[vibbs]

Now our neighbours, Pakistan are putting in a superb rearguard action in NZ to save the test.

Of the three boxing day tests, one subcontinent team won, one lost and the third one is trying hard to save its own.

[Eddy]

As much as I hate to see Pakistan playing well, I am hoping they can hang on for a draw. Any points that NZ loses in the WTC gives India an advantage.

[vibbs]

It was not to be. Pakistan could not survive last 5 overs of the test. But good rearguard action nonetheless.

Boxing day tests: Hosts - 2, Visitors -1

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Eddy

As much as I hate to see Pakistan playing well, I am hoping they can hang on for a draw. Any points that NZ loses in the WTC gives India an advantage.

I think we need to win 4 out of the remaining 6 tests (the 2 tests in the current series plus the 4 home tests against England). Should aim to win atleast 1 more in Australia and then 3 against England. I think it's doable.

[Venkatesh]

On a funny note Self Rewarding award goes to Warner



Link

[whencut86]

Kohli has had not 1, not 2, not 3 but FIVE bowlers with 50 test wickets at an average of less than 25, a 6th has 101 wickets at 27.72 & all India have are one come from behind win in SL & a win over Warner-less/Smith-less AUS.

Unbelievable levels of underachievement.



Add to this the disasters of England Tour, South African Tour, New Zealand Tour, CT17 & WC19, it can be safely said Kohli is a dreadful captain. Ganguly, Dravid, Kumble and MSD's teams achieved a lot more with worse bowlers.

Ganguly had 2 just bowlers with average less than 30.
MSD, Dravid and Kumble had just ONE!

Even LOIs success was greater.





Jasprit Bumrah has played 16 tests, all in SWENA. He has won 7 of them; 3 in Aus, 2 in WI, 1 in SA, 1 in Eng. Team has taken Eight 5-wicket hauls in those 7 matches and Bumrah has 5 of them.

Five Wicket Hauls Comparison between Cummins and Bumrah:
Cummins: 5 from 32 Tests (3 home, 2 away)
Bumrah: 5 from from 16 Tests (All of them away)
Bumrah has taken 48 wickets at an Average of 13.83, ER of 2.59 and SR of 32.

In this series,
AUS have taken 31 wickets @ 21.81 Econ 2.75 S/R 47.52
IND have taken 32 wickets @ 21.22 Econ 2.53 S/R 50.41
Absolutely nothing to separate the sides. Except of course that India have overall bowled with their B or C side whereas Aussies are at full strength.

Not faulting Kohli as a Team Man or his commitment or his fitness levels. He is a great asset to the team. But if without a major chunk of players, we can do this in Aus against Aus, then we can reach and maintain the standards of the Windies of yesteryears and Aussies of 2000s.
Taking us there should be the Captain's and Coach's job and focus. With all fiascos Kohli has done with respect to Team selection, bowler rotation and field placements I doubt if we can achieve the greatness we are destined to under Kohli. This is precisely why we need to have a different Captain for Tests atleast.


On Mayank:

Sharing an interesting thread from Twiter:

After some consistent first class performances, Mayank Agarwal was chosen for National Side in 2018 before West Indies Tour of India. Scored 81 in Warm-up game but his counterpart Shaw who scored 8 was given National Cap first.

The next series he was excluded from the squad for Australia. After failures in 2 tests by our openers he was recalled for MCG Test & Replaced KL Rahul. Series 1-1 & you are facing Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Lyon on debut at the biggest venue with a full crowd.

He oozed class scoring 76 and took on Nathan Lyon was the wrecker in chief in the previous 2 matches. In second innings India faced an early collapse and he took India's lead past 400 with his pretty 42. For reference India's big 3 Kohli Pujara and Rahane collectively scored 1 Run. Had an outstanding debut. Next game at the Sydney cricket ground he betters his previous best by making 77 against the same lineup on day 1. The next series in West Indies he was dismissed under 40 for the first time in his career in both Innings. In the very next innings he scores 55 off 127 balls when his partners KL & Puji were dismissed for 13 and 6. In a second innings he was dismissed for 4. In his next test against South Africa He racks up his first ever hundred (215) & scored 7 in other innings.

The next Test on a fresh morning that offered seam, other opener & no.3 were back early in the hut. He scored another Ton (108). This makes his 5th Test where he passed at least 50 runs. (Played 6 Tests). In Third Test in Ranchi that had some help for pacers he fell prey early to Rabada for just 10. This is only the second Test in his career where he didn't score a fifty. In the next Test against Bangladesh he scores another double hundred (243). In the other test against the same opposition he is dismissed for 14.

India next tour New Zealand, a tour that they would want to forget. But Mayank once again proved his mettle against a quality lineup in pacer friendly conditions scoring 34 in 1st innings & weathered the storm for India in the first session where they lost Shaw, Pujara & Kohli after being put into bat. For the record he is the first Indian opener in the last 30 years to remain unbeaten in first session of a Test in NZ. In the next innings he registers India's first fifty of the series with a quality 58 when no other in top 4 went past 20 while trailing behind in first innings by 178 runs. Man registers another fifty. Played 10 Tests & scored fifties in 7 of them. Incredible. India is bowled out under 200 twice in the Test & Mayank's aggregate in the Test is 92. Simply outstanding. In the final test of the series he is trapped in front by Boult twice. However he ended the Test series as India's leading run-scorer with 102 runs across 4 outings.

