Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[gouravk]

Within the last few days 2 players have made statements regarding confidence and I find both a bit optimisitc.

1. VVS - I am confident of making it to the WC Squad.

2. BC Lara - I am confident of receiving support from all (players officials etc)


Your thoughts ?

[ramshorns]

Within the last few days 2 players have made statements regarding confidence and I find both a bit optimisitc.

1. VVS - I am confident of making it to the WC Squad.

2. BC Lara - I am confident of receiving support from all (players officials etc)


Your thoughts ?

As of now the chances of 1. look bleak.   

[Sahir]

Chances of 2 all depend on results-- lose a few matches and the critics will be out with their knives...

[Sahir]

But, at the same time, we cannot really expect the players to say anything much different, can we?  I suppose it is for us, the readers, to filter and assess the probability of certain things occurring.

[gouravk]

You are right about that, I guess

[achutank]

Within the last few days 2 players have made statements regarding confidence and I find both a bit optimisitc.

1. VVS - I am confident of making it to the WC Squad.

2. BC Lara - I am confident of receiving support from all (players officials etc)


Your thoughts ?

they sound like 


 

[keep-it-cool]

At least Lara will be a person each player respects ... I mean, seriously, no one in the current WI squad can think of himself as Lara's equal or even close ... and they need someone to look up to now, more than anything else ... so not a bad short term move in my view ...also gives the selectors there a slightly longer time to observe the future potential candidates for the job

[toney]

kic,
I doubt about this respect that Lara (in your opinion) so readily gets. He hasnt been spectacular as captain twice before. He had his fair share of controversies, especially questions on his commitment. Definitely, he commands respect as the most outrageously talented WI batsman in the last 15 years. But that alone is not enough for him to be a good captain. There have also been incidents of his king like behaviour and junior players' reluctance/fear of approaching him. If any of our players, including the so called arrogant Yuvraj or SG had been half of what Lara was, we would have crucified them.
IMO, this Lara statement was just a PR exercise or maybe just a hopeful one. What else can he say after all?

The VVS statement is also surprising, considering that he hasnt played ODI cricket in a while. If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place? I see very little or no chance of him making the team. Honestly, I feel SG has/should have a better chance.

[keep-it-cool]

I agree, toney, lara has had problems .. he still may have ... what could work in his favour this time around is that he is almost like a father figure (most of the new players coming up for WI are very young, aren't they?). So if he himself mends his ways, he will not have too may guys with past baggage to contend with. I agree his statement is more of a hope than a confident one. However, I think this at least gives WI some breathing space to figure out who will be a long term candidate - as they can watch the likes of sarwan, gayle and ganga (somehow i have a feeling this guy may be the real dark horse) grow over the next one year or so, before making the final choice.

[ramshorns]

The VVS statement is also surprising, considering that he hasnt played ODI cricket in a while. If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place? I see very little or no chance of him making the team. Honestly, I feel SG has/should have a better chance.

Why is it so surprising??Your other part of the statement  "If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place?", reminds me of a basketball player named Patrick Ewing salary close to $20 mil a year, in the middle of players strike or lockdown was asked if the NBA players were not making enough money and would consider a lesser deal.  His response in those fake sunglasses and an expensive suit "We make a lot of money but we also spend a lot of money". 
As if being in the team is in VVS's hands.  That statement of yours is so comparable to Pat Ewing,

[keep-it-cool]

The VVS statement is also surprising, considering that he hasnt played ODI cricket in a while. If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place? I see very little or no chance of him making the team. Honestly, I feel SG has/should have a better chance.

Why is it so surprising??Your other part of the statement  "If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place?", reminds me of a basketball player named Patrick Ewing salary close to $20 mil a year, in the middle of players strike or lockdown was asked if the NBA players were not making enough money and would consider a lesser deal.  His response in those fake sunglasses and an expensive suit "We make a lot of money but we also spend a lot of money". 
As if being in the team is in VVS's hands.  That statement of yours is so comparable to Pat Ewing,

LOL .. I read that and was wondering when you would step in!!! Anyways I agree with you. A confident Laxman is much better than a Laxman who has given up. Maybe it will drive him to really make a point during the test series.

[prfsr]

reminds me of a basketball player named Patrick Ewing salary close to $20 mil a year, in the middle of players strike or lockdown was asked if the NBA players were not making enough money and would consider a lesser deal.  His response in those fake sunglasses and an expensive suit "We make a lot of money but we also spend a lot of money". 

