*Official* Road to India in Australia 2011/12

[Furball]

Is there a chance Rohit jumps ahead of Kohli for the number 6 spot. For all of Kohli's talent I cannot get over the way he was harassed by the bouncer in the WI.

Doubt it. Kohli's the man in possession and scored two 50s in his only Test of the WI series.

This might be similar to Raina in England; quite clearly not up to the job but there was absolutely no way Raina shouldn't have played in the series.

 

[morgieb]

What exactly has Mithun done to be picked?

That said, if India make dumb selections like him and Aaron, then I'm for it.

 

[Jono]

Doubt it. Kohli's the man in possession and scored two 50s in his only Test of the WI series.

This might be similar to Raina in England; quite clearly not up to the job but there was absolutely no way Raina shouldn't have played in the series.

I understand the comparison you are making, but Kohli hasn't had the opportunities that Raina had been given before England.

So even though Raina scored in WI, there was evidence to say "well still, he may be ****house in England against their attack" so we will drop him despite his good performances.

Kohli has had one bad series, which was his debut series, and then did pretty well in his only other test. No real reason to drop him despite his good WI test.

 

[Jono]

Also they've only chosen Mithun for his bounce. No other reason.

 

[Furball]

I understand the comparison you are making, but Kohli hasn't had the opportunities that Raina had been given before England.

So even though Raina scored in WI, there was evidence to say "well still, he may be ****house in England against their attack" so we will drop him despite his good performances.

Kohli has had one bad series, which was his debut series, and then did pretty well in his only other test. No real reason to drop him despite his good WI test.

Raina had scored a match-saving ton on debut in Sri Lanka; gone ok at home to Australia; and more crucially was the only batsman out of the newbies to not embarass himself in the West Indies and was the only batsman to perform in the tour game against Somerset. He also scored a good, composed 70-odd in the 2nd dig which could potentially have saved the match if his captain hadn't been busy batting like a **** at the other end. Sure, he was a complete failure for the rest of the series but there was absolutely no logical reason why Raina shouldn't have been in the side for the England series.

I'm not saying Kohli should be dropped btw; someone said that he had issues with the short ball in the West Indies and that Rohit might be a better bet for Australia and I pointed out that, like Raina in England, there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be the man in possession of the number 6 slot.

 

[Howe_zat]

Also they've only chosen Mithun for his bounce. No other reason.

I could've sworn he was a medium pacer?

 

[Jono]

He's not lightning, but he's quicker than both Vinay and Irfan, and bowls a shorter length.

He's also not as good as Vinay and probably Irfan.

 

[Jono]

Raina had scored a match-saving ton on debut in Sri Lanka; gone ok at home to Australia; and more crucially was the only batsman out of the newbies to not embarass himself in the West Indies and was the only batsman to perform in the tour game against Somerset. He also scored a good, composed 70-odd in the 2nd dig which could potentially have saved the match if his captain hadn't been busy batting like a **** at the other end. Sure, he was a complete failure for the rest of the series but there was absolutely no logical reason why Raina shouldn't have been in the side for the England series.

I'm not saying Kohli should be dropped btw; someone said that he had issues with the short ball in the West Indies and that Rohit might be a better bet for Australia and I pointed out that, like Raina in England, there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be the man in possession of the number 6 slot.

No I completely understand what you are saying. You're saying Rohit may be the better option to Kohli but Kohli shouldn't be dropped, just like Kohli may have been the better option to Raina but Raina shouldn't have been dropped (at the time).

But Raina had been known to have issues with the short ball his whole international career. People knew this. His performance in South Africa proved it too.

Everyone was "wtf" when Kohli struggled against Fidel in WI. It was unexpected. He'd never shown any issues or weakness at domestic or international level before. He hasn't since.

 

[Prince EWS]

I could've sworn he was a medium pacer?

Yeah he pretty much is, but he's taller and bangs it in a bit; bowls a more natural "Australian" length.

 

[Howe_zat]

He's not lightning, but he's quicker than both Vinay and Irfan, and bowls a shorter length.

He's also not as good as Vinay and probably Irfan.

Yeah he pretty much is, but he's taller and bangs it in a bit; bowls a more natural "Australian" length.

Cheers.

No I completely understand what you are saying. You're saying Rohit may be the better option to Kohli but Kohli shouldn't be dropped, just like Kohli may have been the better option to Raina but Raina shouldn't have been dropped (at the time).

