***Official*** Sri Lanka in India

[ramkumar_gr]

Raina over Rao is in no way a questionable selection. They both deserved a place in the team, but don't tell me Raina doesn't deserve his. Indeed, he is a better fielder than both Kaif and Yuvraj, and he batted brilliantly while chasing with Dhoni. I don't know how you can say he has poor technique after that, maybe you're thinking of his reckless shot in the 5th match, that was terrible I agree. Rao was more deserving than Yuvraj, but the selectors (and Chappell) just seem to have a lot of faith in Yuvi's batting talent and thing he's on the verge of making a big one.

I also think Zaheer Khan is close to deserving a return to the side, he's been brilliant on the domestic scene, and people need to stop holding a bias against him just because there was a bias in his favor in the past. That's not his fault, it's a result of faulty selectors and leadership.

Yadav should work on his bowling more because we need absolutely tight stuff from him. I'm hoping he can make his return soon, but it will be tough with 8 solid batsmen now (sehwag,sachin,dravid,kaif,yuvraj,gambhir,rao,raina). Believe it or not, that list doesnt inclue Laxman and Ganguly.

I feel what you have written about Zaheer khan's return is towards the SA series and not the Srilankan test series. And i feel he should be nowhere near test selection as he had proved more than ineffective and his bowling average is more than 50 in the last 7 test matches. The test line up should VRV Singh, Balaji, Irfan Pathan/RP Singh/Shreeshanth
as I again feel Irfan Pathan, when it comes to test cricket, has a long way to go. 90% of wickets have come against Zim and Ban and lesser said about his performance against Pak in the home test series, the better it would be.

 

[adharcric]

I feel what you have written about Zaheer khan's return is towards the SA series and not the Srilankan test series. And i feel he should be nowhere near test selection as he had proved more than ineffective and his bowling average is more than 50 in the last 7 test matches. The test line up should VRV Singh, Balaji, Irfan Pathan/RP Singh/Shreeshanth
as I again feel Irfan Pathan, when it comes to test cricket, has a long way to go. 90% of wickets have come against Zim and Ban and lesser said about his performance against Pak in the home test series, the better it would be.

Indeed, the lesser said about IKP's home series, the better it would be. Not because it was so bad, but because it was the dreadful stretch where Pathan lost his main asset - swing. He's been a successful bowler whenever he's had that deadly inswinger, and he's shown that he's gotten it back to a large degree lately. So Pathan is a lock for a test berth. Balaji should be given an opportunity, but he's not doing as well as I would want against inferior domestic batsmen. VRV Singh is really a favorite of mine, but I'm disappointed in his selection now that Gloster declared him unfit. What the hell is the point of selecting him if he's going to be declared unfit, I'm sure the selectors should've had an idea of his fitness before selecting him. Instead, they could've gone with one less fast bowler (and kept the same number as last time) and retained Yadav or brought in someone else. Nevertheless, I'm hoping to see VRV blast away in the final ODI.

 

[ramkumar_gr]

Indeed, the lesser said about IKP's home series, the better it would be. Not because it was so bad, but because it was the dreadful stretch where Pathan lost his main asset - swing. He's been a successful bowler whenever he's had that deadly inswinger, and he's shown that he's gotten it back to a large degree lately. So Pathan is a lock for a test berth. Balaji should be given an opportunity, but he's not doing as well as I would want against inferior domestic batsmen. VRV Singh is really a favorite of mine, but I'm disappointed in his selection now that Gloster declared him unfit. What the hell is the point of selecting him if he's going to be declared unfit, I'm sure the selectors should've had an idea of his fitness before selecting him. Instead, they could've gone with one less fast bowler (and kept the same number as last time) and retained Yadav or brought in someone else. Nevertheless, I'm hoping to see VRV blast away in the final ODI.

The way VRV Singh took last 5 wickets for less than 10 runs was amazing. Not many fast bowlers do that in India. He definitely is a test material.

 

[honestbharani]

How do you guys know he will be fit for the final ODI?

 

[adharcric]

How do you guys know he will be fit for the final ODI?

Exactly why I'm shocked by the selection now. He better be fit for the final ODI, or else all this debate about dropping Yadav will be because of VRV's random selection. I really want to see VRV bowl.

