Australia Tour Of India 2012/13

[midgetwars]

Anyone that wants a comparison.

Cowan was dropped 3 times scored 80ish.

Clarked was dropped 3 times and scored 100. There's the difference, good players can capitalize on chances.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

tweaking ----!! Selectors after being so good you made a ---- decision to include Raina when we already have Rahane.

Saw on Crincinfo, Pujara could open with Vijay and Raina could be drafted in middle order. That will be the most shittest decision every taken

 

[midgetwars]

Jeez, Indians are smashing Australia and yet they still can talk about crap selections.

I remember the only selection complaint was Marsh and he was there to be made fun of.

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kerplucking ----!! Selectors after being so good you made a ---- decision to include Raina when we already have Rahane.

Saw on Crincinfo, Pujara could open with Vijay and Raina could be drafted in middle order. That will be the most shittest decision every taken

I reckon playing Maxwell and Doherty, dumping Lyon was the worst decision ever on and sacking the 4 good players was along the worst.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

I know that decision was stupid too but Raina who did not even have a good domestic season averaging 33 comes in and takes place for a batsman who has 200 times the potential of what Rahane has. He has to play anyhow or else I am seriously gona get pissed

 

[Epic]

Australia in India 2012-13 : Shikhar Dhawan out, Suresh Raina in for Delhi Test | Cricket News | India v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

Now don't pick Raina in the final 11.

So Gambhir was the original pick but because he is ill, it is Raina who gets the opportunity.

That makes no sense whatsoever though... A middle order batsman replacing an opener, sounds a bit like the old selectors to me.

 

[Aalay]

^ Rahane is most likely to come in but if India go with Raina, it will be a stupid decision.

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Shikhar Dhawan batted like Bradman in Mohali: Cowan - The Times of India

We have another Bradman in the house.

 

[icyman]

When you already have an opener in the team, why do the selectors need to select another player ? Just to carry the drinks ?

 

[Aalay]

The thing I don't understand is why selectors are keep going back to Raina? Do they even consider Manoj Tiwary?

 

[War]

Whether Clarke is fit to play for not, some big decisions with the squad balance needs to be made with an eye on the Ashes & trying to at least avoid the whitewash.

So best XI:

Watson
Warner
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Haddin
Henriques
Johnson
Siddle
Pattinson
Lyon

If Clarke is unfit, then Smith to bat @ # 5.

Key points:

- Return the 3 quicks as the main wicket taking bowlers. Lyon will only be effective if the quicks bowl to potential are can run through the Indian top six. Henriques is a defensive bowler.

- Watson to open. Time for Cowan to go.

- Clarke to revert to # 5 & stay their long term. All this talk of him batting high up has been over-hyped IMO. When Allan Border was AUS lone batting hope during the dark days of mid-late 80s he stayed @ # 5. Chanderpaul after Lara left the windies in consistently bats @ # 5. Steve Waugh was AUS best batsman in the 90s but he stayed @ # 5 too.

- Haddin to keep. In all this talk about the team lacking experience other than Clarke & Watson, this series has exposed the need for Haddin's experience to be part of the team with the Ashes in mind. Plus Haddin in Indian conditions is a more solid # 6 batsman than Wade.

Wade's time to be long term keeper will come, but right now he has to be reverted to second choice IMHO.

 

[SaiSrini]

I think I read somewhere that Tiwary got injured again recently and even had to miss out on a domestic match. But they should have gone with Rayudu. He was in sterling form in the recent domestic games. Rayudu is another guy who is test material. We have enough test materials waiting in the wings like Tiwary, Rayudu, Rahane, etc.

But I have a feeling that Rahane will open with Vijay in Delhi. They tried to replace Dhawan with Gambhir, but with Gambhir having jaundice, they seem to have decided to have Rahane as opener, and give Rahane's middle order spot to Raina. I wish this scenario is what is the right one. I however fear that with too much talk going on about Rahane's struggles to get into the test side, when he eventually lands up there, he could be in for a failure and that can trouble him if he is not strong enough

 

[Epic]

When you already have an opener in the team, why do the selectors need to select another player ? Just to carry the drinks ?

