Kohli / Hazare > Azhar, VVS, GRV
Yeah, also if Kumble is your other spinner, then Ashwin makes further sense over Jadeja due to the contrast he offers to Kumble, by spinning the ball [away from the left handers].
He was a hell of a player for sure.
That XI without Kumble just seems odd. I would play Jadeja at 7 if we are playing abroad or Ashwin at 8 if we are playing at home, but keep Kumble regardless.
Ashwin and Jadeja unlike Kumble are very good in negative game in test matches. While three quicks prosper, these two are ideal foil to hold up an end. Kumble thrives not on spin but variable bounce. These two are better IMO when nothing is going in the way of spinners.
Srinath suffered due to lack of support. In today;s Indian team, you only need to ask him to bowl 12 - 15 overs per day, at full cry to get the batsmen hopping around and instill fear of damage to batsmen. Then more accurate Bumrah and Shami can do the rest. In addition, he is the best exponent of reverse swing bowling among Indians. I have seen Zaheer getting the recognition, but among non-Pakistanis, Srinath and Ravindra Pushpakumara were the first to work out reverse seing. Pushpakumara had it because he was an inferior copy of Waqar, but Srinath device out his own method. Then came Vaas and Zaheer. He was much better than Shami when the ball starts reverse swinging. Then he becomes a single handed destroyer. 6/21 in Ahmedabad is a good example.
You can't win with only three strike bowlers. Kumble can potentially win you games overseas that Ashwin and Jadeja struggle to.
Well we are talking about three pace bowlers plus a spinner or three seamers plus two all rounders. Just the way you look at it.
Shami?
He is a very good one rather than great. He isn't going to be anywhere near as good as the 3rd/4th bowlers in other teams like Pollock, Garner, Waqar, Davidson or some one else. Picking him doesn't help us in eliminating defeat, when up against those teams. I would rather play Mankad/Jadeja/Nadkarni who won't be all that expensive with the ball, but can play a gritty knock with the bat to secure a draw.
Laxman over Kohli at this point? Can Kohls still turn it around ?
Nah Kohli is still comfortably better than Laxman. Laxman waa never top tier like he was.
Will see. Considering Laxman debuted late, was forced to open against his will, and consistently scored against the best team of his time, I don’t know if Kohli is significantly better than VVS, especially considering his current state of form.
No worries.Will see. Considering Laxman debuted late, was forced to open against his will, and consistently scored against the best team of his time, I don’t know if Kohli is significantly better than VVS, especially considering his current state of form.
On a different note, I regret our interactions from the other thread. My bad! Hope you wouldn’t mind it too much
