*Official* - India in West Indies

[Cevno]

Btw, Kirsten Specifically mentioned Pujara And Kohli as stars of the future for India in his departing press conference yesterday.

Kohli was in the WC squad ,so it was expected but he specifically pin pointed being very impressed by Pujara too in the test squad. Found this very interesting.

 

[Cevno]

When India take three seamers in, then it's an option. Maybe in England. However, I don't think it really is where they already have two spin options.

Although with Sehwag injured, and if Pujara is in front of Raina, then it does limit their options quite a bit after their four bowlers.

Don't really want to imagine Yuvraj batting in tests in England with the ball swinging.

Might as well play a extra bowler or even Irfan Pathan.

 

[Borges]

Don't really want to imagine Yuvraj batting in tests in England with the ball swinging.

On the contrary, it would make my day. Yuvraj or Raina against Andersion on one of those days he (Anderson) gets it right - it would be absolute comedy. Reminiscent of one Ashok Mankad facing up to a late outswinger from a John Snow.

Btw, Kirsten Specifically mentioned Pujara And Kohli as stars of the future for India in his departing press conference yesterday.

Yup, Kirsten knows what he is talking about. I have very high expectations of those two.

 

[Howe_zat]

Lest we forget, when Anderson gets it right, it doesn't really matter who's batting.

Just sayin'

 

[jeevan]

Those who can't imagine Yuvi as a test batsmen: did your imagination predict his bowling in the WC? I thought it was more than the pie chucker grade...

And as for FC, he's averaging 52 this year in six innings - no not outs to boost it - and his Punjab coach has also remarked on the turn around in attitude that Kirsten did (and this was before the WC ). Seems like you guys know something about Yuvraj of 2011 that his coaches do not. (Mind, I wasn't a particular Yuvraj fan and am not one today either. And nobody is suggesting he come in at #3-5 instead of Dravid or SRT or Laxman, those are for Pujara, Kohli & perhaps Badri to duke it out with the incumbents.)

 

[Jono]

Heaps of people said that Yuvraj should only have been in the ODI team heading into the WC because of his bowling. So people knew he could bowl in ODIs even before the WC. Didn't expect him to get as many wickets, no. But still.

People are saying that the guys who have been constantly scoring FC runs but barely had a chance in tests, such as Pujara, Kohli, Badrinath, Rahane and hell even Rohit Sharma, should be ahead of him. Yuvi's had his chances.

 

[Teja.]

People far too critical of Raina for my liking, Reckon if his three significant Innings were spread out in his overall 10 or so Innings instead of being his first three, He's be rated higher. I admit he suffers from a serious technical flaw but Pujara's abilities against the moving ball, while not being so obviously abysmal, have not been exhibited to be great either. Would definitely still have him in the XV for a couple more series.

I don't get people referring to Raina in the same tone they use for Yuvraj either, Face the facts, He's 23, has a ton, a near ton and an awesome knock while chasing under pressure in his friggin' second match. He also is a hard-worker always looking to improve, Don't write his last rites yet.

EDIT:-This post is under the assumption that the BCCI will continue to be dickheads and won't pick Badri.

 

[Shri]

Looking forward to watch Pujara bat. Dravid hopefully gets injured and Kohli gets into the test side as well. Hope these two become as good as Dravid and Ganguly in a few years. Rahane and Mukund look promising and could open for India in the future when Sehwag goes. Badri could come in to the side when Laxman goes.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrgh! Get the tests started ffs!

 

[Jono]

People far too critical of Raina for my liking, Reckon if his three significant Innings were spread out in his overall 10 or so Innings instead of being his first three, He's be rated higher. I admit he suffers from a serious technical flaw but Pujara's abilities against the moving ball, while not being so obviously abysmal, have not been exhibited to be great either. Would definitely still have him in the XV for a couple more series.

I don't get people referring to Raina in the same tone they use for Yuvraj either, Face the facts, He's 23, has a ton, a near ton and an awesome knock while chasing under pressure in his friggin' second match. He also is a hard-worker always looking to improve, Don't write his last rites yet.

EDIT:-This post is under the assumption that the BCCI will continue to be dickheads and won't pick Badri.

He averages just over 43 at first class level though.

I haven't written off Raina, but send him back to first class level for a while. He is not to learn his craft in the best XI of the #1 ranked test team in the world.

 

[Teja.]

He averages just over 43 at first class level though.

I haven't written off Raina, but send him back to first class level for a while. He is not to learn his craft in the best XI of the #1 ranked test team in the world.

Ideally, I agree, his ODI abilities and temperament in chases should not have meant he got a chance at test level ahead of blokes who averaged 10 runs more in FC cricket. However, Once picked I think he should get a fair go, If he played his first 4 games and was humiliated, I'd be calling for his dropping, But he has had a mixed amount of success and IMHO, enough promise to stay in the squad for the next series at the very least. Him actually playing three substantial Innings in his 8 games should ensure that.