But Raina had been known to have issues with the short ball his whole international career. People knew this. His performance in South Africa proved it too.

Everyone was "wtf" when Kohli struggled against Fidel in WI. It was unexpected. He'd never shown any issues or weakness at domestic or international level before. He hasn't since.

But surely if there was a time for it to come up, it'd be during his first Test series, especially for a player whose prior FC cricket has been on notoriously bounceless surfaces?

I've got high hopes for Kohli too, but I don't think we can really claim surprise when a young Indian batsman struggles with a Test bouncer barrage. I don't really see where he might have been exposed to one before, so no wonder he'd never shown a weakness to it.

 

[Jono]

He was one of the few Indian batsman that did well in the ODIs in South Africa against Steyn and Morkel.

Yes yes its ODIs, but that is what people are using to want Sharma to maybe play ahead of him (both have awesome FC records).

He's on record saying he struggled against the bouncers because he curved his natural game and became defensive against them, being unsure how to bat in his first test series. That's more a mental/nerve issue imo.

If Rohit played ahead of Kohli I wouldn't mind, been backing them both to the hilt for years. Just saying...

 

[Furball]

No I completely understand what you are saying. You're saying Rohit may be the better option to Kohli but Kohli shouldn't be dropped, just like Kohli may have been the better option to Raina but Raina shouldn't have been dropped (at the time).

But Raina had been known to have issues with the short ball his whole international career. People knew this. His performance in South Africa proved it too.

Everyone was "wtf" when Kohli struggled against Fidel in WI. It was unexpected. He'd never shown any issues or weakness at domestic or international level before. He hasn't since.

Yeah, Raina had issues, but he outperformed Kohli in the West Indies to such a ridiculous degree that it was reasonable to overlook Kohli in Raina's favour.

I don't think Rohit is the better option btw, Kohli's temperament and success in his ODI career scream "Test cricketer" to me. Particularly when you throw in his FC career. Rohit's showing signs of coming to grips with international cricket, and should be the next cab off the rank should a Test spot come up.

 

[Jono]

Yeah agree with all of that.

You couldn't have picked Kohli for England after his horrid WI series, and Yuvraj shouldn't have even been in the mix. With Pujara injured that only left Raina really, as Rahane was too far away and you don't debut an Indian batsmen in England.

I imagine had Dravid not been a ****ing awesome gun and failed to fight his way back into form after looking like a dead duck for 2 years, Rohit would have been in the team earlier.

Rahul and VVS are making the others rightfully wait their turn.

 

[Ruckus]

How is Rahane placed amongst Indian followers? Admittedly I don't follow much Indian cricket, but from the little I've seen of him in t20 and OD cricket he looks a pretty elegant batsmen with some deft touch. Kind of curious to see him play in the longer format given his FC record, which is franky just absurd. It's currently the 4th highest FC average ever.

 

[Prince EWS]

How is Rahane placed amongst Indian followers? Admittedly I don't follow much Indian cricket, but from the little I've seen of him in t20 and OD cricket he looks a pretty elegant batsmen with some deft touch. Kind of curious to see him play in the longer format given his FC record, which is franky just absurd. It's currently the 4th highest FC average ever.

He can hook and pull too, which would've been useful on this tour.

 

[Ruckus]

Any reason then he isn't as high up up the pecking order as Kohli, Rohit etc.?

 

[Prince EWS]

Any reason then he isn't as high up up the pecking order as Kohli, Rohit etc.?

I think the selectors see him as a specialist top three batsman, which would count against him when the vacancy is at six. There's also the fact that the others are much better one day cricket and have played match-winning ODI knocks which, right or (IMO) wrongly, will give them a leg up.

 

[Jono]

Virat can pull and hook (up) too tbh

 

[Spark]

So is there any chance Ponting won't play Boxing Day?

Don't see it myself. Clarke for one will fight for his inclusion with tooth and claw if need be.

 

[Prince EWS]

So is there any chance Ponting won't play Boxing Day?

Don't see it myself. Clarke for one will fight for his inclusion with tooth and claw if need be.

Pretty much no chance IMO. I say "pretty much" because there's still a really small chance that he might get gobbled up by aliens or something.

Hughes's spot is up for grabs if he fails again and Khawaja or Warner make a big score in Hobart. Marsh and Watson will be right for Melbourne, yeah?