[KPR]

Originally Posted by NPV

Another possibility - if the 'new' captain Rahane goes on to lose 2 or 3 of the remaining tests, it could quite simply mean curtains for him as a player since everyone may go out hammer and tongs dumping the blame on him, talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time

There's nothing called wrong place or time. It's an opportunity which he has to use to his stride. He has to learn from Tim Paine who has grown from failures. Let's see how he does the role of a captain. I'm waiting to see some sensible decision from Rahane. I can accept him as a captain than a batsman. Vice versa with Kohli.

[vibbs]

Originally Posted by KPR

There's nothing called wrong place or time. It's an opportunity which he has to use to his stride. He has to learn from Tim Paine who has grown from failures. Let's see how he does the role of a captain. I'm waiting to see some sensible decision from Rahane. I can accept him as a captain than a batsman. Vice versa with Kohli.

I agree. In my eyes atleast, Rahane's stature as a Batsman has fallen quite a bit in recent years. At one point in time, he was my favourite test batsman. Now he has been largely relegated to someone who can play a good innings here and there but cannot be trusted to continuously deliver.

Hopefully Captaincy brings out the best in him. There are too many unsettled players in the team and the Core (Kohli, Pujara and Rahane) are not at their best collectively. With Kohli departing I wonder how the batting will fare in the remaining Tests.

[mazda4life]

With the clout that BCCI has, let’s see how the pitches of the next tests will behave. I was honestly looking forward to spending the day today and witness a good day of cricket and it was absolutely disappointing to see our team getting bundled out. We should try and talk to Dravid if he can think of coming out his retirement

[hondafanboy]

I still cant believe what happened and not able to stop thinking about this throughout the day. I am imaging a miracle or a blockbuster script here, that Virat cancels his trip to be with his wife , plays the second test , scores hundred plus in both the sessions (if needed) , wins the second test and then flies back home. If this happens, it might bring some respite.

Will this happen ? Or am I being Mugerilaal ?

[PPS]

Originally Posted by mazda4life

With the clout that BCCI has, let’s see how the pitches of the next tests will behave.

Don't think BCCI can do much, pitches are the responsibility of Cricket Australia. Not that there were any demons on this pitch. It was only due to the pink ball! Rest of the Tests are with the red ball & batting should be a lot easier. The Australian bowling attack is the same as 2018, so there's no reason why our batsman can't do well.

[Avinash_R]

Prithvi Shaw - He came, he Shaw, he went!!! Twice...

[harry10]

Was having fun on Reddit today so totally skipped my mind to come here and comment.

So, our team was humiliated and fans are seething with anger. Completely justified. 4-0 predictions are quite right to make at this moment by everyone. I don't expect Virat to stay back and he shouldn't, family should always come first and at the end of the day this is just a cricket game. Moreover he alone can't win matches.

Let's be honest. I am pissed, really pissed like all of you. But, this was one of the best fast bowling spells I have seen in my 30 years of watching test cricket. Credit where it is due. Aussies deserve this win.

By the way just heard Shami is out with fractured hand so his tour is done. All luck has deserted for the moment.

Now, what can be done. From 36 we can surely only go up now. First, the selections.
This would be my starting 11 next match barring injury.

1. Mayank
2. Gill
3. Pujara
4. Rahane
5. KL Rahul
6. Vihari
7. Pant
8. Ashwin/Jadeja ( depending on pitch)
9. Bumrah
10. Siraj/Natarajan
11. Umesh Yadav.

My club team got out for 79 few weeks back in a T20 match which is our lowest score till date. We were damn angry, embarrassed and frustrated. But, we bounced back in the next match.
To think just because these players are paid in millions they won't be hurting or not embarrassed is simply rubbish. These are proud professionals and they must be hurting more than all of us. I wish at this time we had a Gary Kirsten or John Wright to act as a father figure and lift the moral but what we have is a 'Go Smash them Boys' coach. Can't be helped.

We need someone like Sachin or Dravid or even Gavaskar to speak with the team and encourage them. Even Ganguly the BCCI head should speak with them and let them know it's ok. It's a game. Shit happens. You fell down at times, how you get up is what matters. Show the spirit. Even if you lose the next game just give Aussies a real hard time.