This is true -- the strippers, the (other) girls, the drugs.... none of them are cheap you know 

But seriously, NBA players deserve(d) more money for the same reason SRT et al do -- NBA/BCCI makes a lot of money due to them, so players should get a large(r) share.

-P

[toney]

The VVS statement is also surprising, considering that he hasnt played ODI cricket in a while. If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place? I see very little or no chance of him making the team. Honestly, I feel SG has/should have a better chance.

Why is it so surprising??Your other part of the statement  "If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place?", reminds me of a basketball player named Patrick Ewing salary close to $20 mil a year, in the middle of players strike or lockdown was asked if the NBA players were not making enough money and would consider a lesser deal.  His response in those fake sunglasses and an expensive suit "We make a lot of money but we also spend a lot of money". 
As if being in the team is in VVS's hands.  That statement of yours is so comparable to Pat Ewing,

I was hoping you wouldnt step in. Whats this, rams? Is VVS strictly off limits for the rest of us? If so, I wont comment on him in future. To me, it doesnt make sense that he is so confident about being part of the team, yet he isnt part of the ODI for quite some time and noticeably for this tour to WI itself. Or was your grouse with my statement that SG, IMHO is more suited to ODIs than VVS? Give me one quality that VVS has, over SG in ODIs? Unlike VVS who is effective at no 3 alone, SG can be a more than decent opener and a pretty good batsman for the slog overs. He can bowl slow medium and while he hasnt been great at it recently, it is better to have such an option. In fielding, both arent great shakes in ground fielding. VVS is a better catcher in slips but how often do you have slips in ODIs, especially if the organizers are hoping tomake good batting tracks for the WC?
Give me one reason for VVS's confidence in spite of NOT making it to the ODI team either in the recent past or in this upcoming series. Then, compare me to the NBA player you mentioned.

[ramshorns]

The VVS statement is also surprising, considering that he hasnt played ODI cricket in a while. If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place? I see very little or no chance of him making the team. Honestly, I feel SG has/should have a better chance.

Why is it so surprising??Your other part of the statement  "If he is so confident, why isnt he in the ODI toeam to the WI in the first place?", reminds me of a basketball player named Patrick Ewing salary close to $20 mil a year, in the middle of players strike or lockdown was asked if the NBA players were not making enough money and would consider a lesser deal.  His response in those fake sunglasses and an expensive suit "We make a lot of money but we also spend a lot of money". 
As if being in the team is in VVS's hands.  That statement of yours is so comparable to Pat Ewing,

I was hoping you wouldnt step in. Whats this, rams? Is VVS strictly off limits for the rest of us? If so, I wont comment on him in future. To me, it doesnt make sense that he is so confident about being part of the team, yet he isnt part of the ODI for quite some time and noticeably for this tour to WI itself. Or was your grouse with my statement that SG, IMHO is more suited to ODIs than VVS? Give me one quality that VVS has, over SG in ODIs? Unlike VVS who is effective at no 3 alone, SG can be a more than decent opener and a pretty good batsman for the slog overs. He can bowl slow medium and while he hasnt been great at it recently, it is better to have such an option. In fielding, both arent great shakes in ground fielding. VVS is a better catcher in slips but how often do you have slips in ODIs, especially if the organizers are hoping tomake good batting tracks for the WC?
Give me one reason for VVS's confidence in spite of NOT making it to the ODI team either in the recent past or in this upcoming series. Then, compare me to the NBA player you mentioned.

Now don't try to get too smart here and get SG into the equation and complicate matters.  I never negatively commented once on SG.  That was best left to the likes of you.   Your statement there was about VVS and I had felt that way and hence my comparision to the NBA player. 

As for your saying if you are off limits on commenting about VVS, I would ask you to read K-I-C's post immediately following mine(scroll up) and he exactly got what VVS meant. 

VVS proved he is in form and is a good fit.  His success in the challengers where he was one of the top performers taking on the best bowling line up the country has to offer validates that.  Also that was the yardstick used to select almost all players.  So when he was one of the top performers in the challengers he has every reason to be confident about his chances of making it back.  It is a matter of people selecting him and applying the same standards.  You do not have to agree with it but I feel that if VVS is included in the ODI's that would not be all that bad an idea for the reasons above. 

I would also ask to read his interview recently on how he is trying to improve and his work regimen and why he thinks he fits in.  If you don't like someone in the team it is OK but putting things out of context is when you have me jump in.

