Australia VS INDIA!!!

[Choora]

Well i still haven't lost hope even after watching a shameful performance from the Indian batsmen. The way India is going i think India will just edge out Zimbabwe and after that the matches with England and Pakistan would be very close.Indian batsmen will hopefully perform better in future matches.

I think Kaif should get an axe, he is totally out of sorts.Also Ganguly is thinking of sending Sachin to one down slot, considering Ganguly's latest display with the bat, it would be wise if Sachin is allowed to open with Sehwag, with Mongia comming down at third slot and Dravid to follow mongia.Kaif's place should be taken by Bangar.

 

[full_length]

Nobody should get 'an axe'. Too many changes and there's confusion all around.
Sachin opening for this one was a good move. It was probably done with the history of India-Australia matches in mind. I dare say it worked too. Sachin went about as per usual- spoiling McGrath's figures. Sachin hit McGrath around in the 6th or seventh over. If a wicket hadn't fallen, McGrath may have been taken off (atleast Waugh would have done that. I dont know about Ponting).

Sachin will probably go down the order now judging by past matches. That's not a bad ploy. Sehwag and Ganguly opening sounds good. Sachin at 3 is a bit iffy with Rahul not in prime touch.

It may make sense to promote either Yuvaraj or Mongia.

One possible lineup:
Sehwag
Ganguly
Rahul
Sachin
Yuvaraj
Mongia
Kaif

or

Sehwag
Ganguly
Mongia/Yuvaraj
Sachin
Yuvaraj/Mongia
Rahul
Kaif


Chora, Laxman's no replacement for Bangar or Agarkar. Their perceived roles are different. Agarkar shouldnt have been picked though. And Murali Karthik should have been in for Kumble.

 

[yohanna]

Full,
I know the role of Laxman and Ajit/Bangar are different. But i believe that one allrounder in either Bangar or Ajit would have been sufficient for the Squad, since India mostly like to go with a 7 (batters) + 4 (bowlers) combination, with no place for an allrounder in the playing 11 in most of the matches.Besides you have yourself said that Ajit shouldn't have been in the squad, now since India doesn't have a good allrounder and an additional pacer in Nehra is already in the team, Laxman would have been the most suitable placer to replace Ajit.

 

[Ringua]

huh?
Who lost faith in the team?
I'm getting the feeling that the only occupation of a good many of the members in this board is to analyse 'Indian supporters', 'Indian fans', 'terrace elements', and to point out how some people aren't 'true supporters' and whatnot :rolleyes:

Well Said FL, some members on this forum are like that.Though in defense of Roy i would say that he was probably talking about Anil and MB who seems to have lost all hope.

India did lost to India badly, and i think all the teams of pool A are going to loose to the Aussies . I believe India has a better chance of reaching to the Super six stage than England (who are going to forfeit 4 points to Zimb).

As for the comming Ind-Zimb match, i think Zimbabwe has gone though such a horrid time recently which might effect their players performance.I think India are more than likely to beat them.After that all India is to do is to win atleast one more match against either England or PK, if they can win both then it will be superb!

 

[masterblaster]

No Ringua, I havent lost hope, I never lose hope in this Indian team, thats why for 14 years Im still behind them. In those 14 years Ive seen everything, from the development and grooming of Sachin Tendulkar, to the destruction of Vinod Kambli and Venkatesh Prasad, ive seen India win major trophy's and then being knocked out by a team like Zimbabwe.

Ive seen us create history and make 373 against Sri Lanka, only to be all out for 54 against them a year later. Ive seen it all my friend, and Im not giving up that easily.

Although I am being realistic, and reality says, reality says, that unless we dont act quickly, and pull up our socks, it will be Australia, Zimbabwe/England and Pakistan Qualifying for the Super 6's rather than us.

I never lose hope, just sometimes one has to come back down to earth and touch the ground which is reality.

 

[V Reddy]

The problem now for India is its NRR. Its now in the minus. When the teams are equal India will lose out there unless they beat Zim and Namibia comprehensively. And also India's batting doesn't provide any hope to me.

 

[krkode]

Personally, i think England's forfeiture of the match against Zim is a big blow to them which will definitely make the road ahead a tough one for them.

But now that Zim have gotten easy points, they might just be able to sqeeze through India or Pakistan and make it into the super six.

Normally, i'd have my money on Aus, Ind and Pak. But either of the last two *could* get displaced by Zim, unless Zim is well beaten by both Ind and Pak.

whoa! look at the abbreviations in there

 

[marc71178]

Well Nass had that really bad season with the bat but since then it's got a lot better, and I don't think he's had any batting problems since.

I think he had the respect of the team during his poor run (a la Mark Taylor), and eventually he managed to pull through it, and IMO is now worth a place in the ODI middle order on his batting, which is something we never expected to see!

 

[marc71178]

Though Waqar is a shadow of bowler he once was, but if you take out Waqar from the team, the player most likely to replace him would be Azhar Mahmood and though Azhar can be a handy batsman, i would still prefer Waqar to be the 4th pacer rather than Azhar.

Wouldn't Sami be ahead of Mahmood?

 

[marc71178]

The problem now for India is its NRR. Its now in the minus. When the teams are equal India will lose out there unless they beat Zim and Namibia comprehensively. And also India's batting doesn't provide any hope to me.

A small point, but if teams are level, first it's on wins, and second on result between the equal sides.

NRR only comes in then.

 

[V Reddy]

Take pity on the players people. Just heard that Black Paint has been thrown on Kaif's house and security has been provided for his family. And some protests going on. If they don't qualify their only saving grace will be if they win against Pak.Otherwise they will be in serious trouble selection wise also.

