*Official* Group A Discussion - Pakistan, West Indies, Australia, India

[Pratters]

I think it is debateable whose fault it is (the second run out). For all it was, Dravid might have called, Harbhajan ran half the pitch, Dravid went back in confusion but was short. We don't know who called.

 

[Pratters]

I rate Nehra and Ishant >>> RP .... b/w RP and Praveen it depends up on the venue and conditions but Praveen's batting could be useful, if the bowling is a constant .... YP needs a break! And if he plays OZ would probably test him with short stuff

But yeah, you can go with that 11

Sorry I meant RP. Obviously Nehra is god.

 

[Pratters]

30th to 42nd over, we gave away 100 runs.... Never seen so many shots off cuts... We felt as if we were 3 or four bowlers shot at one stage. - Dhoni.

 

[ret]

I think it is debateable whose fault it is (the second run out). For all it was, Dravid might have called, Harbhajan ran half the pitch, Dravid went back in confusion but was short. We don't know who called.

If I were Dravid, I would have crossed Bhajji so Bhajji would have to go

And may be it's time to nick Bhajji 'moron'

 

[Pratters]

Khan: "I love India/ Pakistan matches ...no matter who wins ..One team has to lose..People keep your emotions in check and salute the players from both the teams..Great game of cricket." - Cricinfo.

Sums it up pretty well.

 

[Naumaan]

i can sleep properly now lol
couldn't watch whole game cuz had some family problems
but we won in the end, so now i can sleep properly
Malik played well, actually in the 2nd innings, pitch played well, i mean it got some pace, but the way indians were playing, they were going to lose wickets
but this was an Exciting game, i guess now Pakistan are through to the semi finals, unless india defeat Westindies & Australia with big margins & Australia beat Pakistan comprehensively
therefore Pakistan are in semi finals

 

[Dissector]

One of the most annoying things about this performance was the complete capitulation at the end. The game was over when Dravid was run out but 20-30 runs more would still have been useful for the RR. Players like Nehra and RP Singh have no place in a quality ODI side. Useless with the bat and in the field and only average with the ball. I am almost beginning to miss Ajit Agarkar.

 

[godofcricket]

i can sleep properly now lol
couldn't watch whole game cuz had some family problems
but we won in the end, so now i can sleep properly
Malik played well, actually in the 2nd innings, pitch played well, i mean it got some pace, but the way indians were playing, they were going to lose wickets
but this was an Exciting game, i guess now Pakistan are through to the semi finals, unless india defeat Westindies & Australia with big margins & Australia beat Pakistan comprehensively
therefore Pakistan are in semi finals

Yes inshAllah. So nauman our prediction about pakistan entering into semi-finals is prooving right

 

[Naumaan]

i think India has long tail, & unfortunate for them was Harbajhan was too defensive when he was bowling, that's what his pitch map showed, althoug i didn't watch whole match

 

[Naumaan]

Yes inshAllah. So nauman our prediction about pakistan entering into semi-finals is prooving right

yeah
the reason behind me predicting this was, Pakistan goes out in first round in 1 champions trophy & reaches semi's in next one, you can check the Record lol
but still Pakistan can miss out but it's highly unlikely though

 

[Uppercut]

to tell you the truth this is really weak indian team compared to the one few years ago, all these newbies are talented but they need time to grow and become mature, many of them make easy mistakes despite being talented

They're missing a few players, Zaheer, Yuvraj, Sehwag. With those three in the side they're the best ODI side in the world IMO, and their recent record backs that up.

 

[Faisal1985]

For all those who are happy about this win......as a Pakistani i am also happy but....to be very honest had Raina stayed at the crease this was easily India's game.....he got a tough call from Davis....

The biggest blunder Younis made yet again was giving the ball to Umar Gul, that was going to cost us the game after Ajmal and Afridi had pulled things back....Younis should not have thorwn the ball to Gul....

Gul was the biggest disappointment today.....but i seriously salute to the little Gambhir this guy is amazing bro.....simply amazing .........

Finally salutations to Malik and Mo Yo .....what an innings....brilliant....that partnership was the difference in the end .......

 

[godofcricket]

They're missing a few players, Zaheer, Yuvraj, Sehwag. With those three in the side they're the best ODI side in the world IMO, and their recent record backs that up.

I dont think you can call any side best in the world atm. The tag IMO should only be given to a team who can consistently maintain no.1 position for a long period of time. True india had been missing there main players but thats when the 'best ODI side in the world' should proove that they arent depending on a couple of individual players. Thats my thinking.

 

[Pratters]

I dont think you can call any side best in the world atm. The tag IMO should only be given to a team who can consistently maintain no.1 position for a long period of time. True india had been missing there main players but thats when the 'best ODI side in the world' should proove that they arent depending on a couple of individual players. Thats my thinking.

