Team-BHP - The Cricket Thread

Let's take it easy with the Tweet. All's not lost for anyone- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/68921146.cms

Looks like Pant, Rayudu and Saini are going to have an all-expense trip to UK if nobody gets injured. *touch-wood*

I have my reservations about Shankar batting at #4. He can certainly finish an innings when he comes in at 2/260 in the 40th over. Can he rebuild if the side has lost Kohli and is 2/15 in the 7th over? I think we're going to see Dhoni at #4 (DK also plays) or Kohli at #4 (with Rahul at #3.)

This post is not to demean Shankar, but to emphasize that the WC is not the tournament to bed in new players.

I'm glad to hear that BCCI is not considering any sanctions on Rayudu.

Quote:

"We have taken note of what Rayudu has tweeted. (But) Let's accept that emotions are running high at this moment. There is bound to be disappointment and there needs to be an outlet of expression as long as it's not out of line," a senior BCCI official said on Wednesday.

"He will need some time to soak in the disappointment and it's understandable. There is no need for sanctions. Also, he is one of our standbys. If any injury happens there is every chance, he would go," the official added.

I couldn't agree more.

So, my favorite cricketer retired today. I'm not much of an emotional person, but seeing my favorite player retire under such circumstances is saddening to say the least. I'd stick my neck out and say that he's the best match winner we'd got for a while. For now no 12 hangs it up and its time to relish his contributions.
My favorite innings is the one in Ahmedabad in 2011wc, but if others have other innings in mind please list it out and we can debate over itagree:

Opening this thread for the A team discussion. World Cup discussions to remain on the other thread please.

Look at this India A squad - very very strong even though Shaw missed out because of injury. This is for A team ODIs in West Indies.

India A squad for the five one-dayers: Manish Pandey (capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Anmolpreet Singh, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rahul Chahar, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Navdeep Saini

Axar Patel looks the only misfit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy (Post 4615707)

Look at this India A squad - very very strong even though Shaw missed out because of injury. This is for A team ODIs in West Indies.

Is this end of the road for Saha? We have suddenly far too many capable wicketkeepers; probably always did but never needed to look beyond Dhoni. A problem of plenty: a first for India? :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by libranof1987 (Post 4615725)

Is this end of the road for Saha? We have suddenly far too many capable wicketkeepers; probably always did but never needed to look beyond Dhoni. A problem of plenty: a first for India? :D

I don't think Saha needs to prove form in an A game and this is the white ball squad anyway. If he is fit, he still should be the first choice keeper I think.

Then there is Sharath from Karnatak who I am tracking for a while - good player.

Saha
Pant
Ishan Kishan (I personally do not like him as a player)
Sharath

Problem of plenty indeed :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy (Post 4615707)

though Shaw missed out because of injury.

Is it an injury or some other issue? From what i read he has some other issue pertaining to his attitude! BCCI is equally clueless. Hope he receives proper guidance throughout and not just a 1-on-1 session with Dravid once in a long while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPS (Post 4615828)

You are right, there seems to be something beyond a regular injury. Sad.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/70068625.cms

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy (Post 4617786)

Twitter is on fire since Ganguly's birthday yesterday.

Bhpian thoughts on this ?

https://twitter.com/cricketingview/s...921684992?s=19

Probably some fool who went through statsguru rather than actually having watched cricket at that time.

This is my opinion of Ganguly

- Average Test Batsman

- Very good ODI batsman (there were times I felt he was better than Tendulkar on non-flat pitches)

- Very good captain - only people who lived through 90s when we couldn't even win a test in Zimbabwe would understand this.

- He was a good captain more in terms of man management than in terms of strategy. He was overall a very defensive captain (I don't think that's bad) & strategy wise was quite average. But he was very good at leading the team & also was gutsy to drop senior players when they needed to be dropped.

As a teen who followed a lot of cricket during that time, I have no hesitation in saying that it was the John Wright and Ganguly combination that marks the turnaround for Indian cricket. Agree that Indian cricket witnessed some stalwarts during the same phase like Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman and of course, Tendulkar was always there since quite a few years but this was the time when the team started to look like one well oiled machinery, which was lacking since past so many years despite having greats like Tendulkar, Azhar, Srinath, Kumble etc in the team. Of course, some of those players were a part of that transformation as well. It was that phase where Indian team started to look more professional, more focused and all that started reflecting in their performance and increased %age of wins.

Also, alone on the basis of stats, one cannot compare the cricket that was played 20 years ago with the current form. It was a time when a strike rate of 70 was considered very good and bowler economy was good only if below 4 runs per over. Compare this with today & one will see where we are coming from.

Coming back to Ganguly, more than his contribution as a player, I will remember him as a great captain who managed to bring the team together & will credit him of changing the attitude of the team which now believed that they can win. Also, this marked a shift in perception of the Indian team in the minds of all cricket playing nations. I cannot say the same about Dravid's or Tendulkar's captaincy, even though Dravid happens to be my all time favorite batsman. I am not a fan of Ganguly's batting but we need to give credit where it is actually due.

Best ever cricket matches that I've seen and remember off hand (in no particular order)...

WC19 Final
T20WC07 Final
T20WC16 Final
99WC Semi-final
2005 Ashes final test
2001 Ind Aus 2nd and 3rd Tests
Aus Vs SA 434 wala chase
1999 India Pak in Chennai
1996 WC QF against Pakistan
2011 WC Final
Champions Trophy Final Ind v Eng
India Vs Pakistan - Hrishikesh Kanitkar four
Natwest Trophy Final - Yuvi, Kaif
VVS Last wicket victory 2010 vs Australia
Sachin defending 6 in the last over - Hero Cup
SL beating SA earlier this year - Kusal Perera 153*