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[ruchir]

Sehwag (cap.)
Jaffer
Gambhir
Tendulkar
Dhoni (v.cap)
Karthik (wkt)
Pathan
Bhajji
Zaheer
VRV
Munna bhai

Batting order can be changed.

I want to test fitness of MP and try out GG, and HS. VS, WJ, SRT, MSD need more batting practice. IP gets a chance to see where he stands bowling-wise. ZK and VRV get to stay in touch cricket. DK is a filler who can be replaced with anyone who wants to bat.

SG gets a break because he is currently in positive frame of mind after Test 1. I don't want to risk him getting out on a low score and go Test 2 with doubts. If he really feels he wants more practice, he can replace DK.

RD, AK, VVS get a break. In case SG wants a break and RD wants to bat, he can replace DK.

SS is too emotional. He needs a break more for emotional reasons than physical.

Since both RD and VVS are not playing, VS gets captaincy. Since AK is also not there, MSD seems a good candidate to get V.captaincy (even if it is token, in a 2 day game).

[ruchir]

http://www.htcricket.com/htcricket/8145_1876032,00160140.htm


The rain brings its fears

Kadambari Murali

Durban, December 22, 2006

When the heat was on, earlier in Potchefstroom and at the Wanderers this week gone by, India flew close to the sun and managed to get by without getting their wings clipped and falling to the ground.

But when it has rained or the skies have loomed eerily grey, as has been the case through most of the one-day series, India have invariably gone and lost themselves in the clouds.

If an omen is what they were looking for in the run-up to the Kingsmead Test, this one will not make them happy — it rained for long hours on Wednesday night and after being overcast for most of the morning, the rains finally came down again by late afternoon in what was once called sunny Durban.

At the moment, all you can see from the team hotel here are wet, grey streets, a wet, yellowish-grey beach and a choppy, foaming, grey sea — you get the picture!

So India's two-day practice match against a hurriedly put together KwaZulu Natal Invitation XI, scheduled to be held at the Northwood Crusaders Cricket Club here, might well not really take off.

It would be a shame if it doesn't, because the game, more of a central wicket practice of sorts than anything (given the quality of the opposition as top players are not available during this festive week here) will be a good chance to see how Munaf Patel copes with being on the field again.

While the focus will obviously be on Munaf and whether he will be a 100 per cent fit for the second Test, the Indian think thank is also keen that Gautam Gambhir, who has not had any time in the middle so far, also gets a look in.

Given India's worries at the top, it is important that Gambhir, India's opener on standby for this tour, keeps his eye in. In any case, it cannot be easy just being a traveller. As Gambhir and Munaf seem to spend all their time off the ground together, it would be interesting to know what they're discussing and how they're keeping each others' spirits up.

At the same time, it is difficult to see how India's regular openers, Sehwag and Jaffer, both of whom have had a forgettable tour in both forms of the game so far, will not play, if this practice game happens. They definitely will. They will need time in the middle but India is likely to play 12 players to give as many people as much batting and bowling practice as possible. Anil Kumble might get a rest as possibly, will Sreesanth or Zaheer.

But then again, perhaps Dravid will want to keep them in the loop at least in small spells given that a lot will depend on them in Kingsmead. The wicket at the moment seems of the type that will probably give opening batsmen a bad case of the runs the night before but even though there are a few days to the Test, the wet weather will not help the groundsmen do anything about it.

Still, you have to suppose that South Africa, having seen what the Indian pacemen can do, will not be too keen on anything dramatic. The Proteas get here on Saturday morning but it might not be in their hands at all!

Squads

India: Rahul Dravid (c), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahindra Singh Dhoni (wk), Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Virender Sehwag, VRV Singh, S Sreesanth

KwaZulu Natal Invitation XI: Rivash Gobind (c), Imraan Khan, Ross McMillan, Martin Bekker, Cedric Mabuya, Michael van Vuuren, Darren Smit, Robert Frylinck, T Pillay, Saidi Mhlongo, Ugasen Govender, M. Serame.

