***Official*** India in West Indies

[adharcric]

Venugopal Rao should really be close to a test squad call-up. Kaif still deserves a run because he's always treated unfairly in tests, and Raina also might get picked for the West Indies test squad as well if SRT is out. I can see Venu becoming a Dravid type for India in the future, at least in terms of stability and temperament.

 

[adharcric]

Squad to be selected soon. Some say Kaif is in danger and Ganguly has a chance.
Expecting an unchanged side with Karthik as the 2nd keeper.

 

[Dasa]

Indian squad has been announced:

Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Dravid (capt), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Venugopal Rao, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel.

 

[SJS]

Indian squad has been announced:

Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Dravid (capt), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Venugopal Rao, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel.

This, of course is the ODI squad. Laxman, Kumble, Jaffer etc will come in and Venugopal, Uthappa and RP may go out.

India should win both contests. ODI's easily and tests depending upon Lara's form.

 

[adharcric]

This, of course is the ODI squad. Laxman, Kumble, Jaffer etc will come in and Venugopal, Uthappa and RP may go out.

India should win both contests. ODI's easily and tests depending upon Lara's form.

RP will stay, AA will go out. VRV might get a test call-up if he impresses with the A team, but that's a big IF. Powar will also go as they won't have 3 spinners in the test squad. Venu will go but if Tendulkar is out, either he or Raina will be called up and although Raina is the favorite right now, Venu should be well-suited to test cricket.

 

[SJS]

RP will stay, AA will go out. VRV might get a test call-up if he impresses with the A team, but that's a big IF. Powar will also go as they won't have 3 spinners in the test squad. Venu will go but if Tendulkar is out, either he or Raina will be called up and although Raina is the favorite right now, Venu should be well-suited to test cricket.

You maybe right about RP and Agarkar.

There is no way Raina will go out of the team. He is the next GREAT Indian hope, mark my words. Tendulkar is unlikely to come back but if he does, Venu and even kaif may go before they even touch Raina.

Powar must get a chance in tests. As a bowler he is actually better suited for test matches than one dayers. Its just that his batting makes us look at him as limited overs player.

He is a more aggressive and thinking bowler than Harbhajan. He should be tried in tests. Now that Murali Karthik is unlikely to come in,

I would expect him to be the third spinner in the test side. At least i hope so.

 

[honestbharani]

You maybe right about RP and Agarkar.

There is no way Raina will go out of the team. He is the next GREAT Indian hope, mark my words. Tendulkar is unlikely to come back but if he does, Venu and even kaif may go before they even touch Raina.

Powar must get a chance in tests. As a bowler he is actually better suited for test matches than one dayers. Its just that his batting makes us look at him as limited overs player.

He is a more aggressive and thinking bowler than Harbhajan. He should be tried in tests. Now that Murali Karthik is unlikely to come in,

I would expect him to be the third spinner in the test side. At least i hope so.

yeah, it is still too early for young Chawla, I reckon. So Powar should be in there.... But the key will be kumble and Lara in the test series. I reckon if Kumble wins that particular head to head, then India will win the test series. But if Lara does his magic, we won't win the test series, but I am not sure if we will lose it either.

 

[Arjun]