 

[Arjun]

Ramkumar, I think you are being unfair to the other players. You seem to imply that players from other zones do not get selected on merit. That, I am pretty sure you know, is not true.
I think we are getting too carried away by the Railways players and their success. Sure, at the domestic level, facing players who have by and large the same or slightly greater skill, they get good results because they combine well as a team. However, there is a thing such as talent and any amount of hardwork can make up for only a so much. Players such as JPY or Bangar are no doubt hardworking, but in my humble opinion, lack the skills to play at the highest level. I haven't seen Pagnis and Yere Goud play, so I won't comment on them.
Having said all that, the selectors have been pretty consistent so far and I am pretty sure JPY will get another chance to prove me wrong!

Talent isn't everything. It has to be put to practice- look at Yuvraj Singh. Potentially, he's one of the best batsmen you'll get these days- his best innings are top-drawer stuff, but his temperament is highly questionable. Bangar and Yadav, on the other hand, do the simple things right, and serve a purpose that none of India's more talented players can.

If talent was the be-all and end-all of selection, you wouldn't find Scott Styris and Jacob Oram in a Kiwi ODI side. Yet, both of them are regulars in a one-day side who win more than a few ODI series, including one against a (later) better-equipped England who got Flintoff later. JP Yadav and Bangar are as good as these two, and if Styris and Oram can make a difference to that team and take it so far, why can't these? Although the rest of the Railways team isn't really out of the ordinary, they have a very sound temperament and work well as a team, but we haven't seen that in the Indian national team, except in the recent past.

 

[honestbharani]

Talent isn't everything. It has to be put to practice- look at Yuvraj Singh. Potentially, he's one of the best batsmen you'll get these days- his best innings are top-drawer stuff, but his temperament is highly questionable. Bangar and Yadav, on the other hand, do the simple things right, and serve a purpose that none of India's more talented players can.

If talent was the be-all and end-all of selection, you wouldn't find Scott Styris and Jacob Oram in a Kiwi ODI side. Yet, both of them are regulars in a one-day side who win more than a few ODI series, including one against a (later) better-equipped England who got Flintoff later. JP Yadav and Bangar are as good as these two, and if Styris and Oram can make a difference to that team and take it so far, why can't these? Although the rest of the Railways team isn't really out of the ordinary, they have a very sound temperament and work well as a team, but we haven't seen that in the Indian national team, except in the recent past.

Actually, Arjun, you will find that most of the Kiwis here will say that Styris and Oram are amongst their most talented cricketers. Cricket is not all that popular in NZ and as such, not many outrageously talented players can be unearthed over there.

 

[Arjun]

I also think Zaheer Khan is close to deserving a return to the side, he's been brilliant on the domestic scene, and people need to stop holding a bias against him just because there was a bias in his favor in the past. That's not his fault, it's a result of faulty selectors and leadership.

IS he bowlign at top pace? And more importantly, how well is he fielding? Both will be key apsects to think about when you're picking the ODI side. He's a fantastic bowler in full form (look at his three five-wicket hauls in Tests as well as his bowling in the Headingley Test in 2002) but fielding and fitness are major issues.

I'm hoping he can make his return soon, but it will be tough with 8 solid batsmen now (sehwag,sachin,dravid,kaif,yuvraj,gambhir,rao,rain a). Believe it or not, that list doesnt inclue Laxman and Ganguly.

Hold on there, Sehwag? He still looks shaky, and even shifting him to the middle-order (proven to be a sure-shot recipe for disaster) won't help much. Yuvraj should take a walk and get back to form playing some FC matches- too much ODI cricket has warped his batting way too much. Rao seems a misfit in ODI's.

Even otherwise, how many of them can smash a few big hits when needed? How many can bowl complete ten-over spells to support the strikers? ZERO! There's no way in Coconut County that any of them can be picked over Yadav, howeevr good they are as batsmen. Agreed, Yadav should work on his bowling, but even those in charge of the Indian team should remodel their plans to accommodate him, the way the Kiwis have got for Scott Styris and Jacob Oram, who actually opens the bowling at times.

VRV Singh is really a favorite of mine, but I'm disappointed in his selection now that Gloster declared him unfit.

WHAT??? This is dumb!!!