[suraj]

This might also be a good opportunity to try IP or SG as the opener and see how they do- the opening pair of WJ and VS has been a failure

[Libran]

Sehwag (cap.)
Jaffer
Gambhir
Tendulkar
Dhoni (v.cap)
Karthik (wkt)
Pathan
Bhajji
Zaheer
VRV
Munna bhai

Batting order can be changed.

I want to test fitness of MP and try out GG, and HS. VS, WJ, SRT, MSD need more batting practice. IP gets a chance to see where he stands bowling-wise. ZK and VRV get to stay in touch cricket. DK is a filler who can be replaced with anyone who wants to bat.

SG gets a break because he is currently in positive frame of mind after Test 1. I don't want to risk him getting out on a low score and go Test 2 with doubts. If he really feels he wants more practice, he can replace DK.

RD, AK, VVS get a break. In case SG wants a break and RD wants to bat, he can replace DK.

SS is too emotional. He needs a break more for emotional reasons than physical.

Since both RD and VVS are not playing, VS gets captaincy. Since AK is also not there, MSD seems a good candidate to get V.captaincy (even if it is token, in a 2 day game).

I would rather rest Dhoni and get in RD..MSD's primary job is that of a WK...with 4 ODIs + the side games and one test already done with and no break, MSD should be rested.....

RD while not actually struggling, needs to bat for some time..he will be the focal point of our batting in Durban if it is going to be fast and bouncier than J'Burg....

I would also prefer ZK to be rested , so that IP can take a much larger load and get into the groove.

[ruchir]

RD playing instead of Dhoni..... okay, not a bad idea.

But in my team, I have both ZK and IP. So, if ZK rests, then who plays in his place?

[Libran]

I thought we needed only 10 to roll them over...

*shakes head and reminds*....arrogance is not any Indian fortitude..

Yes, Ruchir...good point....maybe VVS or SS

[dhruvdeepak]

it is not a first class match and i expect they will give 13 out of the 16 a go barring anyone who needs a rest (Kumble, Sreesanth)

everyone needs a bat pretty much so batting lineup will play everyone except Karthik (not required). and Zak, Pathan, VRV, Munna, Bhajji will have some bowling practice.

[ruchir]

The match has started....

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/rsavind/engine/current/match/273503.html


Sehwag, Jaffer are batting.....
To bat *R Dravid, SR Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, G Gambhir, SC Ganguly, +MS Dhoni, M Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan

Looks like what DD said.... They will rotate players while fielding.

[pieterSAN]

India 64/2. Jaffer fails (2) and Sehwag strokes quickfire 40. Gambhir still there.

[pieterSAN]

Indians 137/2... Gambhir now has 60 not out (87 balls incuding 1 six). Dravid on 30.

[ruchir]

So the openers for Test 2 are sealed?? VS and GG?? That means still no place for IP though.

[Jai]

Indians 1st innings R B 4s 6s SR 

 W Jaffer c Gobind b Frylinck 2 19 0 0 10.52 
 V Sehwag c Gobind b Mhlongo 40 46 3 2 86.95 
 G Gambhir retired hurt 79 101 8 2 78.21 
 R Dravid retired hurt 38 77 5 0 49.35 
 VVS Laxman c Smit b McMillan 4 26 0 0 15.38 
 SC Ganguly not out 41 100 4 1 41.00 
 IK Pathan c Singh b Serame 15 15 2 1 100.00 
 KD Karthik c Gobind b Frylinck 12 20 1 1 60.00 
 A Kumble c & b Pillay 23 50 2 0 46.00 
 Harbhajan Singh not out 10 11 1 1 90.90 
     Extras (lb 1, w 2, nb 4) 7     
         
     Total (6 wickets; 77 overs) 271   

[Cover Point]

Was surprised at the lack of posts on this thread. Even though this is not even a first class match, the implications for our team are still very high.

Jaffer by his failure again has confirmed himself as an opener....for the Mumbai team that is for their next game.

That leaves Gambhir and VS as openers. Now this game against these set of bowlers may not mean much in terms of Gambhir's ability to face Pollock and Ntini, but he gets in by the process of elimination.

good to see Sehwag get 40 ... but again that means nothing. He actually has played good shots in other innings too ... just that he gets out, consistently, to certain balls that he will see a lot in the tests.

