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India A in South Africa
- Thread starter Arjun
- Start date
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
Maybe Pankaj Singh could have made it here, but surely, he should be playing for India or at least make the squad.
Binny, I feel, is in because he's had some decent form in the last two FC seasons, though his last season's form hasn't been so good- a lot less than the season before. Of all the seam-up bowling all-rounders we've seen in Ranji this season, Bucky is already playing for India, Rishi Dhawan and Ashish Reddy are very new. Otherwise, not much of an excuse, since Rassool is a much better choice.
But one thing I have to highlight, is that Nadeem is simply not good enough to be so high in the pecking order amongst Indian spinners.
Binny, I feel, is in because he's had some decent form in the last two FC seasons, though his last season's form hasn't been so good- a lot less than the season before. Of all the seam-up bowling all-rounders we've seen in Ranji this season, Bucky is already playing for India, Rishi Dhawan and Ashish Reddy are very new. Otherwise, not much of an excuse, since Rassool is a much better choice.
But one thing I have to highlight, is that Nadeem is simply not good enough to be so high in the pecking order amongst Indian spinners.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
That's what you get for not picking van Zyl.
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
Nadeem is seriously dire. FC Strike Rate of 73 is match-losing. There's no point picking a strike bowler who can't take wickets. He wouldn't be anywhere near India A if Iqbal Abdulla played a whole season.
Take a look at Nadeem's figures on this page and then this bloke's. Both average over 30- Nadeem, over 32, with a strike rate of 73. That other spinner, 69- over that span, a lot less, with the same economy rate. That's in FC matches- then look at OD's- clearly, that other bowler is a much better pick. Even in T20s, that other bowler has a strike rate of exactly 20 as against Nadeem's poor 25- with a respectable economy rate. Maybe because he dropped one catch and as a consequence, his team (Mumbai) dropped him for the rest of the season, a bizarre long-term decision indeed. He also struggles to figure regularly for his IPL side. Nadeem, on the other hand, being the only frontline spinner for Jharkhand, played the whole season and also played all of the IPL, being the senior spinner for Delhi. More visibility, so higher priority, despite lesser performance?
South Africa A at 231/6, with a seventh-wicket partnership of 134 runs between Harmer and Parnell. Neither of them are tailenders. While India's problem with tailenders (also India A's) may be solved for now, they're still struggling with teams that bat deep. South Africa A still have Kyle Abbott to come in.
South Africa A look a stronger side this time, with a competent attack comprising Abbott, Beuran Hendricks and Birch, with good FC stats to back them up, and also decent support in Parnell and Harmer. Maybe India stretching their batting by fitting in Binny should help them out, but will they miss Shami this time? Of course, they won't miss JDU.
Take a look at Nadeem's figures on this page and then this bloke's. Both average over 30- Nadeem, over 32, with a strike rate of 73. That other spinner, 69- over that span, a lot less, with the same economy rate. That's in FC matches- then look at OD's- clearly, that other bowler is a much better pick. Even in T20s, that other bowler has a strike rate of exactly 20 as against Nadeem's poor 25- with a respectable economy rate. Maybe because he dropped one catch and as a consequence, his team (Mumbai) dropped him for the rest of the season, a bizarre long-term decision indeed. He also struggles to figure regularly for his IPL side. Nadeem, on the other hand, being the only frontline spinner for Jharkhand, played the whole season and also played all of the IPL, being the senior spinner for Delhi. More visibility, so higher priority, despite lesser performance?
South Africa A at 231/6, with a seventh-wicket partnership of 134 runs between Harmer and Parnell. Neither of them are tailenders. While India's problem with tailenders (also India A's) may be solved for now, they're still struggling with teams that bat deep. South Africa A still have Kyle Abbott to come in.
South Africa A look a stronger side this time, with a competent attack comprising Abbott, Beuran Hendricks and Birch, with good FC stats to back them up, and also decent support in Parnell and Harmer. Maybe India stretching their batting by fitting in Binny should help them out, but will they miss Shami this time? Of course, they won't miss JDU.
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Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
Yes, Stuart Binny and his itty-bitty seven-over stint was one weak link, the lack of pace another grey area, but the more I see of Nadeem, the less I believe he's any good. He's not a spinner. He's a flat bowler. He made it big in the last season because Mishra, Ashwin, Ojha, Rahul Sharma and Abdulla were missing for the greater part of the season. Even Jadeja would have got as many wickets if he played a full season. Clearly 2012-13 was a poor season for spinners as we see in the Ranji Trophy.
While barbs may be aimed at India A's struggle to wipe the tail, let's also look at how hollow India A's tail really is. Much like the senior team.
While barbs may be aimed at India A's struggle to wipe the tail, let's also look at how hollow India A's tail really is. Much like the senior team.
