Indian Cricket ... what next?

[Sudeep]

My point was in direct respect to Sangrah's team, in which he omitted Kaif.

What I meant was:

-If there's a better player than Kaif for the #6 or 7 position, fine, drop him.

-But if a position opens in the middle order, then consider him first before anyone else, because the guy is good, and hasn't got a chance.

 

[SJS]

If there's a player who can do better at #7 than him, then his his presence is hampering the team dynamic. If he's the best option available, then we've to be happy with whatever he gets us.

I agree with that.

By the way, I think Kaif should bat above Yuvraj if they have to go in before the 30th over is bowled. I also feel sending Yuvraj higfher up has proved a bit counter productive so far. It may be too early to say but he seems to have decided to play in a more modestly aggressive style when he bats higher, with the result that if he doesnt play a longer innings, as he did the other day, he actucaly ends up consuming more deliveries than he would have if he was coming in lower.

This is the problem with batsmen not knowing what is their position and role in the side.

Aspiring for a higher position is making these batsmen slow down when they feel they have an oportunity to get a fifty or more. This is counterproductive.

 

[Sudeep]

You're completely missing my point. I'll restate it... perhaps Kaif can replace him at the top. If not Kaif, a specialist batsman who contributes more.

I got your point. What I meant is, Kaif should be tried first if/when Ganguly has to go to see if he contributes more, before giving someone else the chance.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

My point was in direct respect to Sangrah's team, in which he omitted Kaif.

What I meant was:

-If there's a better player than Kaif for the #6 or 7 position, fine, drop him.

-But if a position opens in the middle order, then consider him first before anyone else, because the guy is good, and hasn't got a chance.

The way I see it though, Dhoni (batting at 3) is the problem child. The position Kaif fills is that of specialist batsman. He needs more a top order spot more than Dhoni does.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I got your point. What I meant is, Kaif should be tried first if/when Ganguly has to go to see if he contributes more, before giving someone else the chance.

Agreed. The Ganguly issue is not an if IMO. I think the selectors are very wary of his predicament.

 

[Sudeep]

The way I see it though, Dhoni (batting at 3) is the problem child. The position Kaif fills is that of specialist batsman. He needs more a top order spot more than Dhoni does.

I agree. Maybe Dhoni should be tried at #6 or 7 a little more, before finally settling him at a position where the best can be extracted out of him... in which case Kaif would have a more suitable role. But what if Dhoni proves to be utterly useless at #7? Then we'd be doing with him, what we're doing with Kaif ATM.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I agree. Maybe Dhoni should be tried at #6 or 7 a little more, before finally settling him at a position where the best can be extracted out of him... in which case Kaif would have a more suitable role. But what if Dhoni proves to be utterly useless at #7? Then we'd be doing with him, what we're doing with Kaif ATM.

In such a case you look at who gives you more in the top order. If Kaif is contributing more consistently (regardless of his destiny Gilchrist-wise) you take him and find someone else to command the gloves. Of course, you'd first have to define utterly useless. If he's 'keeping competently and batting in the 20s, it may not be that useless in OD cricket.

 

[SJS]

I got your point. What I meant is, Kaif should be tried first if/when Ganguly has to go to see if he contributes more, before giving someone else the chance.

I think it might not bad idea to change the batting order a bit.
The only one I would say shouldnt be touched is Dravid.

Everyone else whould be up for a consideration at least.

They must think
- who can last the new ball and yet give a good start.
- who can build the innings and score quickly without throwing slogs in the middle and
- who can score quickly at the end without consuming too many deliveries to settle down.

Add to that an insistence that the lower order have at least two who can hit to good effect fairly regularly and two who can hang around if required and last longer if there is a major collapse and only one major batsman is holding up the other end.

This would provide some clear ideas on who can fit into which of the 1st(opening), 2nd(3-5) and 3rd(6-7) slots. These being Opening, upper middle order and lower middle order.

This is the only way to do it.

For example, it may be felt that
- players like Dravid, Laxman and Kaif can ONLY play in the second slot.

- Players like Sachin can play in 1st and second both.

- Dhoni and Yuvraj can play in 2nd and 3rd.

- Ganguly and Sehwag can play in all three.

And so on. and then see which is the best fit, try it out. And also have room for flexibity given these constraints, for future also. Remember, one day game is NOT about fixed ideas and definitely not about fixed batting orders !

 

[Sudeep]

In such a case you look at who gives you more in the top order. If Kaif is contributing more consistently (regardless of his destiny Gilchrist-wise) you take him and find someone else to command the gloves. Of course, you'd first have to define utterly useless. If he's 'keeping competently and batting in the 20s, it may not be that useless in OD cricket.

