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Mukund is a specialist opening batsman, in fact it will be hard to drop him when Sehwag comes back

Oh common you cant expect too much from the tailenders ! If you are going to bring Broad's innings into context here or compare their tail enders to ours, i must admit Zak, Praveen and Ishant can score handy runs for tail enders.

Even i was thinking of same lines. Though Bhajji isnt troubling the English i really wonder if India will replace Yuvi instead of him. Maybe Yuvi can replace Mukund (just to get a additional bowling strength ) and Mishra can replace Bhajii. How i wish Ashwin was given a chance for this tour over Bhajji.

So you think that would have made a difference? Ashwin is still very inexperienced on foreign soil and is a might_or_might_not_work case.

Unless we can find (or buy) 2 genuinely world class bowlers there will always be these discussions. Just 1 bowler wont make much of a difference. I suggest we should lure Sakib al hasan from BD and one of the quickies from Pak. Somehow show that they were either born in India/parents from india or whatever (just like England does!) Then fire the likes of Bhajji and Ishant! Both are totally gutless and dont deserve to play for a champion side!

I never said that would have made a difference. All i said was i wish Ashwin was given a chance else how would you groom him in these conditions?

I respectfully disagree. I dont think it would be fair to a young player to throw him to the wolves in such an important series. If he doesnt do well, he too will go down the Amit Mishra, Piyush Chawla way! He'll get this stigma of failure attached to him ( maybe will be held responsible for India losing top spot) and that would be bad for his career. Better would be to have him play couple of series at home (or in the subcontinent) first. It he cannot produce at home then he is useless. If he does, then that will build his confidence to play on tours (as it is generally accepted fact that overseas pitches are more spinner hostile!)

Piyush Chawla, if I remember correctly, when he had emerged, was seen as Shane Warne heir apparent!!! Where is he now?

Zaheer got injured. No one was troubling Kevin P. He thought let me be a hero (considering luck favors the brave). Didn't work out.

Oh wow. You do remember that this is pro player you are talking about.

How should an inexperienced pro level player get experience on foreign soil then?

I am thinking that is in jest.

Both the players you mentioned and the teams/countries they represent did not win the last cricket world cup. How come India managed then?

Just to be sure we know this. Cricket is a team sport.

One loss and we need to import players?

You know what? That is exactly what a pro player at this level wants. Heck a passionate player in any sport wants that. Its a chance to prove yourself.

The administrators though have your line of thought.

How about a optimistic view instead?

I believe see a spark and let it fire. Give them the chance to prove it. Leave it totally in their hands. Trying out and creating confidence is all old school thought. Today players at that level want to wrestle with the wolves in their liars. I cant tell you what an high that is for players.

Adaptability and improving one's game to match the competition is lacking. What got you here will not keep you going forever. Watch his action and bowling over the years you will have an answer.

Are you kidding me:eek:
You compared him with sehwag.
What has Mukund done till now to warrant his place?

There were only three front line bowlers so you need to give them rest in between spells else they would have broken down too. He [Dhoni] was out of option as Sachin doesn't ball these days and Sehwag and Yuvi were not playing.

I dont know how many really professional players are there in our setup. I mean even the likes of Bhajji, Dhoni, Yuvraj etc hold posts in PSUs isint it?stupid:

Yes that was in jest but seriously can u name one better spinner in our setup than al hasan or a better pace bowler than even the worst paki pacer you can find on the face of the earth! Dont say Zaheer as he is consistently injured for test matches!

We could have won 2-0 or even 3-0 in Windies but could only manage 1-0 because of our really limited bowling. How can you expect a team at the top of the pile without a single bowler in top 10 rankings!!!

Well never discount experience! I'll tell you what. I've been a long time Manchester United fan and they can boast of one of the greatest managers of all time. One of the things Alex Ferguson is good at is bringing out young players and moulding them into world beaters. If you follow the players that have come thru the system, and how they came thru you'll see logic in careful brooding. Even players like Scholes, Beckham or even a Ronaldo were very carefully and gradually introduced. He likes to first let players build their skills and confidence and then slowly introduces them, first maybe in easier home games and in Europe and then later in the big games. This strategy has reaped them really rich rewards - they've always been able to replace big names without losing sights of silverware at the same time without damaging careers of really good young players.

I do not know why we are over-reacting so much!

We have 3 more tests to go & i feel we will play our best cricket from 3rd Test onwards. I'm hoping the series is not decided before that.:p I feel team will show some traces of form in the next test. Since Zaheer is unfit, Munaf should be drafted into the team as he is more steady bowler instead of the erratic Sreesanth. Gambhir & Sachin are rusty, they will take their time to get into the groove, all they need is to spend some time at the crease. Raina at the moment is better at No.6 since he has played last couple of matches & isn't rusty like Yuvraj.
I feel Yuvraj should be tried in the next warmup match. Hope Sehwag is available from 3rd Test onwards, no doubt he will be rusty but he only knows one way to play!:)

I am not comparing his skills with that of Sehwag. When Sehwag returns to full fitness, he will return to the playing eleven for sure.

But Mukund has not done too badly. He's got a fifty and fallen short of 50 by a run or two twice. He seems to have the temperament for test cricket and has shown the will to stay at the wicket.

You are entitled to have your opinion and so can I:) ! Every series is important and not being successful in one series doesnt prove that he will go the Chawla/Mishra etc way . Then how come Mukund is given a chance over Vijay( who has been played instead of Sehwag most of the times). You need to groom your young players and give them more oppurtunities.

Lets just try being optimistic here. Ashwin has great temperament and has a great future ahead IMO. I dont want to argue any further in this topic . Peace:)

One win and they seem unbeatable , as per them :-

I can't see India stopping England from being number one: Boycott - The Times of India

England are now cricket kings of the world: Botham | News | NDTVSports.com

England deserve to be world number one: Donald - Rediff.com Sports

Looks like they feel on top of the world after winning JUST one match against the Team No. 1 .

People will talk.

England does have a great team and they do have the potential to be No. 1 right now. But dismissing us off like that is rather sad, really. They may just have to eat their words. We do get better as the series progresses, and Sehwag's arrival will bolster our batting side. Hope our bowlers find rhythm and form.

Perhaps, they've forgotten that this is an 'away' series for us. If it had been an 'away' series for them, they would have been in quite a lot of trouble. It is never easy for a visiting side. And we are virtually unbeatable on our soil.

Mark my words- We will bounce back and i feel in second test itself.
Historically we never did good in first test of the series but we were very unlucky in this one atleast.
This Indian team is different from the past in the way that they believe they can come back hence they will.
Somehow i got a feeling the 100th ton for Sachin is coming in the second test.

As for the comments after one win is childish.
Maybe Mr. Botham forgot that king of cricket will remain India as they won the world cup and hence atleast for 4 years we are Kings ;)