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
There's too much love for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. People are now speculating who will partner Bucky with the new ball and first-change, when Bucky isn't even established as the real deal yet. He's essentially Irfan Pathan minus, and it's an easy guess he'll be out of the national side after a couple of series on flat pitches, and we may even have Irfan coming back in his place, if things favour that.
The priority should be on getting Umesh Yadav back in wicket-taking form and also ready for ODIs, because he's the ideal partner for Bucky, apart from Pankaj Singh. These three should be the core group, and their performance should be enhanced, instead of depending solely on Bucky. Umesh Yadav should have been in one of the two teams, either this one, or the other team facing New Zealand at home.
India's ODI specialist bowlerss are hardly inspiring. Already one of them, Shami Ahmed, has been a letdown. Clearly not strike bowler quality. Who knows how many others there may be who do well in domestic ODs and are pitchforked as ODI specialists, but have no impact whatsoever? Poor strike rates, decent economy rates on dodgy pitches, absolutely useless and helpless on a flat deck, that's the Indian ODI specialist bowler for you. That's why you need someone like Umesh or Pankaj or Pandey to come good in ODIs, as they can do a lot better.
The Sultan wonders what he has to do to get picked for India. He's even backed it up with performance in the latest Ranji. He's also increased his pace to the 130s. Surely he is Ishant Sharma Plus and a worthy replacement for the injury-prone, barely fit Zaheer? Or does he need to score two triple centuries in West/South Zone to be recognised?
The priority should be on getting Umesh Yadav back in wicket-taking form and also ready for ODIs, because he's the ideal partner for Bucky, apart from Pankaj Singh. These three should be the core group, and their performance should be enhanced, instead of depending solely on Bucky. Umesh Yadav should have been in one of the two teams, either this one, or the other team facing New Zealand at home.
India's ODI specialist bowlerss are hardly inspiring. Already one of them, Shami Ahmed, has been a letdown. Clearly not strike bowler quality. Who knows how many others there may be who do well in domestic ODs and are pitchforked as ODI specialists, but have no impact whatsoever? Poor strike rates, decent economy rates on dodgy pitches, absolutely useless and helpless on a flat deck, that's the Indian ODI specialist bowler for you. That's why you need someone like Umesh or Pankaj or Pandey to come good in ODIs, as they can do a lot better.
The Sultan wonders what he has to do to get picked for India. He's even backed it up with performance in the latest Ranji. He's also increased his pace to the 130s. Surely he is Ishant Sharma Plus and a worthy replacement for the injury-prone, barely fit Zaheer? Or does he need to score two triple centuries in West/South Zone to be recognised?
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
One thing to note is that South Africa A is hitting India A with five frontline bowlers, all of whom have played 42 FC games on an average. That's sufficient experience. It also helps that Harmer, Abbott and Parnell are recognised lower-order contributors, with Harmer being a recognised batsman with a century and ten fifties. Compare that with India A's inexperienced bowling attack, of which one, Stuart Binny, is an occasional bowler who simply cannot compete as a strike bowler.
Nor can one of their specialist bowlers, Nadeem. This tour may just have revealed how dire this spin prospect really is. Clearly, with all the best spinners missing plenty of games this season, he's made the most of it, taken his chances, grabbed the opportunity, but the lack of quality shows up in challenging times. There's no way anybody with a FC strike rate of 73 should be a national prospect as a bowler.
Nor can one of their specialist bowlers, Nadeem. This tour may just have revealed how dire this spin prospect really is. Clearly, with all the best spinners missing plenty of games this season, he's made the most of it, taken his chances, grabbed the opportunity, but the lack of quality shows up in challenging times. There's no way anybody with a FC strike rate of 73 should be a national prospect as a bowler.
Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
A game that India A may even lose? What's the point? His poor first-innings performance, where he took three for 99 in nearly 33 overs should tell you something. And the South Africans declaring in the second innings.
This should be the last A-team tour for him, with Iqbal Abdulla being a much better choice, but since he's here on Ranji records, it shows how poor that Ranji season was for spinners.
This should be the last A-team tour for him, with Iqbal Abdulla being a much better choice, but since he's here on Ranji records, it shows how poor that Ranji season was for spinners.
Maximas
Cricketer Of The Year
It's actually getting really interesting now, Rahane and Saha have put on over 150 together and only another 130 is required with 5 wickets left, remembering that a nightwatchman was one of those wickets. A century to Rahane would put him right into contention for a batting spot on the SA tour
Heboric
International Regular
Hope this Hendricks and Harmer get a look in for the Proteas - no harm in trying.
Always good to have a left handed quick in ones ranks. As for Harmer, well the Proteas must at least try someone different in the spinner department, we cant really carry on with Robin Peterson
Always good to have a left handed quick in ones ranks. As for Harmer, well the Proteas must at least try someone different in the spinner department, we cant really carry on with Robin Peterson
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