India A in South Africa

[Arjun]

None of the batsmen in this team, except Pujara, are established players in the Test side, and Pujara is not even a year old as a Test regular. The bowlers have completed just two seasons, and don't even have fifty FC games to their credit. They're still raw. There's a big gap in experience between the batsmen and the bowlers in the India A side.

An Indian Board XI would have Jaffer, Dhawan/Gambhir, Badri, Mazumdar and Manhas as its top five at this stage.

 

[Arjun]

Any team that allows Suresh Raina to get away with figures of 10-2-33-2 is a weak team. Weak.

 

[Daemon]

He might have done that on the tour to England in '11

 

[Arjun]

And then you wonder why the Indian team has a completely different Test top six now.

 

[Jono]

The BCCI/Indian selectors finally do something smart in terms of test series preparation and people criticise them for it? Crazy.

Very happy these blokes are getting some exposure to SA conditions. Pujara's obviously had it obviously, and these ****s probably played there in the IPL or something, but nevertheless.

No doubt it helps the side. I was just a little disappointed personally to to click on the card and not see a few blokes I was unfamiliar with.

Anyway it sounds harsh to say Pujara's had it, I think he's been batting pretty well lately.

I just meant Pujara's "had" exposure to SA conditions before (see 2010/11).

 

[Cabinet96]

Have a feeling Howe already knew that.

 

[Daemon]

Lol jono

 

[Arjun]

Test misfit Raina scoring a century and taking 3 wickets is an irksome development, but what do you make of Shami's early strikes? Three wickets in the match so far.

Kyle Abbott and Rilee Roussow appear to be competent players amongst the reserves, and should expect a national call-up soon..

 

[Jono]

I just meant Pujara's "had" exposure to SA conditions before (see 2010/11).

Have a feeling Howe already knew that.

Lol jono

I'm having a bad run.

 

[Daemon]

Kyle Abbott and Rilee Roussow appear to be competent players amongst the reserves, and should expect a national call-up soon..

Well Abbott did take 9 on debut, would be incredibly harsh for them to not even consider him for the squad

 

[Arjun]

Guess what, Shami takes three (four for the game) and South Africa are now at 105/5. Let's just hope lower-order weakness doesn't plague the Indian side again, just because they're on top with plenty of overs left. Time to strike.

 

[Arjun]

South Africa A bat very, very deep- all the way down to ten. Taking 20 wickets with a bowler less would always be difficult for India A.

Guess what? They did just that, and won by an innings! Good to see them go for a win instead of merely give the batsmen some practice in conditions different from what's expected. Good show by Pandey, and surprisingly good show by Shami. Choosing JDU over the more prolific Sid Kaul was questionable, and Nadeem had it hard on a flat (or so) deck, but India can't afford to turn to Raina and Rohit to bail them out with the ball all the time.

 

[Daemon]

India Cricket News: I love being the bowling spearhead - Ishant Sharma | ESPN Cricinfo

"Fast bowling is about having the requisite strength and I need to gain strength," he added. "I have to build on my speed and endurance. I'm following the fitness regimen devised by the coaches at the National Cricket Academy and I am working quite hard. I go to the gym in the morning then break for lunch and return to bowling in the afternoons. I also go for swimming and take ice baths after rigorous training sessions."

Way to go ****, can't believe you're just starting this after making your debut 6 years ago.

 

[Arjun]

Just how many other bowlers have the same story as Ishant Sharma? He seems a soft target, getting plenty of games because there's no one else as good. It's the NCA that's to blame for the mess every fast bowler is in now.

 

[centurymaker]

lol he's the spearhead now, good one

 

[Arjun]

A bigger joke would be that the National Cricket Academy helps India's fast (or swing/seam) bowlers

 

[Cevno]

Good to see the Batsman doing well.

Also Pandey and Shami Ahmed.

Unadkat is bit of a waste in the FC team.

 

[marc71178]

A bigger joke would be that the National Cricket Academy helps India's fast (or swing/swam) bowlers

Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

 

[Daemon]

Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

The point he's making (not saying I agree with it) is that they **** around with bowlers and actually make them worse.

 

[Arjun]

Good to see the Batsman doing well.

Also Pandey and Shami Ahmed.

Unadkat is bit of a waste in the FC team.

Good to see everyone doing well. Not so good if this is Raina's comeback bid for the Test side. Sid Kaul should play in place of JDU- who may cut it as a limited-overs specialist until he improves his FC bowling. He can, still, learn from this tour.