***Official*** India in South Africa

[Turbinator]

In other news, the India U-19 side is touring New Zealand later this month. This is the best way for India to produce consistent batsmen overseas. Tanmay Srivastava and Virat Kohli are both in the squad so this should be a great experience for them. Ishant Sharma, Yo Mahesh and Abu Nechim are all in the Chawla-led side as well. Good stuff. Let's hope we get some overseas tours for India A as well, so the likes of Uthappa, Dhawan, Raina, Badrinath and Rao are tested in foreign conditions.

Can we expect things from Chawla in the near future?

 

[silentstriker]

Can we expect things from Chawla in the near future?

I don't know if he's ready yet TBH. I hope he gets a lot of touring time on the A tours, gets to experience the foreign conditions. I hope Kumble goes on for another two years, and at that time hopefully he'll have expanded his game somewhat.

 

[adharcric]

You can get personal if you want. You are the one being fooled here by STUPID STATISTICS - how many tests has Tendular won for India especially in pressure situations: ZERO. Was he successful as captain: NO

Compared to Gavaskar he is NOTHING. He should be dropped !! NOW !

a) I won't bother with your "stupid statistics" theory.
b) I haven't nominated Tendulkar as captain.
c) Everyone is NOTHING compared to Bradman. Let's drop them all. Now!

 

[JustTool]

Such an incisive comment. ZERO is also a statistic. As long as India has 'loser' supporters like you rest assured they will always have TERIBLE TEAM RECORDS and some great individual statistics (thank you Bangladesh, Zimbabwe etc.)

If Tendulkar has any shame he would retire - but the MONEY is too much too give up. What a shame the Indian fans are so guillible. Finally, the press is starting to take him to task.

Stupid statistics, lol. Funny how it happens when they don't go your way. Cool.

 

[adharcric]

Can we expect things from Chawla in the near future?

He's been rather disappointing of late. I was expecting him to continue the good work but he's had a relatively poor second season in domestic cricket. He's taken 30 wickets in 8 matches @ 30. He's a very good prospect because he has the makings of a strike bowler and he's good enough to bat at #6, but he has a lot of work to do.

 

[adharcric]

Such an incisive comment. ZERO is also a statistic. As long as India has 'loser' supporters like you rest assured they will always have TERIBLE TEAM RECORDS and some great individual statistics (thank you Bangladesh, Zimbabwe etc.)

If Tendulkar has any shame he would retire - but the MONEY is too much too give up. What a shame the Indian fans are so guillible. Finally, the press is starting to take him to task.

You've lost the little credibility you had left by praising the Indian press.

 

[Turbinator]

I don't know if he's ready yet TBH. I hope he gets a lot of touring time on the A tours, gets to experience the foreign conditions. I hope Kumble goes on for another two years, and at that time hopefully he'll have expanded his game somewhat.

He's been rather disappointing of late. I was expecting him to continue the good work but he's had a relatively poor second season in domestic cricket. He's taken 30 wickets in 8 matches @ 30. He's a very good prospect because he has the makings of a strike bowler and he's good enough to bat at #6, but he has a lot of work to do.

You know what's really stupid and outrageous... Like about 2 years ago the Indian media was thoroughly praising this fella and saying he was going to be better than Kumble and as good as Warne.

Let's just hope they don't put him into the international scene too early.

 

[JustTool]

Lost credibility with who ? You ? Now, I am really worried.

Anyway, when you get a chnace you should look at India's standing in the Test and one-day tables. And check out the article on Wisden a year or so ago about hwo Tendulkar had failed on almost every single pressure situation.

After that go do your worship ritual in front of Tendulkar's picture in your bedroom.

You've lost the little credibility you had left by praising the Indian press.

 

[adharcric]

You know what's really stupid and outrageous... Like about 2 years ago the Indian media was thoroughly praising this fella and saying he was going to be better than Kumble and as good as Warne.

Let's just hope they don't put him into the international scene too early.

According to the Indian media, Avishkar Salvi was Glenn McGrath, Amit Mishra was Shane Warne, Parthiv Patel was Adam Gilchrist and Ambati Rayudu was Sachin Tendulkar.

Chawla is a Kumble-type bowler though, plenty of variations rather than massive turn.

 

[silentstriker]

According to the Indian media, Avishkar Salvi was Glenn McGrath, Amit Mishra was Shane Warne, Parthiv Patel was Adam Gilchrist and Ambati Rayudu was Sachin Tendulkar.

Chawla is a Kumble-type bowler though, plenty of variations rather than massive turn.

To be honest, though it worked with Kumble, I'd be a bit hesitant in picking a bowler like that straight away. The thing that has made Kumble so successful in the abscence of a legitimate leg break is his cricketing brain. You really need to be exceptionally smart to cope because without the turn, your best chance (perhaps only chance) is to out think the batsman.

I shudder to think how good Kumble would be if he had that massive turn, in addition to his other tools. I am not saying he shouldn't be picked unless he turns it a lot, but it is a handicap and though Kumble overcame it, it doesn't mean that its easy to do so.