 

[Jono]

You agree that he absolutely had to be dropped for Puajara in South Africa though, right?

 

[Teja.]

Yeah, Hindsight is a wonderful thing but he failed against NZ and I felt he deserved to be out of the team from the very first test and have Pujara to bat at No.6. I'd still have had him in the squad though.

 

[Shri]

Make him play England domestic cricket while the test team is playing away games.

 

[Furball]

Oh God, no! If Yuvraj wants to play, Let him make his way through domestic performances for the next 2 years. He had his chance(hundreds of them) and blew it, He has to earn another.

It scares me that the selectors are going to consider this.

IIRC doesn't he average 50+ in Indian FC cricket?

Going back to Punjab and plundering thousands of runs in the Ranji Trophy proves nothing.

 

[Borges]

Those who can't imagine Yuvi as a test batsmen: did your imagination predict his bowling in the WC? I thought it was more than the pie chucker grade...

And as for FC, he's averaging 52 this year in six innings - no not outs to boost it - and his Punjab coach has also remarked on the turn around in attitude that Kirsten did (and this was before the WC ). Seems like you guys know something about Yuvraj of 2011 that his coaches do not. (Mind, I wasn't a particular Yuvraj fan and am not one today either. And nobody is suggesting he come in at #3-5 instead of Dravid or SRT or Laxman, those are for Pujara, Kohli & perhaps Badri to duke it out with the incumbents.)

Woo, that is terribly impressive.

Unlike all these blokes, I suppose:

Badrinath 15 innings @111.45
Rohit Sharma 12 inings @96.00
AL Menaria 7 innings @88.50
Laxmi Shukla 7 innings @84.40
Rahane 15 innings @83.58
Sumanth 11 innings @79.00
Wasim Jaffer 15 innings @78.33
A Mukund 18 innings @75.68
Sarabjit Singh 7 innings @72.75

 

[Daemon]

Lest we forget, when Anderson gets it right, it doesn't really matter who's batting.

Just sayin'

Works the other way round as well tbh

 

[Cevno]

iirc doesn't he average 50+ in indian fc cricket?

Going back to punjab and plundering thousands of runs in the ranji trophy proves nothing.

45.10 actually.

 

[Cevno]

People far too critical of Raina for my liking, Reckon if his three significant Innings were spread out in his overall 10 or so Innings instead of being his first three, He's be rated higher. I admit he suffers from a serious technical flaw but Pujara's abilities against the moving ball, while not being so obviously abysmal, have not been exhibited to be great either. Would definitely still have him in the XV for a couple more series.

I don't get people referring to Raina in the same tone they use for Yuvraj either, Face the facts, He's 23, has a ton, a near ton and an awesome knock while chasing under pressure in his friggin' second match. He also is a hard-worker always looking to improve, Don't write his last rites yet.

EDIT:-This post is under the assumption that the BCCI will continue to be dickheads and won't pick Badri.

I don't think you could say that based on 2 tests and he was hardly done by the moving ball there ,except one occasion by a beauty by steyn.

Besides he has performed in foreign conditions with India A and also has a terrific FC record to boot.
And he did not look as hapless as Raina in SA either. And not just the SA tour,Raina's performance their was seen coming by people here including me a while back before that.

What also does not help him is he does not have a really good ODI record away(27.97 avg) and also his FC record is not great.

 

[Cevno]

Those who can't imagine Yuvi as a test batsmen: did your imagination predict his bowling in the WC? I thought it was more than the pie chucker grade...

And as for FC, he's averaging 52 this year in six innings - no not outs to boost it - and his Punjab coach has also remarked on the turn around in attitude that Kirsten did (and this was before the WC ). Seems like you guys know something about Yuvraj of 2011 that his coaches do not. (Mind, I wasn't a particular Yuvraj fan and am not one today either. And nobody is suggesting he come in at #3-5 instead of Dravid or SRT or Laxman, those are for Pujara, Kohli & perhaps Badri to duke it out with the incumbents.)

Actually many did.
I had plenty of debate about his bowling and how he needed to be kept for that before the world cup.While some people may have wanted him dropped.

And as for his batting,a few years back he was batting like a dream in ODI's and still kept failing in tests. He is not batting better than that at the moment and has been already given too many chances based on LOI Performances,to do so again.
His Punjab record is also largely based on one very big knock in a draw if IIRC and one good knock tbf.

 

[Analyst1]

If WI have all their fast bowlers fit and we get some decent pitches, it will be a pretty good series. Indian supporters expecting an easy win will be in for a surprise.