Ganguly continues his respectable showing... so the test team for India will be unchanged bar for Jaffer being swapped for Gambhir.

I would like to see Pathan get into the 11 , not as an opener but for another middle order bat. Aint gonna happen though. On bowling pitch it would be good to go with 4 and half bowlers and IF he can get some good swing going we can turn the match our way.

[caught and bowled]

I still feel Jaffer may be given one last chance unless they  have been seeing  something else in the nets. Gambhir may need a little more time to adjust so perhaps he is not ready for SA yet

[CLR James]

Why is RD retired hurt? Is there cause for alarm? Does anyone know? I mean people often 'retire' in such matches to give others a hit, but usually that comes after crossing 50.

[toney]

Why is RD retired hurt? Is there cause for alarm? Does anyone know? I mean people often 'retire' in such matches to give others a hit, but usually that comes after crossing 50.

CLR,
This is a 2 day game, right? So, he may have wanted to give everyone a go. Hopefully, he is not injured.

I think GG should rpelace WJ. He doesn't seem to be able to put bat to ball. We might as well try GG though, to be honest, I have no faith in him either.

[Jai]

RJo had raised the same concerns about adjustments before the first test and I had some arguments with him. As we saw, the two most succesful batsmen from our side in the first test were the ones who have so far spent the least amount of time in SA and I don't think it's purely conincidence. So I don't think we can apply that logic. If that was the logic, then why include players like SG, GG etc. for the test team at all since we knew well in advance how many games they are going to get (if nets don't count)? We could have simply retained the likes of MK, SR and DM because they were in SA for about three weeks and have got used to the conditions. My take is GG deserves a chance. Doesn't mean that he'll be as succesful as SG and VVS, but he can't be any worse than WJ or VS either. So why not give him a chance and see what he has to offer?

[ramshorns]

I still feel Jaffer may be given one last chance unless they  have been seeing  something else in the nets. Gambhir may need a little more time to adjust so perhaps he is not ready for SA yet

For some reason I like Jaffer's style of play a lot and feel it suits Test Cricket.   I would want him to be persisted with.  I think a solid 60-70 is around the corner from him.  Sehwag again slam banged for a while and got out.  I understand he will play the next test.   But I would still want Jaffy to be included as well.  The only change that should happen is Munaf for VRV if he bowls at full force tomorrow on a trot for 10 overs and come out on top.  Or else it should be an unchanged squad.

[CLR James]

Rams,

Don't you think that WJ's 'natural' game is too prone towards playing 'half-cocked' to good length and short of good length deliveries? I think this serves him well in subcontinental wickets and also proved effective in the undeniably dead wickets we got in West Indies. This does not work in places where the ball swings or bounces a lot initially. It is that and the Kokabura that are getting him; ironically, if Jaffar comes in at number 6, perhaps he can score that 60-70 you are mentioning, since the kokabura is well tamed by then. But given the situation as it is, he opens and is all at sea against the new ball. A tall score can be expected from him only if he miraculously survives the first hour, or if the usually disciplined new ball attack headed by Pollock-Ntini have a very bad day in office.

In a way his predicament reminds me of the one Vikram Rathod faced in 1996-97. Interestingly, after scoring 7,2, and 13 in his first three innings, Rathod scored what would prove to be his highest test score in his final innings. 44 off 111 balls, with 5 fours.

[ramshorns]

Rams,

Don't you think that WJ's 'natural' game is too prone towards playing 'half-cocked' to good length and short of good length deliveries? I think this serves him well in subcontinental wickets and also proved effective in the undeniably dead wickets we got in West Indies. This does not work in places where the ball swings or bounces a lot initially. It is that and the Kokabura that are getting him; ironically, if Jaffar comes in at number 6, perhaps he can score that 60-70 you are mentioning, since the kokabura is well tamed by then. But given the situation as it is, he opens and is all at sea against the new ball. A tall score can be expected from him only if he miraculously survives the first hour, or if the usually disciplined new ball attack headed by Pollock-Ntini have a very bad day in office.

