**Official* IPL 2016

[Jono]

Maxwell ****s up again.

 

[theegyptian]

Billers. Classic batting. Just like me on saturday - caught on the boundary batting left handed.

 

[Prince EWS]

He's not the most aesthetically pleasing cricketer ever but part of me thinks it's really unjust that Bhatia will probably never play for India in any format. He's been a much more effective player in all domestic competitions -- including the pseudo-international IPL -- than Binny. Even at the ripe old age of 36 one could make a case for him being better than Binny right now.

 

[weldone]

He's not the most aesthetically pleasing cricketer ever but part of me thinks it's really unjust that Bhatia will probably never play for India in any format. He's been a much more effective player in all domestic competitions -- including the pseudo-international IPL -- than Binny. Even at the ripe old age of 36 one could make a case for him being better than Binny right now.

But he is a seam bowler who doesn't have pace or swing to bowl in the powerplays. That almost automatically excludes him from consideration (as long as he doesn't bat better than Pandya) when we have spinners like Ash, Jaddu and Mishy. He is basically a Chris Harris-type tight bowler for the middle overs - and India doesn't need such bowlers unless they can bat better than Pandya.

Having said that, I think Harbhajan shouldn't be anywhere near the National team for the exact same reason.

Binny, with his natural swing, can at least take the new ball to bowl in the powerplays.

 

[Pratters]

He's not the most aesthetically pleasing cricketer ever but part of me thinks it's really unjust that Bhatia will probably never play for India in any format. He's been a much more effective player in all domestic competitions -- including the pseudo-international IPL -- than Binny. Even at the ripe old age of 36 one could make a case for him being better than Binny right now.

He is a cricketer who utilises his abilities to max which is always pleasing to see.

 

[Prince EWS]

But he is a seam bowler who doesn't have pace or swing to bowl in the powerplays. That almost automatically excludes him from consideration (as long as he doesn't bat better than Pandya) when we have spinners like Ash, Jaddu and Mishy. He is basically a Chris Harris-type tight bowler for the middle overs - and India doesn't need such bowlers unless they can bat better than Pandya.

Having said that, I think Harbhajan shouldn't be anywhere near the National team for the exact same reason.

Binny, with his natural swing, can at least take the new ball to bowl in the powerplays.

Yeah I don't really disagree with this at all. I'm certainly not suggesting he be parachuted into the side. I just think it's a shame he's probably never going to end up with a cap in any format -- he probably deserved one given some of the other players who have been selected during his career.

 

[91Jmay]

How good a fielder is Billings? Amazing arm, extremely fast. Such a great limited overs prospect. Should take Taylor's spot in the T20 side and put loads of pressure on Morgan in the T20s.

 

[91Jmay]

How good a fielder is Billings? Amazing arm, extremely fast. Such a great limited overs prospect. Should take Taylor's spot in the T20 side and put loads of pressure on Morgan in the T20s.

Seriously imagine if we picked him, Jordan, Stokes, Root as our onside ring at back end of a T20. Ridiculous fielding unit.

 

[theegyptian]

Billings, Buttler and Bairstow are all great athletes. I guess it's a blessing and a curse. Often get forced into fielding if there is an alternative keeper. Never completely specialize on keeping. But often allows you to get into a team on the batting/fielding combo that you might not have made as batting/keeper.

Billings, although I've seen the least of, is imo a better keeper than Bairstow and Buttler.

Shami really gave that game to the opposition.

 

[91Jmay]

Do you reckon the keeper has more of an impact on the game as a fielder than a gun outfielder in limited overs cricket?

Interesting one for me. Think Billings as an outfielder has more value than him being a slightly better keeper than Bairstow.

I could see us playing all 3 of them at some point, all really quality limited overs cricketers.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Good to see Brathwaite isn't just a 4-hit wonder

 

[weldone]

Yeah I don't really disagree with this at all. I'm certainly not suggesting he be parachuted into the side. I just think it's a shame he's probably never going to end up with a cap in any format -- he probably deserved one given some of the other players who have been selected during his career.

He's certainly better than Rishi Dhawan; and they are similar kind of players. The only reason Dhawan was tried in Australia is his age, I suppose.

 

[honestbharani]

The one drawback with everyone of your batsman turning out to be a keeper is who will then be the guy to bowl and fill in if 1 or 2 of the bowlers get tonked. Not saying England will necessarily face it but it could conceivably happen if you get two more gun batsmen who are keepers too.

 

[CricAddict]

The one drawback with everyone of your batsman turning out to be a keeper is who will then be the guy to bowl and fill in if 1 or 2 of the bowlers get tonked. Not saying England will necessarily face it but it could conceivably happen if you get two more gun batsmen who are keepers too.

Yes, exactly. This has happened few times with Srilanka.

 

[mr_mister]

Good to see Brathwaite isn't just a 4-hit wonder

did you not see his twin fifties during the summer? Already proven he isn't a flash in the pan

 

[weldone]

Ya he also played well in the SL series before that

 

[Zinzan]

Holy ****, How's the bug invasion! Bizarre

 

[theegyptian]

Things you can see in the IPL. Aaron Finch at 5. Apparently he also bat 7 and didn't get in in a previous game.

 

[duffer]

Things you can see in the IPL.

David Warner drop a sitter.

 

[Niall]

Rahul is an absolute shambles of a keeper.