 

[adharcric]

To be honest, though it worked with Kumble, I'd be a bit hesitant in picking a bowler like that straight away. The thing that has made Kumble so successful in the abscence of a legitimate leg break is his cricketing brain. You really need to be exceptionally smart to cope because without the turn, you're best chance is to out think the batsman.

I shudder to think how good Kumble would be if he had that massive turn, in addition to his other tools. I am not saying he shouldn't be picked unless he turns it a lot, but it is a handicap and though Kumble overcame it, it doesn't mean that its easy to do so.

Agreed. That's why spending time in domestic cricket means even more for Piyush Chawla. I've watched him bowl at the U-19 and A level and he's a very intelligent bowler, but international batsmen are very intelligent themselves. The way Tendulkar picked Chawla in the Challenger and destroyed him in one over was a good example. He really needs time to develop. Kumble needs to continue for another year or two for sure.

 

[social]

Watched most of the day yesterday and IMO, the seeds of India's demise were sown by Dravid and Ganguly

Dravid is obviously a top quality batsman but his strength is also his weakness - he plays every ball on its merits This tactic is fine when the bowlers are offering something but results in him (and the innings) becoming becalmed when they're not.

Yesterday, without undue risk, the scoring rate could have been gradually increased and the game quickly put out of SA's reach. However, a more cautious approach was adopted and the bowlers' found rhythm leading to wickets and the panic that ensued.

There is no doubt that Ganguly brought something to the table this series - namely wasted starts, lazy fielding and disgraceful running between the wickets that costs his team umpteen runs whilst he's at the crease. On this form, Chappell was right to sack him from the team as his selfishness must cause divisions within the team and he is a poor example to every young cricketer in India (a country where lack of professionalism is costing their country's side dearly)

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Tendulkar shouldn't be dropped, but he shouldn't be picked when he's clearly not fit. It's certainly not going to do anything for his longevity.

And of course, it's not totally unreasonable to question his place in the side. He has been quite average for a number of years. He's still certainly a better player than Ganguly, Yuvraj etc though, and deserves his place in the middle order for the moment.

Mind you, the recall of Ganguly has got to be one of the strangest decisions in recent years by any selection team. It'd be like Australia recalling Lehmann or Bevan in the lead up to the world cup.

 

[viktor]

According to the Indian media, Avishkar Salvi was Glenn McGrath, Amit Mishra was Shane Warne, Parthiv Patel was Adam Gilchrist and Ambati Rayudu was Sachin Tendulkar.

Chawla is a Kumble-type bowler though, plenty of variations rather than massive turn.

From what I have seen, Chawla is a more classical leg-spinner than Kumble. He doesn't have as big a leg-spinner as, say, Warne but he still spins it much more than Kumble. Also he is not as quick through the air.

 

[adharcric]

There is no doubt that Ganguly brought something to the table this series - namely wasted starts, lazy fielding and disgraceful running between the wickets that costs his team umpteen runs whilst he's at the crease.

What about the 214 runs that he's scored for India?

 

[Dravid]

So guys...Karthik...can you drop him after 63 & 38* and a very committed (and vocal ) performance behind the stumps. Admittedly, the pitch is flat and Dhoni might have equalled him, but still he has very nice technique and seems to be able to defend very well (1st innings) as well as attack when needed (2nd innings).

Play him and Dhoni and make one the specialist bat? That might be too much, but I am really impressed, flat pitch or not. When Dhoni was unstoppable, I still thought he would struggle in certain places while Karthik has much better technique and might be able to score in more places.

Thoughts?

Drop Viru, keep Karthik and you have place for Dhoni

 

[adharcric]

You can't have Karthik opening on a regular basis if he's going to keep as well. Karthik is better with the gloves than Dhoni but I'm assuming you would have Dhoni don the gloves.

 

[shankar]

Drop Viru, keep Karthik and you have place for Dhoni

No point playing Dhoni if he's not going to keep, not when you have better batting prospects in domestic cricket.

 

[Perm]

Touch decision really, it would be hard for the selectors to drop Karthik after he has performed so admirably. I suppose Dhoni will almost be a certainty for the next ODI series but when India next play Test's they will be able to weigh up who has performed better in the ODI's/Domestic Cricket.

 

[adharcric]

The management may actually play both Dhoni and Karthik in the one-day series against the West Indies, just like they did in South Africa.
Karthik is very athletic and can field anywhere (unlike Dhoni, by speculation) so he may just play as a specialist batsman.

Ganguly/Uthappa (great domestic season)
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dravid
Karthik
Dhoni
Sharma
Harbhajan
Zaheer
Kumble
Sreesanth/Munaf

Bit of a different look there and it's just a rough idea. It also assumes that Yuvraj isn't ready yet. Badrinath also deserves a shot but he's been merely solid in this season.
He did excel in Australia though so he's certainly earned a chance. Gambhir is another name. Rohit Sharma may be a wild-card but he's too young for my liking. Thoughts?