[tifosikrishna]

Originally Posted by kpzen

N_C
The link is not working. Or is it only me??

try this.

Mid-Day - Article

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by extreme_torque

Well for the last 2-3 years he has been on a slide. He hardly got a wicket before the Australian series in one days, tests are a different story altogether. How easy we give in to mere hypes... the controversy has also helped bhajji.
Remember how badly he bowled in the test matches in Australia?

Nobody has forgotten that.

But the fact is that it takes a LOT of character to take so much of abuse and yet deliver. Under pressure.

Thanks to Bhajji the Aussies may think twice before sledging. That is much greater contribution to the team than any number of wickets.

[Eddy]

You guys foresee any changes to the test side ? The team for the home series against SA is due to be picked.
Cricketnext reports that Gambhi and Aakash Chopra might get a look in at Jaffer and Sehewags expense.

Now that would be real bad. Sehwag has been in tremendous form in the test matches and should be continued.

What say ?

[normally_crazy]

Akash Chopra ??????????? How did he come into play ? I expect this eleven to play -

Gambhir
Sehwag
Dravid
Sachin
Saurav
Laxman
Dhoni
Kumble
Bhajji - if fit else Murali Kartik
Ishant - if fit else Sreesanth
RP Singh


Yuvraj is injured and I think we are better off with RP rather than Pathan even after taking Pathan's batting ability into consideration.

We have 6 batsmen + Dhoni and 4 bowlers and we can use Sehwag as another spinner.

Lets see what happens.

[normally_crazy]

Have changed the poll question again. Lets get the votes in.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Have changed the poll question again. Lets get the votes in.

Can't vote. It says I have already cast mine. :(

I think Piyush chawla might play instead of Murali Karthik. Is Murali fit btw ?

[maktags]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Is Murali fit btw ?

Yes absolutely, he played a key role in Central Zone's win deodhar trophy.

Is he a better bet that Piyush Chawla(in selector's mind) is debatable?

[normally_crazy]

Will the selectors go with 2 leg spinners ? (OK Kumble can be called a slow medium pacer ). Let's see, Murali looks a better bet to me than Chawla for the moment.

[CaAT]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Akash Chopra ??????????? How did he come into play?

Akash Chopra has been performing superbly in the domestic circuit. He is one of the few 'genuine' openers, that we have in India. It will be an excellent move to bring him back.

He can give some tough competition to Jaffer and Sehwag, who IMO, will be favourites to open the innings against SA.

As for Gambhir, he may succeed on flat sub continental wickets, but outside it, he is too 'flashy' to score runs in NZ, SA, England and Australia.

I doubt if he can be a successful opening bat in tests.

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

I expect this eleven to play -

Gambhir
Sehwag?

No Jaffer? In spite of his failures in Australia, I believe he will open the innings with Sehwag, unless he is unfit or so.

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Yuvraj is injured and I think we are better off with RP rather than Pathan even after taking Pathan's batting ability into consideration.

We have 6 batsmen + Dhoni and 4 bowlers and we can use Sehwag as another spinner.

Agree on RP Singh Vs Pathan.

I would go with 6 + 5 combination instead of 7 + 4. On Indian pitches, we can do with 6 batsmen including the keeper. We need 5 frontline bowlers to harbour any chance of bowling out the opposition.

Whatever the combination, I hope they prepare good sporting tracks unlike the ones that characterised the recent Indo - Pak test series.

[Eddy]

Murali is injured

Murali Kartik suffers ligament tear, ruled out for 3 weeks*-*Indiatimes Cricket

[rks]

I agree with CaAt that 5 bowlers are necessary. I would have Pathan instead of Gambhir in the team posted by N_C. Open with Dravid and Sehwag, with Dinesh Karthik as standby in case either of these guys flop. And Rohit Sharma should keep the middle order on its toes. I am expecting India to win on home turf, if we are not too badly affected by injuries.

[CaAT]

Just read on Cricinfo about the passing away of Australian cricketr Bill Brown. Read here.

Indians will remember him because he was the first ever batsman to be 'Mankad'ed. This happened during India's 1948 tour to Australia.

It so happened that Bill Brown used to back up too far at the non striker's end. Vinoo Mankad had earlier warned him not to do so during one of the tour games.

So when Bill Brown did so again in the Sydney test, Mankad did not think twice before running him out.

That one incident gave birth to a new mode of dismissal - 'Mankad'ed - a term coined by Aussie media.

RIP Bill

[MaserQ]

Expected playing 11:

Jaffer
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
V V Special
Dhoni/D Karthik
Kumble
Murali Karthik/Bhajji
Sreesanth
RP Singh

If they decide to go in with 5 bowlers then D Karthik might open (ie, if Dhoni cant play) or if Dhoni is fit, Pathan might come in instead of Sreesanth with Chawla playing as well.

Cricket SA chief, Gerry Majola has been talking about his wonder captain, Smith who is in top form (tons of runs against Bl'desh vs Tendulkars form against Auz in Auz) and how they are about to thump India. It seems mind games have started right from the top. Where is Mr Modi...

Proteas will thump India: CSA chief*-*Indiatimes Cricket

Lets get behind our team chaps...I have a feeling these lads can make it right to the top...provided we support them through thick and thin!

[Eddy]

Correction: It will be
Bhajji / Chawla.

Murali Kartik is out with injury

[diabloo]

Toss: SA
Result: SA Bat

India Team

1. V Sehwag,
   
2. W Jaffer,
   
3. R Dravid,
   
4. SR Tendulkar,
   
5. SC Ganguly,
   
6. VVS Laxman,
   
7. MS Dhoni,
8. A Kumble,
   
9. Harbhajan Singh,
   
10. RP Singh,
    
11. S Sreesanth