[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Score predictions pls I foresee a 1-3 loss

2-2 if we play well.

I wonder how the pitches will play. We have a terrible record in ODI's played outside Asia after the last World Cup.

[msdivy]

Who is the BOSS?

Ravi Shastri Says "My role is to oversee everything. All, head coach (Duncan Fletcher) and his two (Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun) assistants report to me"

Fletcher is still the boss, says Dhoni

MS Dhoni is the ‘only boss’ of Indian team, says Ravi Shastri



(Srini is smiling at his swanky office in Dubai...)

Originally Posted by Eddy

ODI series scoreline prediction folks ?

Considering this is Dhoni's pet format and the recent developments, Dhoni will win the series to get his way.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

And Kohli is going great guns in the warm up limited overs match .......

He is back to his usual ways. Out for a duck! I hope that warm up match isn't the only match we win on this tour. That Lord's victory feels like it happened ages back.
I wonder why Umesh Yadav isn't playing! Mohit Sharma & Shami are preferred.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by PPS

He is back to his usual ways. Out for a duck! I hope that warm up match isn't the only match we win on this tour. That Lord's victory feels like it happened ages back.
I wonder why Umesh Yadav isn't playing! Mohit Sharma & Shami are preferred.

Dhoni. I used to be a big fan of his but his recent tactics have left a very sour taste. Mohit sharma over Umesh Yadav. Really. CSK quota again.

And Kohli needs to be dropped and told to go back to domestic and get back in form. Dhawan and Kohli have been failing too long now. This is pathetic.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by harry10

Mohit sharma over Umesh Yadav. Really. CSK quota again.

Agree. Not playing Yadav is inexplicable. That's the least I expected Ravi Shastri to do - get the aggressive bowlers playing. Mohit Sharma is crap.

And Kohli needs to be dropped and told to go back to domestic and get back in form. Dhawan and Kohli have been failing too long now. This is pathetic.

Totally, totally disagree on Kohli. He's done well for almost 3 years, you cannot drop him basis one bad tour. If anyone can get us anywhere in the WC in Australia, it's him. Not Nohit, not Rahane (he can play a supporting role), not Raina and definitely not Dhawan.

Dhawan - Lets just say that he was never expected to do well outside India. However, we need someone aggressive like him to open on Indian pitches. But yes, needs to be dropped from overseas tests.

Who's going to open in the world cup ?

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Agree. Not playing Yadav is inexplicable. That's the least I expected Ravi Shastri to do - get the aggressive bowlers playing. Mohit Sharma is crap.

Totally, totally disagree on Kohli. He's done well for almost 3 years, you cannot drop him basis one bad tour. If anyone can get us anywhere in the WC in Australia, it's him. Not Nohit, not Rahane (he can play a supporting role), not Raina and definitely not Dhawan.

Dhawan - Lets just say that he was never expected to do well outside India. However, we need someone aggressive like him to open on Indian pitches. But yes, needs to be dropped from overseas tests.

Who's going to open in the world cup ?

Why not? Even Sachin used to play for Mumbai to stay in form or regain some. How many domestic matches has Kohli played since he became Indian player? The problem is these guys are so much into fame now they don't want to work hard on improvement anymore.

Let's be honest to ourselves now. This team can't defend world cup on Aus/NZ pitches. No way. Dhawan is crap overseas. Nohit is always playing for himself. Rahane is still deciding if he should be aggressive or cautious at his batting position. Raina will be founded against short ball. Only Dhoni might prevail. To top it crap bowlers like Mohit are played over Umesh Yadav who can bowl quick which will be needed on those pitches.

Btw why isn't Aaron in odi side?

[karanraheja]

Originally Posted by harry10

Dhoni. I used to be a big fan of his but his recent tactics have left a very sour taste. Mohit sharma over Umesh Yadav. Really. CSK quota again.

My pace attack for today would have been Dhawal, Bhuvi & Umesh and in spin Karn Sharma for Sir Jadeja . Dhoni needs to stop being so stuck up with his fixed side.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by harry10

Why not? Even Sachin used to play for Mumbai to stay in form or regain some. How many domestic matches has Kohli played since he became Indian player? The problem is these guys are so much into fame now they don't want to work hard on improvement anymore.

Btw why isn't Aaron in odi side?

