***Official*** Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series 2007-08

[shankar]

Don't think it's a bad decision to keep Ganguly out. While he's been making runs in recent ODIs, he's not getting them quickly enough as he used to. He's not been able to go on and get big hundreds to make up for the balls wasted either. This is not due to lack of form cos' he's been getting runs in tests. IMO the changes in his game which have helped him and lot made him a lot more solid in test matches hinder him in the ODIs.

If his replacement turns out to be unable to get even the runs and struggles badly, then we can go back to Ganguly. But right now there's enough reason to try a youngster in his place.

 

[gettingbetter]

That comeback maybe a while for Ganguly though. Although it depends on how many players India wants to trial. You have Sharma, Raina, Gambhir currently and then the likes of Tiwary, Badrinath and even Kaif can be trailled.

 

[chaminda_00]

I wouldn't go as far and say it was a faliure on Karthik's behalf. You make it sound like India had to look elsewhere, which they really didn't. if it was against any other team - talking about Australia here now - he would of been selected. You say they were doing a better than average job? Jaffer has quite possibly been india's best batsman in ht elast 12 months and Karthik has performed strongly, strong enough to keep Chopra and Sehwag out.

Your description of Sehwag and Jaya has no logic behind it (Jaya actually calculated his innings, as did Sehwag a few years ago, but at the WACA, he was looking like Afridi), its like Ian Chappell justifying Sehwag's selection by saing 'thats how he plays' which seems to make it all right to get out to rubbish deliveries, it also makes Afridi sound like a decent ODI batsman.

Karthik was dropped as opener for the last Test of series. India could have quite easier picked two middle order batsmen to replace Dhoni and Tendulkar; Yuraj and Barindith(sp) for example. But they picked another opener, as they felt Karthik might not be the answer to their opening problems. The failure of others at the top made Jaffer and Karthik look better as combination then what they actually were.

I can't remember too many times at the start of Sehwag's innings he actually plays a calculated innings even at his best. He always has a slog at the start and then access things once a couple wickets fall or his into the innings. There is difference between that Afridi regular innings, where he slogs from ball one to he gets out.

 

[gettingbetter]

Karthik was dropped as opener for the last Test of series. India could have quite easier picked two middle order batsmen to replace Dhoni and Tendulkar; Yuraj and Barindith(sp) for example. But they picked another opener, as they felt Karthik might not be the answer to their opening problems. The failure of others at the top made Jaffer and Karthik look better as combination then what they actually were.

I thought Dhoni was injured/rested? The guy was averaging 50+ when moved to opener, even Hayden has his off days.

 

[chaminda_00]

I thought Dhoni was injured/rested? The guy was averaging 50+ when moved to opener, even Hayden has his off days.

He was injuried like Tendulkar, but the point is they could have quite easier brought in another middle order batsmen to replace Dhoni and Tendulkar so Karthik could open. But they were looking for other options before the Australia series as he started to drop off as opener a while back after his good start.

 

[gettingbetter]

Not really as easy as that. Dinesh has his roots in the lower/middle order and Gambhir was scoring a lot of runs. Yuvraj was always going to be selected (due to injury/resting of other players) and debuting someone would be a waste.

 

[Pratters]

Don't expect India to do too well in this series. I wont be surprised if they don't reach the finals. You want to bring in youth but you want to phase them in rather than bring them like this. It wont be easy to make runs in Australia and you certainly need experience there in the form of some one from the likes of Dravid, Ganguly or even Laxman to be there to get runs on the board in Australia. What might have worked against Ganguly was his terrible fielding in the Perth test. He was recovering from flu and looked uncharecteristic even by the fielding standards Ganguly sets himself. I hope that India do well but don't think that we will. For all we know, a few of the young guys can click and India might do well but they could have phased the process a lot more gradually and I am not happy with the selectors here.

 

[alternative]

Yeh we are going to get an absolute spanking in this match, end of the day it was Dhoni's call according to Cricinfo to take the youth squad.

 

[Matt79]

I've said before, you might as well play the kids - they stood up for India in the 20/20 and you'll have to do without Sourav and Sachin at some stage. Its better to stagger it a bit, and Ganguly's fielding would be even more of a liability than in Tests...

 

[adharcric]

The thing is that most pitches in aus in ODI'S are batting pitches and you need to score quick runs with quick running unike what dravid and ganguly have been doing.
They give up 10 runs with their running and top it up with 10-15 runs while fielding which these days makes the difference in ODI matches.Besides it will let dhoni captain in his own way and bring out the best in likes of yuvraj and gambhir.
Another thing is that for the next time we come to australia these youngsters will have some experience of playing here so we do not get thrashed like dravid ,ganguly and laxman did when they first came here.
Dravid decision i can fully agree with as there are replacements for him but ganguly's replcaement being sehwag i do not understand.

Going by your own argument, Sehwag is quite good between the wickets so that goes in his favor.

 

[alternative]

Well its time to also get rid of Tendulkar and Sehwag, obviously they aren't getting any younger.

 

[Captain Cricket]

Well its time to also get rid of Tendulkar and Sehwag, obviously they aren't getting any younger.

Sehwag, maybe but Tendulkar no. You can't drop a star player just like that, and besides he's irreplaceable.

 

[mikeW]

White, Hilfenhaus head PM's XI

Cameron White
©Getty Images / Cricket AustraliaVictorian skipper Cameron White and Tasmanian star Ben Hilfenhaus spearhead the Prime Minister's XI 12-man squad that will take on Sri Lanka in a one-day tour match on January 30 at Canberra's Manuka Oval.

The Australian contracted duo will be joined by national hopefuls Ashley Noffke, David Hussey and Doug Bollinger in the team.