What the hell is the point of selecting him if he's going to be declared unfit, I'm sure the selectors should've had an idea of his fitness before selecting him.

The selectors seem as ignorant of Indian domestic cricket as those TV channels/outfits who show cricket in the United States.

But I'd say it's a problem with most Punjab cricketers- they're talented and fiery, but sometimes ignore some really basic aspects. While Dino, Yuvraj and Harbhajan have temperamental issues, this fitness blunder is just another example. Maybe it is because he's a fast bowler, that injuries like these often happen, but you can't ignore them.

Nevertheless, I'm hoping to see VRV blast away in the final ODI.

Why last? After dropping a deserving player to sneak him in, only to find he's not fit, he should bowl in both ODIs and the captain should treat him as a full-fledged strike bowler, giving him the new ball and eight men in catching positions, the way he does for Agarkar. We haven't seen RP Singh or Yadav or Sreesanth so lucky.

 

[Arjun]

Actually, Arjun, you will find that most of the Kiwis here will say that Styris and Oram are amongst their most talented cricketers. Cricket is not all that popular in NZ and as such, not many outrageously talented players can be unearthed over there.

There's someone named Peter Fulton in New Zealand, who's supposed to be a very classy batsman, and in all ways, their version of Kevin Pietersen. But still, he doesn't even find a place in the fourteen. Reason? Not just the back-foot issues that Bracewell talks about, but more importantly, he doesn't serve a purpose. Styris and Oram don't look so good with the bat, but serve a purpose that Fulton (and other batsmen) can't. That's what keeps them in the side. Compare either with Flintoff and you would notice a big gap, yet the Kiwis are a superior side to the English.

Not too many outrageously talented players can be unearthed, so there's greater focus on planning and playing to a task. They combine well as a team, each serves a purpose, and nobody there is an extra. Every player counts, irrespective of how talented he is.

 

[Dasa]

There's someone named Peter Fulton in New Zealand, who's supposed to be a very classy batsman, and in all ways, their version of Kevin Pietersen. But still, he doesn't even find a place in the fourteen. Reason? Not just the back-foot issues that Bracewell talks about, but more importantly, he doesn't serve a purpose. Styris and Oram don't look so good with the bat, but serve a purpose that Fulton (and other batsmen) can't. That's what keeps them in the side. Compare either with Flintoff and you would notice a big gap, yet the Kiwis are a superior side to the English.

I think you'll find that Fulton is being kept out of the side due to their selectors (and Bracewells) blind faith in players that really shouldn't be in the ODI team - ie.Vincent, McMillan etc.

 

[Jono]

Wrong thread to be discussing it, but there isn't much wrong with Vincent in the ODI team if you ask me. He's in some form (thrown away his wicket a few times unfortunately) and has gotten the most runs for NZ in the past few ODis if I'm not mistaken, and on top of that a good fielder.

McMillan I can agree with.

Back to India. If VRV Singh is not fit for the remaining ODIs, then Yadav's dropping is even more unfair.

 

[viktor]

Talent isn't everything. It has to be put to practice- look at Yuvraj Singh. Potentially, he's one of the best batsmen you'll get these days- his best innings are top-drawer stuff, but his temperament is highly questionable. Bangar and Yadav, on the other hand, do the simple things right, and serve a purpose that none of India's more talented players can.

If talent was the be-all and end-all of selection, you wouldn't find Scott Styris and Jacob Oram in a Kiwi ODI side. Yet, both of them are regulars in a one-day side who win more than a few ODI series, including one against a (later) better-equipped England who got Flintoff later. JP Yadav and Bangar are as good as these two, and if Styris and Oram can make a difference to that team and take it so far, why can't these? Although the rest of the Railways team isn't really out of the ordinary, they have a very sound temperament and work well as a team, but we haven't seen that in the Indian national team, except in the recent past.

And neither is temperament. You have to have a right combination of both. The thing is, you can improve your temperament, not your talent. Any amount of temperament is not going to help you when somebody like a Lara is in full flow..you just have to have that skill to do something out of the ordinary. Which is why the most talented people have the longest rope, so to speak. However, I do agree with you about Yuvraj Singh; he does not deserve a place in the side on current form.