In a way his predicament reminds me of the one Vikram Rathod faced in 1996-97. Interestingly, after scoring 7,2, and 13 in his first three innings, Rathod scored what would prove to be his highest test score in his final innings. 44 off 111 balls, with 5 fours.

CLR:I agree with your analysis on WJ and his deficiencies(if not he would be Sunny).  Having said that he makes up for it with good temperament and discipline an opener needs and has a wide range of strokes to punish the loose balls when a bowler errs in line and length.  All I was saying is he got 1 test (I understand he got a chance with the white balls in ODI's, he was not supposed to be there to begin with, it should have been GG then) and coming off a very good WI series.  It does no good to shun players like that and keep changing opening combinations in tests.  He deserves atleast another chance and despite the few techincal flaws he has which you pointed out he has the overall game to come good even on SA pitches which have bounce and lateral movement.  Also remember RD's dismissals in the J'berg test to SPollock the best of the so called technicians and then let us take it a generation back when in the 1981 series Sunny fell to Lillee and Co throughout without any success in all but the infamous innings in the last test where he took Chauhan with him showing displeasure at the way he was given LBW to Lillee.  So struggles against quality pace is a universal thing for most part especially if they are coming at you relentlessy over after over with very good bowlers which the SA team has.

Having said that I understand where you are coming from on WJ and I am in full agreement with that analysis.

[fineleg]

I prefer GG for Test-2 based on form.

However, note that for all the tech.flaws pointed out at WJ...GG has a lot of tech.flaws himself. GG is sort of in the VS mould.

[CLR James]

Rams, let us hope what you say comes true. One thing is certain. WJ is interested in prudently leaving as many deliveries as possible in the first hour. Despite that, he is tentative primarily because unlike Sunny, he does not know exactly where his off stump is. This, IMO, is the greatest quality of any opener; it might seem negligible, but when the ball is swinging and bouncing, it helps you to be more decisive in your approach. That is, one is very clear about which deliveries can be left alone, and which deliveries one HAS to play. As a result, you neither hang your bat outside the stumps, nor slash at the line of the delivery on a 50-50 basis, praying that it be a four over point rather than a catch to the third slip.

[ramshorns]

Rams, let us hope what you say comes true. One thing is certain. WJ is interested in prudently leaving as many deliveries as possible in the first hour. Despite that, he is tentative primarily because unlike Sunny, he does not know exactly where his off stump is. This, IMO, is the greatest quality of any opener; it might seem negligible, but when the ball is swinging and bouncing, it helps you to be more decisive in your approach. That is, one is very clear about which deliveries can be left alone, and which deliveries one HAS to play. As a result, you neither hang your bat outside the stumps, nor slash at the line of the delivery on a 50-50 basis, praying that it be a four over point rather than a catch to the third slip.

CLR:I think at this stage WJ is definitely a player short of confidence with his place in the side in doubt.  You know doubly well how much confidence plays a role while making decisions on a cricket field or plays a role in the footwork.  What you pointed in your post has partly to do with that where in a player with confidence also referred to as "FORM" in cricket could have a genuine edge fly for an assured boundary as opposed to a tentative poke gobbled up in slips of a player low in confidence also referred to as "LOSS OF FORM" in cricket.  All it takes is a good 30 or a 40 for good players to get that confidence back and I think WJ is a good player.  Of all the opening batsman I have seen in the recent past WJ could be a long term investment.  Akash Chopra is too defensive for my taste.  With WJ you will see bad balls dispatched to the boundary more times than not.

[fineleg]

AC is the one opener in last many, many years who has been the best (Indian) in terms of knowing where his
off-stump is. That is 50% of the battle won right there.

GG and VS don't know and don't care where their off or leg stumps are!

[CLR James]

Rams, let us hope what you say comes true. One thing is certain. WJ is interested in prudently leaving as many deliveries as possible in the first hour. Despite that, he is tentative primarily because unlike Sunny, he does not know exactly where his off stump is. This, IMO, is the greatest quality of any opener; it might seem negligible, but when the ball is swinging and bouncing, it helps you to be more decisive in your approach. That is, one is very clear about which deliveries can be left alone, and which deliveries one HAS to play. As a result, you neither hang your bat outside the stumps, nor slash at the line of the delivery on a 50-50 basis, praying that it be a four over point rather than a catch to the third slip.