Also I want you to see my very first post on this thread to get the practical side to it.

[toney]

Now don't try to get too smart here and get SG into the equation and complicate matters.  I never negatively commented once on SG.  That was best left to the likes of you.   Your statement there was about VVS and I had felt that way and hence my comparision to the NBA player. 

OK, so this was not the reason and I was wrong. There is nothing about me getting smart on this. If you never negatively commented on SG or if you did, it doesnt affect me. All I was doing was trying to find out the exact reason for your disagreement and the way you put it. Whenever anyone opines that VVS is not the ideal ODI player India needs, you usually jut in and say that the poster hates VVS. Is that the only reason why somebody has such an opinion?

VVS proved he is in form and is a good fit.  His success in the challengers where he was one of the top performers taking on the best bowling line up the country has to offer validates that.  Also that was the yardstick used to select almost all players.  So when he was one of the top performers in the challengers he has every reason to be confident about his chances of making it back.  It is a matter of people selecting him and applying the same standards.  You do not have to agree with it but I feel that if VVS is included in the ODI's that would not be all that bad an idea for the reasons above. 

OK, those are reasons for you to think that VVS deserves to be in the team. Maybe, those are the exact reasons why VVS expects to be in the team now. The thread owner, Gourav was wondering if VVS wasnt being overly confident about this statement, in spite of not being selected after all these "suucessful challenger trophy performances" and his "form and fitness". There is not one reason in your post about how VVS can continue to be confident. If a player isnt chosen in spite of all these so called successes, wouldnt he be less confident of a recall, considering things pragmatically? Unless RD/GC assured VVS that he will be selected for the WC but will not play a single ODI between now and then, I think VVS is just being plain optimistic.

If you don't like someone in the team it is OK but putting things out of context is when you have me jump in.

Statements like these are exactly the same reason why I said you have it in you that VVS is off limits for all those who dont agree with you. Here, you have assumed that I dont like VVS. I wonder how you arrived at this conclusion. So, every player I dont want in the team is a player disliked by me?

Also I want you to see my very first post on this thread to get the practical side to it.
WHICH WOULD BE

As of now the chances of 1. look bleak.   

So, you yourself say that the chances are bleak and yet you say that VVS is right in being confident of a recall. There is a contradiction there.

PS: You assumed that I didnt read your first post or the VVS interviews etc etc. I have seen this earlier in your threads too but they never concerned me directly, so I never responded. Please dont be so insecure. If I responded to you, you can safely assume that it was after reading your post with a certain degree of attention to its contents.

[ramshorns]

Now don't try to get too smart here and get SG into the equation and complicate matters.  I never negatively commented once on SG.  That was best left to the likes of you.   Your statement there was about VVS and I had felt that way and hence my comparision to the NBA player. 

OK, so this was not the reason and I was wrong. There is nothing about me getting smart on this. If you never negatively commented on SG or if you did, it doesnt affect me. All I was doing was trying to find out the exact reason for your disagreement and the way you put it. Whenever anyone opines that VVS is not the ideal ODI player India needs, you usually jut in and say that the poster hates VVS. Is that the only reason why somebody has such an opinion?

VVS proved he is in form and is a good fit.  His success in the challengers where he was one of the top performers taking on the best bowling line up the country has to offer validates that.  Also that was the yardstick used to select almost all players.  So when he was one of the top performers in the challengers he has every reason to be confident about his chances of making it back.  It is a matter of people selecting him and applying the same standards.  You do not have to agree with it but I feel that if VVS is included in the ODI's that would not be all that bad an idea for the reasons above. 

OK, those are reasons for you to think that VVS deserves to be in the team. Maybe, those are the exact reasons why VVS expects to be in the team now. The thread owner, Gourav was wondering if VVS wasnt being overly confident about this statement, in spite of not being selected after all these "suucessful challenger trophy performances" and his "form and fitness". There is not one reason in your post about how VVS can continue to be confident. If a player isnt chosen in spite of all these so called successes, wouldnt he be less confident of a recall, considering things pragmatically? Unless RD/GC assured VVS that he will be selected for the WC but will not play a single ODI between now and then, I think VVS is just being plain optimistic.

Also I want you to see my very first post on this thread to get the practical side to it.
WHICH WOULD BE

As of now the chances of 1. look bleak.   

