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

[Aalay]

I thought India had no chance after their tour in England to bowl us out twice. I changed my mind after the saffa test match. I think the key for India is to bring swing bowlers especially those who love to cut the ball. Praveen Kumar could be a handful for us despite being a medium pacer. They should grab a wicket to wicket bowler as well. Probably roll us for 30 runs... gosh im going to regret this post. Just so devastated after the first south African test match.

Praveen Kumar is certainly going to be in the sqaud. They have not picked him in thise series because they want to check youngsters like Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav. I am pretty sure Zaheer will be back for Australia tour. And Ishant will be there. So these 3 are certain but not sure about other 2 fast bowlers. It could Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav or Sreesanth.

 

[Rohit Doshi]

Well, it is confirmed!! We will be taking Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma + 2 More Seamers to Australia. Zaheer is playing a ranji game on 29th November and it will be good to see how he does cause based on that his selection will take place. So if he is match fit, its good news for India and it will be Praveen Kumar as 5th seamer or you would select likes of Sree or RP? Or even Munaf for the sake?

India news: Zaheer Khan's selection for Australia tour to be provisional | India Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

Also, India play first warm up on 15th and India is departing for Australia on 6th December, big guns like Dhoni,Kohli,Rahane,Umesh,Varun,Praveen wont be there for ODI series against West Indies, so it will be a completely B team

 

[Haarithan]

So Dhoni finally gets a rest? Bah, happy for him.

 

[sifter132]

Also, India play first warm up on 15th and India is departing for Australia on 6th December, big guns like Dhoni,Kohli,Rahane,Umesh,Varun,Praveen wont be there for ODI series against West Indies, so it will be a completely B team

Wow I'd have Dhoni and maybe Kohli as a big gun - but who are the others??

 

[SaiSrini]

Who said India is leaving on December 6th? That article says India is leaving in the 2nd week of Dec. So Dhoni getting rest is not confirmed.

 

[Aalay]

If Zaheer is fit then I am pretty sure it will be Zaheer, Praveen and Ishant as fast bowlers and one of Ojha or Ashwin as the spinner

So pretty sure the final 11 will be very similar to this or rather I would love to see this team :

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Sachin
Laxman
Pujara
Dhoni
Ashwin
Praveen
Zaheer
Ishant

Other players should be:
Mukund, 2 from Kohli, Rohit or Rahane, Parthiv, Ojha, Umesh, Varun

So one backup opner with two middle order batsman, one additional wicket keeper, one spinner and two backup fast bowlers.

 

[aayush93]

Who said India is leaving on December 6th? That article says India is leaving in the 2nd week of Dec. So Dhoni getting rest is not confirmed.

whether they leave on first week or second week of december, dhoni is going to take rest from ODI's against WI. it was dhoni who wanted to play the test series against WI.

 

[SaiSrini]

whether they leave on first week or second week of december, dhoni is going to take rest from ODI's against WI. it was dhoni who wanted to play the test series against WI.

If you are that confident about it, then good enough. I too want Dhoni to rest from the ODI's against WI and start preparing for the Australia tour. All our test regulars shouldn't play the WI ODI's (atleast Sehwag, Gambhir, Sachin, Dhoni and Ishant Sharma).

 

[Rohit Doshi]

About 6th December, I saw that at Wankhade Stadium where there was a list of FTP schedule for India

 

[icyman]

Whatever they put up at the Wankhede is generally old stuff. Would not rely much on that.

Australia again will be fun,after a long wait of 4 years,the last time round -i think all of us remember the controversy that had erupted then

Anyway, I have a feeling that this would be the last series for Ricky Ponting and Micheal Hussey. Both are pretty old and might just be on their way out.

 

[Haarithan]

Ponting, maybe. Unsure on Hussey though.

As far as Australia's playing XI goes about, I feel one off Khawaja/Marsh should open with Watson and the selectors really need to kick Hughes off the team. Bowling department as we all know has pretty much been a hit and miss unit, though I'm backing Cummins to gel again.

My XI

Watson
Marsh
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Cummins
Lyon

Mitch to do a Stuart Broad - silence all critics.

As for Lyon, it could well turn out to be a truly useless selection in spite of him coming through impressive outings, given how good India are at playing spin. If Australia do happen to go with a four man pace attack, Bollinger would be my ideal pick for the #11 spot.

2-0 or 3-1 to Australia, simply because I don't see India managing 20 Australian wickets, TWICE over four tests. That said, this Australian batting lineup is highly self destructive, enough to handle those 20 wickets to India on more than one occasion. Nevertheless, should be a cracking series.

 

[aayush93]

If Zaheer and Sehwag stays fit for all 4 tests then My prediction will be -> India Winning the series 2-0 or 2-1.

 

[aayush93]

India 17 member squad Against Aus as i expected..

Squad: MS Dhoni (capt &wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Rohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Zaheer Khan

 

[icyman]

Good squad picked by the selectors. Happy to see that they are taking things like match-fitness and current form into account. I am a bit surprised with their continuous persistence of Virat Kohli as of now. I would have certainly loved to see Cheteshwar Pujara in there. Again, the issue of match fitness dies prop up.

Nice young charade and I expect the series will be keenly contested.

 

[War]

Based on what I saw of India's series versus West Indies, coming off their drubbing in ENG. That under-strength WI team exposed in phases the weakness that ENG exposed in the summer.

So IMO as it stands once AUS prepare pacer friendly wickets, it wont be possible for them to give IND a similar drubbing at home.

I wont predict a series scoreline, but I am predicting Ryan Harris (whenever he is fit) to make Sehwag his bunny.