CLR:I think at this stage WJ is definitely a player short of confidence with his place in the side in doubt.  You know doubly well how much confidence plays a role while making decisions on a cricket field or plays a role in the footwork.  What you pointed in your post has partly to do with that where in a player with confidence also referred to as "FORM" in cricket could have a genuine edge fly for an assured boundary as opposed to a tentative poke gobbled up in slips of a player low in confidence also referred to as "LOSS OF FORM" in cricket.  All it takes is a good 30 or a 40 for good players to get that confidence back and I think WJ is a good player.  Of all the opening batsman I have seen in the recent past WJ could be a long term investment.  Akash Chopra is too defensive for my taste.  With WJ you will see bad balls dispatched to the boundary more times than not.

Absolutely agree on this. The cobwebs in the mind have to be removed for decisive footwork to come to the fore. I wish WJ luck. By luck I mean somehow getting to that 30-40.  He deserves it.

[LosingNow]

Rams/CLR:
WJ is very good and in my opinion has to be given a longer rope. It is all about confidence at this level...and every player once they have made it to this level, sooner or later, goes through a temporary loss of confidence(form). I am afraid, they may have (unwittingly) messed with his head by bringing him in during the ODIs.
IMO WJ, IP and VS ..all should be permanent fixtures in the Indian team..if they are suffering a loss of form and if it would help, they should be sent to domestics for a short rejuvenation period.

[Libran]

Why is RD retired hurt? Is there cause for alarm? Does anyone know? I mean people often 'retire' in such matches to give others a hit, but usually that comes after crossing 50.

CLR,
This is a 2 day game, right? So, he may have wanted to give everyone a go. Hopefully, he is not injured.

I think GG should rpelace WJ. He doesn't seem to be able to put bat to ball. We might as well try GG though, to be honest, I have no faith in him either.

Read somewhere that he took a beamer on his chest.....will try and pull that report out...in the meanwhile if someone else can..would help...my connxn is running pretty slow

[OldPal]

I still feel Jaffer may be given one last chance unless they  have been seeing  something else in the nets. Gambhir may need a little more time to adjust so perhaps he is not ready for SA yet

Based on what sir ? I agree GG hasn't got chances to adjust in SA , WJ in all his chances shown he can't adjust in SA. GG in one provided to him has shown he is not a total zero. I don't know if GG is the right choice , but we dont have much options unless you want to promote DK over GG or have IKP open

[Aloo Kashmiri Ul Haq]

update on the practise game

India 271/6 (Gambhir 79*, Sehwag 40, Ganguly 41*)
in reply KwaZulu-Natal XI 211/5 (Gobind 88, Ganguly 2/25 MM Patel 2/25) but here's the sad story Irfan Pathan 11 overs for 74 no wickets after failing with the bat.

[OldPal]

i think if MP fit the most logical step would be GG and MP in instead of WJ and VRV

[Jai]

Here's the bowling details:

Bowling O M R W Econ 
  Z Khan 10 2 25 0 2.50 (1w)
  S Sreesanth 5 0 10 0 2.00 
  IK Pathan 11 1 74 0 6.72 (6nb, 1w)
  MM Patel 8 2 25 2 3.12 
  VRV Singh 4 0 17 0 4.25 (1nb)
  SC Ganguly 8 2 23 2 2.87 
  A Kumble 7 0 31 0 4.42 
  Harbhajan Singh 0.5 0 4 1 4.80 

Compare that rest of the bowlers.