A few random comments on the Indian selection—

• Sehwag, Kaif and form issues– It's good to see Sehwag and Kaif backed for the series. We know what they can do on their day. That said, what has Gautam Gambhir done wrong? Play fewer matches? He may not have scored too many runs, but he's got a decent record, and even a century in one-dayers, against a superior ODI side. He blends well with Sehwag (we've seen several good starts when they came together, and look at the stuttering starts when that combination is broken) and fits in nicely in one-dayers. The selectors still seem to be harsh on fringe players.
• One-dayer misfit– Venugopal Rao is one more on the list with Jacob Martin, Hemag Badani, Dinesh Mongia, SS Das, Sadagopan Ramesh and several other one-day misfits to make the Indian ODI side. We saw how he ate up so many deliveries in A.D. and ran so few singles. We've also seen him struggle against quality bowling attacks. Even though he got a 63*, his innings was screaming "Bring back Kaif!"
• Change seamer– RP Singh will come very useful as a change seamer in the ODI side, either first-change or second-change. He can hold a line for some time and get some movement off the pitch as well and has a rather good ODI record till date, bar three matches against England. His fielding is another bonus, and in ODI's, he's a very useful spinner substitute and a must-pick. Once the wides are cut down.....
• The next big thing– Suresh Raina is a fantastic find for India. He has good innings-building temperament and isn't afraid of stepping up the scoring rate. He's got a wide range of shots, and also decent hitting power for his size. His fielding is fantastic and can win matches for the team. Tendulkar can take his time to return to full fitness till the World Cup. Even if Raina doesn't get a match, it's a good sign, as there's a competent reserve on the bench now.
• Strike seamers– Irfan Pathan may be bowling slower these days, but he varies his pace a great deal. We see deliveries from 113 to 136 k's in ODI's, and more importantly, they get the job done. What the team needs is someone bowling fast at the other end. Sreesanth isn't very fast, but he's very aggressive and bowls a good outswinger. Munaf Patel seems a misfit in ODI's, but once he's in top form, he can be a factor. But what do the selectors see in Agarkar that makes them go back to him again? That casino-royale medium-pace has often let the team down in key moments, especially in finals. Not surprisingly, the Indian team has rarely won a tournament where he was the strike bowler, and frankly, his bowling is no factor.
• Finders keepers– Dhoni's freakish batting may not please fans of Rahul Dravid, but it works, and how. Averaging over 50, with a very healthy strike rate, his batting has not only been far superior to every other wicketkeeper who has played for India, but has also been more effective than most other specialist batsmen. His attack power is a factor, and should be used to good effect, so Sehwag can breathe easy. Even Irfan Pathan (especially him), Munaf Patel and Ramesh Powar can be used as strikers to complement the slow-goers in the side, when needed.
• Two off the block– "Two off-spinners? That's a predictable attack!" But looking at the duo of Harbhajan and Powar, it works! Both are of different styles, and if one has an off-day, the other works. Powar may not appear a genuine strike bowler, but for someone picked to bowl more than the batsmen, he's bowling like a striker. His batting at eight makes him a key selection in the playing XI. One of the few very good moves the selectors have made so far.

 

[Jono]

I do think the selectors were a tad (only a tad) harsh on Gambhir, but I do feel he really was guilty of throwing away far too many starts. It got to the stage where whenever he got past 20 I was waiting for him to get out, because it was so predictable.

I do think he'll make the WC squad come 2007.

 

[adharcric]

There is no way Raina will go out of the team. He is the next GREAT Indian hope, mark my words. Tendulkar is unlikely to come back but if he does, Venu and even kaif may go before they even touch Raina.

No, you mark MY words. I was the first one to predict Raina's greatness on here. While you may be a fan, I'm a PROUD fan of Suresh Raina.

 

[DanielFullard]

ODI's = 4-1 to India
Tests = 3-0

 

[Arjun]

I do think the selectors were a tad (only a tad) harsh on Gambhir, but I do feel he really was guilty of throwing away far too many starts. It got to the stage where whenever he got past 20 I was waiting for him to get out, because it was so predictable.

I do think he'll make the WC squad come 2007.

While Gambhir was guilty of throwing away good starts, he made power-packed partnerships at the top of the order. Kaif, on the other hand, looked a weak link and no more, yet gets an extension. Maybe because he's a regular? This just highlights the anti-fringe policy of the selectors, who are never too slow to take a step backwards.

 

[viktor]

While Gambhir was guilty of throwing away good starts, he made power-packed partnerships at the top of the order. Kaif, on the other hand, looked a weak link and no more, yet gets an extension. Maybe because he's a regular? This just highlights the anti-fringe policy of the selectors, who are never too slow to take a step backwards.

A fringe player has to do better than the incumbent to displace him. Gambhir hasn't performed better than Sacin or , except for recently, Sehwag. So there is no place for him in the ODI side.
For the tests, he might make it as the 3rd opener.

 

[TT Boy]

ODI's = 4-1 to India
Tests = 3-0

3 nil to India away from home, your in fantasy land pal.

 

[adharcric]

While Gambhir was guilty of throwing away good starts, he made power-packed partnerships at the top of the order. Kaif, on the other hand, looked a weak link and no more, yet gets an extension. Maybe because he's a regular? This just highlights the anti-fringe policy of the selectors, who are never too slow to take a step backwards.