Uhm, what if said opener goes down with the flu on the eve of the game? That's why.

The thing I don't understand is why selectors are keep going back to Raina? Do they even consider Manoj Tiwary?

Sai's right.

Manoj Tiwary injured yet again, reaches NCA for rehab | Cricket - News | NDTVSports.com

 

[SaiSrini]

When you already have an opener in the team, why do the selectors need to select another player ? Just to carry the drinks ?

When Sehwag was dropped, they didn't pick a replacement. But when you have one more guy going down, you need a replacement because if someone comes up injured on the eve of the game, you will be in big trouble.

But its the selection of Raina that surprises people. Should have gone for Rayudu or Chand.

 

[Epic]

I think I read somewhere that Tiwary got injured again recently and even had to miss out on a domestic match. But they should have gone with Rayudu. He was in sterling form in the recent domestic games. Rayudu is another guy who is test material. We have enough test materials waiting in the wings like Tiwary, Rayudu, Rahane, etc.

But I have a feeling that Rahane will open with Vijay in Delhi. They tried to replace Dhawan with Gambhir, but with Gambhir having jaundice, they seem to have decided to have Rahane as opener, and give Rahane's middle order spot to Raina. I wish this scenario is what is the right one. I however fear that with too much talk going on about Rahane's struggles to get into the test side, when he eventually lands up there, he could be in for a failure and that can trouble him if he is not strong enough

The warm one on the bench?

When Sehwag was dropped, they didn't pick a replacement. But when you have one more guy going down, you need a replacement because if someone comes up injured on the eve of the game, you will be in big trouble.

But its the selection of Raina that surprises people. Should have gone for Rayudu or Chand.

CHAND?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND BRO?!

I would've kept it rather simple, Dhawan out, Mukund in. Oh, and I would give Sachin the final Test off.

1. Murali Vijay
2. Abhinav Mukund
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. Virat Kohli
5. Ajinkya Rahane
6. MS Dhoni*?
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10. Ishant Sharma
11. Pragyan Ojha

 

[sifter132]

Another fast bowler injured. I seriously did not see this one coming.

It was only a matter of time for Starc. The physios knew he had a chronic ankle problem way back at the Boxing Day Test, which is why he was rested to the uproar of the masses. At the time, Starc and/or the physio decided he wouldn't have surgery but would keep playing on it as long as he could. But I think they've decided now to pull him out and get the surgery done so he's ready for some Ashes Tests.

So best XI:

Watson
Warner
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Haddin
Henriques
Johnson
Siddle
Pattinson
Lyon

I like your enthusiasm but there's no way this team happens. Cowan and Smith will be retained for getting close to 100. Certainly Khawaja at least wouldn't jump over either of them. Wade probably is a good chance to return as well, although I agree with you - I think Haddin's the better option. Henriques may get replaced as well, if Clarke is fit and a spot for Watson needs to be found. Then it might be 3 pacemen + Lyon, with Steve Smith as the 5th option. I'm not sure about Lyon either...I might just play Doherty. He's hardly threatening at all, but Doherty seems to keep the Indians under control a little better, and at this stage of the series that's about all I want out of the spinner - just don't get hammered.

And I'll just add that I still like my Ed Cowan as the new Mike Hussey theory. I think he could be a reasonable #5 for Aus, someone steady until they find someone better. And that would let Watson open again. Watson/Warner/Hughes/Clarke/Cowan/Khawaja - with Watson bowling again - would be my preferred top 6. Doolan and Burns as reserves. Shaun Marsh and George Bailey in discussions as well. Chris Rogers as emergency backup ready to be called up from Middlesex if there are some big problems mid Ashes. Taking Rogers on tour to begin with would just be a sign of a lack of confidence in the younger guys - they don't need that negativity right now.

 

[puddleduck]

So is Neil Fairbrother good enough to play test cricket? We could turn back to Ramprakash, he's clearly got the talent. What about Hick? His record speaks for itself and he'd provide a spin option too. Ealham could fill the all rounder spot, although Gavin Hamilton or Craig White both look like more genuine bowlers...