***Official*** Sri Lanka in India

[andyc]

Despite the need for specialist openers, I think the best team would probably just be Sehwag coming in for Gambhir. Ganguly has done pretty well and all the other batsmen have scored half centuries. Then you'd just have to have a middle order batsman opening.

 

[marc71178]

Maybe if they can identify someone from the middle order who can go on and do the job long term, they could put him in now?

It worked with Sehwag.

 

[JASON]

I may be imagining this but everytime the Indian batting gets on top, Murali is taken off by Atapattu. It would be shocking if the greatest off spinner the game has known needs protection

I doubt if Murali needs protection.

The truth is if you analyse Murali over several years, you will find he is the bowler hardest done by Umpires in terms of denied wickets !! '

Obviously it will get to any bowler during a long spell, and he has Captains who use him well and when they realise the Umps are steadfastly refusing for reasons unknown, they try and see that he does not get disheartened !!

I hope that point was succinctly put across !!

 

[Jono]

It was succinctly put across, it was also a silly one but whatever.

Anyway Gambhir should not be dropped now. That would be a little premature, he should get the 3rd test at least, and ideally a few tests against Pakistan before they drop the axe. It'll crush him like it crushed Chopra if he's dropped (and Gambhir has a far more fruitful future ahead of him IMO than Chopra ever had).

Ideally I'd like Ganguly to step be dropped. Not going to happen. If Laxman goes I'll fly over to India and smack the selectors on the head, if Yuvraj goes I'll just wait for Ganguly to fail before he or Kaif steps back in the team.

 

[Jono]

Maybe if they can identify someone from the middle order who can go on and do the job long term, they could put him in now?

It worked with Sehwag.

Well see it can't be Laxman or Tendulkar, and I think Dravid is far too valuable to make open. Dhoni keeps wickets and it'd be asking a lot for him to open, plus Sehwag and Dhoni opening in tests would be a bit too much lol. That leaves Ganguly and Yuvraj. Although Yuvraj has improved since a year ago, he still looked clueless when they tried to open him against Australia, and I'd pull a Richard and eat my computer if Ganguly opened the innings. I guess though if the selectors had enough balls and said you either open the innings or you're out of the team, he'd do it.

 

[Jono]

India currently lead by 361 but Atapattu and Sangakkara have played pretty well. I'd like to see one, if not both of them back in the shed before play ends today. I'd feel much more relaxed if that occurred.

 

[SJS]

Despite the need for specialist openers, I think the best team would probably just be Sehwag coming in for Gambhir. Ganguly has done pretty well and all the other batsmen have scored half centuries. Then you'd just have to have a middle order batsman opening.

If Ganguly is willing to become an opener for good (I doubt he will or whether it is advisable) I will accept that but as a stop gap arrangement it is postponing a decision. What if Gambhir had also scored a hundred in one innings ? I know this is hypothetical but captains and leaders need to be able to take decisions which are right and not those which are easier.

Asking Ganguly yo open would be taking the wrong decision since it offers a way out.

 

[SJS]

It was succinctly put across, it was also a silly one but whatever.

Anyway Gambhir should not be dropped now. That would be a little premature, he should get the 3rd test at least, and ideally a few tests against Pakistan before they drop the axe. It'll crush him like it crushed Chopra if he's dropped (and Gambhir has a far more fruitful future ahead of him IMO than Chopra ever had).

Ideally I'd like Ganguly to step be dropped. Not going to happen. If Laxman goes I'll fly over to India and smack the selectors on the head, if Yuvraj goes I'll just wait for Ganguly to fail before he or Kaif steps back in the team.

I am surprised no one wants Pathan to open

Not because I want him though.

Chappell-Dravid's test for me.

 

[Jono]

Oh my God Kumble you are a genius! Double break in the over including Atapattu. That may have just won us this match. India in a strong position now thanks to those 2 late wickets on day 4.

 

[JASON]

Quote from Cricinfo-

looked like an inside edge, Bandara unlucky there

End of over 46 (maiden) Sri Lanka 119/4 (317 more runs req)
A Kumble 16-4-32-2 (2nb) - Stadium End
DPMD Jayawardene 6* (37b)

45.6 Kumble to Bandara, OUT: another wicket in the over! good ball
pitched on the stumps and going straight on, Bandara playing
forward, gets hit on the pad, a loud shout, this time Umpire
Taufel gives it out.

No hesitation from Taufel there !! Despite what he was upto on the previous days when he turned down other close ones.

 

[Jono]

Yeah Bandara was unlucky. But another one gone!!! Bhajji strikes, Samaraweera gone on the 4th last ball of the day.

Oh yes! 6 down now.

 

[JASON]

It should be all-over before lunch on Day 5.

 

[SJS]

It should be all-over before lunch on Day 5.

I dont know if it would have helped them to save the match but Sri Lanka sure made things more difficult for themselves by being too defensive - particularly jayawardane and even Sangakarra to some extent.

I must admit I wasnt watching so dont know if pitch misbehaved but it didnt do dramatically in the morning so I suppose....

 

[irfan]

It was succinctly put across, it was also a silly one but whatever.

Anyway Gambhir should not be dropped now. That would be a little premature, he should get the 3rd test at least, and ideally a few tests against Pakistan before they drop the axe. It'll crush him like it crushed Chopra if he's dropped (and Gambhir has a far more fruitful future ahead of him IMO than Chopra ever had).

