[Eddy]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

I don't also see anything in Badri's international record to suggest he's better than Rohit.

But he (and Suresh Raina) plays for Chennai Super Kings

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

VVS Laxman has announced his retirement from international cricket. Too bad we won't get to see him playing for India again. I thought he'd atleast play one test in the NZ series before retiring. Thanks VVS for all the glory you brought to Indian cricket.

Very Very sad indeed. There is surely something else to it that VVS as a gentleman will never reveal unlike most of us who want the juicy news and will not stop at anything to presume what it is.

Originally Posted by StarrySky

How ironic then, that a "young" test discard Badrinath has been named as VVS's replacement in the squad. Even with all the flak he has got, I believe Rohit Sharma would've been a better choice if the selectors were indeed looking for young blood.

Unerstood your point about Badrinath not being 'Young', but I hope you know that he was given just 2 Test Matches and he played 3 innings and he got a 50 in one of them, the only reason he was not given another chance in his prime age was because there was the solid 4 in the Indian team. Let us not even discuss Rohit Sharma for test matches please.

We do not want flash in the pan cricketers, we need solid players for a test team and I think we should back Badrinath for 4 or 5 matches (In Indian pitches) at least to see if he can deliver, IF he is made for test cricket, else drop him.

Originally Posted by Oxy

Wasn't Kohli already in the test eleven? I remember him scoring a century in Australia.

Yes, Kohli took the No.6 spot replacing Raina who replaced Yuvi who replaced Dada. It is the No.3 and No. 5 spots that are open now. Kohli is not made for the No.3 spot, but he could adapt.

I think Badri is the only one among these others that has the technique to ward off the new ball and help others to score runs. Hope he gets the chance to play from the first test. Anyone who thinks this is a CSK mandate is a fool. I speak for Indian cricket when it comes to India.

[subs]

I think Rohit Sharma has been given a very long rope already and time and again he has proven that he is the best 'netter' India currently has. All the positives that are said about him say how good he looks when netting. I think its time to move on and give somebody else a chance and allow him to continue netting.

I think rahane is test match material and we are jeopardising his career by playing him in only t20s. Give him a decent run and I think he will come good.

Reg Kohli, I see him as the future India captain in all 3 formats.

Cheers
Subs

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

I have no particular liking for Rohit. But, Badri is 32 and Rohit is 25. So if the selectors are looking for youngsters, I think it would be better to opt for Rohit than Badri. Or some other talented youngster, if not Rohit - even if it is just to give him the experience of training and sharing the dressing room with the senior players.

Rohit for test-matches? Are you sure about that?

He hasn't performed in ODIs, barring a few good games. I don't think he has what it takes to play the 5-day game. Yet. Badri was a good selection. He's got plenty of experience playing several local and domestic matches. He may prove to be just the right man for the job.

[normally_crazy]

The no 3 spot is for Pujara and the no 5 for Kohli.Kohli will move to 4, when Sachin retires.

I don't think we have good enough players now to grab that no 5. Tiwary, Rohit, Badri......

Rahane should be an automatic choice on that spot till Sehwag is playing and then shift to open.

The one name that comes to mind is Rayudu but will the selectors continue his witch hunt?

[selfdrive]

Ahem, I think VVS Laxman retired to make way for grooming youngsters for the long term. Badri may be the best current bet but is at most a medium term option, if not a short term one. This case is like Rohit Sharma being automatically assumed as better option than Laxman in Australia because he wasnt given an option. And if Badri wasnt given a long run earlier does not mean that he is the best solution now. Two wrongs dont make a right. His worst domestic season in the last 5 years has been the latest one. I dont fault anyone for thinking this is a CSK clique, could be the same reason why Raina was given such a long rope in England too.

The lineup should have read: Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Sachin, Kohli, Rahane, keeper and then the bowlers. And it will soon be time to get a new wicketkeeper too. Dhoni might just decide to retire from tests so he can have a shot at the next ODI world cup. In that case, would it not be wise to groom a keeper too?