So, you yourself say that the chances are bleak and yet you say that VVS is right in being confident of a recall. There is a contradiction there.

PS: You assumed that I didnt read your first post or the VVS interviews etc etc. I have seen this earlier in your threads too but they never concerned me directly, so I never responded. Please dont be so insecure. If I responded to you, you can safely assume that it was after reading your post with a certain degree of attention to its contents.

Now you are providing a cover up for the Ewing like statement and that does not change the erroneous nature of your take.  You putting a spin on things will not change that.  If a player who performed well is not considered then that can be attributed to the direction the team management wants to go.  Right or Wrong is up for debate.  But VVS should say and feel and do exactly what he is doing now????I commend him for that.

If you cannot differentiate between being practical and saying what I personally feel like I cannot help you.  All I can say is you are confused judging a person who is taking practical approach to things based on certian parameters to being contradictory. 

As long as you have valid takes you will not hear from me, but if I feel otherwise IMO sorry I will be a thorn in the flesh and take you on. 

If you don't like someone in the team it is OK but putting things out of context is when you have me jump in.

Statements like these are exactly the same reason why I said you have it in you that VVS is off limits for all those who dont agree with you. Here, you have assumed that I dont like VVS. I wonder how you arrived at this conclusion. So, every player I dont want in the team is a player disliked by me?

That is the way I felt about it.  You can disagree if you do not want VVS in the team.  Few people already said that.  We agreed to disagree.

[Stumped]

Ok Ramshorns, a question for you. If you were the selector, where would you put VVS in the current ODI setup?

[ramshorns]

Ok Ramshorns, a question for you. If you were the selector, where would you put VVS in the current ODI setup?

First of all I will have him in the 15 and based on the conditions and the oppostion we play I will consider him putting him in the playing 11.

[Stumped]

Give me a direct answer please.
Where in 15 you would put in?
And under what conditions you play him?
And which opposition you would play him against?

[ramshorns]

Give me a direct answer please.
Where in 15 you would put in?
And under what conditions you play him?
And which opposition you would play him against?

I have debated this one before.  I would ask you to check the archives.  Again there are probably few hundered posts on that if you care to look. I am sorry, I will not get into another debate on that one.  We have come full circle on this.  I am sure if you are smart enough to decide if VVS deserves a place who he can replace.  As for the oppostions he can play and conditions he can play anyone who followed cricket decently in the last 4-5 years would know that.  The purpose of my response on this thread is different.

[Stumped]

I rest my case dude.
Then dont post anything on this thread. And dont argue with people who says Laxman cofidence is unrealistic. This thread is about Laxman and his realistic confidence.

[fineleg]

Stumped,
We can easily get VVS in place of Kaif in current squad (batting is the #1 job, fielding is after that).
To get into playing 11, will depend on RD making the decision on match basis. RD is capable of judging that.

1. VS
2. RU
3. VVS
4. YS
5. RD
6. SR
7. MSD
8. IP
9. RP (powar)
10. MP (munaf)
11. HS or SS (pace or spin - pitch based)

If RD feels 5 bowlers needed, he can decide to rest either RU or VVS for an extra bowler.

I will take VVS over Venu into the playing 11 first, - if that is going to be ur next question. Venu remains in squad, and  can come into 11 depending on the form of VVS after we try him out.

[ramshorns]

I rest my case dude.
Then dont post anything on this thread. And dont argue with people who says Laxman cofidence is unrealistic. This thread is about Laxman and his realistic confidence.

OK your highness I will not post on this thread any more.  I will not argue with anyone who say that Laxman should not have any realistic confidence.  I will just carry a message from this thread to VVS asking him to not  train, practice or set goals.  I will ask him not to speak to anyone and say anything about his chances. I will just ask him to quit and be a loser.  I will also ask him to get Stumped next time he shows up at the wicket as a gift to THE LORD Stumped.

[Stumped]

Good for you.

[toney]

Now you are providing a cover up for the Ewing like statement and that does not change the erroneous nature of your take.  You putting a spin on things will not change that.  If a player who performed well is not considered then that can be attributed to the direction the team management wants to go.  Right or Wrong is up for debate.  But VVS should say and feel and do exactly what he is doing now????I commend him for that.

If you cannot differentiate between being practical and saying what I personally feel like I cannot help you.  All I can say is you are confused judging a person who is taking practical approach to things based on certian parameters to being contradictory. 

