***Official*** India in South Africa

[silentstriker]

^ I 100 percent agree, however, changing the batting order slightly and the addition of one new player might just be what this Indian team needs. It's not like Jaffer has been a whole lot better than Sehwag.

We shouldn't take Sehwag out of the team just because he is overweight or just for the sake of teaching him a lesson.

However, yes Gambhir and Jaffer opening is what most likely is going to occur. However, I believe India should take this risk instead of opting for the obvious.

No, we should take him out to teach him a lesson. His poor fitness might have been tolerated when he was scoring runs, but his lack of form, which alone is enough to drop him, coupled with his lazy work ethic and lack of fitness means its that much easier.

 

[Turbinator]

Just because he is fat doesn't mean he is any less fit than Jaffer. I don't exactly see, how Jaffer is contributing to the cause and can cement his place over Sehwag with just one good inning of 28? And not to mention, he also seems unfit and not very athletic, especially when he's on the field.

 

[silentstriker]

Just because he is fat doesn't mean he is any less fit than Jaffer. I don't exactly see, how Jaffer is contributing to the cause and can cement his place over Sehwag with just one good inning of 28? And not to mention, he also seems unfit and not very athletic, especially when he's on the field.

He spends more time at the crease. On this tour seeing off the new ball is much, much, much more important than scoring runs off it.

 

[Turbinator]

Okay agreed he spends a little bit more time at the crease than Sehwag. But it's not like it helped us. Did it get us the win? No.

Therefore, why shouldn't we try something new. Yes there is lots of risk involved but we gotta' throw something unexpected at the South Africans. It backfires, it backfires. We can always change it the next inning. IMO, it's worth taking the risk.

 

[adharcric]

Just because he is fat doesn't mean he is any less fit than Jaffer. I don't exactly see, how Jaffer is contributing to the cause and can cement his place over Sehwag with just one good inning of 28? And not to mention, he also seems unfit and not very athletic, especially when he's on the field.

You make a good point about fitness. Sehwag is generally overweight but when he's on the lighter side (as he's been in the past few weeks), he's pretty good in the field.
Jaffer and Laxman are two guys who look fit but are terrible in the outfield. Laxman is at least an extremely good catcher so he's fine, but Jaffer isn't anything special close-in either.
The problem with Sehwag right now isn't his fitness; it's his inability to stay at the crease, see off the new ball and score runs. That's why he needs to go immediately.

 

[adharcric]

Okay agreed he spends a little bit more time at the crease than Sehwag. But it's not like it helped us. Did it get us the win? No.

Therefore, why shouldn't we try something new. Yes there is lots of risk involved but we gotta' throw something unexpected at the South Africans. It backfires, it backfires. We can always change it the next inning. IMO, it's worth taking the risk.

Poor reasoning. Just because it didn't get us the win, you're going to pretend it didn't happen?
Jaffer has looked solid apart from a few shots - he's gotten starts and spent time at the crease. For an opener, that's infinitely better than gifting your wicket early on (ie Sehwag).

 

[Turbinator]

Poor reasoning. Just because it didn't get us the win, you're going to pretend it didn't happen?
Jaffer has looked solid apart from a few shots - he's gotten starts and spent time at the crease. For an opener, that's infinitely better than gifting your wicket early on (ie Sehwag).

What I am trying to get at here, more than the fact that he didn't get us the win, is the fact that he hasn't really been anything special either. And by no means did he look solid in the first Test.

Anyways what I am trying to say is, Jaffer you're gone bro (it's time another specialist opener gets a chance), Sehwag you're to follow if you don't perform in this match.

 

[adharcric]

What I am trying to get at here, more than the fact that he didn't get us the win, is the fact that he hasn't really been anything special either. And by no means did he look solid in the first Test.

Anyways what I am trying to say is, Jaffer you're gone bro (it's time another specialist opener gets a chance), Sehwag you're to follow if you don't perform in this match.

Jaffer was literally given a "final chance" at Durban and he showed enough to deserve one more IMO. Sehwag was also hanging from a string and that string is now broken IMO. Surely we agree on one thing: Gambhir should play at Cape Town. Right?

 

[silentstriker]

Jaffer was literally given a "final chance" at Durban and he showed enough to deserve one more IMO. Sehwag was also hanging from a string and that string is now broken IMO. Surely we agree on one thing: Gambhir should play at Cape Town. Right?

Chopra.

Barring that, Gambhir

 

[Turbinator]

Jaffer was literally given a "final chance" at Durban and he showed enough to deserve one more IMO. Sehwag was also hanging from a string and that string is now broken IMO. Surely we agree on one thing: Gambhir should play at Cape Town. Right?

Absolutely ... I wanted Gambhir to play in the second one too, but the management decided to give Jaffer a final chance.

 

[Turbinator]

Yeah if we had Chopra... Then an opening combo of Chopra and Gambhir would've been ideal.

 

[viktor]

But apart from that inning Jaffer didn't do anything special. Also, his fielding doesn't help. And Sehwag is more than a handy offspinner and a pretty good fielder.

Well said Fletch

 

[R_D]

What I am trying to get at here, more than the fact that he didn't get us the win, is the fact that he hasn't really been anything special either. And by no means did he look solid in the first Test.

Anyways what I am trying to say is, Jaffer you're gone bro (it's time another specialist opener gets a chance), Sehwag you're to follow if you don't perform in this match.

Dropping Sehwag will send the msg to him that he's not undropable so next time when he gets back in the team... he doesn't play stupid shots and puts bit more value on his wickets. Being stripped of vice-captaincy probaly should've sent him that message but i guess didn't work, dropping is the only way to go.
Sehwag's had many chances, even if he doesn't score many runs, at least make an effort to stay on the pitch which he doesn't seem to do.

 

[Turbinator]

Well said Fletch

Well, I mean Sehwag is a pretty good offspinner, I am surprised he wasn't given more oppurtunities in this series.

He was wonderful to watch in the West Indies, the way he was drifting the ball. And as soon as he came on in the second Test against RSA, he claimed a wicket.

 

[silentstriker]

Well, I mean Sehwag is a pretty good offspinner, I am surprised he wasn't given more oppurtunities in this series.

He was wonderful to watch in the West Indies, the way he was drifting the ball. And as soon as he came on in the second Test against RSA, he claimed a wicket.

If we want a off spinner who will score a couple runs, we'd get someone like Powar. They are both equally fat too, if that counts for anything.

At this point, he'll add bowling and yet score just as many runs (i.e > 0).

 

[Turbinator]

If we want a spinner who will score a couple runs, we'd get someone like Powar.

*sigh* You're failing to see my point here, I have stopped defending Sehwag and justifying his right to play the third test match. We've discussed that enough.

I am just saying he is a pretty good offspinner who should be used more often in tandem with Anil Kumble when he is playing.

 

[silentstriker]

I'd rather have Sachin bowl TBH. He's a smarter bowler than Sehwag.

 

[Turbinator]

I don't know but in recent form, Sehwag has impressed with the ball.

 

[adharcric]

SS, he's right. Sehwag is a quality part-time off-spinner and he should be used more often. He was brilliant in the West Indies.

 

[silentstriker]

SS, he's right. Sehwag is a quality part-time off-spinner and he should be used more often. He was brilliant in the West Indies.

He is OK, just saying IMO Sachin is a better part timer.