[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Eddy

If Raina plays ahead of Rahane, I will stop watching cricket till the time MSD is captain !

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

That's not fair, it is just a sport, if you love it, you will watch it or atleast follow it.

I did exactly the same thing an year or two ago, and believe me- I'm happy all the more for it.

From the bottom of my heart- I hate what Indian cricket has become- the entire dhoni larger-than-life heroism, baseball hitting, 20-20, IPL masala etc. Remember WWF later became WWEntertainment. Sooner or later- I fear our cricket might get reduced from sport to tea time fun, or even lesser, a google news item.

Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly, VVS, Srinath- to name few Indians and Lara, Chanderpaul, Ambrose, Walsh, Gilchrist, Warne, Murali- to name a few others- win or lose- were a treat to watch. Statistics wise- the current team might have done wonders- but I just don't enjoy the game anymore. And regarding the hot topic- Dhoni- I give him due credit for playing some fantastic match winners, but I'd just like to say that I consider him to be the core of most things I've come to hate in modern Indian cricket.

I still watch some replays of the above guys, specially Sachin's magic. I'm just wondering- how many of these dhoni fans would watch 10 year old games just to see his performance?

[NinadJoshi]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

I still watch some replays of the above guys, specially Sachin's magic. I'm just wondering- how many of these dhoni fans would watch 10 year old games just to see his performance?

Two thumbs up to that. I am often drawn to Youtube to watch clips of Sachin, Azhar, Laxman, Lara, Gilchrist, Waqar, Akram, Donald, Ambrose, Marshall, Holding to name a few, and even vintage ones featuring Sobers, Fredericks, Kanhai, Gavaskar, Imran, Thomson, Kallicharan, King Viv, Greg Chappell, Zaheer Abbas, Hadlee and the past greats. There is an element of magnetism in their game. I seriously doubt 10/15 years down the line I'll ever crave to watch a extraordinary Dhoni or a Raina innings the way I do these masters. These modern day heroes do play good cricket but it is much akin fast food that one eats by the highway and forgets the next day. The real cuisine is probably lost on us fans.

btw, follow RobeLinda on youtube if you aren't already. He has a massive treasure trove of clips from all eras...no idea how he gets them. (The only snitch is that he is a self confessed Tendulkar hater, so one has to bear his occasional rants and explicit comments for SRT).

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Eddy

If Raina plays ahead of Rahane, I will stop watching cricket till the time MSD is captain !

You need not take this extreme step, Rahane is playing and not Raina, so some sense seems to have prevailed over the wise men at the helm

I'm surprised Rahane isn't being tested for the opener's spot and instead it's Pujara. Just hope this move doesn't harm Pujara who seems to be comfortable playing tad lower in the order. In this match he seems to be doing well as opener so don't know if that will become a longer term expectation from him.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by NPV

I'm surprised Rahane isn't being tested for the opener's spot and instead it's Pujara.

Me,too! From a regular opener he's turned into a reluctant opener. Apparently he's more comfortable batting in the middle order now, i feel he's eyeing Tendulkar's no.4 slot !

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by PPS

Apparently he's more comfortable batting in the middle order now, i feel he's eyeing Tendulkar's no.4 slot !

I think the selectors are eyeing that switch too. When (and that's a BIG when) Sachin retires, Rahan comes in for him.

[NPV]

Looks like we're onto another result oriented finish to the final test against the Aussies, they're 89 for 5, a lead of 79 runs with Sir Jadeja taking 3 wickets already

[hemanth.anand]

Silly
Ridiculous
Needless
Idiotic

You may add more such words to Murali vijay's shot.
This game is alive...waiting for Kohli to say "alive is awesome"

[PPS]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

This game is alive...waiting for Kohli to say "alive is awesome"

Well Kohli didn't say it but Wade did as soon as he walked out to bat!
http://www.starsports.com/video/vide...1264895&t=7295

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

I think the selectors are eyeing that switch too. When (and that's a BIG when) Sachin retires, Rahan comes in for him.

No, I think Rahane missed the boat in Chandigarh. He was the first choice replacement for Sehwag, being in the test squad for almost a year. He was choosy and that place was taken with authority by Dhawan. Now, he will again find himself in the wilderness which will not do him any good. International sport is hard, you got to grab the chances when they come. Sehwag did, Laxman did, Rahane will grow to regret this one. BTW, there are guys like Tiwary etc who just need one opening and will cement their place.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

He was the first choice replacement for Sehwag, being in the test squad for almost a year. He was choosy and that place was taken with authority by Dhawan.

How do you know Rahane was choosy about opening?

[PPS]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

No, I think Rahane missed the boat in Chandigarh.

Agree with you, Rahane seemed terribly nervous on his debut! But he deserves half a dozen more games atleast! I think Kohli now looks more likely to occupy the no.4 spot as and when Tendulkar retires.
Tiwari always manages to get injured at the wrong time!

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by carboy

How do you know Rahane was choosy about opening?

Why else did he hand it over to Dhawan ? Being in the squad for 1 year and not getting a game, when there is an opening, the first choice goes to him, not the newly inducted Dhawan. Moreover Rahane HAS opened for Mumbai before and for India in ODIs. What else could it be called ?

Originally Posted by PPS

I think Kohli now looks more likely to occupy the no.4 spot as and when Tendulkar retires.

Absolutely. Whenever Sachin leaves, the open number is 5, not 4. Kohli will take 4 always and he deserves it.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Why else did he hand it over to Dhawan ? Being in the squad for 1 year and not getting a game, when there is an
opening, the first choice goes to him, not the newly inducted Dhawan.

I didn't realize rookie players are allowed this kind of choice. What if the captain/coach/team management felt he is better suited for the MO?

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Moreover Rahane HAS opened for Mumbai before and for India in ODIs. What else could it be called ?

Not opened for Mumbai much. He was an opener in U16 & U19. But for Mumbai, majority of the time he has played at #3 or #4. As for ODIs, even I can open.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by carboy

I didn't realize rookie players are allowed this kind of choice. What if the captain/coach/team management felt he is better suited for the MO?

If you are in the squad waiting for an opportunity even in the form of injury (which is how he got in eventually) for one year, you will certainly be given the choice to start first which is what happened and he was choosing. Capt/Coach/TM all have a say, but would have dearly wanted to see him playing rather than warm the benches. If he is eyeing Sachin's No.4, good luck to him.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

If you are in the squad waiting for an opportunity even in the form of injury (which is how he got in eventually) for one year, you will certainly be given the choice to start first which is what happened and he was choosing. Capt/Coach/TM all have a say, but would have dearly wanted to see him playing rather than warm the benches.

Not everyone is fit to play as an opener. Opener is a specialist position in tests unlike ODIs and T20s. It's ridiculous to say that any batsman would be given a choice to open just because he has been in the squad for a long time.

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

If he is eyeing Sachin's No.4, good luck to him.

I doubt if Rahane is eyeing anything. Most new MO guys start at #5 or #6 (Pujara, Kohli, Dravid, Tendulkar etc).