As long as you have valid takes you will not hear from me, but if I feel otherwise IMO sorry I will be a thorn in the flesh and take you on. 
......
That is the way I felt about it.  You can disagree if you do not want VVS in the team.  Few people already said that.  We agreed to disagree.

Honestly, rams, I dont see any humour in this post and so will conclude that you wrote this in all seriousness. In which case, I dont feel it necessary to continue. It was a nice exchange.

[fineleg]

Let people post their comments on VVS or not - it is not necessary to say, "Don't post!"

[toney]

fineleg, no one did that.

[ramshorns]

Now you are providing a cover up for the Ewing like statement and that does not change the erroneous nature of your take.  You putting a spin on things will not change that.  If a player who performed well is not considered then that can be attributed to the direction the team management wants to go.  Right or Wrong is up for debate.  But VVS should say and feel and do exactly what he is doing now????I commend him for that.

If you cannot differentiate between being practical and saying what I personally feel like I cannot help you.  All I can say is you are confused judging a person who is taking practical approach to things based on certian parameters to being contradictory. 

As long as you have valid takes you will not hear from me, but if I feel otherwise IMO sorry I will be a thorn in the flesh and take you on. 
......
That is the way I felt about it.  You can disagree if you do not want VVS in the team.  Few people already said that.  We agreed to disagree.

Honestly, rams, I dont see any humour in this post and so will conclude that you wrote this in all seriousness. In which case, I dont feel it necessary to continue. It was a nice exchange.

Any one who will read this thread from top to bottom will exactly know the contents, context and the nature of the takes.  So they will decide for themselves.  I am posting this one with the permission of "HIS HIGHNESS"

[Stumped]

Fineleg,
Your lineup seems fine. But lets take some scenarios.
If VVS comes in at the fall of an early wicket, can he make use of the field restrictions?
If he comes up after a huge opening partenership, will he able to slog in the remaining overs?
My answer is NO in both the cases. And it was proved multiple times, with very very rare exceptions.
I agree Kaif has to be replaced based on this current form, but can we replace a person who is not in form with another person who didnt come good in most of the scenarios? If Kaif has to be replaced, then it has to be done with someone who can apply himself in both those above scenarios. And that someone is more of an SGish than VVSish. No?

[toney]

Rams, hope HIS HIGHNESS wasnt me. And yeah, as long as no one deletes their posts, the exchanges will be there for all to see.

[Stumped]

Endhi Sir Ranshorns gaaru, alaa serious ayipothaaru....light theesukondi sir. All I am saying VVS is putting his confidence at the wrong place. He is a proven TMS. Even if he tries from now on, I am sure he can become one of the test greats over a couple of years

[ramshorns]

Rams, hope HIS HIGHNESS wasnt me. And yeah, as long as no one deletes their posts, the exchanges will be there for all to see.

Follow what I said read the thread from top to bottom and you will get the answers.  The problem is if you jump in between.

[toney]

Fineleg,
Your lineup seems fine. But lets take some scenarios.
If VVS comes in at the fall of an early wicket, can he make use of the field restrictions?
If he comes up after a huge opening partenership, will he able to slog in the remaining overs?
My answer is NO in both the cases. And it was proved multiple times, with very very rare exceptions.
I agree Kaif has to be replaced based on this current form, but can we replace a person who is not in form with another person who didnt come good in most of the scenarios? If Kaif has to be replaced, then it has to be done with someone who can apply himself in both those above scenarios. And that someone is more of an SGish than VVSish. No?

My main concern with VVS in a lineup is that he is useful only if he has enough overs to play, preferably in a number 3 position. Considering the flexibility that we have in the lineup, it is a step backwards to have no flexibility at this crucial position.

[fineleg]

Fineleg,
Your lineup seems fine. But lets take some scenarios.
If VVS comes in at the fall of an early wicket, can he make use of the field restrictions?
If he comes up after a huge opening partenership, will he able to slog in the remaining overs?
My answer is NO in both the cases. And it was proved multiple times, with very very rare exceptions.
I agree Kaif has to be replaced based on this current form, but can we replace a person who is not in form with another person who didnt come good in most of the scenarios? If Kaif has to be replaced, then it has to be done with someone who can apply himself in both those above scenarios. And that someone is more of an SGish than VVSish. No?

VVS can certainly pierce the field and find gaps in field restrictions - no questions abt that.

He can take singles and rotate strike, as evidenced by his SR of recent times, inclusive of Champions Trophy - he is like Rahul Dravid in that.