Western Australia is the state that is best represented in the side with Shaun Marsh, Luke Pomersbach and Luke Ronchi all being selected.

Meanwhile, the PM's XI leadership department has an all-Victorian flavour with White and Hussey both assuming the captaincy and vice-captaincy respectively.

White, who is fresh from helping the Bushrangers claim their third consecutive KFC Twenty20 Big Bash title, feels honoured to once again lead the PM's XI.

"I'm looking forward to what will be a very competitive match along with some of the countries most exciting and talented cricketers," White said.

"I've had the chance to see most of these players first hand and I am sure the likes of Phillip Hughes, Shaun Marsh and David Hussey will hold up well against some of the world's best bowlers."

National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said that this year's side brought with it an exciting combination of both experience and youth.

"Players are always excited about being selected to play in the PM's XI and will be keen to perform well against the likes of Muttiah Muralidaran, Sanath Jayasuria, Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga," Hilditch said.

"Ben Hilfenhaus, Ashley Noffke and Luke Pomersbach round out the list of players who, along with White, have played at the highest level for Australia and will be hoping to impress again. Their selection is well deserved recognition of the outstanding season being enjoyed by Australia's exciting young talent. I am sure all players will enjoy the challenge of playing against Sri Lanka."

The 2008 Prime Minister's XI: Cameron White (VIC) (capt), David Hussey (VIC) (v/c), Doug Bollinger (NSW), Callum Ferguson (SA), Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS), Philip Hughes (NSW), Shaun Marsh (WA), Ashley Noffke (QLD), Luke Pomersbach (WA), Luke Ronchi (WA), Luke Swards (ACT), Jonathon Dean (12th Man) (ACT).

 

[adharcric]

Well its time to also get rid of Tendulkar and Sehwag, obviously they aren't getting any younger.

Sehwag is only 29. Tendulkar is good enough in the field and between the wickets.

You're just bitter.

 

[Arjun]

Frankly, age shouldn't be a reason to pick or drop someone. Performance should. Look at some Australians over 30 years of age. They're still a lot better on the field than most Indians, and their performances on the field have an impact on the match. We've seen players from Australia make their debut aged over 27, and comeback after 30, only on the weight of performances. So if some folks are missing a few high-profile players in this Indian team, they'll have to work their way back to the team. Even Kumble has worked a lot harder on the field now! If these high-profile folks put in a lot more effort all-round, there wouldn't be any need for this ill-advised, 'youth-based' policy.

 

[adharcric]

Frankly, age shouldn't be a reason to pick or drop someone. Performance should. Look at some Australians over 30 years of age. They're still a lot better on the field than most Indians, and their performances on the field have an impact on the match. We've seen players from Australia make their debut aged over 27, and comeback after 30, only on the weight of performances. So if some folks are missing a few high-profile players in this Indian team, they'll have to work their way back to the team. Even Kumble has worked a lot harder on the field now! If these high-profile folks put in a lot more effort all-round, there wouldn't be any need for this ill-advised, 'youth-based' policy.

No ****. The problem here is that Dravid and Ganguly are not just old (not necessarily a problem) but also immobile in the field and poor between the wickets. The "youth policy" and the move towards a stronger fielding and running unit are very much intertwined. The "youth" argument only gains substance when you consider that some of the older options are poor in certain aspects of the game. The reason you don't see such arguments floating around for the test squad is because these aspects (fielding, running) are not as essential in test cricket.

 

[masterblaster]

I'm loving this new youth policy. If it doesn't work out entirely, that's okay. I really think that Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina are brilliant talents and both are exceptional in the field as well. We'll at least be competitive with Australia and Sri Lanka in fielding stakes, and our bowling this summer has been pretty good too. Can't wait for the series to get under way. Hopefully not playing ODI's will extend both Dravid's and Ganguly's test careers somewhat.

My playing eleven:

Gambhir
Tendulkar
Sehwag
Yuvraj
Uthappa
Dhoni
Pathan
Harbhajan
Sreesanth
RP Singh
Ishant Sharma

I like the left hand/right hand opening combination that Gambhir and Tendulkar could provide and it could have a similar effect that the Ganguly and Tendulkar partnership had. Sehwag to come in at 3 and provide some aggression. I would play five bowlers in the ODI's as Indian part timers always get stick in the ODI game, plus Pathan is a very handy ODI batsman. Rest of the team pick themselves really. Include Raina or Rohit Sharma if Uthappa or Yuvraj are really out of form.

 

[Arrow]

I still don't understand where all this Sehwag love is coming from, has Chappelli made multiple CW accounts? Anyone who has follwed Indian cricket over the last 6-12 months would have had no qualms picking Jaffer/Karthik for Melbourne. Due to injuries and good form, it wasn't to be.

Then again, hindsight is a beautiful thing, in saying that, Sehwag did more with the ball than with the bat. Not saying he did a bad job, but why everyone is applauding for his batting is beyond me.

Its not hindsight at all. Its looking at Sewangs career record and average of 50 and doing well against australia and looking at jaffers average of 37 after 27 tests. Its obvious hes nothing special plus inexperienced and obvious the aussies would eat him up. And they did.

 

[Arrow]

I also would have picked laxman because hes always good against the aussies. He scored 3 centuries in a row in the last series he played here in 2004 from memory.

 

[adharcric]

Its not hindsight at all. Its looking at Sewangs career record and average of 50 and doing well against australia and looking at jaffers average of 37 after 27 tests. Its obvious hes nothing special plus inexperienced and obvious the aussies would eat him up. And they did.

Jaffer came into the series averaging 42 since his second call-up to the test side in 2006 (excluding Bangladesh). You would have dropped him for Sehwag, someone who struggled in South Africa, was sent home and continued to struggle in domestic cricket? Bull.