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[jks61]

Kumble has been brilliant (nothing new) with the ball and is contributing with the bat too.
 my take Kumble needs to get back in the ODI squad. At the outset, it might look like a step back to the GC, More team (all this talk of youth and crap...) but believe me, even in ODI cricket - wickets are needed and it is worth hiding Kumble in the field..Kumble is going to be no worse than an off color medium pacer or even a Karthik or even Bhajji at times.
Bring back the Jumbo !! what do you guys think?

[flute202020]

jks61, AK is my number one hero in the current team and there is a lot that can be taken as inspiration from him, but AK has been given many chances in ODIs before without effect and looking at the current ODI success, I think we should not tinker with it. AK, if he is not going worse than a off color medium pacer is still a liabilitybecause of his fielding. A good strong, on target throw can change the game result in ODIs. Also, WC07 is in WI and he is not expected to be very effective outside subcontinent.

I too wanted to see AK in ODIs but is now slowly veering towards not giving him a chance in ODIs.

[justforkix]

flute : unelss piyush or powar make their mark in the ODIs, Kumble has a very good chance of being in the WC squad. Remember WI pitches are on the slower side, So, Kumble might be quite usefu.

[jks61]

flute : unelss piyush or powar make their mark in the ODIs, Kumble has a very good chance of being in the WC squad. Remember WI pitches are on the slower side, So, Kumble might be quite usefu.

Very true..most of the WI stadiums are getting a face lift and some of them are getting some work in the pitches too. India's initial matches are listed under Trinadad (I assume Port of Spain - which was always spin friendly)...http://in.rediff.com/cricket/wc07schedule.htm
SO, it might be worth having JUMBO back. True, he is a liability in the field but a wicket is a wicket and AK will be a game trier ...

[schumi]

I would rather keep AK out of the ODIs to prolong his test career. At the same time, he should practice fielding and batting skills (big hits) while the Indian team is playing ODIs. Then bring him to the WC as a surprise package. Dont play him in all the matches, but play him in the big ones.

[senthilpeter]

jks, i'm sure RD is open to all kinds of moves if it improves the team (even if we assume GC is inflexible). And if there is even a small reason to believe AK will help, he will be on the team.
I agree that even a old Kumble is better than our garbage medium pacers. However, his fielding is really a liability. Given this, I see his chances improving a lot IF

1. HS stops doing well in ODIs and his replacments, if any, like PC dont do well either.
2. AK actually plays so well in the Tests that he feeds belief that his bolwing is back with a bang. His bowling in the Mohali Test was just top-notch. It was like Kumble of the old. No short hops and hit-mes that he dropped with great regularity in recent times. Yes, the pitch was helpful, but even otherwise his control was like the old times.

[fineleg]

In the after match interview, Kumble said he'd like to play ODI if team mgmt has a "spot" for him.


He is very enthusiastic to play (ofcourse), but question is can team mgmt accomodate him for ODI spot?
Dilemma.

[keep-it-cool]

guys, i dont think there is much difference between the fielding skills and fitness of AK and ramesh powar ... i would not mind seeing piyush chawla being played in the ODIs .. his amazing control could be an asset there and he can get a feel of the game at the highest level at the same time ...

[senthilpeter]

In the after match interview, Kumble said he'd like to play ODI if team mgmt has a "spot" for him.


He is very enthusiastic to play (ofcourse), but question is can team mgmt accomodate him for ODI spot?
Dilemma.

I liked the way he said -- not a trace of rancour, bitterness or making a case or anything. matter of fact and realistic.... just a great bloke as they say .......

[keep-it-cool]

In the after match interview, Kumble said he'd like to play ODI if team mgmt has a "spot" for him.


He is very enthusiastic to play (ofcourse), but question is can team mgmt accomodate him for ODI spot?
Dilemma.

I liked the way he said -- not a trace of rancour, bitterness or making a case or anything. matter of fact and realistic.... just a great bloke as they say .......

Absolutely ... a great sportsman and a gentleman.

[avinashgodkhindi]

Crucial factors :

1. Power plays with them in the fray and the heavy bats used today unless opposition is extremely weak against spin (which i don't see any intl team today like that) we can't play 2 spinners.
2. Kumble of old was very good at keeping runs downa dn being accruate, he had no much variation then though. While the variation and slowwer pace has made him deadly in tests he is no more as effective in ODIs as he was ( remember those overs in the slog amazing for a spinner)
3. Fielding is poor and batting is more suited to tests.

Still jumbo is my favourite spinner and if he can regain his accruacy and effectiveness in ODI's I think he is still the best option. The team maangement need to back him

[achutank]

aussies are already talking of warne to come back into this sad bowling lineup.

if bhajji 's current bowling is anything to go by and if our back-up is pawar and chawla we should make all the effort to keep ak in the radar for the wc07

[achutank]

and i am getting a feeling just the way wc03 was the sad ending of many careers, wc07 is going be a glorious goodbyes to many stalwart careers like SRT, RD, Ponting, Warne, Kallis

[fineleg]

Absolutely. The way he said it in the interview was a piece of gem.
True champion taking it in his stride. No waffy, wallowy in his talk abt...I have 500 Test wickets and few hundred more International wickets under my belt...I have won ODI matches single handedly for India etc. None of that PR crap. No words that would incite people to take up arms...very peaceful and very calm.
 
Yes he has done all that (500 + x hundred + single handed wins), and we remember all that.
 Suffice it for him to say, "I am interested if there is a spot" - that says it all.
Hats off to a TRUE HERO, a TRUE GENTLEMAN. We salute u Anil whichever form of the game you get to play.

[gouravk]

Yes, the greatest bowler ever to have born in india and definitely one of the top 5 criketers ever, perhaps even top 2-3 as far as match-winning abilities go in test cricket.

[toney]

Guys, arent we just being over excited? AK, in tests is a different proposition to the AK in ODIs. As has been mentioned, his fielding is below std and his batting skills arent that great. Secondly, on flat pitches, he doesnt really pose a huge threat to intl batsmen. The best option might be to groom the younger guys ,ike Chawla who are reasonably good in the other depts too. AK will always remain dear to us, for everything he has done. Rarely has a cricketer been such a gentleman too. But a return to ODIs is a bit unrelaistic, IMHO. The only factor in his favour is that the relaid pitches and the recent ODI pitches in WI have been towards the slower side, not the absolute batting beauties found elsewhere.

[keep-it-cool]

toney, I would agree with you ... but the question is, do we need a back up for harbhajan? and if we do, do we have anyone exciting out there who could be better than AK? And remember, AK has been constantly evolving his bowling skills in the test matches; maybe he has worked on a few tricks for the shorter version of the game as well. So, while I agree he is not the automatic choice to make the playing XI or even the WC squad, the selectors and team management need to keep him on their radar screen, maybe get him to play the challengers and other domestic ODI games to get a better feel. After all, WC 07 is still a long way away and a lot can happen before it begins - injury or in HS's case, being reported again for a dodgy action. So, lets not jump the gun and pronounce a verdict either way now .. and hopefully the men that matter also do not make up their mind so soon!!!