Pick your 30!

[chaminda_00]

No, I speak of Pathan - how on earth he makes a Test squad ahaead of someone like Hoggard I'll never know?

I would say something to do with his batting, if you have a side like Harmison, Murali and Ahktar then you need his batting at eight. But in saying that he should have not made it infront of Streak if that the class. Hoggard record aganist Australia also probably played a major part, but again Pathan record just as bad.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Pathan bowls brilliantly on subcontinental wickets that give him little assistance !! I will pick him ahead of Hoggard any day !!

When was the last time he was brilliant? He impressed me against Australia, but his record doesn't justify his selection ahead of Hoggard in a million years.

 

[Deja moo]

Could it be that they wanted variety? Is he the only left armer in the squad ?

 

[chaminda_00]

Could it be that they wanted variety? Is he the only left armer in the squad ?

There is also Vaas, but i think when you add in his batting there is a small reason to put him infront of Hoggard, if they were looking for a left-armer who can bat. I guess that a reason why you would put him infront of Hoggard and Streak.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

There is also Vaas, but i think when you add in his batting there is a small reason to put him infront of Hoggard, if they were looking for a left-armer who can bat. I guess that a reason why you would put him infront of Hoggard and Streak.

Vaas can bat. And he's a better left-armer. Anyway, with Pollock a likely selection I don't think batting depth is such an issue. There's also Vettori.

 

[blockbuster]

One can only look at the World Ratings to see Mr Tendulkar down in 12th.

The top 3 are Dravid, Lara and Kallis but there's also Inzamam and Younis of middle order batsmen ahead of him.

So who would you pick then?

Sorry, but someone who thinks the teams should be picked on world rankings, and doesnt think that Sachin Tendulkar - who averaged 50 in his last Test series - should make the team, has zero feel for the game. You're really making a boofhead of yourself. Younis and Inzamam picked ahead of Tendulkar? Sorry skip, but you have zero understanding of things.

 

[andyc]

Sorry, but someone who thinks the teams should be picked on world rankings, and doesnt think that Sachin Tendulkar - who averaged 50 in his last Test series - should make the team, has zero feel for the game. You're really making a boofhead of yourself. Younis and Inzamam picked ahead of Tendulkar? Sorry skip, but you have zero understanding of things.

*runs for cover*

 

[Craig]

Well, admittedly they selected 39 players so all bets are off really, but 25 of my 30 made it into at least one squad.

Attapattu, Cairns, De Villiers, Fleming & Oram were the unlucky men.

How come NZ have been so roundly ignored? They are arguably the 2nd best ODI team in the world.

Because if your a New Zealander you have to work 10 times harder then everybody else just to get recongised. As Adam Parore once said you feel like being at the back of starting block if your a Kiwi.

But If your Indian, and you have 'talent and potential' you are then the 'next big thing' and life is so much easier. If Pathan was from any other country, no way would he even got any where near the side. Would he even have been playing international cricket?

 

[Craig]

im sorry but you dont make the squad based on captaincy alone.

I'm sure there have been cases in the past where guys have got solely on their captaincy.

And Mr Cool, please don't go about stating the obvious to me pal, I'm fully aware of these things and yes shock horror to you I do watch cricket. But hey in your eyes I don't know anything, isn't that right?

 

[Pratters]

The world rankings are a very good measure of form - and sorry but 12th doesn't get in ahead of 1st, 2nd or 3rd under any circumstances.

But would you chose only on form or a composition of factors.

 

[Zinzan]

New Zealands poor representation is even more strange given our own Sir Richard Hadlee was one of the selectors.

I'm incredible surprised he didn't argue for Cairns in the oneday team. Mind you - who knows, maybe Gavaskar and Rice out voted him, but only 2 kiwis is quite depressing from a N.Zealanders point of view especially when you consider they are 3rd ranked oneday side and Cairns is the star player and the likes of Oram, Fleming , Astle, Marshall are more than useful.

Also Mr Bond should be playing international cricket from August/sept and if he is even close to his old form he'd have to be a look in.

 

[Pratters]

Boucher was a poor pick.

And why was Boucher a poor pick?

 

[Pratters]

Whatever said....Cricket is entertainment....and this match is definitely played to pull crowds...So even if tendulkar is in form or not...he should play this match !!!