 

[krkode]

Just heard that Black Paint has been thrown on Kaif's house

That's pathetic. And it just so happens that it happens only to Indians and Pakistanis (last world cup).

I just hope this sort of crap doesn't happen again to the players. I'd like to see those vandals try playing for India out there...

 

[Rik]

That's pathetic. And it just so happens that it happens only to Indians and Pakistanis (last world cup).

I just hope this sort of crap doesn't happen again to the players. I'd like to see those vandals try playing for India out there...

That is true. I don't care how well the side is expected to perform, you could have looked at the squad and realised that it was not strong enough to win the world cup, epecially with the bowling as weak as it is, and the trough of form that Ganguly and Kaif are in. I mean a team that tries to make Bangar it's main all-rounder then leaves him out has something not quite right going on. Anyway, back to the point: Even if they have not performed anywhere as near to the levels they were expected to, burning pictures of Ganguly (who I don't like but still that is seriously harsh) and vandalising the player's homes...come on! Grow up! I am surprised the Indian players even want to play for their country if they can expect this kind of treatment by their supporters if they loose. There have been several problems of late with the Indian supporters throwing bottles and other objects onto the field of play and at players, that is not acceptable either. No wonder the players are not performing, would you be able to fully put your mind on the job if you knew that your family could be attacked if you fail? This is the reason why Zimbabwe have been in such a mess for the last few years, their minds have not been on the job in hand. How can Heath Streak captain the national team and concentrate on being the main strike bowler when his father is locked away in jail because he was trying to keep his buisness going? If India don't want this slump to keep going, then they should sort this problem out, otherwise they could end up being a total mess like Zimbabwe did. Luckly though, Zimbabwe look like they are coming through it, but the scars still show, why else would Andy Flower and Henry Olonga pull off such a stunt?

Sorry if I've gone on for a while, and mixed two different problems together, but I hope you can see my point.
Basically what I mean is is that there is no harm in wanting your team to do well, but going over the top when they loose is something else all together.

 

[krkode]

How can Heath Streak captain the national team and concentrate on being the main strike bowler when his father is locked away in jail because he was trying to keep his buisness going?

Is that true!? :O Oh dear...

Anyway, I see your point and agree completely, Rik. Pakistani and Indian fans sometimes take it a bit to the extreme. Death threats to a team that reached the finals of cricket's biggest trophy is quite silly indeed.

I guess Indians got off well in '99 despite a meager performance only because they beat Pakistan...

We might see things clearly and reasonably being like we are, but I think somebody needs to go on a speech-giving tour of India/Pakistan speaking and handing out some wisdom to the people that do this... :P

And I agree about the allrounder thing...India never did have a really good allrounder like Cairns or Kallis, but I'll always regard the old Robin Singh as a world great.

 

[Rik]

Is that true!? :O Oh dear...

Anyway, I see your point and agree completely, Rik. Pakistani and Indian fans sometimes take it a bit to the extreme. Death threats to a team that reached the finals of cricket's biggest trophy is quite silly indeed.

I guess Indians got off well in '99 despite a meager performance only because they beat Pakistan...

We might see things clearly and reasonably being like we are, but I think somebody needs to go on a speech-giving tour of India/Pakistan speaking and handing out some wisdom to the people that do this... :P

And I agree about the allrounder thing...India never did have a really good allrounder like Cairns or Kallis, but I'll always regard the old Robin Singh as a world great.

The problem is they wouldn't listen would they?

Yeah, in Zimbabwe, Mugabe told all the white farmers to stop farming and give their land over to the black "war veterans" or go to jail, as part of his "giving the land back" campagne. The problem is that now Zimbabwe is facing huge financial problems and a lack of food as the "war veterans" do not understand how modern farming methods work and productivity has been on a free-fall. Heath's father Dennis, who was once a national selector, refused to stop farming as he owns the land, and so he was thrown in jail. It just shows what a mess Mugabe has made Zimbabwe into. What's worse is that it is a racist mess.

Robin Singh, ok he didn't have a great record but boy, could that guy field! And he had a habbit of pulling something out of the bag. It's a shame that they dropped him, and Nayan Mongia, who was an increadibly brave batsman and a fine keeper and I don't know what he did wrong. They certainly haven't found anyone better since although young Patel (who amazingly is younger than most of the posters on this forum) could turn out to be a fine player, it's just too early to say. But I can allways say I watched his debut (if he makes it), but from the comfort of my bed whilst watching it on TV

 

[marc71178]

And I agree about the allrounder thing...India never did have a really good allrounder like Cairns or Kallis,

Or even someone of the like of Craig White or Andy Flintoff...

 

[krkode]

Or even someone of the like of Craig White or Andy Flintoff...

Maybe not White, but I think Robin Singh was as good as Flintoff :P

 

[Rik]

Maybe not White, but I think Robin Singh was as good as Flintoff :P

Maybe Flintoff, but did he make batting look that easy?
White is much more of a bowler in international cricket, sometimes his batting just doesn't come off. But lately his bowling has lost pace so it's difficult to decide which is his strength now.

 

[luckyeddie]

Maybe Flintoff, but did he make batting look that easy?

I've never been convinced by Flintoff.

His hoick selection (sorry, that should read 'shot selection') often leaves a lot to be desired - today being a prime example.

 

[marc71178]

My point is though that India would really welcome a Flintoff or White into their side at the moment - easily better all rounders than they have.