[ntomer]

The pitch is fast turning into a dust-bowl; and our spinners aren't able to make any use of it.
Symonds and clarke will be unplayable on this pitch.
We are going to lose this match; anybody wanna bet?

\N

[diabloo]

Why do you want to get into betting? Please enjoy the contest between bat & ball.

Originally Posted by ntomer

The pitch is fast turning into a dust-bowl; and our spinners aren't able to make any use of it.
Symonds and clarke will be unplayable on this pitch.
We are going to lose this match; anybody wanna bet?

\N

[ntomer]

Originally Posted by diabloo

Why do you want to get into betting? Please enjoy the contest between bat & ball.

Chill buddy. I am enjoying the match; waking up at 6 AM daily and watching Aussies grinding out India. So that was probably my frustration speaking :-(

[ntomer]

Procession starts - Pathan gone for a duck.

India - 2/1, still 35 runs behind

\N

Edit: Sehwag dropped by clarke off Lee

[normally_crazy]

Sehwag is not inspiring confidence out there at the moment.

[rks]

Pathan sacrificed again, in Harsha Bhogle's words. After a tiring bowling effort spread over two days, he is asked to open the batting at the fag end of the day. All the commentators were unanimous in their condemnation of the decision to send Pathan as opener. But it is fully to be expected, given the politics and petty thinking that prevails in our team management.

Rahul Dravid was willing to open for the first two Tests and batted for long periods in both. Now suddenly he finds himself unwilling to open, even if it is in the interests of the team and will obviously help out a promising young player establish himself as all-rounder. Obviously the commentators are not aware of the dirty politics in our team management and senior players, who do not want Pathan in the role of a contributing lower-order batsmen in addition to his fine bowling. The moment Pathan became man-of-the match in Perth with a brilliant all-round display (despite being unfairly sent in as night-watchman), he became a target in the eyes of our think-tank and senior players, and I do not exclude Kumble from this assessment.

I predict that when Zaheer Khan is fit again, Pathan will be dumped; this would not be possible if he continues to give man-of-the match performances as all-rounder. Bhajji was a disappointment as bower. As per Ian Chappell, Sehwag looked a better off-spinner. I think Bhajji might also be dumped too and a batsman taken in his place. I would prefer to look for another all-rounder, if at all Bhajji is to be dropped.

But for the dropped catch and an LBW going in Sehwag's favour, we would have been in serious trouble in this Test. In our first innings also, there were at least 4 simple catches dropped and at least 4 plumb LBW's that went in our favour. So we really deserve to lose this match, but might just save it.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by rks

All the commentators were unanimous in their condemnation of the decision to send Pathan as opener. But it is fully to be expected, given the politics and petty thinking that prevails in our team management.

Your favorite commentary team are the one that create all the politics wherever India travel. Dump those 2 creatures & Indian cricket can be saved.

[rks]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Your favorite commentary team are the one that create all the politics wherever India travel. Dump those 2 creatures & Indian cricket can be saved.

Are you talking of Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri? Those two and even Ian Chappell and Wasim Akram have pointed out the poor thinking involved in sending in Pathan as opener. I do not think that our team management has any good intentions here, it is just plain politics. If Pathan continues to do well as all-rounder, the axe could fall on one of the batsmen, including the seniors. So they would like to de-stabilize Pathan as batsman. Sooner or later Pathan would have to bowl on dead pitches and will not perform as bowler in one or two matches. Then he can be dumped, if his contribution as batsman can be minimized.

And some of our senior bowlers will also view Pathan as unwelcome competition. Zaheer Khan and Agarkar reportedly gave Pathan the cold shoulder when they came back into the Indian team after having gone out of favour during Greg Chappell's reign as coach.

Seems devious and unworthy of our seniors, but that is the way they are.

[finneyp]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Your favorite commentary team are the one that create all the politics wherever India travel. Dump those 2 creatures & Indian cricket can be saved.

Spot on! Harsha Bhogle & Ravi Shastri have big mouths, nothing else!

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by rks

Are you talking of Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri? Those two and even Ian Chappell and Wasim Akram have pointed out the poor thinking involved in sending in Pathan as opener. I do not think that our team management has any good intentions here, it is just plain politics. If Pathan continues to do well as all-rounder, the axe could fall on one of the batsmen, including the seniors. So they would like to de-stabilize Pathan as batsman. Sooner or later Pathan would have to bowl on dead pitches and will not perform as bowler in one or two matches. Then he can be dumped, if his contribution as batsman can be minimized.

