Mishra not playing was strange on so many levels. He's got a five-wicket haul on test debut against the Aussies, they've seriously struggled against spin in ODIs lately, his replacement ended up batting below Harbhajan Singh and, more to the point, he's probably a better LO bowler than any of Nehra, Praveen, Ishant, Munaf or Jadeja.
It probably wouldn't have made too much difference in this match, but when your side loses by 3 and 4 runs in two of the games you really have to think that a spinner of Mishra's class could have helped India win one of those matches!
true but we have bowled 40 extra wides and given 70 more extras away across the first 5 games which evens it up a little.
If you are getting at injury replacements, then we have a few very strong domestic performers who simply have not been given a fair chance in ODI cricket (Badrinath, Dhawan, Vijay), which means they resort to the likes of Kohli and put Jadeja at seven. Although I think that today's loss can be attributed to a freak collapse, which happens to all teams sometime - the fact is that we have thrown away two games that we should have won. In the fourth ODI, we suffered with the inexperience of Kohli at three and Jadeja at eight (demoted from seven). Two esteemed domestic performers at three and seven could have helped us home. In the fifth ODI, once more, Jadeja's inexperience cost us dearly. Even though he was at eight due to Harbhajan's good form, a better batsman at seven in for Jadeja could have done a better job. One may posit the possible advantage of Jadeja's bowling, but I think a Mishra or an Ojha, in for one of the pacers could more than make up for that.
A large part of the problem is that players like Vijay, Dhawan and Badrinath have no ODI experience. Whether they're quality players or not, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect them to come into the side and perform straight away. Hence, for India currently, when one player breaks down there'll always be a hole of some sort in the batting lineup.
Since the Ashes it's just been non-stop grins re: Watto. WAFG.
How would Paine, White, Voges and Marsh rate in comparative experience, or (apologies for limited knowledge of these players) are they young?
Our fringe test hopefuls would mostly play the home summer and then head off to play county cricket which gives a pretty full on load of cricket.
Haha, Amen. Best ODI player of all time
Pfft you can lay no claim to this triumph. This is vindication for a select few of CW.Haha, Amen. Best ODI player of all time
