[vibbs]

Originally Posted by pratyush6

Same for Rahane - I maintain he tries to hit his way out of trouble, when there is pressure, which is so unlike him.

God help us now.

Thats mainly because he tends to get into his shell when the going gets tough. Specially in the slow pitches of India. Overseas is a different matter altogether with the ball coming nicely on, he has the requisite talent and technique to negotiate the bounce and swing.

I still feel he is our best test batsman after Kohli. But he needs to do something about the times when he is not in great touch.

Another one who needs to pull up his socks is KL Rahul. We cannot afford to have an opener who is basically a zero or a hero. We need him to be more consistent. Cant keep throwing his wicket away. He does have the temperament to play big innings as can be seen whenever he gets going, he goes big. As an opener you need to be more diligent. Unless ofcourse you are someone like Sehwag.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by vibbs

I still feel he is our best test batsman after Kohli.

After Kohli and Pujara.

And there will never be another Sehwag.... :(

[vibbs]

Rahane in my books is slightly ahead of Pujaara because of his superior away record. Pujara's record away from home is very ordinary.

Right about Sehwag!!

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

But given that the match will be played in Bangalore, an extra batsman may not be required.

Its a slightly tricky situation for Kohli. I feel he will go in with same side but pressure will be enormous to ring in a few changes.
Whenever one plays 5 specialist bowlers, the 5th bowler invariably is underbowled, in the last test it was Jayant/Ishant.

[landcruiser123]

Originally Posted by vibbs

Thats mainly because he tends to get into his shell when the going gets tough. Specially in the slow pitches of India....


I still feel he is our best test batsman after Kohli. But he needs to do something about the times when he is not in great touch.

Do you remember those twin centuries against SA in Delhi? Rahane can play in any condition, he's just having a bad phase.

I think Rahane is better than Kohli for test cricket, although the difference is too small. Kohli hasn't scored well in England.

But knowing Kohli, things will change once India tour England again.

Another one who needs to pull up his socks is KL Rahul.

Rahul played well in this test. He's still a young and inexperienced guy. There's no doubt about his ability and I'm sure he'll work on scoring consistently.

Originally Posted by Eddy

And there will never be another Sehwag.... :(

Sehwag was simply too talented and my all time favorite. He always kept you on the edge of your sofa.

Originally Posted by PPS

the 5th bowler invariably is underbowled, in the last test it was Jayant/Ishant.

I think Kuldeep might get a game in place of Jayant. I'll not be surprised if Hardik Pandya is picked in place of Ishant to strengthen the batting.

Ishant has looked the least threatening.

[vibbs]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

Do you remember those twin centuries against SA in Delhi? Rahane can play in any condition, he's just having a bad phase.

I think Rahane is better than Kohli for test cricket, although the difference is too small. Kohli hasn't scored well in England.

See there is no doubt that Rahane is a top class test batsman which is why I said I consider him to be the second best we have. However you cannot help but admit the fact that a below 40 average in the 13 odd test matches played in India is by no means great, specially considering his own high standards.

Yeah kohli did bad in england. But they were what? Four tests? Plus the Kohli that played then is not the Kohli we have now. The guy has undergone an amazing transformation since that England series. In fact if you asked me an year - 18 months ago I would have agreed with you on Rahane being a better batsman.


Coming to Rahul, In the 23 innings he has played so far, he has managed to cross 25 runs on 10 occasions. Is that what we are looking at from our opening batsman? I do not think so. The primary intent should be to see off the new ball. He has not managed to do that more than 50% of times. When he has managed to get going, he scores big.

KL Rahul is talented no doubt and I hope you are right when you say he will work his consistency around. We already have a 'talent' too many to deal with. Although I do agree its too early to pass a verdict on him.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by NPV

From my memory (not sure if this is statistically true of all the tests played at Bangalore), opposition spinners have mostly done better on Bangalore pitches in the past.

Statistics don't show India faring very badly at Bangalore, it was just my perception and it was wrong
Of the 21 Tests played, India has won 6, lost 6 and drawn 9 (Pretty evenly placed).
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...83;type=ground

Several bowlers have been successful for India at Bangalore including Anil Kumble, Harbhajan, Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin recently. So, not all hope is lost

[naveenvenkatesh]

I will at the ground on Saturday and Sunday cheering the Indian side. I feel Karun nair will be playing in place of Jananth Yadav.

I will be watching KL Rahul. It will be home ground for him and i expect better commitment from him. He has loads of talent but just has a tendency of throwing away his wicket. it reflects too badly.

Vijay is due for a big one.

Also, it will be interesting to see the newly laid wicket at Chinnaswamy. The last T20 with England was interesting with the ball bouncing and carrying very well to the keeper. Not sure any changes would have been done since the last match.

Anybody else planning to watch the match at KSCA ground?

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by naveenvenkatesh

Also, it will be interesting to see the newly laid wicket at Chinnaswamy. The last T20 with England was interesting with the ball bouncing and carrying very well to the keeper. Not sure any changes would have been done since the last match.

A small correction, the wicket is still the same. Only the outfield was changed.

[pratyush6]

Originally Posted by naveenvenkatesh

Anybody else planning to watch the match at KSCA ground?

No for the weekend as I am out of BLR Would try and catch the 5th day's play.

On Rahane: People often forget that even in the innings where he scores big, he tends to hit his way out of trouble. I call that luck. A good Test batsman needs to trust his defense - which he seems not to. I actually feel bad when starting this debate as it seemed he would be one of our better players. I really looked forward to him to be the Vijay, Pujara, Kohli & Rahane as our best 4.

Look at Vijay, he is not having the best of season's but he still trusts his defense. With Rahane, when there is pressure, he invariably gives it away. I started noticing this around the WC 15 (hit his way out of trouble) - which is not a great trait to have.

I don't like picking Jayant or Panda for their batting. If we are going with 5 bowlers, they need to be proper wicket taking men. And we should do that, go with 5 bowlers and play Nair in place of Rahane (which won't happen). I have no idea about Kuldeep, so cannot comment on him. 3 spinners are a overkill, I would play Bhuvi instead.

[vibbs]

So on a flat pitch, we have again managed to loose 3 wickets for 80 odd runs. And yet again lost a review for hope. There was no doubt on that Kohli dismissal wonder what make them review such calls!!

[NPV]

Originally Posted by vibbs

So on a flat pitch, we have again managed to loose 3 wickets for 80 odd runs. And yet again lost a review for hope. There was no doubt on that Kohli dismissal wonder what make them review such calls!!

Despite all that Kohli has spoken after the recent defeat, we don't learn do we ? Kohli out padding up again and lost a review...again

[Sawyer]

The younger generation hasn't really changed away from the Indian culture has it? No courage to say no to the leadership - no saying, you are out, don't waste a review. Too scared of the captain.

[freedom]

What happened to people who could play spinners with ease? Not seen 1 opening batsmen who can play spinners like Sidhu. I am not talking about Sehwag, he was from a different planet!

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[Eddy]

Its really going to be an uphill battle from now on in this match. The spinners have got us again !! 7 down.

Ridiculous batting.