Post covid, India tour Australia for a high voltage Test series. Mayank gets a start but is beaten by a beauty from Cummins & departs facing 40 balls for just 17. In the second innings that saw India's all time lowest test total he survives the twilight but is once again dismissed after 40 balls for just 9 runs. The next Test, Starc had him all over the place with one of the best opening overs & sends Agarwal back for a nought. In the second dig, he fails once again scoring just 5 while chasing 70. At the end of 13 Tests he showed great promise on overseas tours while averaging a little under 48 in his Test career. After coming on top in one of the toughest conditions, his spot is shockingly in danger & if reports are believed to be true he will be dropped. If that happens his confidence will hit an all-time low thinking of the axe.

If this guy is dropped after good returns against top bowling attacks in early stages of career then it will take a toll on the opener. Mind you, he was the top-scorer in India's most forgettable tour since his debut & he is still not a certain starter for next test. In short, he is never backed. Can't keep crying over poor show by openers when they're not backed properly.

https://twitter.com/EdgednTaken/stat...41824541458433

The same goes for Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill. If they do well in a couple and don't do well in the next series don't call for dropping them. They are the future. They are young and will learn from mistakes. Ask Prithvi to talk to Dravid, Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gavaskar and correct the technical aspects now. The young batsmen will learn and be fine in sometime. Just back them and give them time.

[Venkatesh]

After leading from the front with a fantastic ton in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, Rahane has his name engraved on the MCG Honours Board for the second time.









Video Link

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Oxy

I think we need to win 4 out of the remaining 6 tests (the 2 tests in the current series plus the 4 home tests against England). Should aim to win atleast 1 more in Australia and then 3 against England. I think it's doable.

True. Most people believe we will whitewash England 4-0 which is a high probability but shouldn't be taken granted. With Warner back and Aussies pride hurt with last defeat winning next test will be quite difficult. There is threat of rain too on all days. SCG has traditionally assisted spinners a lot so I am hoping Ash and Jaddu can do the job.

Was hoping Pak draw the match and they were so close. Good fightback by them after being behind the whole match.

[libranof1987]

Most media outlets are going all out in praising Rahane and making it seem as if it were all him that won us the match, and got us from the ashes. His captaincy, his resolve, his game etc etc.

Funny how we place these guys on a pedestal after one good match and won't hesitate to throw them in the gutter after one bad one.

This whole Sharma - Kohli - Rahane captaincy discussion should be played out at BCCI with the coach (lol!), not in the public.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Most media outlets are going all out in praising Rahane and making it seem as if it were all him that won us the match, and got us from the ashes. His captaincy, his resolve, his game etc etc.

Funny how we place these guys on a pedestal after one good match and won't hesitate to throw them in the gutter after one bad one.

This whole Sharma - Kohli - Rahane captaincy discussion should be played out at BCCI with the coach (lol!), not in the public.

Watch these same people crucify Rahane and his captaincy if he fails with the bat and India loses the next match. Most fans have a fickle memory. Captains should be credited when we win as they get a lot of criticism when they lose.

We all can argue as much as we want about who should be Captain in what format. But, the fact remains, Kohli has too much clout in Indian Cricket just like MSD or Ganguly had in their days. Kohli can only be replaced as captain if he voluntarily steps down just like MSD did. However, if we understand Kohli he isn't gonna do it cos he believes he is doing a good job with the team. If we fail in T20 World cup next year or lose home series badly then only his Captaincy will come under intense scrutiny. Till then Rahane will remain VC in tests and Rohit in White ball cricket.

[VWAllstar]

News of three changes being floated around in the media.

KL Rahul for Vihari, R Sharma for M Agrawal and T Natrajan for U Yadav. I think these are justifiable except replacing Vihari. He hasn't done much wrong to be replaced. However with KL Rahul's form and mindset, he shall be better than Vihari.

[creative420]

I'm all in for Natarajan to play. We need variety. Starc offers such uncertainty as a left arm seamer. We need one in our team too. Wish we had a left arm opener batsman as well. I'd rather have Dhawan play instead of Mayank or Vihari.

[KPR]

I guess Shardul will be taking place of Umesh not Natarajan. Left arm pacer gives variation to attack but Shardul can be a reliable batsman than Natarajan thereby adding 30-40 runs in the match which may prove to be vital. Mayank and Vihari deserve one more test out of two. So I guess Vihari out and Rohit/Rahul takes his place in 3rd test.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by KPR

I guess Shardul will be taking place of Umesh not Natarajan. Left arm pacer gives variation to attack but Shardul can be a reliable batsman than Natarajan thereby adding 30-40 runs in the match which may prove to be vital. Mayank and Vihari deserve one more test out of two. So I guess Vihari out and Rohit/Rahul takes his place in 3rd test.

Natrajan would be a good option over Shardul. The former will not only bring variation but also get some footmarks for Ashwin and Jadeja to exploit. Moreover, Natrajan is in good form and can deliver match wining spells.

Rohit will open if he comes into the playing XI. So either Mayank makes way for him of Gill is pushed down the order.

[Venkatesh]

T. Natarajan to replace Umesh Yadav in India’s Test squad

Team India Test squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan

Source