Cricket is entertainment but losing to Australia would not be if putting a weaker side than the Rest of the World is capable of. By you rlogic, we should include an injured or not fully fit player just if he is able to bring in the crowds.

 

[Pratters]

Well, Andrew Strauss has been selected, on batting roughly as well against roughly the same opponents...

Huge fan of Strauss but I doubt if he will be selected in the super series if he fails in the ashes.

 

[SJS]

Huge fan of Strauss but I doubt if he will be selected in the super series if he fails in the ashes.

For England players the Ashes is a double edged sword. They could make it or lose out just on this basis. Others are safer or unluckier depending on what happens

 

[honestbharani]

My guess is that Kallis is the most likely to get dropped out of those guys as he has the worst record aganist Australia. Tendukar form hasn't really been that bad, he averages 45 (not including Bangla) and 50 aganist Australia. I would say the side would be something like this:
V Shewag
A Strauss (any of the openers in the squad could get this spot really)
B Lara
S Tendulkar
R Dravid (c)
K Sangakkara
A Flintoff
S Pollock/D Vettori (depending on the pitch and the form of the other quicks)
Murali
S Harmison
S Akhtar

I like that squad.. But I think I would rather select Kumble ahead of Vettori.

 

[masterblaster]

Mate, you are way off the mark. You honestly have no clue if you are so adamant that Tendulkar should not be picked. With selections - as anyone knows - it's a combination of factors: experience, reputation, career record, current form, opposition, team balance etc. Yes, current form is a consideration, but it's only one element.

Besides, you say Tendulkar is out of form like it's some indisputable fact. One can only look at his most recent series against Pakistan, where he averaged 51. Furthermore, in his last 16 Tests, he averages more than 60. Granted, he's not in peak form but, as these figures demonstrate, he's hardly struggling to 'get it off the square'.

Furthermore, even if he was not in form, what did he do to Australia, in Sydney, the last time he was supposedly out of form? He came out and grafted an unvanquished double-century. That's what champions - who average nearly 60 - do. The SuperTest is in Sydney, and against Australia. He will, and thoroughly deserves to, play.

Thank you, it's one of the best posts I've read in a while. I'm not sure why Marc's been so anti Tendulkar lately. Given that his form isn't as destructive as before and granted it doesnt have the same air of invinceability about it as it used to, but his record against Australia is far superior to most batsmen going around.

So 16 years of non stop cricket about 14-15 years of being supremely consistent, setting the benchmark, being the standard and the measuring stick of batting doesn't count for anything now a days does it?

If Sachin Tendulkar misses out on a once in a lifetime cricketing event such as this, there's seriously something wrong with this whole series. Cricket lovers deserve to see Dravid, Tendulkar and Lara batting together in the same team, even if they are in bad form.

 

[masterblaster]

One can only look at the World Ratings to see Mr Tendulkar down in 12th.

The top 3 are Dravid, Lara and Kallis but there's also Inzamam and Younis of middle order batsmen ahead of him.

So who would you pick then?

I seriously expected a better comment from you there Marc. If your just compiling a World XI side made up of 'rankings' alone, then I'm afraid the World XI side selected will just crash and burn. If there's one thing Australia is afraid of, it's sheer and utter class and not form. How many times have we seen the top form sides been demolished time and time again by Australia....Class always wins through in the end, and so will Tendulkar.

 

[chaminda_00]

I like that squad.. But I think I would rather select Kumble ahead of Vettori.

I also think Kumble is a better bowler, but more to do with the batting at 8, you could always drop Ahktar or Harmison and play Kumble and Pollock.

 

[Pratters]

If Sachin Tendulkar misses out on a once in a lifetime cricketing event such as this, there's seriously something wrong with this whole series. Cricket lovers deserve to see Dravid, Tendulkar and Lara batting together in the same team, even if they are in bad form.

Its actually an annual event and I believe the best possible team to win the match should be played. And not being in the best of forms doesnt mean Tendulkar, who is one of the best talents to have played the game, isnt suited to play in this game.

The Australian team will be the happiest if they do not have to bowl to Tendulkar. If Tendulkar is fit, there is no question in my mind that he should play given his track record vs Australia, his ability and his tenacity to handle pressure.