***Official*** India in Australia

[SJS]

Current Ranji Super League batting stats for tChopra, Gambhir & Sehwag (all of whom play for Delhi)

Chopra : 568 from 10 innings, 1 no, 2 100's 2 50's
Gambhir: 342 from 4 innings, 1 no, 2 100's 1 150's
Sehwag: 66 from 5 innings (yes sixty six) with top top score of 32.

Gambhir hasn't been dropped. He has hurt his shoulder. The physio declared him unfit.

Chopra has some reason to feel upset but clearly Sehwag hasn't been taken in the side on account of his first class scores this season. This isnt the first time it has been done. Ganguly's was another strikingly similar case.

The selectors are hoping Sehwag will recover his form and the 'gamble' will pay off as it did in Ganguly's case.

It may or it may not but thats a risk they felt was worth taking. But the averages were clearly not what they looked at when choosing between Sehwag and Chopra.

They may have felt that if the Sehwag gamble works it will considerably enhance the teams chances, if it doesn't they may have felt the option of playing Karthik or even Dravid in the opening slot wasn't such hugely worse option than having Chopra opening.

Not a very convoluted argument I think.

 

[adharcric]

Raina? No, he isn't.

Raina hasn't been in the picture for a long while now, however Tiwary and Badrinath would be definitely hard done by.

Just felt the need to point out that Raina's having a fine domestic season returning from his injury. Of course, that has nothing to do with Chopra and the opening spot.

 

[adharcric]

Gambhir hasn't been dropped. He has hurt his shoulder. The physio declared him unfit.

Chopra has some reason to feel upset but clearly Sehwag hasn't been taken in the side on account of his first class scores this season. This isnt the first time it has been done. Ganguly's was another strikingly similar case.

The selectors are hoping Sehwag will recover his form and the 'gamble' will pay off as it did in Ganguly's case.

It may or it may not but thats a risk they felt was worth taking. But the averages were clearly not what they looked at when choosing between Sehwag and Chopra.

They may have felt that if the Sehwag gamble works it will considerably enhance the teams chances, if it doesn't they may have felt the option of playing Karthik or even Dravid in the opening slot wasn't such hugely worse option than having Chopra opening.

Not a very convoluted argument I think.

That's fine. Losing Chopra is not as huge a blow at the moment for me as it could have been, simply because I believe we have other viable options at the top of the order.

Ganguly's case was different actually - perhaps he wasn't picked purely on merit, but he made a few knocks for East Zone and Bengal that gave the selectors a little push. Sehwag has done absolutely nothing.

 

[SJS]

That's fine. Losing Chopra is not as huge a blow at the moment for me as it could have been, simply because I believe we have other viable options at the top of the order.

Ganguly's case was different actually - perhaps he wasn't picked purely on merit, but he made a few knocks for East Zone and Bengal that gave the selectors a little push. Sehwag has done absolutely nothing.

Really !

Do you know how many runs he scored in first class cricket while out of the Indian test team and at what average ? and how many Sehwag scored ? The period for which both were out of the team was similar by the way.

 

[SJS]

That's fine. Losing Chopra is not as huge a blow at the moment for me as it could have been, simply because I believe we have other viable options at the top of the order.

Ganguly's case was different actually - perhaps he wasn't picked purely on merit, but he made a few knocks for East Zone and Bengal that gave the selectors a little push. Sehwag has done absolutely nothing.

I think I already said that ..

• Sehwag hasn't been taken in the side on account of his first class scores this season
  
• The selectors are hoping Sehwag will recover his form and the 'gamble' will pay off

 

[sideshowtim]

I think I already said that ..

• Sehwag hasn't been taken in the side on account of his first class scores this season
  
• The selectors are hoping Sehwag will recover his form and the 'gamble' will pay off

It's a fair gamble I'd say.

He'll get 8 innings (if he plays), and he'll be playing on dead flat tracks against a largely inexperienced bowling attacking. I'd say it's a fair punt that he'll score at least one big one.

 

[Laurrz]

im goin to say if he is picked he will struggle

im actually more worried about Dinesh Karthik because i feel he can stay in and get a big one ..but thats just me

 

[adharcric]

Really !