Ideally I'd like Ganguly to step be dropped. Not going to happen. If Laxman goes I'll fly over to India and smack the selectors on the head, if Yuvraj goes I'll just wait for Ganguly to fail before he or Kaif steps back in the team.

im with ya buddy

im hopin the indian thinktank has the nerve and conviction to drop ganguly. He may have played solidly but he has a painstakingly slow s/r and doesnt look for singles. Yuvraj has improved a lot andi think he's moulded himself away from being a terrific middle order odi player to a test playa- give him a long run. Gambhir has a lot of potential and has bright future, the only thing bright bout ganguly is his past. - drop him for sehwag

 

[Jono]

This is the side I'd like to go into the 3rd test, and hopefully into the Pakistan series as well.

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid (c)
Tendulkar
Laxman
Yuvraj
Dhoni+ (Providing he hasn't made a lot of keeping errors, how has he done people who are lucky enough to be able to watch?)
Pathan
Agarkar/Zaheer/RP Singh
Kumble
Harbhajan

Kaif as the next batsman in if an injury occurs or a large drop in form by the only expendable middle order player really (Yuvraj). Its amazing that around 3 months ago I was so head strong that Kaif (Who I'm probably the biggest backer of on this board) be in the test team ahead of Yuvraj and definitely Ganguly, yet Yuvraj has played so brilliantly since then he's had me turn my opinion totally around. I await the eventual day that both Yuvraj and Kaif are our mainstay middle order players. Yes we'll dearly miss our Sachin, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly of old, but I think they will do a good job for India in the future.

 

[SJS]

This is the side I'd like to go into the 3rd test, and hopefully into the Pakistan series as well.

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid (c)
Tendulkar
Laxman
Yuvraj
Dhoni+ (Providing he hasn't made a lot of keeping errors, how has he done people who are lucky enough to be able to watch?)
Pathan
Agarkar/Zaheer/RP Singh
Kumble
Harbhajan
.

I agree though I think Agarkar should be dropped. We should play RP Singh or Zaheer or even Murali Karthik.

I would love to see Zaheer and Pathan bowling in tandem.

 

[R_D]

Nice innings by Yuvraj but i still reckon Kaif should be ahead of Yuvi in the test team. He's got to be one of the unluckiest guys... time after time Yuvraj's picked ahead of him. We all know Yuvraj was Ganguly's fav and was always picked ahead of Kaif and it seems like nothing has changed.

Hopefully selectors will show some balls for next season and drop Ganguly not poor Gambhir or anyone else for that matter. Yuvraj should be in after his performance in the 2nd innings and VVS Laxman played well in the first innings as well.
Gaguly did a good job but seriously he's struggling big time and i think its about time we moved on. I'd be peeved if anyone else but Ganguly gets dropped.

This game as good as over, anyone notice the great Ajit Agrakar started the Sri Lankan down fall by getting Sanga out . Pathan to get 2 early wickets tomarrow and than Kumble to wrap it by lunch.

 

[R_D]

I agree though I think Agarkar should be dropped. We should play RP Singh or Zaheer or even Murali Karthik.

I would love to see Zaheer and Pathan bowling in tandem.

Zaheer imho is way too over-rated. I must admit he's a good ODI bowler but has anyone seen his test record... its awful. It might be better to give one of RP Singh or someone else a go.

 

[SJS]

Nice innings by Yuvraj but i still reckon Kaif should be ahead of Yuvi in the test team. He's got to be one of the unluckiest guys... time after time Yuvraj's picked ahead of him. We all know Yuvraj was Ganguly's fav and was always picked ahead of Kaif and it seems like nothing has changed.

Hopefully selectors will show some balls for next season and drop Ganguly not poor Gambhir or anyone else for that matter. Yuvraj should be in after his performance in the 2nd innings and VVS Laxman played well in the first innings as well.
Gaguly did a good job but seriously he's struggling big time and i think its about time we moved on. I'd be peeved if anyone else but Ganguly gets dropped.

This game as good as over, anyone notice the great Ajit Agrakar started the Sri Lankan down fall by getting Sanga out . Pathan to get 2 early wickets tomarrow and than Kumble to wrap it by lunch.

Yes. They should show some guts and drop Ganguly. He did enough not to be called a flop on his return. I think Yuvraj should get it because of his better fielding if nothing else. If there was time Yuvraj may have got his second century today.

 

[Jono]

See if Ganguly did either of the two:
a) Came out batting fluently and scored a ton (or even a 60-80 odd) at a strike rate of a 65+
b) Battled through good bowling, and scored a good ton despite it being at a slow rate

... he could have cemented his spot in the team at least until the Pakistan series. But he hasn't done that. He hasn't failed no. But what he has done is not show great form, but rather just 'do the job' and stay at the crease a while before going out for around 30-40 in both innings. Laxman, Yuvraj both looked better, and Gambhir should be given time. Ganguly is the only option.

Nice innings by Yuvraj but i still reckon Kaif should be ahead of Yuvi in the test team. He's got to be one of the unluckiest guys... time after time Yuvraj's picked ahead of him. We all know Yuvraj was Ganguly's fav and was always picked ahead of Kaif and it seems like nothing has changed.

Its ironic that it could very well be Ganguly that keeps Yuvraj out of the test team for a while.