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[LosingNow]

GG/AC
VS
VVS
SRT
SG
RD
MSD+*
IS
ZK
HS
AM

Thoughts?

[poondu]

GG/AC
VS
VVS
SRT
SG
RD
MSD+*
IS
ZK
HS
AM

Thoughts?

Go with Munaf/AM depending on the pitch.

If GG cannot play ,Chopra should open with Veeru. With Cheeka at the helm, he might push for SB and RD would be forced to open..

Even in the long term(post RD/VVS) I think AC and Veeru should open and GG should come one down.

[LosingNow]

Even in the long term(post RD/VVS) I think AC and Veeru should open and GG should come one down.

Interesting idea.. but I think GG is a better option at opening.. shouldnt we look for a genuine #3 (and keep AC as a backup opener) rather than try to accomodate players.

[vincent]

Most probable is that GG will be still available for the next Test. If at all, he will be banned for one Test later.

[dextrous]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

[LosingNow]

Most probable is that GG will be still available for the next Test. If at all, he will be banned for one Test later.

as mentioned in another thread.. I would rather GG sit out this test and get it over with

[LosingNow]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Dex's dharm-sankat (quandary).. SG vs MSD

[dextrous]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Dex's dharm-sankat .. SG vs MSD

MSD has 10 more years to captain...im feeling nostalgic for maharathis right now...lucky for me, srt will play until 2015

[LosingNow]

BTW, have they announced MSD as captain?

[justforkix]

Even in the long term(post RD/VVS) I think AC and Veeru should open and GG should come one down.

Interesting idea.. but I think GG is a better option at opening.. shouldnt we look for a genuine #3 (and keep AC as a backup opener) rather than try to accomodate players.

I don't this is accomodating because GG/VS/Chopra have played as opener or #3 for Delhi, just like VS/SG/SRT did in ODIs for sometime. So, while neither can be termed a genuine #3, all 3 can play there and also not avere to #3 or opening.

[Cover Point]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Yes. and let him open too ..... batting and bowling ... and keep wickets. And yes he should be allowed to do this for both teams

[inoc]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Yes. and let him open too ..... batting and bowling ... and keep wickets. And yes he should be allowed to do this for both teams

nagma ko gussa kyon ata hai


PS smily he he...

para charnein ke pehle

[Cover Point]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Yes. and let him open too ..... batting and bowling ... and keep wickets. And yes he should be allowed to do this for both teams

nagma ko gussa kyon ata hai


PS smily he he...

para charnein ke pehle

gangulians ki bewakoofi ko dekh kar

arre .... humara para nahin chadhta

[broadbat]

Same combination as Mohali. If HS still unfit then Munaf.

[justforkix]

why are we discussing the 11 whithout even knowing what the pitch will be like ?!?

why have the selectors still not drafted in a backup opener and backup spinner 

[broadbat]

A graveyard for the bowlers if reports are to be believed. Then again we have seen that curators opinion about the wicket is what they wish it would be, which is a far cry from how it actually turns out to be.

[justforkix]

Since the thread is titled Nagpur 11, let me post some info on the Aussie XI 

There could be a major reshuffle as per Ponting. He says he needs to find the combination of bowlers who can take 20 wickets and does not mind playing an extra bowler at the expense of a batsman and also does not mind going down 2-0 when trying to level it 1-1. They will look at what Bollinger, Siddle, and Krazy has to offer.

It is quite possible that Krazy may come in for White and Bollinger/Siddle can come in for Watson. There is also talks of both of them coming in place of Clark and Watson.

[broadbat]

I think Clark should make way for Siddle and Watson for Krazy.
They might keep White for SRT.

[keep-it-cool]

A graveyard for the bowlers if reports are to be believed. Then again we have seen that curators opinion about the wicket is what they wish it would be, which is a far cry from how it actually turns out to be.

Yeah. According to first class players (I read this article in DNA Sport, I think) this will be a graveyard for bowlers and a pakka draw pitch.

[keep-it-cool]

If GG does not serve the ban in this test, I would have the same team with HS in for AK.

If GG is banned, my team would be as follows:

WJ (he is a run machine in Indian conditions)
VS
VVS
SG
SRT
RD
MSD
HS
ZK
AM
IS

[broadbat]

GG has appealed so is free to play. Doubt the process can be completed before the start of the Test.

[justforkix]

A graveyard for the bowlers if reports are to be believed. Then again we have seen that curators opinion about the wicket is what they wish it would be, which is a far cry from how it actually turns out to be.

Yeah. According to first class players (I read this article in DNA Sport, I think) this will be a graveyard for bowlers and a pakka draw pitch.

Hindu today said something quite different:

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200811030325.htm

Pitch for final Test expected to offer low bounce

Nagpur (PTI): The pitch for the fourth and final Test between India and Australia here is expected to offer low bounce and assist the spinner midway through the match.

"It's a brick-based pitch topped with a combination of stones used for construction of dwellings, clay and garden soil. It's expected to offer low bounce and would be generally slow paced," VCA sources told PTI on Sunday.

The pitch for the tie has, since then, been watered and continuously rolled and is unlikely to crack though spinners should get purchase from the wicket midway through the five-day series decider, they added.

[keep-it-cool]

A graveyard for the bowlers if reports are to be believed. Then again we have seen that curators opinion about the wicket is what they wish it would be, which is a far cry from how it actually turns out to be.

Yeah. According to first class players (I read this article in DNA Sport, I think) this will be a graveyard for bowlers and a pakka draw pitch.

Hindu today said something quite different:

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200811030325.htm

Pitch for final Test expected to offer low bounce

Nagpur (PTI): The pitch for the fourth and final Test between India and Australia here is expected to offer low bounce and assist the spinner midway through the match.