Remember the monkey gate saga. The whole team was angry and showed a terrific performance next match in Perth where it was deemed impossible for India to win and still we won. 2001 series. Lost 1st test. Follow on in second one and then epic Laxman and Dravid happened along with Bhajji magic. This is cricket. Strange things happen like today. Just don't give up.

[ABHI_1512]

Remember there was a time when Virat Kohli and the team selectors dropped Cheteshwar Pujara from the test team for batting slow ?? Or for that matter, how Rahane was dropped from the Indian ODI team despite scoring good runs ?? And now we want Pujara to play like Dravid and grind the opposition when he was dropped for doing the same once !!

Pujara and Rahane used to be the mainstay of the test team once, both having proven themselves overseas. In fact, Rahane’s first few centuries were scored overseas only and on difficult pitches. And look what they have been reduced to now !!

A player, specially who represents the country in tests, should feature in the ODI team also. A technically correct player will always succeed in tests as well as ODI’s if supported and trusted by the management. Yes, T-20 is a different game (not cricket if you ask me) and should be treated as such.

Teams hardly play tests these days and tagging players as test specialists have done more harm then good to players like Pujara, Rahane, Ashwin and to some extent Wriddhiman as well.

Rahane was an excellent player when he was playing regularly and was equally good in both tests and the ODI’s. Ever since he was dropped from the ODI’s, he is not the same player that he once was. I hope our team competes well in the coming matches, although I am not too hopeful !!

[KPR]

Sir Jadeja is required to play the role of an all rounder now. So he should be picked instead of even Vihari. He can play good 40-50 runs. His form is full ripe now as a batsman. He can take wicket as a fielder too.

[pandey.jai]

The beating the cricket team took is absolutely horrific. Now with Kohli and Shami out of the rest of the series, I think this should be team (at least for the 2nd test):

1. Mayank
2. Gill
3. Pujara
4. Rahane
5. KL Rahul
6. Pant
7. Jadeja
8. Ashwin
9. Bumrah
10. Siraj/Saini
11. Umesh Yadav

This gives sufficient bowling options and based on current form, Jadeja is probably a better pick than Vihari for his batting and bowling prowess.

I've read some of the opinions that Shaw should be given another chance to prove himself, but it is always my opinion that his technique is not good enough for someone who opens the innings on pitches outside of India/the sub-continent.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

A player, specially who represents the country in tests, should feature in the ODI team also. A technically correct player will always succeed in tests as well as ODI’s if supported and trusted by the management.

I think those days are long gone. The current ODI setup needs specialists, just like tests.

Currently, England is the only team in the world to have the right set of players playing the right format.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

Rahane was an excellent player when he was playing regularly and was equally good in both tests and the ODI’s. Ever since he was dropped from the ODI’s, he is not the same player that he once was.

Rahane alongwith Shikhar Dhawan (in T20s) do just about enough to maintain their place in the team! And you can't drop him since he is a senior player & he has to be given the long rope to get back into form. I feel Rahane is past his prime. With India playing around 14 Test Matches next year, KL Rahul or Shubman Gill are perhaps worth a go at no.5.

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I think those days are long gone. The current ODI setup needs specialists, just like tests.

Currently, England is the only team in the world to have the right set of players playing the right format.

A capable player can adjust his technique according to the format he is playing. Rahul Dravid was considered a test player and labelled as such but he altered his game to suit the ODI game too.

Rahane was a wonderful player in both the test and ODI format before being dropped in one format despite scoring good and since then he is not the same player anymore. You will always need a player or two in tests and odi’s to drop encore whenever the situation demands.

Players should be supported when there is potential otherwise a Sehwag or a Yuvraj or for that matter Rohit Sharma would not have happened to the Indian team since they were failures early on. Cricket is a confidence game, KL Rahul is one such confidence and impact player, but he hardly has got a continuous run. Selection blunders are the norms in the Kohli-Shastri era and it continuos with gay abandon.