Australia lost McGrath and couldn't beat England in the Ashes. So do we not call them the best side because they had an apparently weaker bench strength? India have consistently performed in matches even when their best players have been missing like Zaheer had been. With 3 players, it is too big a gap to fill. I think it is fairly fair to call India the best side, if any one wants to call them that. Australia were dire in the ODI series v England and even prior to that and show they can't play spin properly. South Africa is the only serious challengers.

 

[Shri]

I dont think you can call any side best in the world atm. The tag IMO should only be given to a team who can consistently maintain no.1 position for a long period of time. True india had been missing there main players but thats when the 'best ODI side in the world' should proove that they arent depending on a couple of individual players. Thats my thinking.

Agree with this. If we take AUS for example, they had Bracken to step up and perform when McGrath was injured or needed a rest. Macgill for Warne and other similar backup players too. Being the no.1 side isn't about having XI good players. Its about having people who are capable of stepping up in the international stage when the first team regulars aren't available. AUS were lucky to have such an amazing group of players playing together. Now the field has evened out a bit with those Oz legends' reitrements.

 

[Uppercut]

It's just an opinion. Since old-timers like Dravid and Ganguly dropped out of the side at the end of the 4-2 home series defeat to Australia in 2007, India haven't stopped winning. That includes series victories over Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand in the tri-series, Sri Lanka away twice, a 5-0 whitewash of England, victory in New Zealand and the West Indies and a Compaq Cup win in Sri Lanka. The only blemish was the Asia Cup, where they missed out to Ajantha Mendis and Sri Lanka in the final. I don't think any other side has had a comparable record for the past two years.

I don't understand why they've gone back to having Dravid in the team when the strategy of playing strokeplayers all the way down was bringing such unprecedented success for India. Even without Yuvraj and Sehwag, a top order of Gambhir, Tendulkar, Raina, Rohit, Dhoni and Pathan is still bloody good. But there's a strange belief amongst cricket fans when discussing India that a flawless technique is necessary for ODI success, demonstrated by the bagging of Raina's short ball deficiencies earlier in the thread when he hasn't actually been dismissed by one in an ODI for over a year. The vast, vast majority of ODI surfaces are unspeakably flat these days so all you need is to be able to score and score quickly. If they continue with a team packed with sloggers, hitters and strokeplayers, I think they'll be the best around.

 

[Dissector]

A full-strength Indian team has the best batting in the world but I don't think you can call them the best side. Even with Zaheer the bowling is average and quite brittle in crunch situations and the fielding is below par. In terms of performance we haven't really excelled long enough to be called the best. Apart from the latest win in Sri Lanka I don't think we have won a one-off ODI final in the entire decade.

 

[godofcricket]

Australia lost McGrath and couldn't beat England in the Ashes. So do we not call them the best side because they had an apparently weaker bench strength? India have consistently performed in matches even when their best players have been missing like Zaheer had been. With 3 players, it is too big a gap to fill. I think it is fairly fair to call India the best side, if any one wants to call them that. Australia were dire in the ODI series v England and even prior to that and show they can't play spin properly. South Africa is the only serious challengers.

Sorry could you tell me which ashes series are you talking about?? the one in 2005???...I will come back to this discussion tommarrow but i was having a similar discussion about indian batting when they are exerted in a bit of pressure. India from my point of view can never maintain the no.1 position unless they find top quality bowlers who can deliver on consistent basis.

 

[Pratters]

I don't understand why they've gone back to having Dravid in the team when the strategy of playing strokeplayers all the way down was bringing such unprecedented success for India. Even without Yuvraj and Sehwag, a top order of Gambhir, Tendulkar, Raina, Rohit, Dhoni and Pathan is still bloody good. But there's a strange belief amongst cricket fans when discussing India that a flawless technique is necessary for ODI success, demonstrated by the bagging of Raina's short ball deficiencies earlier in the thread when he hasn't actually been dismissed by one in an ODI for over a year. The vast, vast majority of ODI surfaces are unspeakably flat these days so all you need is to be able to score and score quickly. If they continue with a team packed with sloggers, hitters and strokeplayers, I think they'll be the best around.

I debated regarding this with you - that a sheet anchor can be useful in ODIs but if you get a stroke player and a defensive player, obviously one would obviously choose the stroke player (they must be of comparable ability of course). Also, I disagree with the Dravid selection as well. Dravid may succeed in making runs but there were other players we could and should have gone to. It's a step backwards.

 

[Pratters]

Sorry could you tell me which ashes series are you talking about?? the one in 2005???

Yes.