***Official*** India in Australia 2014-5

[Furball]

How the **** do you figure broad spend four years bowling too short

Debuted in 2007, came of age against India in 2011, the odd wrecking ball spell (Oval 09) apart.

I was being slightly facetious but Broad spent 4 years basically not being very good. But that was my whole poiny, it takes even the best bowlers years to find their feet in Test cricket (Broad went into that India series averaging something like 36) so pulling your hair out over whether someone like Shami isn't brilliant isb't particularly smart.

*disclaimer* I haven't actually seen enough of Shami bowl so he could actually be utterly rubbish.

 

[Jono]

Is there any chance Rohit Sharma will be dropped? I certainly hope we play KL Rahul in the place of Sharma.

Rohit has been ****house, but he deserves 4 tests.

Remember pricks calling for Kohli to be dropped for Rohit in 2011 after the Melbourne and Sydney tests?

 

[Furball]

Rohit has been ****house, but he deserves 4 tests.

Remember pricks calling for Kohli to be dropped for Rohit in 2011 after the Melbourne and Sydney tests?

He doesn't deserve 4 Tests if he's getting out playing stupid shots.

Again disclaimer that the only cricket from this series I've seen is Smith and Mitch having fun in the morning session. But if Sharma's playing dumb cricket then I don't think you can just allow that with no consequences.

 

[Jono]

He doesn't deserve 4 Tests if he's getting out playing stupid shots.

Again disclaimer that the only cricket from this series I've seen is Smith and Mitch having fun in the morning session. But if Sharma's playing dumb cricket then I don't think you can just allow that with no consequences.

I see your point but it can go both ways I guess. Do you keep a guy who could be good enough but is having brain fades with the faith that he'll learn, or do you drop him as punishment for stupid cricket. Same with whether a bloke who has looked out of his depth for 2 tests, i.e. going out because he looks crap not because he's throwing it away. Or do you give him the chance to have 4 tests and then be certain that he's out of his depth.

Agree that there is a diff between Kohli's first 2 tests vs. Aus in 2011/12 and Rohit's here. Kohli wasn't playing stupid shots in Melb and Sydney, he was just going out to good balls early. Rohit is going out to soft dismissals.

I guess in the end, Rohit just isn't a random batsman thrown in. He's a guy that India has had hopes on since 2007. In fact he was supposed to be one of the next batting greats for India before Pujara, Kohli and Rahane. Sure that is partly high expectations that will never be met. But you really want to give this guy as many opportunities as possible before you discard him for a bit. The question is whether 2 tests in SA, 2 in NZ, 1 in England and 2 in Aust is enough.

 

[Furball]

If you just annoint a guy as the chosen one then tolerate failure then you just end up creating Shane Watson.

Plus, Rohit's a player with 16 million ODIs worth of experience, he's not somechild prodigy who's a bit green and struggled to cope with the expectation of his first big away tour. Whilst he's not got a huge deal of Test experience he has enough experience to not be playing dumb cricket. For me, that's a far worse sin than someone like Raina who I think mentally is sound enough but in England had some technical issues that were exposed then ruthlessly and brutally exploited.

It comes down to team culture, do you want the lackadaisical superstar or the guy who's not as good but who will knuckle down and give everything he's got?

 

[Prince EWS]

It probably is enough to say he couldn't count himself unlucky to be dropped, but in terms of actually winning the next Test.. when the alternatives are Raina, a rookie opener or another bowler, I just think there's more chance of Rohit coming good than there are of any his potential replacements doing anything. It'd be more of a dilemma if the reserve middle order batsman wasn't Raina.

 

[cnerd123]

I'd drop Rohit for Raina. India needs to cultivate a good attitude and I'd rather Raina get bounced out/nicking off for 10 than Rohit wafting at a wide one for 30.

As per Shami; he just looks tired and lost. Needs time off from the game. I've said the same about Ishant back a couple of years ago when he started losing the plot, and for RP Singh and Munaf as well. These guys are getting bowled into the ground and need more nurturing and time to figure out their game. It's hard to do that when you are getting smashed around everywhere by Warner.

 

[Jono]

If you just annoint a guy as the chosen one then tolerate failure then you just end up creating Shane Watson.

Plus, Rohit's a player with 16 million ODIs worth of experience, he's not somechild prodigy who's a bit green and struggled to cope with the expectation of his first big away tour. Whilst he's not got a huge deal of Test experience he has enough experience to not be playing dumb cricket. For me, that's a far worse sin than someone like Raina who I think mentally is sound enough but in England had some technical issues that were exposed then ruthlessly and brutally exploited.