[vibbs]

My suggestion, forget Badri. He is a good player, but at 32 he is at best a mid term option if not a short term one. He was rather unfortunate to be playing during the same time as some of the greats of the game. Now when they have retired, he hardly has any time with him.

Instead, get in Pujara and Rahane. Both have good technique and temperament and should be groomed for future.

Team should be

Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Rahane, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zahir Khan, Umesh Yadav/Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha/Sharma/Umesh Yadav.


Last two spots to be decieded between Pragyan ojha, umesh yadav and I sharma depending on whether or not they want to play 2 spinners.

However, I seriously think they should go with 5 bowlers considering the strength of the bowling India has. I feel the two vacant spots in the batting line up would be least of India 's worries specially in home conditions. Five specialist batsmen plus dhoni should be able to the job. Get Pujara in at 3 and play a bowler instead of Rahane.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

The no 3 spot is for Pujara and the no 5 for Kohli.Kohli will move to 4, when Sachin retires.

Are you sure about that ? Pujara has not been seen since 2 years back and even at that time he was playing in India with a lot of support from Sachin, Dravid and Laxman, not to forget Sehwag and Gauti. He is still not tested enough even in Indian conditions and even in WI in the India A tour, he could not build on his innings each time he got a start. I am very speculative about him.

After Dravid and Laxman, this is a totally new ball game, please do not take the Kiwis lightly, most of their batsman are familiar with Indian conditions and even their fast bowlers are much better than our crop barring Zaheer.

[msdivy]

The God doing last rites,

SAHARA Q SHOP TVC - 90 Sec - YouTube

[esteem_lover]

The Indian colts have made it to the final of the World Cup. Congrats young guns.

[selfdrive]

Congrats to the U-19 team for reaching the final. I hope they prove a point to the Aussie colts some of whom they may contest against in the senior side in years to come.

As for Raina, here are his stats in Test cricket:
First 4 innings: 309 runs (avg 103.00)
Next 23 innings: 404 runs (avg 18.36)

While Rohit has been given a long rope in ODIs perhaps they should try him out in tests and kick him out of the ODI team. Or try Rahane. Why Raina?

Edit: I am glad to see that Pujara is doing great! A century and more, good effort. I hope he makes the no. 3 slot his own by more such performances on a consistent basis home and away

[CliffHanger]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

The no 3 spot is for Pujara and the no 5 for Kohli.Kohli will move to 4, when Sachin retires.

I don't think we have good enough players now to grab that no 5. Tiwary, Rohit, Badri......

Rahane should be an automatic choice on that spot till Sehwag is playing and then shift to open.

The one name that comes to mind is Rayudu but will the selectors continue his witch hunt?

One good tour to each of England, Australia and NZ, and everything you have written here will go for a toss.

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by CliffHanger

One good tour to each of England, Australia and NZ, and everything you have written here will go for a toss.

Till they undergo trial by fire, we will not know who the gems are.
Some we found:
England - Sourav, Rahul, J. Srinath, V. Prasad
South Africa - Sehwag (Bloemfontein)
Australia - Laxman (Sydney 2000), perhaps Kohli?
New Zealand - Gambhir (Napier)

maybe we will get some positives when they go there.

What the indian team really needs is a Kallis type of player. but then that man mountain is another once in a lifetime freak.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

The one name that comes to mind is Rayudu but will the selectors continue his witch hunt?

What witch hunt? Rayadu has never been good enough to play test cricket. He is a flashy batsman who looks good in short cameos. But he has never been a big player in domestic cricket. Check his first class records from the time he started playing first class cricket.

[esteem_lover]

I am sure we will find enough batsmen to strut along but it is the bowling department that India needs a lot of attention. 2 Guys that impressed after all the highlights that I have seen so far of the U-19 WC is 1. Sandeep Sharma (a very clever and skilled medium fast bowler) and 2. Harmeet Singh (Slow left Arm, just like Maninder Singh), not to say that the rest are far behind.