He's not been out of form ever. Of course he has to improve and regain form. Getting back to domestic cricket is one option. But he cannot / should not be dropped in the middle of the tour and after one bad ODI innings.

Aaron not playing - no idea why.

Btw, the Aus - SA ODI looks to be an interesting one. Aussies likely to put up 320-325 on the board. This is without Watson, Warner and Clarke playing. But they are playing a lot more specialist batsmen so the bowling is a li'l light.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by harry10

And Kohli needs to be dropped and told to go back to domestic and get back in form. Dhawan and Kohli have been failing too long now. This is pathetic.

He anyways won't be participating in Champions League, so it makes sense for him to play County Cricket just like what his teammate Pujara has done!

Originally Posted by Eddy

Who's going to open in the world cup ?

This very pair! We don't have options with World Cup starting in February. Maybe Rahane could open if required. He has been getting out to lazy shots off late.

Aaron not playing - no idea why.

Aaron is not in the squad. But heard he's interested in playing County Cricket for the rest of the season.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

He's not been out of form ever. Of course he has to improve and regain form. Getting back to domestic cricket is one option. But he cannot / should not be dropped in the middle of the tour and after one bad ODI innings.

Aaron not playing - no idea why.

Btw, the Aus - SA ODI looks to be an interesting one. Aussies likely to put up 320-325 on the board. This is without Watson, Warner and Clarke playing. But they are playing a lot more specialist batsmen so the bowling is a li'l light.

Oh I didn't mean he should be dropped mid tour. I meant after that if he still hasn't regained any form.
Ya. Been following aussies match. Looks really interesting.

Also Karn is a better leg spinner and should have been first choice but as usual Jadeja is in cos you know Dhoni favorite.

Nohit is out after a specialist test match fifty. Position secured for rest of the series. Never seen such a selfish player. Always playing for his position.

@PPS- Forget it that Kohli will opt to play in County. He will just party around. Like I said going an extra mile doesn't seems to be an agenda here.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Who's going to open in the world cup ?

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar isn't such a a bad idea! Dhoni can always peddle out a permanent 'he's not a batsman, what did you expect?' excuse when he fails. If he does score something, all good cover for the numpties in the top/middle order.

[Eddy]

And SA chase 327 down very very easily with 7 wickets and 20 balls to spare. Brilliant !

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by karanraheja

in spin Karn Sharma for Sir Jadeja . Dhoni needs to stop being so stuck up with his fixed side.

And today is the reason why we should let Dhoni and Sir Jadeja be, especially in ODI / T20 cricket. For some reason, Dhoni's punts are successful more often than not.

[karanraheja]

Originally Posted by Eddy

And today is the reason why we should let Dhoni and Sir Jadeja be, especially in ODI / T20 cricket. For some reason, Dhoni's punts are successful more often than not.

Yday was one off day for Sir , did you see his batting? He just couldnt connect the ball ! Knowing how English play leg spin , Karn Sharma needs a game. But Dhoni ll stick to the same side for next game too.

[pratyush6]

Very interesting views regarding the ODIs. I for one, hardly ever catch an ODI (unless it is a Champions Trophy or WC). Caught up some parts of the game yesterday though. Finally India won a game, what a sigh of relief. It might not be a bad idea to start off with ODIs.

Next, the team for the WC: I am seriously disgusted with Dhawan as an opener, specially after the start he had in Intl. Cricket (2nd time around) And if we keep playing Nohit Sharma - Make no mistake he can play - but would he? He is always playing for himself. So my openers are still open.

I have no problems with the middle order - Kohli, Rahane, Raina, MSD - They can play pretty much anywhere and it's not that there won't be decent batting pitches in Australia.

Bowling - Big problem here. Mohit Sharma is pathetic. His slower balls are seen a mile away - he will be slogged to death against good teams. Umesh Yadav - again, the guy hardly uses his brain. He keeps making the same mistake again and again. Has the talent but does not make full use of it.

Bowlers you can play (for now) : Bhuvi, Ishant, Aaron. I would also like to see Pankaj tried. The problem with this lot is that only Bhuvi can bat. Others can't even hold a candle.

I hope we keep trying our options and then decide. Openers and fast bowlers are the problem area.

So we are down to the 2 possible all rounders in Sir Jadeja & Stuart Binny. Both are all right. The lone spinner would be Ashwin.