One difference, RD has learnt to slog bit better than VVS - if your first wicket falls only in 35+ overs, then dont send VVS - u have a great platform, and plenty others to boost it further.
But, often times, first wicket may fall in 10 overs (if not earlier) or sometime later - in such cases, VVS is perfect. So, all batsmen dont have to bat all matches - he has a role which he will do well.

"SG-ish" in his prime type of player is certainly welcome. But, today Venu is not that, Kaif is not that, SG himself is not that (yeah go on...i touched SG, but that is IMO) - so yes, a better than VVS ODI player can be found, but we need time for that, and in that time, VVS is better than Kaif (and probably better than Venu - we can try that out atleast both guys).

[Sahir]

Changing gears just a little bit looking at fineleg's lineup has got me thinking where exactly SRT would fit in once fit.  Unlike in Tests where SRT's recent performances have been poor, he has done pretty well in ODIs, contributing some key performances with both and ball.  Therefore, it seems somewhat a given that he will make it back to the ODI side straight away, but is it possible that he will move down into the middle order?  Is RD enjoying his role as opener or maybe RU will perform well in the opportunities he is provided?  I think SRT in the middle order should at least be an option that we look at prior to the WC to further the mantra of flexibility in our lineup.

[fineleg]

Fineleg,
Your lineup seems fine. But lets take some scenarios.
If VVS comes in at the fall of an early wicket, can he make use of the field restrictions?
If he comes up after a huge opening partenership, will he able to slog in the remaining overs?
My answer is NO in both the cases. And it was proved multiple times, with very very rare exceptions.
I agree Kaif has to be replaced based on this current form, but can we replace a person who is not in form with another person who didnt come good in most of the scenarios? If Kaif has to be replaced, then it has to be done with someone who can apply himself in both those above scenarios. And that someone is more of an SGish than VVSish. No?

My main concern with VVS in a lineup is that he is useful only if he has enough overs to play, preferably in a number 3 position. Considering the flexibility that we have in the lineup, it is a step backwards to have no flexibility at this crucial position.

Yes, VVS is best at #3 and coming in by 20 overs, or atleast before 30 overs.
But that happens more often than not. The first wicket falling within 15 overs is HIGH probability when Ind is batting.

Venu also is #3 player, Kaif is also #3 player - all similar.
Among these 3 VVS is better (SG in prime is better than VVS but that is history and past dated).

[Stumped]

Spot on Toney.
So when deciding your team, you wouldnt know which scenario your team might face during the match. So including VVS for the sake of replacing Kaif will be a bad move.

[Stumped]

Fineleg, How about we try RU in place of VVS/Kaif/Venu once SRT comes back. Wouldnt it be better (providing RU maintains his nice form)

[fineleg]

Changing gears just a little bit looking at fineleg's lineup has got me thinking where exactly SRT would fit in once fit.  Unlike in Tests where SRT's recent performances have been poor, he has done pretty well in ODIs, contributing some key performances with both and ball.  Therefore, it seems somewhat a given that he will make it back to the ODI side straight away, but is it possible that he will move down into the middle order?  Is RD enjoying his role as opener or maybe RU will perform well in the opportunities he is provided?  I think SRT in the middle order should at least be an option that we look at prior to the WC to further the mantra of flexibility in our lineup.

Good point, sahir.
I do think considering SRT for middle order shud be done for flexibility sake. Also, SRT reflexes slowed down, not as quick to get into position against the moving ball in first 10 overs.
SRT will come in atleast in place of RU or Kaif or Venu or even VS if VS fails (so finding a spot in the 11 is not hard).

But, SRT has to score runs - the issue is what if SRT does not score in Champions Trophy or SA odis etc...then come WC-07, if we have a SRT who is outta form in ODI's - do we play 11 without SRT in WC!???

[toney]

Fineleg, you missed something. While I agree wiht you on the probability of a wicket falling in the early overs, why should it be necessary that VVS has to be the one coming in each time? What if India had a great start and wants to continue in the same vein? Wouldnt a Dhoni or a Pathan fit in better then? There are so many other scenarios. Then, we would definitely prefer a player who can don more roles than a conventional no 3 batsman. I dont think your argument that VVS needn't be utilized as a batsman in every game is a valid one.
Stumped, thats exactly what I am saying. VVS in his current avatar is not the greatest option becuase we will be forced to plan only with a loss in flexibility.