kohli
Pant
Sarfaraz
Jurel
Jadeja
Washington
Akashdeep
Bumrah
Siraj

[PPS]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

But what a find Jurel is. He should definitely be number 6 in the batting order and in all probability, will spend the bulk of the time batting with our useless tail.

That would be an ideal number for Jurel since he possibly can't bat any higher. But then where do you fit Sarfaraz if he's in your scheme of things? Its quite a Selection headache.

KL Rahul seems to be living a nightmare.

KL still has a chance. Most likely he'll open in the absence of Rohit. If he gets a decent score, he'll get slotted in the middle order once Rohit returns. If he doesn't score, he'll carry drinks for the rest of the tour!

One of Rana/Reddy would make the xi along with three seamers. Jadeja would again make the eleven and add to the list of liabilities; his bowling is likely to be ineffective there and his batting is just poor. Washy would be a better option as a spin bowling allrounder.

There's no way Reddy gets a game unless its a green top! He's seriously under-cooked. Rana I feel will eventually get a game due to Gambhir's backing but he hasn't played this practice game which was a huge error + he isn't used to the Kookaburra ball & Australian conditions. Siraj's form will be a worry & 3rd seamer will be a toss-up between Akash Deep & Prasidh Krishna. Jadeja & Washington will compete with each other for the 1 All-rounder's slot.

[DigitalOne]

KL Rahul gets dismissed today in a rather embarrassing way.

Link

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by DigitalOne

KL Rahul gets dismissed today in a rather embarrassing way.

Yeah saw that, it was pretty embarrassing getting bowled between the legs to the spinner, looked clueless !!

Most of them getting out in slip/gully cordon is the perennial problem of Indians.

Jurel again showing some intent and knocking on the doors. Probably will get the call in playing XI for BGT.

Oh it’s gonna be tough long grinding series for India, I just hope it’s not embarrassing.