And some of our senior bowlers will also view Pathan as unwelcome competition. Zaheer Khan and Agarkar reportedly gave Pathan the cold shoulder when they came back into the Indian team after having gone out of favour during Greg Chappell's reign as coach.

Seems devious and unworthy of our seniors, but that is the way they are.

I dont doubt the fact that there are politics involved in sport, just as there are politics involved in ANY facet of our lives.

However, what do we gain by discussing petty politics here? What can we do if Zaheer and that other chap who keeps getting selected for no reason ignore Pathan? (1) do we know if it is indeed true and (2) even if it were two can we get the two to talk to Pathan?

I dont think we can, so lets not go into that territory.

[diabloo]

Is the report first-hand information or just a gut feeling?

Why is Pathan so greedy to make it to the playing eleven? Why can't he just refuse to open? He might not get a game today but surely tomorrow. If RP Singh without his batting skills can warrant a place in the side, why not Pathan?

Truth is bitter. The fact is Pathan is a swing bowler without any pace. And his swing deserted him. FYI, Akram was a swing bowler too. But he had the pace to call shots when his swing deserted him. Pathan without swing is like buffet to batsman - help yourself. He was out the team to find his swing again.

Harbhajan didn't get his line right anytime in the match. If somebody after bowling 48 overs still can't get the ball in right areas and if a part-timer can do it consistently, what do you say? Again Harbhajan is an average test bowler and a good ODI/T20 bowler.

I don't there is as much politics in the cricket team as you tell nor somebody needs a clout in the team to suggest something. For instance, Ishant Sharma is the newest member. Does he need 'clout' to speak his mind in the team meetings?

Originally Posted by rks

And some of our senior bowlers will also view Pathan as unwelcome competition. Zaheer Khan and Agarkar reportedly gave Pathan the cold shoulder when they came back into the Indian team after having gone out of favour during Greg Chappell's reign as coach.

Seems devious and unworthy of our seniors, but that is the way they are.

[rks]

Originally Posted by diabloo

Is the report first-hand information or just a gut feeling?

There were press reports in all the leading newspapers at that time that Pathan was being ignored by Zaheer Khan and Agarkar. But of course there is no proof.

Why is Pathan so greedy to make it to the playing eleven? Why can't he just refuse to open? He might not get a game today but surely tomorrow. If RP Singh without his batting skills can warrant a place in the side, why not Pathan?

Why do you call Pathan "greedy"? I would say that it was extremely selfless of Pathan to have agreed to go in at No. 3 in Perth and as opener in Adelaide. But even if Pathan volunteered, Kumbla and the senior players should have known better as to what is in the team's interest. Remember, Pathan delivered a man-of-the match performance in Perth and he doen't need to volunteer to open to justify his place in the team.

Truth is bitter. The fact is Pathan is a swing bowler without any pace. And his swing deserted him. FYI, Akram was a swing bowler too. But he had the pace to call shots when his swing deserted him. Pathan without swing is like buffet to batsman - help yourself. He was out the team to find his swing again.

[...].

I don't there is as much politics in the cricket team as you tell nor somebody needs a clout in the team to suggest something. For instance, Ishant Sharma is the newest member. Does he need 'clout' to speak his mind in the team meetings?

Did you watch the Adelaide match? If so you would have seen Pathan swing the ball both ways. His pace is just about same as that of Suart Clark. Pathan bowled just as well as Ishant did in this match. Pathan is no Wasim Akram, but he can be as good as Stuart Clark is for Australia. And if you think that Ishant can speak his mind and offend our seniors, you are sadly mistaken. Our seniors are not that broad-minded.

[diabloo]

My point is there is no malicious intention from anybody in keeping Pathan out of the team. He was out because he had lost his swing.
The whole team supports Pathan & want him to do well. The fact that he was sent on behalf on the Indian team to address the press conference proves this.

Originally Posted by diabloo

Truth is bitter. The fact is Pathan is a swing bowler without any pace. And his swing deserted him. FYI, Akram was a swing bowler too. But he had the pace to call shots when his swing deserted him. Pathan without swing is like buffet to batsman - help yourself. He was out the team to find his swing again.

Originally Posted by rks

Did you watch the Adelaide match? If so you would have seen Pathan swing the ball both ways.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by rks

...you would have seen Pathan swings both ways....
...
Our seniors are not that broad-minded.

This cricket thing seems more fun these days.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by v1p3r

This cricket thing seems more fun these days.

did you hear about ponting getting hit by a fine leg & a long leg ? There were no covers either when ishant bowled those maidens over.