Do you know how many runs he scored in first class cricket while out of the Indian test team and at what average ? and how many Sehwag scored ? The period for which both were out of the team was similar by the way.

Ganguly had a terrible county stint but showed signs of a return to form with those knocks for Bengal and East Zone. I'm not suggesting that there weren't other reasons behind his selection but he was actually showing positive signs. Sehwag, on the other hand, has done little to show that he deserves a comeback. That's all I'm saying.

I think I already said that ..

• Sehwag hasn't been taken in the side on account of his first class scores this season
  
• The selectors are hoping Sehwag will recover his form and the 'gamble' will pay off

I agree, it is a gamble. Sehwag's batting is always a bit of a gamble - at the moment, it's a poor one. That said, I hope Sehwag proves me wrong and goes ballistic on the Aussies if he gets a shot - not sure how that'll happen though as either Yuvraj or Laxman will have to get dropped for that. Poor Akash Chopra ... anyways, not too fussed. Very excited for this tour.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

im goin to say if he is picked he will struggle

im actually more worried about Dinesh Karthik because i feel he can stay in and get a big one ..but thats just me

It's not often I agree fully with you, but I certainly do here.

 

[silentstriker]

im goin to say if he is picked he will struggle

im actually more worried about Dinesh Karthik because i feel he can stay in and get a big one ..but thats just me

Errr, Karthik? Nah. He will give you some solid starts if he plays well, but I don't see him as a big scorer.

 

[pup11]

Errr, Karthik? Nah. He will give you some solid starts if he plays well, but I don't see him as a big scorer.

AWTA, Karthik is a cricketer who gives his 100% but he just ain't a test opener his form opening the batting was good as long as it lasted but that's what happens when you opt for a makeshift option rather than an proper option.

 

[adharcric]

AWTA, Karthik is a cricketer who gives his 100% but he just ain't a test opener his form opening the batting was good as long as it lasted but that's what happens when you opt for a makeshift option rather than an proper option.

How opportunistic. Love how everyone with this "only proper openers can open" stance sat quietly when Karthik played better than our openers usually do in difficult conditions and are now ready to pounce on him as a mere "patch of form".

Give the guy a chance FFS. Karthik can still be a solid test opener for India - whether he gets a chance is another story.

 

[Pratters]

Harbhajan wants Hogg to play as he doesn't think much of him. Haha.

 

[silentstriker]

Harbhajan wants Hogg to play as he doesn't think much of him. Haha.

Haha. He is right - but I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to rile people up.

 

[jeevan]

Haha. He is right - but I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to rile people up.

Perhaps it is an attempt at reverse-reverse psychology. Harbhajan is an odd choice to comment on this, considering he himself may not figure in any of the XI himself, unless the wheels come off of the pace team.

 

[Laurrz]

harsh on Hogg

hope he proves everyone wrong

 

[Evermind]

I fully expect Hogg to emerge with far better figures than Harbhajan in the series, if either of them do play.

They should've picked this Chawla guy. Looks like a good prospect - if they pick Sharma and Singh, why not him!

 

[SJS]

I fully expect Hogg to emerge with far better figures than Harbhajan in the series, if either of them do play.

They should've picked this Chawla guy. Looks like a good prospect - if they pick Sharma and Singh, why not him!

The problem with Chawla is that his leg break doesn't turn much at all. This really reduces his effectiveness against top class batsmen.

I must hasten to add that the same is true for Kumble but Kumble is a completely different type of bowler.

 

[Prince EWS]

It's a fair gamble I'd say.

He'll get 8 innings (if he plays), and he'll be playing on dead flat tracks against a largely inexperienced bowling attacking. I'd say it's a fair punt that he'll score at least one big one.

Is one big score amongst a whole heap of failures on flat pitches against an inexperienced bowling attack really good enough though? Especially when you consider he'll bat at the top of the order if he plays...

Given the context of the Indian team and the strengths of the Australian bowling attack, I'd take eight scores of 40 over five failures, a start and a double ton or something similar.

 

[Jono]

LOL! Harbhajan is such a dickhead, but you just have to laugh at his behaviour.