Dravid was an established team member by then. If anything it's even more amazing that he kept agreeing to do it despite having the ability long before that to just refuse. And Sachin opening would be a stupid idea anyway.
Yeah but they both were set batsmen with 100+ tests in the bag who were guaranteed selection. Laxman was tried and dropped for less than 5 tests earlier iirc when he was told he was selected for India as an opener. He refused the gig straight up and said he'd wait for a middle order slot. That takes ridiculous confidence in your ability to get selected in the future.
Pisses me off. He averages 26 with the ball and a respectable 22 with the bat. Almost every test he played he contributed something noteworthy. Just ****ing ridiculous to call him an loi specialist.
I consider Ravi Shastri a licking-kohlis-ass specialist going forward.
This gets to me as well. I understand that India did extremely well with Bumrah,Shami and a rejuvenated Ishant,but I don't think there is another cricketer who offers the same package Bhuvi does. And I'm not even advocating for him playing in this match or series, I just think that the thinking is wrong.
As Teja said, Shastri was asked a year or so back why Bhuvi wasnt being selected and he flat out said that in his eyes Bhuvi is not a test player and would only play ODI/t20 going forward. Maybe they'll pick him when we tour England I dont know.
Ffs Shastri is awful. I mean, clearly he does a good job of managing a team of superstars, but him and Kohli make a lot of questionable calls.
If that's what the doctor orders, you have to oblige
I was assuming he was injured or otherwise unavailable.
No fan of Shastri and I think India would be better off after the end of his contract in 2021 moving on from him but you can't totally blame him for his views on Bhuvi. Bhuvi is perennially injured - his hamstring is problematic. Any coach would be a bit wary about selecting a bowler for tests based on his lack of fitness. If Bhuvi is fit for the forthcoming England tour and India don't pick him then that would be something to hold against Shastri.
Dhawan is rubbish in tests and is 35 now. India should give KL Rahul another chance because he has underachieved relative to his talent but if he flops this time, look at a new bloke like Abhimanuy Easwaran for the home series against England.
Yup Bhuvi's bowling isn't suited to Australia but if he is fully fit, he has to be picked for England.
