Precambrian
Banned
Yeah, he got out to Mendis and Murali and despite that averaged in the 50s in that tour. That proves he was reasonably successful against probably the best spinners in the world now.
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***Official Australia in India***
- Thread starter pup11
- Start date
G.I.Joe
International Coach
I'll still take that. Conceding that he was second to Sehwag against the spinners on that tour, that still doesn't equate to him being a flat track bully.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Gambhir's appeal denied and M Vijay called up as a replacement.
Both unexpected from my point of view. I would have liked Chopra to be called up as a replacement, ridiculous that he wasn't. Or at least Badrinath to get a game. Not that Vijay is a bad player, just that I think Chopra is clearly a better one.
Both unexpected from my point of view. I would have liked Chopra to be called up as a replacement, ridiculous that he wasn't. Or at least Badrinath to get a game. Not that Vijay is a bad player, just that I think Chopra is clearly a better one.
G.I.Joe
International Coach
Why Chopra?
Precambrian
Banned
Beauty! M Vijay has just struck a Triple Hundred today in the Ranji Trophy match. Deserving candidate.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
I think if the pitch has some juice in it, Vijay might get a game as he is an opener by trade. If it seems flat and spinning, I think Badrinath will play and Dhoni will shuffle the lineup a little bit. Maybe with Dravid opening and Laxman at three, or Badrinath opening.
It is crucial for Badrinath to get a game with Ganguly's retirement, because if Vijay takes this opportunity and plays a couple of good knocks, he might be the favorite for the England series after Ganguly retires.
It is crucial for Badrinath to get a game with Ganguly's retirement, because if Vijay takes this opportunity and plays a couple of good knocks, he might be the favorite for the England series after Ganguly retires.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Did he really? Well, that's good then. Picking guys in form is always smart, and not something Indian selectors have always done.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Chopra is an excellent foil for Sehwag. Sehwag even says he loved batting with him the most. Plus, he is in form, and can be a very good option for the next 4-5 years at the top of the innings home and away in tough conditions.
Precambrian
Banned
Yeah. And I did mention him getting a cap only yesterday in the "Indian Domestic Season" thread
Note: He converted that double into a triple today.In other matches,
Tamil Nadu off to a brilliant start scoring 377/0
. against Maharashtra. M Vijay - 202*, A Mukund 164*. Vijay, should he continue this form this season, can hope for a test cap.
Precambrian
Banned
Yeah Chopra was ideal imho. After allt he hard work he's put in the last season and this. However, the selectors might have wanted to blood a person completely unknown to the Australians. Not a bad tactic at all.
And K Srikanth = Chief Selector = Tamil Nadu = M Vijay's home team.
G.I.Joe
International Coach
Chopra wasn't that good though. He averaged just 23 in test cricket.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
He had one bad series vs. Pakistan and was dropped. He did his job perfectly in Australia. Didn't convert his half centuries but he was a huge reason why our middle order did really well. By the time they came on, the shine was off the ball as he had stayed in long enough.
Yea, you can never discount those things in Indian selections.
G.I.Joe
International Coach
But if taking the shine off the ball is whats required, even Wasim Jaffer (of all people) could do the job.
Precambrian
Banned
Probably a story where stats don't tell the truth. Chopra was instrumental in India getting off to good starts when they toured Aus in 03-04. Perfect foil for Sehwag. Rotated enough strike to whet Sehwag's appetite, and stayed rock-solid to remove the shine of the ball.
He's grown much better since then. Last year was among the top scorers. He's shown he can not only occupy crease but also score runs.
He's grown much better since then. Last year was among the top scorers. He's shown he can not only occupy crease but also score runs.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Yes, but not as well as Chopra IMO. Jaffer was found wanting when the ball was moving around a lot, or if the pitch had bounce. Chopra is more suited to handle top class bowling.
And yes, taking the shine off the ball is the #1 thing that is needed by Sehwag's partner. The runs are a bonus. Gambhir, though I hope I am wrong, will be too hit and miss overseas. People forget, Jaffer also has double centuries.
Chopra > Jaffer > Gambhir IMO.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
AWTA
pup11
International Coach
So what does this mean, is this guy Vijay gonna open the batting or are they gonna use Dravid as their opener and draft Badrinath into the middle order.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Depends on Dhoni and the coach I would think. Personally, I think Dhoni will look at the pitch and decide whether a specialist opener is required.
ret
International Debutant
We need to get out of the mind set of playing openers to take the shine of the ball and set it up for the middle order .... We should be looking for players who are good enough to get big ones, be amongst the top run getters and so on
If Chopra is being recommended just because he takes the shine off then I would rather not play him. We need to look at players who are good enough to average around 40 [or more] in tests and if Chopra is one of those type then he should be considered
IIRC Chopra did a decent job in one of the games against Pak domestic side. I dont know much about M Vijay but hoping that he is picked on merit and not because Srikant happens to be from TN
anyways, the below would be my recommendation for the line up
- Sehwag
- 2 from: M Vijay, Badri and Dravid
- Tendulkar
- Ganguly
- Laxman
- Dhoni
- Zaheer
- Ishant
- 2 from: Bhajji, Mishra and Munaf [depending up on the pitch]
hoping for India to go 2-0 up!!!!!
If Chopra is being recommended just because he takes the shine off then I would rather not play him. We need to look at players who are good enough to average around 40 [or more] in tests and if Chopra is one of those type then he should be considered
IIRC Chopra did a decent job in one of the games against Pak domestic side. I dont know much about M Vijay but hoping that he is picked on merit and not because Srikant happens to be from TN
anyways, the below would be my recommendation for the line up
- Sehwag
- 2 from: M Vijay, Badri and Dravid
- Tendulkar
- Ganguly
- Laxman
- Dhoni
- Zaheer
- Ishant
- 2 from: Bhajji, Mishra and Munaf [depending up on the pitch]
hoping for India to go 2-0 up!!!!!
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
I think Chopra was already good enough to do that, and now has gotten better. If I have a choice between someone averaging 45 with big scores but gets out cheaply often, vs. a consistent scorer who doesn't make as many big scores but always gives his team a good start (say average 40), I'll pick the latter. Indian middle order is usually strong, but we tend to lose wickets in bunches against good opening bowling. I think if we can see off the new bowlers, our middle order just becomes so much better at everything we do, that it's worth sacrificing a few extra runs at the top.