Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India in Australia) Dec-Jan 2011/12

[aayush93]

For india most important is Zaheer Khan Fitness. If he is fit than it doesn't matter who is the 5th bowler.

 

[SaiSrini]

Lets pray and hope Zak is fit for the whole series and Mithun doesn't get a chance.Personally i would have liked to see Pathan in the sqaud.

I guess if Zak breaks down, Pathan will come in.

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Oh The HORROR

It says Irfan Pathan has been picked for last 2 ODI's.

He is replacing Yadav who is leaving for Australia early. So the signs are that Yadav is certain to be the third fast bowler for MCG and so they want him to land in Australia early. The selectors have opted for a "neither here nor there" decision by giving Irfan a chance in the last two ODI's but ignoring him for the more important tests.

 

[angryangy]

Seems a little bit political. On the one hand it's "We like Mithun, so he's our guy" but then they get to say "but don't worry folks, if you perform at domestic level, you might even play a couple of ODIs here and there like Pathan".

 

[Aalay]

Yadav is certain now as the third fast bowler. So it will be Zaheer, Ishant, Yadav and Ashwin in bowling department. Kohli can sneak in with some medium pace of his.

I just hope Irfan does well in last two ODI's, so he might get chance to play in triangular series!?

 

[aussie1st]

Cummins injury update

Jeez now his return has been pushed back to Jan. It now looks certain the attack facing NZ will face India.

 

[sifter132]

Oh crap, could be 2003/04 all over again where none of our best bowlers played... That was an absolute runfest of a summer, and this one could be the same if the pitches are flat. Maybe even if the pitches aren't. Hopefully the young fellas can step up and the Indian lads hole out trying to tonk Lyon

 

[aussie1st]

Just have to pray Starc sorts himself out. Hazlewood could be a bolter if he gets more wickets in the current game and gets a game for the CA 11. If the bowlers do falter then we need our batsmen to stand up for once else we could be looking at another home series defeat.

 

[midgetwars]

Just put copeland in the team, Runfest no longer.

 

[War]

Hopefully Cummins being out makes the selectors rethink their decision to not have Harris involved.

Bolliger and Copeland also have to be in the mix.

So basically the best XI would be:

Watson
Marsh
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Pattinson
Lyon

Bollinger to replace Harris when he breaks down.

 

[aayush93]

Well cummins was going to break down. he is just 18 years of age and has not played much FC matches also.
Still 20 Days are left for First Test match, India has lost 1 bowler and Australia also.

 

[formula1man]

If I were to make a 22 man squad for Australia, a replacement for every position, this would be the best 22 players I can think of.

Bailey
Beer
Bollinger
Clarke
Cooper
Cowan
Cummins
Forrest
Haddin
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Hughes
Hussey
Khawaja
Lyon
Marsh
Pattinson
Ponting
Siddle
Wade
Warner
Watson

 

[SaiSrini]

Just pray Zak bowls a lot more overs in his upcoming Ranji game (he has bowled 21 overs already and picked 3 wkts so far against Saurashtra) and passes himself completely fit for Australia. If Zak goes, we will be in trouble. If Zak is in, we will go with a lot of confidence. Entire fortunes of Indian test cricket rests on Zak (not a good sign, but thats how it is).

 

[Cricketman]

Nah I don't think so. We have now played for a significant amount of time without Zaheer. Sure it won't be great, but I think we can manage decently even if Zak steps out. Hell, it might bring the best out of a young Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav if they are forced to put their hand up and lead the attack.

Its not like Australia have a full strength pace attack, either. Compared to what England put up (Anderson, Broad, Tremlett, Bresnan all in the form of their life), I feel Australia will be much easier. Especially with Cummins gone.

I am disappointed that Cummins isn't playing. I was so excited to see a young guy - he is freaking my age - clock such high speeds and have legends like Jacques Kallis clueless. 6 wickets vs South Africa at 18 years old? Unbelievable. Test Cricket needs quality fast bowlers like Cummins. I think this series has lost a little bit of sheen with him out.

Hope Mithun won't have to play down under. That is when we are in trouble. It is good exposure for the lad though to have him in the side, but really hope he doesn't put on the creams at any point during the series. I would have been hesitant to pick Irfan, you cannot just throw a guy into Test cricket after years in the wilderness. But, being the Irfan fanboy that I am, I am a littttle bit disappointed that he missed out. Really hoping he does well during the WI. If he can come to the test team we can finally think of having a 5 man bowling attack - 4 seamers on the Indian team!? Unreal! With him at 7, and Ashwin at 8, our batting won't really be hampered either.

 

[Rohit Doshi]

Zaheer is definitely going to Australia He has bowled 21 overs picking up 3 wickets where each bowler has bowled round and about that much plus has scored 30 runs

This is definitely a god news for Indian team

 

[aayush93]

Zaheer is definitely going to Australia He has bowled 21 overs picking up 3 wickets where each bowler has bowled round and about that much plus has scored 30 runs

This is definitely a god news for Indian team

its good news but he has to play all 4 tests. he has not played all test matches in last 2 tour against Aus. Lets hope he does it this time.