True. To me, Dinesh Kaarthick looks a better keeper than Dhoni. The only option is to try him there, wait and watch. Because if we're going to drop a talent like Kaif, it'd be pretty sad.

Anyway, I'm headed off to pick up my parents, who're returning from Singapore. Catcha kids later.

 

[masterblaster]

I also forgot about Joginder Sharma. He looked impressive with his bowling last time around, albeit against Bangladesh (there goes my point )

 

[marc71178]

He was also not out in one of the innings - 7 not out off 2 balls!

Terrible, he should've got at least 10 off those 2 balls!

 

[Arjun]

Drawing the test series was a disappointment, but India's showing in the one-day series was simply disastrous. This bashing at the hands of Pakistan, who I applaud for their excellent batting, bowling and fielding in the latter part of the series, should serve as a major wake-up call to the selectors and the players. As if there wasn't enough already, Ganguly has complicated the situation (some may say he has simplified it) furthermore. So where do we go from here? Some things to consider:

-Who should be the next Indian coach? Whatmore, Chappell or a former Indian player?
-Should Dravid be made the permanent captain or should Ganguly be reinstated?
-If Dravid becomes captain, what are the chances of Ganguly finding a spot in the team based solely on merit (and not captaincy) in the future?
-Should anything be done with Tendulkar?
-Do Kaif and Yuvraj belong in the team right now, and if so, what role do they play?
-Dhoni was one of the positives of the one-day series, but where should he bat now?
-Is VVS Laxman due for a one-day return anytime soon?
-Should guys like Dinesh Mongia and Sridharan Sriram get opportunities?
-Where should we look to introduce new faces (openers~Dhawan, middle-order~ Venugopal/Raina, bowlers/allrounders~Bhandari, Yadav, Powar, etc?...), if at all?
-What about our seamers? (Khan, Nehra, Pathan, Balaji, Agarkar)
-What about our spinners? (Harbhajan, Kumble, Kartik)

There are so many more questions, just want to know the various thoughts of all the Indian and non-Indian fans out there . . .

1. Someone who can optimise the resources in the team, is innovative and has had some coaching experience at any level, rather than some over-hyped, emotionless foreign coach just to have one.
2. Dravid should be made the captain- he's always in tune with the game and tries to force things to happen.
3. Tests- 25%. ODI's- ZERO.
4. Tendulkar should bat at four, five or six- he's better suited there with his current style.
5. They can be rotated frequently with a third player. However, they still deserve a place in the side- they can contribute a lto more even without the bat than some over-rated heroes with inflated averages who fail when needed most.
6. Number three- where he's been effective all the time, whenever he's played, whatever the level.
7. Maybe as a reserve.
8. Sriram- maybe. Dino- PLEASE NO!!!
9. Openers, all-rounders and tearaway quicks.
10. Anybody, anybody except Agarkar and Balaji. Especially Bhandari, Abid Nabi and VR Singh.
11. Maybe Kumble, but not Karthik. Kumble's least likely to get another ODI in the near future, Harbhajan is inconsistent, while Karthik is too negative and no-balls too often. Try Ramesh Powar and Yusuf Pathan/Amit Mishra.

It's not just the player list that should change. Many strategic changes are also needed.

 

[Pratters]

Indian cricket what's next :-

A few months break after which the losses which follow is blamed for the break period as was the case during the asia cup.

 

[Arjun]

A lot will depend on the performance of the India A team which will get into action in the near future. They have to give their allrounders and fast bowlers (not just the usual seam/swing bowlers, but fast ones) a lot of practice on the forthcoming tours, and not depend too much on six batsmen and one bits-and-pieces keeper.

I also forgot about Joginder Sharma.

Later, when he's more seasoned. They cannot afford another Parthiv Patel or Irfan Pathan.

 

[marc71178]

Will AA retain his place for the next ODI series after his efforts yesterday?

 

[masterblaster]

He was the best bowler yesterday and given his impressive ODI record, I'd say yes.

 

[Pratters]

He was the best bowler yesterday and given his impressive ODI record, I'd say yes.

NOOOOOOOO

Please.

*cries*

 

[masterblaster]

NOOOOOOOO

Please.

*cries*

Hey, the buck doesn't stop with me you know

As Vice President of the AAAS, I only wish Mr Ajit Agarkar well every time.

 

[Arjun]

NOOOOOOOO

Please.

*cries*

I second that.

 

[Sudeep]

Openers, all-rounders and tearaway quicks.

Why do we need new openers? That's one slot that I don't think we need to change. Sehwag and Sachin in ODIs and Sehwag and Gambhir in Tests is the best combination IMO. No need for a change there.