Also, its funny you bring up the NZ side as an example; they just lost to RSA 4-0 and are currently wondering whether they have the right personnel for WC07.

 

[Arjun]

And neither is temperament. You have to have a right combination of both. The thing is, you can improve your temperament, not your talent. Any amount of temperament is not going to help you when somebody like a Lara is in full flow..you just have to have that skill to do something out of the ordinary. Which is why the most talented people have the longest rope, so to speak. However, I do agree with you about Yuvraj Singh; he does not deserve a place in the side on current form.

Also, its funny you bring up the NZ side as an example; they just lost to RSA 4-0 and are currently wondering whether they have the right personnel for WC07.

Obviosuly, the Kiwis don't have the right personnel if Mills is leading the attack. But I'm talking of the likes of Scott Styris and Jacob Oram- they don't look world-class, but serve a purpose in the Kiwi side. But this is one side that won a tournament in England, featuring an England side with Andrew Flintoff scoring twin centuries. Then there's Justin Kemp, a specialist late-overs six-hitter who bowls a chunk of medium-pace. He too serves a purpose. So does Andrew Hall. If all of these can play in tournament-winning ODI sides, why can't JP Yadav and Bangar? Neither may be as talented as Venugopal Rao or Balaji, but they serve a purpose neither can- smash some runs in the middle/late overs, then bowl long spells to support the strikers.

p.s. Balaji needs to add a few yards of pace to be effective with a new ball

 

[Arjun]

One thing is certain, Agarkar is the wrong choice for a strike bowler. The team has made him feel like a king (while unfancied bowlers have it rough) and yet, at key moments, he bowls utter rubbish. Little wonder then they've won little when he's been leading the attack. Irfan may be inexperienced, but he's done rather well and is reasonably close (and is also a better six-hitter), and he should be leading the attack. And of course, Sehwag shouldn't be a batting lynchpin- he's the wrong choice for that. Experimentation of this degree is alright, but you have to do it properly. The people in charge of the Indian side have thrown the youngsters in the deep end on Day Five, with nobody to guide them.

For the last two ODI's, they can open with Sehwag and Gambhir, then a middle-order of Kaif, Tendulkar, Dravid and Yadav (he's back), then Irfan, finally Dhoni. Raina may be used as a fielding substitute, and brought on as super-sub when it's possible. The bowling attack should have Irfan, Sreesanth, JP Yadav, RP Singh and Harbhajan.

 

[viktor]

I can't understand why Agarkar should be dropped even though he is doing okay...unless this is more experimentation.

 

[viktor]

Obviosuly, the Kiwis don't have the right personnel if Mills is leading the attack. But I'm talking of the likes of Scott Styris and Jacob Oram- they don't look world-class, but serve a purpose in the Kiwi side. But this is one side that won a tournament in England, featuring an England side with Andrew Flintoff scoring twin centuries. Then there's Justin Kemp, a specialist late-overs six-hitter who bowls a chunk of medium-pace. He too serves a purpose. So does Andrew Hall. If all of these can play in tournament-winning ODI sides, why can't JP Yadav and Bangar? Neither may be as talented as Venugopal Rao or Balaji, but they serve a purpose neither can- smash some runs in the middle/late overs, then bowl long spells to support the strikers.

p.s. Balaji needs to add a few yards of pace to be effective with a new ball

thanks, that is my only point. If they are not talented enough, then there is no need for such hue and cry over their non-selection.Though ofcourse JPY is back now, so this discussion is pretty much meaningless..

 

[adharcric]

thanks, that is my only point. If they are not talented enough, then there is no need for such hue and cry over their non-selection.Though ofcourse JPY is back now, so this discussion is pretty much meaningless..

haha yes. yadav chosen as vrv singh's replacement now. whole discussion goes to waste ...

 

[marc71178]

If talent was the be-all and end-all of selection, you wouldn't find Scott Styris and Jacob Oram in a Kiwi ODI side.

Last time I checked, Oram wasn't in the NZ ODI side...

 

[Pratters]

Sree Santh is giving enough room to Jayasuriya to swing his arms and smack the balls for runs on the off side.

 

[Pratters]

And Pathan is straying down leg side to be smacked for fours as well.

Jayasuriya and Tharanga off to a good start.