***Official*** New Zealand in India 2016

[indiaholic]

Even Steyn goes through those. Probably a bit harsh to hold him to the Murali standard.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Even Steyn goes through those. Probably a bit harsh to hold him to the Murali standard.

Course it's harsh. Doesn't mean it's not true.

 

[Shri]

I mean, if these spuds can hit him for a 100 runs, what would Cook and Root put him through later?

 

[honestbharani]

@OS:

Not really.. I did not watch today but I saw the full day's play yesterday and he was just trying his variations. And he himself remarked in the interview with star that he is able to do that because of the control Jadeja provides at the other end. It is team work and one of the reasons why you can't just take stats like bowling averages on face value. And where I did say he is perfect? I dont even rate him above Bhajji, FFS... I am just pointing out that you guys are looking too hard from his side alone. Batsmen are allowed to play him well too, its not always him being bad and I felt he was fine on day 4, just that Ronchi and Santner batted really well against him, same with KW and Latham on Day 1.

 

[karan316]

From that article it appears that Kohli wants him to absorb pressure like he always does and has been doing, the problem is looking for runs once he's in. It's a fair enough criticism imo, and it seems to have affected him in a positive manner.

Agree when it comes to home conditions, but again, someone needs to anchor the innings at the top of the order and ensure that the middle order doesn't get exposed very early in conditions that are helpful for fast bowlers. Pujara shouldn't be conscious about the scoring rate, he can be more useful the way he is. We have other players who have a free flowing batting style, Pujara can help them flourish if he can spend enough time in the middle and tire out the opposition bowlers.

 

[karan316]

fmd, Ashwin is nowhere near the class of bowler of Laker or Verity of the names mentioned there, and Deadly is still significantly better than him. Plus, like, a whole host of other names. He's literally played 9 Test matches across Australia/England/South Africa for 24 of his 200 wickets. He's got a long way to go to be mentioned in the same breath as the guys Shri listed.

I'm not suggesting the bloke needs to average 25 everywhere, but when the bloke has 3/4 of his wickets in India + SL at <20, has a career average vs Australia of 34 despite getting to minnow-bash them every two years in a home series, and literally wasn't selected during India's last tours of New Zealand and South Africa (barring that one wicketless Test in RSA), there is no chance in hell that he can be considered an ATG.

The guys from the previous era We just lovvve to overrate them.

 

[indiaholic]

And Pujara's scoring rate will hardly ever be a problem for the team, he is surrounded by batsmen who are comfortable on the attack.

 

[honestbharani]

Reg. Pujara, I just think Kohli and Kumble felt he gets himself under too much pressure by playing out as many dot balls as he does. Esp. against spinners, he does keep the strike rotating at his best and that is what they were probably getting him to do. I am ok with that, tbh, coz it probably means he is gonna get back near his best.

 

[Shri]

And Pujara's scoring rate will hardly ever be a problem for the team, he is surrounded by batsmen who are comfortable on the attack.

But Pujara was never a blockathon kinda batsman and it was not why he was selected in the first place. He used to be much more aggressive once he got his eye in, at last at home. Vijay has been successful overseas by being very defensive and it has begun to needlessly bleed into home games too where you don't have to as cautious against fast bowlers for as long. They need to develop separate game plans for home and away games and that's what I think Kohli meant.

 

[artvandalay]

Don't you think that's typical subcontinental analysis of cricket though? A bloke like Jadeja who is really a filthy straight break bowling slogger will be much loved because of the emphasis on LO style cricket there.

I agree it's appalling but you really can't be surprised by it. If Glenn Maxwell was Indian they'd make him captain-coach and sole selector.

Jadejas success reminds me of the brief success Afridi enjoyed playing test cricket for Pakistan with the ball. He's a pauper's Vettori atm both with bat and ball but is serviceable in conditions where the pitches allow him to keep waiting for LBWs with those darts, a nightmare on a 4th day snakepit.

 

[hendrix]

Today:

One of the Syrian refugee girls messaged me from New Zealand on whatsapp (I'm in Jordan at the moment) that she'd passed her interview and got the job. She's 18, has been in NZ less than a year, has learned English, completed a certificate and got skilled employment. I don't even know how I could be more happy and proud.

And then this happens.

Maashallah, as they say.

 

[marc71178]

I didn't say he would get into the first ATG XI, but of your list I think only Murali, Warne, O'Reilly and Grimmett are clearly ahead of him atm.

Yes, but that's because you're a **** who bases everything on stats.

 

[marc71178]

He can eventually be a better all-rounder than the likes of Botham and Kapil.

Can he bollocks.

 

[harsh.ag]

Can he bollocks.

Well maybe not Kapil.

 

[viriya]

Yes, but that's because you're a **** who bases everything on stats.

I use my eyes not spreadsheets..

 

[marc71178]

I'm not sure why you think that's funny when it's clear that you don't.

 

[Burgey]

Here's a fact: No one from Asia ever does. And his shot at becoming an ATG depends on his all round exploits anyways. As a spinner alone, there will be so many better options before his name comes up.

Here's a fact: viriya was doing loads posting about his bowling, not his faux all round talents. He's the spin world's Mitchell Johnson. A handy lower-middle order player and a fine bowler when conditions suit him/ he's in the mood.

 

[Burgey]

Haha ya Ashwin is better than Bedi by now.

He's a no. 6 in my ATG Indian XI, dropping Kapil to no. 7.

You mean in the batting order or do you mean in the list of Indian bowlers?

You'd bat Ravi Ashwin at six in an Indian all time XI? Fmd Alice, we really are through the looking glass.

 

[_Ed_]

Imagine how glorious it would be if Patel bowled us to an unlikely series win now. If Stephen Donald deserved a cheesy TV movie, Jeets would too.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Asked Cheteshwar Pujara to quicken up strike rate - Virat Kohli | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

Not sure I like Kohli the test captain. It's like he listens to Shane Warne and Ian Chappell on commentary and goes 'Right guys..that's template we're following"