***Official*** India in Pakistan

[adharcric]

I would love to see Jaffer in as a fan.

But there is a case for both - continuity for Gambhir, superb form for Jaffer.

I dont know why you are alleging me on a discussion of Indian test opener and how you can assume Gambhir is the test opener along with Sehwag. Gambhir hasnt been performing in tests. That is what he has done wrong if you want to know.

And he would have to perform to remain in the side if he is given a run despite his poor test perforance so far.

yeah, by no means is gambhir the automatic opener ... he's only shown great potential so far, not many huge innings of substance to secure his spot.
(pratyush, the chappell comment wasn't that literal, of course they will consult dravid .. i was just relating how tough this decision is and the fact that chappell is a very decisive man imo)

 

[TIF]

Here are Gambhirs scores excluding Bangladesh & Zimbabwe"B" team -

3,1,96,7,26,41,32*,29,1,24,52,0,2,3,19,30

Gambhirs real flops have occurred on one of the worst pitches for batting at Mumbai against the worlds best attack Australia.
Another Gambhir flop occurred in the recent test series against Sri Lanka.

Gambhirs average excluding minnows - 23.73
Gambhirs average excluding minnows + recent test series against Sri Lanka - 31.2
Gambhirs overall average including minnows - 36

Also, Gambhir played well in the last test series against Pakistan last year, scoring 179 runs @ 35.8, scoring runs consistently in each innings giving India a good start.

There is still no solid case for Gambhir to be dropped except 3 poor tests against Sri Lanka.

 

[deeps]

he hasn't been spectacular, granted. But he has been solid. India have had many different openers, and nobody has been as successful as gambhir, except for sehwag.

It isn't easy facing the new ball, and people will take time to settle into the role. By chopping and changing, it isn't going to help.

I realise he isn't an automatic selection, i wasn't implying that. I was implying however, that he has done enough, given the amount of experience he has, to retain his spot as test opener. This is his series, he's had some time in international cricket now, so he needs some good scores in this upcoming series.

I personally would leave him as opener till the end of series, unless he gets terrible scores. If he is getting above 25 odd on most occasions, i would let him stay till series end. As i said, test opener is a hard spot, and Gambhir is a man for the future. Experience against the likes of Shoaib Akhtar will only do him good.

 

[adharcric]

he hasn't been spectacular, granted. But he has been solid. India have had many different openers, and nobody has been as successful as gambhir, except for sehwag.

It isn't easy facing the new ball, and people will take time to settle into the role. By chopping and changing, it isn't going to help.

I realise he isn't an automatic selection, i wasn't implying that. I was implying however, that he has done enough, given the amount of experience he has, to retain his spot as test opener. This is his series, he's had some time in international cricket now, so he needs some good scores in this upcoming series.

I personally would leave him as opener till the end of series, unless he gets terrible scores. If he is getting above 25 odd on most occasions, i would let him stay till series end. As i said, test opener is a hard spot, and Gambhir is a man for the future. Experience against the likes of Shoaib Akhtar will only do him good.

well i'm a gambhir supporter, but i'm also an india supporter. we do need to give gambhir a few more chances because he's only failed in one series and he's a man with tremendous potential. at the same time, the success of the team cannot be put at stake too long for an individual. if jaffer is more likely to score runs than gambhir because he's the man in form, then he should be in the playing XI until gambhir earns back the spot. given all that, i think gambhir should play in the first test, and both the men should be given chances against both pakistan and england.

 

[Pratters]

Jaffer's stats this season -

Duleep Trophy - 3 6 1 309 133 61.80 63.71 1 2 3 -
Ranji Trophy - 4 6 1 563 267 112.60 69.85 2 1 6 -

Its a dillemna indeed regarding wihch of these players to choose in the.side.

 

[Jono]

I think Gambhir should be given the first 2 tests. If he fails miserably (by that I don't mean 'not scoring a 50' (although that would be nice ) but really flops) then bring in Jaffer for the 3rd test. Gambhir should definitely play the first test IMO.

 

[Pratters]

Zaheer has done well today. Tally reads 14 overs 51/1 now.

Pakistan A at 245/6.

 

[GladiatrsInBlue]

Hey GIB in the 3 warm up games none of the Pak A batsman cored a ton against england but against India a ton has already been scored by Farhat, now should we assume based on your criteria that India's bowling is lesser then england.

