India's starting line up for MCG test ?

[SJS]

I dont recall it ever being so difficult to think of India's starting line up for the first test of a series. I can think of at least 10 different line ups with merits in each !!

T[B]eam 1	Team 2	Team 3	Team 4	Team 5	Team 6	Team 7	Team 8	Team 9	Team 10[/B]
Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer	Jaffer
DKK*	DKK	DKK	Sehwag	Sehwag	Sehwag	Sehwag	Dravid	DKK*	DKK*        DKK*
Dravid	Dravid	Dravid	Dravid	Dravid	Dravid	Dravid	Laxman	Dravid	Dravid
Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin	Sachin
Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly	Ganguly
Laxman	Laxman	Yuvraj	Laxman	Yuvraj	Laxman	Yuvraj	Yuvraj	Laxman	Yuvraj
Yuvraj	Dhoni*	Dhoni*	Dhoni*	Dhoni*	DKK*	DKK*	Dhoni*	Pathan	Pathan

So which would you prefer if they were playing the first test with no warm up game ?

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Team 6 seems to be the lineup which could cause the most trouble - but it'll be interesting if the selectors drop Yuvraj after making a ton.

 

[alternative]

I think Laxman's injury concern could be a huge factor here. Hopefully he is fit, in that case i'm happy with Team 8 tbh.

 

[SJS]

I think Laxman's injury concern could be a huge factor here. Hopefully he is fit, in that case i'm happy with Team 8 tbh.

I think so too except that Dravid may have a big issue with that. Hopefully he will accept.

 

[FRAZ]

I voted for the third option. Gotta include Yuvi !!

 

[SJS]

I voted for the third option. Gotta include Yuvi !!

Yuvi is there in six of the ten options

 

[chaminda_00]

Would drop Tendulkar personally. Current Yuraj > Current Tendulkar.

 

[SJS]

Would drop Tendulkar personally. Current Yuraj > Current Tendulkar.

Then why not drop Dravid ? How is Dravid's current form better than Sachin's current form ?

 

[pup11]

Would drop Tendulkar personally. Current Yuraj > Current Tendulkar.

Give me break Tendulkar has been India's most consistent batsmen sice the Bangladesh tour, you just can't drop him because he is getting out in nervous 90's, i would open with Dravid and Jaffer and that would vacate spots for both Tendulkar and Yuvraj.

 

[Richard]

Am somewhat blinded by the mass of teams in SJS' opening <code> post so I'll say say "I'd go..."

Jaffer
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Ganguly
Dhoni (rate Karthik superior Test batsman but Dhoni has to play as of this moment)
Pathan
Kumble
Rudra Pratap \ Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan

Sehwag doesn't deserve a Test place but I'd prefer him to open than Karthik TBH.

 

[Steulen]

Dropping Dhoni? Surely that will never happen? Dhoni dropping otoh...

For the first Test, I guess they will gamble on Sehwag to see if he has that old Aussie-style bash-em-to-hell innings still in him. So I'll go:

Jaffer
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Dhoni+
Kumble
RP Singh
Zaheer
I Sharma

Not sure which of your teams that would be, SJS
Possibilities include Yuvraj instead of Laxman and Pathan instead of Sharma, but htis would be my team. Batting strong enough to give the weak Aussie attack a run for its money at least.

 

[honestbharani]

I have no clue, tbh... All line ups have merit, but for me, you have to open with openers and on current form, Karthik > Sehwag... I know DK is in bad form but Sehwag is in worse form and how he is supposed to be a better bet than DK at this stage, I will never know... I know that he brings the X factor and all that but honestly, to pick a team based on logic than gut feelings, I will have:

Jaffar
Karthik
Laxman
Sachin
Sourav
Yuvraj
Dhoni (wk)


I know dropping Dravid is HUGE but sometimes performances have to be rewarded and as far as our middle order goes, he is the one who has been underperforming and since that is the place where Yuvi comes in, he will have to go.

 

[alternative]

Laxman if fit would be a sure starter against aussies.

 

[Steulen]

Laxman if fit would be a sure starter against aussies.

Although he's in my team this line of reasoning is on a par with the one that cost the Aussies the 2005 Ashes and England the return series: "He's done it before some years ago and that's more important than who's in form right now".

 

[Pratters]

Yuvraj
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Dhoni
Irfan
Kumble
Zaheer
RP

 

[Pup Clarke]

Jaffer
Karthik
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Dhoni
Kumble
Harbhajan
Zaheer Khan
RP Singh

 

[silentstriker]

1. Jaffer
2. Sehwag
3. Dravid
4. Tendulkar
5. Ganguly
6. Yuvraj
7. Dhoni
8. Irfan
9. Kumble
10. Zaheer
11. RP

Though, it would be very interesting to see the tall fast bowlers (Pankaj and Ishant) operate at a place like Perth.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Has Sehwag been scoring any runs in domestic cricket to deserve a starting place?

 

[silentstriker]

Has Sehwag been scoring any runs in domestic cricket to deserve a starting place?

Nope. I would have Chopra in there, but in their infinite wisdom, the Indian selectors chose not to take him.

 

[Pratters]

Has Sehwag been scoring any runs in domestic cricket to deserve a starting place?

No. Chopra and Gambhir have outscored him for Delhi. I would rather have an in form Yuvraj than Sehwag or Karthik who are not among the runs.