It comes down to team culture, do you want the lackadaisical superstar or the guy who's not as good but who will knuckle down and give everything he's got?

I don't disagree with a lot of what you're saying but the Shane Watson comparison works over a number of years, not 9 non-consecutive tests, 7 of which have been overseas.

 

[Jono]

It probably is enough to say he couldn't count himself unlucky to be dropped, but in terms of actually winning the next Test.. when the alternatives are Raina, a rookie opener or another bowler, I just think there's more chance of Rohit coming good than there are of any his potential replacements doing anything. It'd be more of a dilemma if the reserve middle order batsman wasn't Raina.

Agree.

In any case, Kohli would not have been too unlucky to be dropped in 2011. Failed in the WI over 3 tests vs. hardly world beating bowlers, dropped for England, then brought back in Aus and failied miserably for the first 2 tests. Same argument GF is using could be used for him - he had been playing ODIs for ages so couldn't use intl experience as an excuse. But tests are a different ballgame. Gotta give them proper series.

Rohit didn't play the Eng series, he played one test in it. Just stick with him for a significant period, and 4 tests in Aus is that period imo.

 

[Tangles]

Has Rohit just played too many ODIs so his FC mentality for approaching a long innings isn't there?

 

[social]

He's averaged sub-30 since the 2010/11 Ashes. That's just awful

Watto and Haddin are deemed untouchable yet Doug Walters got dropped after 4 bad tests in '72

Just to repeat - Doug ****ing Walters needed to perform to keep his spot but 2 guys who aren't fit to tie his shoe-laces dont

Couldn't make it up

Also had to laugh last night when Gilly said that Haddin had earned the right to decide when to retire and that his position shouldn't be in question

Wonder if he had the same opinion when he was challenging Healy

 

[Contra]

Agree.

In any case, Kohli would not have been too unlucky to be dropped in 2011. Failed in the WI over 3 tests vs. hardly world beating bowlers, dropped for England, then brought back in Aus and failied miserably for the first 2 tests. Same argument GF is using could be used for him - he had been playing ODIs for ages so couldn't use intl experience as an excuse. But tests are a different ballgame. Gotta give them proper series.

Rohit didn't play the Eng series, he played one test in it. Just stick with him for a significant period, and 4 tests in Aus is that period imo.

You do realize that Rohit will probably get to bat @ 6 in home tests (which he will no doubt boss) and that will all but book him for future away tours right? Besides the guy had 2 full away tours to NZ and SA and still didn't do ****, I mean he hasn't played even 1 innings of note (72 in NZ first test comes closest), the guy isn't showing any fight at all. He averages what 20 or something since his first two innings against WI.

 

[Cabinet96]

Full tours being two tests.

 

[cnerd123]

Full tours being two tests.

Vijay Rahane Pujara and Kohli have all put in performances in the same period that Rohit has failed to impress though.

 

[Jono]

You do realize that Rohit will probably get to bat @ 6 in home tests (which he will no doubt boss) and that will all but book him for future away tours right? Besides the guy had 2 full away tours to NZ and SA and still didn't do ****, I mean he hasn't played even 1 innings of note (72 in NZ first test comes closest), the guy isn't showing any fight at all. He averages what 20 or something since his first two innings against WI.

Yeah I'm not the BCCI. I'm just saying I'd drop Rohit if he failed for another two tests, not yet. So he wouldn't play in India. I understand that BCCI will give him this opportunity to play in India and he may score runs securing his position,but that's not really our debate.

 

[anil1405]

Virat Kohli-Shikhar Dhawan's fight caused unrest in dressing room during Brisbane Test: Report | Zee News

The positive thing to come out of this would be that when Kohli is eventually handed over the captaincy reigns Dhawan won't have his place guaranteed.

 

[cnerd123]

Srsly tho Kohli should have been ready to walk out to face te second ball of the day's play anyways.

 

[cnerd123]

Altho I can understand how going from being prepared to just be padded up to watch the first ball of the day, to going down to actually face the first ball of the day can throw someone off.

But Kohli is a professional batsman and a future indian captain. Shouldn't have reacted like that.

 

[anil1405]

Kohli has this tendency to react instantly for every small thing. Am sure after a while he would've realised that he should have probably been ready to go out on short notice (although not fair on him or anyone in his place to do so).

 

[Jono]

BCCI are paying huge money to Duncan and Ravi to be coaches/team directors yeah? Where the hell were they? These are the situations where these blokes are supposed to be of assistance.