Or maybe Farhat is a legend

 

[GladiatrsInBlue]

. An attack of four bowlers including Agarkar and one spinner can't take 20 wickets.

Depends, if that attack is led by IKP, then its very much possible to get 20 wkts!!

 

[GladiatrsInBlue]

. It was nice to see Hasan Raza doing well. I always knew that Hasan Raza has the talent and he should be in this Pakistan team. But somehow, he has rarely lived upto his talent. Also, both Farhat and Hasan Raza, pressed their case for a comeback into the Pakistan team.

.

Raza has loads of talent, but he has now gained a reputation of doing well at domestic level and side matches but faring poorly in international matches.Its unfortunate though as i believe that he's a good talent.

 

[vandemataram]

Pakistan win 2-0 The test series and go all guns blazing and win all the ODI matches!

The year is 2005 and Neutral umpires happen to be supervising the matches!!

However to Pakistan's credit i do believe that they would have won the series 2-0 had they been playing with 13 players

 

[Prince EWS]

I really dont understand Hasan Raza.

He has failed so badly at international level, yet when playing at first class level (even against international sides) he completely dominates. A case could be made to suggest that he simply cant perform against test standard bowling attacks, but that doesnt explain how and why he dominates in tour matches. Perhaps he just lacks the mental strength and application for international cricket.

 

[marc71178]

I don't know why this discussion is taking place. Gambhir is the Test Opener along with Sehwag. Gambhir hasn't done anything wrong, to warrant being dropped.

54 runs @ 10.8 vs SL isn't bad then?

 

[Xuhaib]

Originally Posted by GladiatrsInBlue
Or maybe Farhat is a legend

Check out his test record man, thats a real "legend" stuff isnt it?

 

[Arjun]

From this match, it's tough to decide who should open the innings with Sehwag. Both have scored over 50, and in both innings they've made opening partnerships over 50– the last one was at nearly 6 runs an over and still unbeaten! Since Gambhir has been opening regularly for the team, he should be an automatic choice in all three matches in this series, while Jaffer may open in all matches against England– this is a parallel selection as against serial chopping and changing. That will give you a clearer indication. Come to think of it, an even tougher decision would be whether or not to open with Sehwag, if current form is considered for selection.

More importantly, the team has to get the right combination for the bowling attack. Any combination of four bowlers here would appear inadequate. You have to have both spinners in the team if you're picking your best bowlers, but the seamers can't do much in pairs. This is why they have to play five full-time bowlers to improve their chances of taking 20 wickets. Unfortunately, none of the bowlers bar Irfan can contribute a chunk of 25 runs or more regularly, so it's a big risk, though it's worth taking for that extra wicket. This is where they are missing someone like Munaf Patel or Joginder Sharma, both of whom are among the top wicket-takers this season in Ranji, and are among their teams' top run-scorers as well.

Zaheer should make the starting lineup along with Irfan, and both should get the new ball. RP Singh first-change would be a decent option, though he's a better pick for ODI's than Tests. Kumble and Harbhajan should play together.

 

[viktor]

Zaheer should make the starting lineup along with Irfan, and both should get the new ball. RP Singh first-change would be a decent option, though he's a better pick for ODI's than Tests. Kumble and Harbhajan should play together.


I think I know the answer, but still, why?

 

[billie424]

The year is 2005 and Neutral umpires happen to be supervising the matches!!

However to Pakistan's credit i do believe that they would have won the series 2-0 had they been playing with 13 players

hahahahahahah ... yaar this guy.... he knows nothing... absolutely nothing......come out of the past sir ... this is 2006 not 2005.. in which india was able to draw a test series against Pakistan...

as for gambhir .. he is a very good batsman .. if an indian opener is able to see off the new ball with sehwag in his attacking mood.... so i think he has done well...... because .. with a semi new ball ... dravid and company can be very very dangerous ... so i think they should prefer gambhirs experience over jaffers raw talent.....

 

[Deja moo]

Question: Yuvraj or Gangs ?

 

[Sudeep]

Question: Yuvraj or Gangs ?

Gangs - maybe one last chance?

 

[Xuhaib]

I think for Pak the fourth bowler position is up for grabs since Shoaib, Rana and Kaneria pick themselves.
Who should get the nod Sami, Asif or Razzaq?


My Pick- Asif (go for the promising youngster).