 

[Aloo Kashmiri Ul Haq]

    Z Khan    10    2    25    0    2.50    (1w)
    S Sreesanth    5    0    10    0    2.00    
    IK Pathan    11    1    74    0    6.72    (6nb, 1w)
    MM Patel    8    2    25    2    3.12    
    VRV Singh    11    2    26    1    2.36    (1nb)
    SC Ganguly    8    2    23    2    2.87    
    A Kumble    7    0    31    0    4.42    
    Harbhajan Singh    7    0    26    3    3.71    

[dave_dj]

Munaf stands out in drawn encounter

The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran in Durban

December 23, 2006

KwaZulu-Natal Invitation XI 243 for 8 (Gobind 88, van Vuuren 50) v Indians 270 for 6 decl
Scorecard

Munaf Patel picked up two wickets on his return from an ankle injury, but the Indian bowlers were made to toil on a hot and humid day at the Northwood Crusaders Ground as their two-day match against a Kwazulu-Natal Invitation XI ended in a draw. Having declared on the overnight score of 270 for 6, the Indians were given the runaround in the afternoon session before some quick wickets prior to and after tea gave the scorecard a more respectable look. When play was called off an hour after tea, the home side had progressed to 243 for 8, with Rivash Gobind and Michael van Vuuren having made eye-catching half-centuries.

Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, who shared the new ball at the Wanderers, took it again on Saturday morning, and Munaf had to wait till the 12th over for his chance. The impact was immediate, with Fabian Lazarus struck on the pad in front of the stumps. But Ross McMillan and Gobind then rebuilt the innings slowly, as only 68 came in the 27 overs before lunch.

It was a different story after the interval. Sourav Ganguly, on to relieve the frontline pace bowlers, picked up McMillan and Martin Bekker in quick succession, but Van Vuuren and Gobind then pounded out a rapid 97-run partnership. Irfan Pathan was flayed all around the park, and even Anil Kumble wasn't exempt from rough treatment, with Van Vuuren slamming two sixes and a couple of fours.

He and Gobind played superb shots all around the ground as the run-rate went up to a gallop. Needing to staunch the flow of runs, the Indians were forced to call back the likes of Zaheer and Munaf as the afternoon wore on. Munaf finally got Van Vuuren, brilliantly taken at slip by Laxman, and when Harbhajan Singh came on in the 54th over, an impetuous charge from Gobind presented Mahendra Singh Dhoni with a simple stumping. By then he had made 88 from 128 balls, and the Indians gave him an ovation as the players trooped off for tea.

Harbhajan added two more wickets in the final session, and there was one for VRV Singh as well, as the Indians were forced to pull out all the stops in stifling conditions. After the monotony of repeated net sessions though, this was one step closer to what awaits at Kingsmead on Boxing Day.

[It is unfortunate to see Pathan bowling with an average of 7 in this match.  He might as well go back to domestics and fix his bowling nless the team wants him to play him as a batsman.  Munaf seems to be back in groove.  Hopefully Dada will also make some difference with the ball in the next test.]

[fineleg]

We should consider IP's career on-hold for the next several months to a year or more, I presume. I don't think he is going to be in the WC-07 squad.

I mean, ER of 7+ per over!!! against KZN!!! Cmon!!!!!
MP 2 wickets, HS 3 wickets, SG 2 wickets and VRV 1 wicket all with fairly decent ER
ZK decent ER
and IP > 7!!!!! Ridiculous.

I think it is very sad that IP has totally lost it in the bowling dept. that tour teams are taking him apart.

[fineleg]

We should consider IP's career on-hold for the next several months to a year or more, I presume. I don't think he is going to be in the WC-07 squad.

I mean, ER of 7+ per over!!! against KZN!!! Cmon!!!!!
MP 2 wickets, HS 3 wickets, SG 2 wickets and VRV 1 wicket all with fairly decent ER
ZK decent ER
and IP > 7!!!!! Ridiculous.

I think it is very sad that IP has totally lost it in the bowling dept. that tour teams are taking him apart.

Folks,
Whilst all of you are disappointed with IP, what say to the above?
Any thoughts on IP's near-term future...I think he is out of WC07 (becos he may not get a TEst in SA...and not sure if he is going to be part of that Ind team in Jan/Feb preparation matches...even if he does "ok" there, do we pick him? is he reliable for WC?)


...ur thoughts?

[dave_dj]

We should consider IP's career on-hold for the next several months to a year or more, I presume. I don't think he is going to be in the WC-07 squad.