And regarding England and it’s right players for each format, there is a system to blame behind that too. England and Australia are still the two countries who give immense importance to their domestic structures. All the national team players still play majority of first class matches as well as shorter formats of the game. They have a robust structure and that helps in identifying talents as well as continuity of game for players who get constant match practise.

How many of Indian cricketers play the Ranji or the Deodhar trophy these days ?? When the players are not playing for the country, they are playing the IPL !! And the branded test players like Pujara or a Rahane are left with no contracts or a contract with no play time. This effects the game and hence the result. And that is why I said what I said.

Originally Posted by PPS

Rahane alongwith Shikhar Dhawan (in T20s) do just about enough to maintain their place in the team! And you can't drop him since he is a senior player & he has to be given the long rope to get back into form. I feel Rahane is past his prime. With India playing around 14 Test Matches next year, KL Rahul or Shubman Gill are perhaps worth a go at no.5.

Agree somewhat, Rahane used to be a wonderful player and it is sad to see him lose his touch. Every player needs to be in the game to hone the skills and the constant dagger on the head doesn’t help at all.

By the way, Pujara was also a senior when he was dropped for scoring slow. KL Rahul can always be tried at 5 but then even he also got the management’s boot over the last few years. Sad part, he is always out of the team when he actually should be playing because of the purple patch that he founds himself in !!

[harry10]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

Pujara and Rahane used to be the mainstay of the test team once, both having proven themselves overseas. In fact, Rahane’s first few centuries were scored overseas only and on difficult pitches. And look what they have been reduced to now !!

A player, specially who represents the country in tests, should feature in the ODI team also. A technically correct player will always succeed in tests as well as ODI’s if supported and trusted by the management. Yes, T-20 is a different game (not cricket if you ask me) and should be treated as such.

Teams hardly play tests these days and tagging players as test specialists have done more harm then good to players like Pujara, Rahane, Ashwin and to some extent Wriddhiman as well.

Rahane was an excellent player when he was playing regularly and was equally good in both tests and the ODI’s. Ever since he was dropped from the ODI’s, he is not the same player that he once was. I hope our team competes well in the coming matches, although I am not too hopeful !!

I would have agreed with everything you have said few years back but now the reality is quite different. The game has changed drastically. A Pujara or Rahane simply wouldn't fit in ODI or T20 format. Look at England. They have specialists for all formats and they are doing so well. You need 350+ in ODI now to compete rather than 250+ 5-6 years back. Even in Tests Strike rates are considered now cos fans want results and not boring dragging draws. There are only 2 draws this year in Tests. Of course you don't want everyone to make a 80 ball century in tests and different pitches demand different application. A player like Pujara is invaluable in current set up. He eats minimum 150 balls even if he only scores 30 in it and that allows others to play around him.

Our problem isn't the players, it's the egoistical management. I could see Shaw won't make a run in first test, every expert could see it, every fan could see it, but out brilliant management of Drunken coach and Kohli simply sat with eyes closed. Why didn't they played Gill instead of Shaw who clearly has better technique and even was in good form. Look at Australia. They gave Green the debut as soon as his concussion reports were fine cos they knew he could make a difference.

Why won't you play Pant who was your second best batsman after Pujara on last tour and who even made a century in last practice game. Rather you will play Saha who has never made a contribution in away tests. In India of course Saha is fine with spinners bowling and pitches easy to bat.

[ABHI_1512]

^^

Pujara can very well bat and consume balls which actually is a great tactic to blunt the new ball. But then, he was also dropped for this very reason from the team. He was dropped for an overseas test in England too when he should have been in the team. Strike rates never matter in a five day match, pitches these days are anyways result oriented.

Shaw and Gill, both need to play more first class matches in my opinion. And yes, selection blunders as I have already mentioned before, is the bane of the team right now.

By the way, Saha is a better batsman in the longer format than Pant in my view and he did score a match saving fifty in the first tour game as well. Pant is a pathetic keeper and needs to augment his skills first to be counted but I will not be surprised if Saha finds no place in the team after this tour. A match where the entire top order succumbed, it’s not proper to judge Saha on his batting !!