Well shouldn't a regular get a longer leash? After all, they are regulars for a reason: they have proven themselves well enough to retain their place. Gambhir is talented no doubt, but he did get 5 matches on the trot to try and get a big one. Granted, 5 matches aren't a lot, but when the concerned player has only made one substantial knock and is repeatedly gifting his wicket needlessly and you have talented prospects waiting in the wings, it's not such a bad idea to try them out. Gambhir is still in the selectors' frame surely because we know Chappell likes him and the selectors have shown in the past that they too like him. He just needs to polish his temperament and learn not to throw away starts.

Another point is that we need to try out our best reserve opener options asap. Suppose we continued with Gambhir hoping that he would make a big one, and he continued getting 20s and 30s ... then we finally realize come October that he won't cut it and try to blood Uthappa or Dhawan ... when the World Cup comes around, we would have an extremely inexperienced reserve opener. This is certainly NOT the end for Gautam Gambhir.

 

[adharcric]

A fringe player has to do better than the incumbent to displace him. Gambhir hasn't performed better than Sacin or , except for recently, Sehwag. So there is no place for him in the ODI side.
For the tests, he might make it as the 3rd opener.

He wasn't there to replace Sachin or Sehwag. He was there as the reserve opener. Regardless, he needs to learn not to throw away starts. In the meanwhile, let's hope Uthappa shines. Gambhir will get stiff competition from Uthappa in the one-day arena and Jaffer and Dhawan in the test arena in his quest for a spot in Team India.

 

[kvemuri]

This, of course is the ODI squad. Laxman, Kumble, Jaffer etc will come in and Venugopal, Uthappa and RP may go out.

India should win both contests. ODI's easily and tests depending upon Lara's form.

You are forgetting Lara there my friend, yes he hasn't done well against us till now but you never know. Also I have a feeling that Chanderpaul and Sarwan will blaze, especially with Chanders no longer the skipper and given India's knack of making a nemesis out of a no name (Anderson Cummins, Jimmy Adams, Franklin Rose etc) Fidel Edwards with his pace and bounce might just do that.

 

[viktor]

He wasn't there to replace Sachin or Sehwag..

true. my bad.

 

[garage flower]

Not much talk about the Windies yet on this thread. I couldn't get coverage of the NZ tour but it seems like it was the usual "1 step forward, 2 steps back scenario". The domestic season and "A" team series against England seem to have thrown up a few test team contenders, particularly for the possible vacancy in the middle order (depending on whether Bravo continues to bat at 6), but Morton - a rare success in NZ - should be first in line.

The key though is whether the first choice bowlers are fit and it was encouraging in this respect that both Collins and Collymore have returned to action for Barbados in the knockout stages of the domestic championship, though I don't think Bravo is bowling again yet.

The ODIs will probably have some impact, the latest rumblings about retainer contract negotiations and player sponsorship could well intrude and I'm sure there'll be the usual quotient of injuries, but the test side might look like this:

Gayle
Ganga (Capt...stranger things have happened and he's clearly a captaincy candidate)
Lara
Sarwan
Chanderpaul
Bravo
Ramdin
Mohammed
Edwards
Collymore
Collins

The Prophet is the leading domestic wicket taker and starred in Trinidad & Tobago's final win over Barbados so must have a great chance depending on the first test venue/wicket. Morton would be very unlucky to miss out, but Lara/Sars/Shiv will play if available so I assume he'll only play if the selectors go with just 4 bowlers, in which case Mohammed will probably make way with Gayle providing a useful spin option.

Of the fringe contenders, Sylvester Joseph may have edged ahead of Marlon Samuels in the middle order batting queue and Chattergoon may be vying with Devon Smith for an opener's berth should Ganga - unthinkably! - fail. Ryan Hinds may also be in the frame after a solid season and I wouldn't rule out Dwayne Smith (as much as I'd like to because he's rubbish).

Less depth in the bowling where the likes of Lawson and Best seem to be going backwards for varying reasons. Bradshaw is a contender after an impressive 1st test in NZ, Richard Kelly should at least make the 1-dayers and Jamaica's Andrew Richardson was named most promising young bowler of the season, but I think it's crucial that the selections listed above are fit and firing.

 

[DanielFullard]

This will certainly be a more contested series than the Indies intriguing OD series against Zimb that is beginning soon but the latter will give us some indication of how this side is playing. Hopefully they won’t beat Zimb too easily and will be under some pressure at some point.

Anyone know if Sky are covering the test matches?