"It's a brick-based pitch topped with a combination of stones used for construction of dwellings, clay and garden soil. It's expected to offer low bounce and would be generally slow paced," VCA sources told PTI on Sunday.

The pitch for the tie has, since then, been watered and continuously rolled and is unlikely to crack though spinners should get purchase from the wicket midway through the five-day series decider, they added.

I dont think that is too different ... such a pitch is a draw pitch between these two sides.

[broadbat]

assist the spinner midway through the match.

I am sure it is a typo for midway through the season.

[gouravk]

might as well skip this and have 5 good nights of sleep 

[vijay]

GG/AC
VS
VVS
SRT
SG
RD
MSD+*
IS
ZK
HS
AM

Thoughts?

Add an extra bowler to replace RD. e.g. Munaf in place of RD. That will give us the bowling strength to get Aus out twice. Batting wise- GG, VS, SRT, VVS, SG, MSD give us sufficient fire power.

[broadbat]

Since we lead the series it is up to Australia to take 20 wickets. Our job to see that we do not give it to them. On the other hand if we had shown some urgency to win at Delhi that would have been something.

[vijay]

Since we lead the series it is up to Australia to take 20 wickets. Our job to see that we do not give it to them. On the other hand if we had shown some urgency to win at Delhi that would have been something.

Disagree. India should start a test with the objective of winning every time. Besides 2-0 is much nicer than 1-0.

[keep-it-cool]

Disagree.

Winning the Border Gavaskar trophy should be the prime objective and the Aussies win if the series is tied.

I am not saying go in with 6 batsmen even if you normally go in with 5. But there is no logic in changing the way you have been playing when you are not the one who has to take undue risks.

[flute]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Dex's dharm-sankat .. SG vs MSD

MSD has 10 more years to captain...im feeling nostalgic for maharathis right now...lucky for me, srt will play until 2015

MSD will enjoy it for 10 more years..let SG enjoy it one last time!!
what is it, zamindari system?

leave SG alone..let him concentrate on his last test and leave on a high..I hope nobody in BCCI or any of SG fans conspire to make this a reality and muddle SG's retirement.

[justforkix]

shouldnt sg get to captain his last test?

Dex's dharm-sankat .. SG vs MSD

MSD has 10 more years to captain...im feeling nostalgic for maharathis right now...lucky for me, srt will play until 2015

MSD will enjoy it for 10 more years..let SG enjoy it one last time!!
what is it, zamindari system?

leave SG alone..let him concentrate on his last test and leave on a high..I hope nobody in BCCI or any of SG fans conspire to make this a reality and muddle SG's retirement.

what if RD also announces his retirement in Nagpur. Then we can have a grand debate - MSD or SG or RD 

[OldPal]

As said, GG is going to play in this. Else the choice was among Jaffer,AChopra. While Vijay or other newbies may have done well, They should not be introduced in series decider. Jaffer has scored in the BPXI match better than AChopra who could not get decent scores in  any of the inngs. But AChopra has also played against Australia.anyway my preferance would have been Jaffer.

As per 5 bowler approach in this one. That is a no-no in the series decider. We still have SG and VS in addition to 2 + 2 just incase. So the same team with HS coming in place of AK.
I dont think we should be too aggressive in this match. We must take advantage of the fact that Australia is going to do something different and have to push for win. This means they would score fast and focus on additional or different bowlers.  A part of the team strategy should focus on this fact.

[justforkix]

Since we lead the series it is up to Australia to take 20 wickets. Our job to see that we do not give it to them. On the other hand if we had shown some urgency to win at Delhi that would have been something.

Disagree. India should start a test with the objective of winning every time. Besides 2-0 is much nicer than 1-0.

The objective should definitely be to win every test match. As IC put it rightly, he hopes India don't repeat 2007 Oval in Nagpur - their mindset of not trying too hard to win.

But I think it will be foolish to in with 5 full-time bowlers, none of whom can really bat much. If you want to with 5, the 5th has to be Irfan as of now. But he's not in the squad.

[gouravk]

The objective should definitely be to win every test match

Why ? How can you say so so definitively ? Isn't there a subjective element to it ? Elaborate.

[pipsqueak]

The objective should definitely be to win every test match

Why ? How can you say so so definitively ? Isn't there a subjective element to it ? Elaborate.

      

[gouravk]

you didnt understand my question ?

[pipsqueak]

you didnt understand my question ?

no

[justforkix]

The objective should definitely be to win every test match

Why ? How can you say so so definitively ? Isn't there a subjective element to it ? Elaborate.

you mean objective can be to lose or draw a test match going into it  what subjective element 

[justforkix]

BTW, just saw the pitch on tv - it is indeed a bowler's graveyard !!! it is bare, no grass, no cracks at all. no sheen, just brownish and barren look.

This pitch will give Lahore/Faisalabad/Chennai pitch a run for its money. Forget about 20 wickets - I don't think a total of 10 wickets is going to fall here !!

That said, only possible weapon here could be reverse swing. Nothing else - no turn, no swing will happen here. Given that, I will be tempted to include Munaf instead of Mishra. But even for reverse, you need an abrasive surface. I'm not sure this barren/brown/bare picth will give the abrasiveness required for early reverse swing !!

[gouravk]

if every test match was a fundamental unit why was the concept of series defined at all ? why do we keep track of series scores ? why have concepts of 2-0 ? 2-1 ? 1-1 ? why talk about border gavaskar trophy ? why the ashes ?

it is a matter of units ... what is the most significant unit ? i do think teams go in with the mindset of winning series !! of course you need to win test matches to win series. but the intuitive objective should be to win the series (not individual test matches ironical as it may sound )