I mean, ER of 7+ per over!!! against KZN!!! Cmon!!!!!
MP 2 wickets, HS 3 wickets, SG 2 wickets and VRV 1 wicket all with fairly decent ER
ZK decent ER
and IP > 7!!!!! Ridiculous.

I think it is very sad that IP has totally lost it in the bowling dept. that tour teams are taking him apart.

I think that he should be in the WC squad - he might need some time off from international cricket (where he is under tremendous pressure to perform) and take care of his bowling, get his rhythm back.
Folks,
Whilst all of you are disappointed with IP, what say to the above?
Any thoughts on IP's near-term future...I think he is out of WC07 (becos he may not get a TEst in SA...and not sure if he is going to be part of that Ind team in Jan/Feb preparation matches...even if he does "ok" there, do we pick him? is he reliable for WC?)


...ur thoughts?

[LosingNow]

We should consider IP's career on-hold for the next several months to a year or more, I presume. I don't think he is going to be in the WC-07 squad.

I mean, ER of 7+ per over!!! against KZN!!! Cmon!!!!!
MP 2 wickets, HS 3 wickets, SG 2 wickets and VRV 1 wicket all with fairly decent ER
ZK decent ER
and IP > 7!!!!! Ridiculous.

I think it is very sad that IP has totally lost it in the bowling dept. that tour teams are taking him apart.

Folks,
Whilst all of you are disappointed with IP, what say to the above?
Any thoughts on IP's near-term future...I think he is out of WC07 (becos he may not get a TEst in SA...and not sure if he is going to be part of that Ind team in Jan/Feb preparation matches...even if he does "ok" there, do we pick him? is he reliable for WC?)


...ur thoughts?

Frankly, he needs to go back to domestics and get a few good games under his belt.
His fall of bowling form is mind-boggling to say the least.
I think if he plays well in domestics, and gets a couple of the 8 ODIs and does well, he should make the WC squad. He brings that extra bat to the team..which in ODIs is very useful

[ramshorns]

We should consider IP's career on-hold for the next several months to a year or more, I presume. I don't think he is going to be in the WC-07 squad.

I mean, ER of 7+ per over!!! against KZN!!! Cmon!!!!!
MP 2 wickets, HS 3 wickets, SG 2 wickets and VRV 1 wicket all with fairly decent ER
ZK decent ER
and IP > 7!!!!! Ridiculous.

I think it is very sad that IP has totally lost it in the bowling dept. that tour teams are taking him apart.

Folks,
Whilst all of you are disappointed with IP, what say to the above?
Any thoughts on IP's near-term future...I think he is out of WC07 (becos he may not get a TEst in SA...and not sure if he is going to be part of that Ind team in Jan/Feb preparation matches...even if he does "ok" there, do we pick him? is he reliable for WC?)


...ur thoughts?

Frankly, he needs to go back to domestics and get a few good games under his belt.
His fall of bowling form is mind-boggling to say the least.
I think if he plays well in domestics, and gets a couple of the 8 ODIs and does well, he should make the WC squad. He brings that extra bat to the team..which in ODIs is very useful

Pathan's a interesting case.  A 19year old that burst into the scene with exuberance find himself in the doldrums.  There is no way one can tell me his bowling woes can be fixed by playing domestics.  He may not find success with the ball even there.  There is more to this than what meet the eye.  He has lost a lot of pace than when he started which to being with was mid 130's.  There could be a mysterious injury that probably is crippling him.  Remember it was only the batting that saved his spot on this tour for tests and that will be not be probably enough for him to clinch a spot on the WC squad.  That is honestly what I feel at the moment.

[jaat69]

Bowling coach( read Akram) urgently needed.

[fineleg]

BTW - there is one other thing:

HARBHAJAN SINGH seems to be in good bowling form (KZN is a "weaker" opposition), but it looks like AK was carted around a bit, so HS has done well. If we are to take our best bowlers in the 11, we need to take both AK and HS in the 11 - the eternal dilemma in SA like pitches?

Tough luck, eh? We need to omit HS again for Test-2.