***Official*** India in South Africa

[silentstriker]

Are u telling me a person who gets 5 scores of less than 10 in ODIs will go on to get 5 scores of above 50 in the test matches?

See Sunil Gavaskar in ODIs. He was never as good in ODI's, with just one century, though he did average a respectable 35.

 

[Nishant]

See Sunil Gavaskar in ODIs. He was never as good in ODI's, with just one century, though he did average a respectable 35.

But wats ur point! Im not talking about a player over a period of time! Im taking about form, SS!

 

[silentstriker]

But wats ur point! Im not talking about a player over a period of time! Im taking about form, SS!

OK, even on form. Sehwag often does fine in Tests and fails in ODI's.

 

[Nishant]

OK, even on form. Sehwag often does fine in Tests and fails in ODI's.

Name the last time that has happened!

 

[silentstriker]

Name the last time that has happened!

Sehwag averaged 63 in Tests from 1/1/2004-1/1/2005. He averaged 25.80 in ODI during that same period.

 

[Dasa]

Yes, you do. Unless he sets the world on fire tomorrow when bowling.



In that case:

1. Sehwag
2. Jaffer
3. Dravid
4. Tendulkar
5. Laxman
6. Ganguly
7. Dhoni
8. Kumble
9. Sreesanth
10. VRV
11. Zaheer

Here's something a bit unusual (but I don't think it'd be the worst move):

1. Sehwag
2. Pathan
3. Dravid
4. Tendulkar
5. Laxman
6. Ganguly
7. Dhoni
8. Kumble
9. Sreesanth
10. VRV
11. Zaheer

 

[silentstriker]

Here's something a bit unusual (but I don't think it'd be the worst move):

1. Sehwag
2. Pathan
3. Dravid
4. Tendulkar
5. Laxman
6. Ganguly
7. Dhoni
8. Kumble
9. Sreesanth
10. VRV
11. Zaheer

Pathan in for Jaffer to open against Ntini and Pollock with the new ball? Yes, I know he was successful once...but are you serious?

 

[Dasa]

Pathan in for Jaffer to open against Ntini and Pollock with the new ball? Yes, I know he was successful once...but are you serious?

Yeah. I think technically Pathan is comparable to Jaffer. I actually thought they should make this move after Gambhir was dispensed with, and if Jaffer fails consistently I'd like to see Pathan opening. It gives another bowling option and he's good enough to see off the new ball as long as he doesn't try to attack too early. Pathan could end up playing a role similar to what Prabhakar did for a while.

 

[Dravid]

Our idiot batsmen just made selection so much harder. Jaffer is asking to be dropped. We have to play Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar and Ganguly in the middle-order, but that means we can only play four bowlers. Pathan should be the one to be left out in that case but he made a century. Then again, they might go for five bowlers which will mean Dravid has to open. That is a dreadful idea.

Gambhir
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Ganguly
Dhoni
Pathan/VRV
Kumble
Zaheer
Sreesanth

I doubt Munaf will be fit in time.

Dravid is still injured I believe.

 

[Perm]

The notion of Irfan Pathan opening the batting is something I find a little ridiculous, his main job is to be a bowler and while he is very capable with the bat I think he is becoming confused about what his role in the team is with this constant shuffling of him up and down the order. Sure it's alright if he bats at #3 in an ODI every now and then to provide some impetous into the innings but having him opening at a test level against a very good pace bowling attack is stupid.

 

[Dravid]

No, he didn't get confused about his spot in the team. Greg did.

 

[Perm]

Either way I don't think its the right thing to do for Pathan's sake, either he plays as a bowler who can bat a little bit or he doesn't play at all.

 

[mohammad16]

The notion of Irfan Pathan opening the batting is something I find a little ridiculous, his main job is to be a bowler and while he is very capable with the bat I think he is becoming confused about what his role in the team is with this constant shuffling of him up and down the order. Sure it's alright if he bats at #3 in an ODI every now and then to provide some impetous into the innings but having him opening at a test level against a very good pace bowling attack is stupid.

seems to be chappel is more confused then anyone else

 

[Dravid]

Either way I don't think its the right thing to do for Pathan's sake, either he plays as a bowler who can bat a little bit or he doesn't play at all.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I know he came into this team as a bowler but the fact that people started calling him a all rounder, Greg just decided to improve his batting and not give a crap about his bowling. That's why he is out of form right now.

 

[Perm]

Seems like India won't be getting a specialist bowling coach for a little while yet. Article here

 

[Anil]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I know he came into this team as a bowler but the fact that people started calling him a all rounder, Greg just decided to improve his batting and not give a crap about his bowling. That's why he is out of form right now.

...and you know this for a fact how? improving the batting yes, but not giving a crap about the bowling? he was always crappy in tests except against the minnows and in one dayers, he was doing very well as a bowler even after the surprise promotions to one-drop started...i don't know why his bowling is crappy in both versions right now but i don't think chappell telling him to concentrate on his batting and forget his bowling is what's going on....

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah. I think technically Pathan is comparable to Jaffer. I actually thought they should make this move after Gambhir was dispensed with, and if Jaffer fails consistently I'd like to see Pathan opening. It gives another bowling option and he's good enough to see off the new ball as long as he doesn't try to attack too early. Pathan could end up playing a role similar to what Prabhakar did for a while.

Mate, we should all commit suicide if, out of 1 billion people, we cannot produce an opener with better technical ability than Irfan Pathan.

 

[shortpitched713]

Mate, we should all commit suicide if, out of 1 billion people, we cannot produce an opener with better technical ability than Irfan Pathan.

Nah, just you. You were the one who's been holding the country back in the first place.

 

[adharcric]

Pathan is actually quite strong technically. I'm not 100% sure about his temperament as an opener though.

 

[Jono]

Mate, we should all commit suicide if, out of 1 billion people, we cannot produce an opener with better technical ability than Irfan Pathan.

Who gives a crap about technical ability? If that's all you think opening is about then you're missing the point.

The fact is, Pathan can more than hold his own with the bat and has a good technique (probably better than Sehwag when it comes to playing on a seaming wicket), and has faced the new ball before in test cricket, both opening and whilst he's batted in the lower order. The kid can bat, bag his test bowling all you like, I'll join you, but he can bat. Opening Pathan, even temporarily in a situation comparable to the one India are in now, isn't the worst idea I've ever heard.

My test team however is:
Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid (Have no idea if he's playing or not, assuming and hoping he is)
Tendulkar
Laxman
Ganguly
Dhoni
Kumble
Zaheer
Sreesanth
VRV

However if Dravid isn't playing, I'd drop VRV for Pathan, because without Dravid their needs to be deeper batting. If Pathan is only going to bowl 4 overs in a practice match (I understand he may have been tired due to his century in the 1st innings) there's no point playing him as a bowler, and he's not good enough to replace any of the middle order batsmen. Maybe he can replace Jaffer, but that's about it really.