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

[Aalay]

India in Australia 2011-12: Harbhajan Singh left out of Australia tour | Cricket News | Australia v India | ESPN Cricinfo

Pretty good squad. I would have love to see a fit Puara there. Now it will be hard to decide as in which spinner to play in final 11 because I don't think they will go with 2 spinners in final 11. Ashwin might get in because of his batting.

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Sachin
Laxman
Kohli
Dhoni
Ashwin
Praveen
Ishant
Zaheer/Umesh Yadav

P.S. I predict Sehwag to get a triple century there.

Edit: http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/542204.html

Poor guy was playing with tumor. Hope he get well soon.

 

[SaiSrini]

I guess Pujara hasnt yet played games to prove his fitness. What is happening with him? He said he is going to play some Ranji games to prove match fitness. Looks like the injury he sustained in the IPL is going to hurt Pujara's career again. If either of Kohli, Rohit Sharma or Rahane click in Australia, its going to be impossible for Pujara to break in unless the seniors retire (which looks like its not happening anytime soon).

I would have picked Sreesanth in place of Kumar. I am not excited about Praveen's capabilities in Australia. But still, this is the best team we could have picked. Now just keeping fingers crossed that all our key players (*read Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Zaheer, Sachin, Laxman, Dhoni*) stay fit throughout the tour.

 

[sifter132]

Sreesanth would have been worth the risk IMO. I remember last tour he bowled an absolutely unplayable spell in a rain affected ODI at Brisbane, just had the ball moving all over the place. Sure he's terribly inconsistent, but if India needed to chase the series in the last Test or 2, I'd be playing him. Kumar is the more conservative choice, probably the right call when the series is even. I think Aaron will get smashed , pace without anything else doesn't work too well on Aussie batsmen. If you get get movement like Steyn and Roach then it works, but otherwise no.

 

[aussie1st]

If Praveen does well in Australia that may might the selectors rethink on Copeland assuming he gets back to his wicket taking ways. However if he is played with ease then that is the final nail in the coffin.

 

[Gaurav_7]

I think Praveen will do alright. He did give initial breakthroughs during the CB series in Australia, didn't he?

Sreesanth needs to get his head in place, otherwise no place for him. I hope they play Yadav more. I always think he's got the potential to be a future spearhead of Indian attack.

 

[VC the slogger]

This would be my ideal test line up for India
1 Sehwag
2 Gambhir
3 Dravid
4 Tendulkar
5 Laxman
6 Kohli
7 Dhoni
8 Ashwin
9 Aaron
10 Ishant
11 Umesh Yadav/Zaheer Khan(if fit and in form)
Australian pitches support pacers more so I see no Praghyan Ojha in the line up.Ishant and Yadav or Zaheer(if fit to play) should open the bowling.Varun Aaron needs to play because he can bowl consistently 140 kph+ and played well in Australia in the emerging players meet earlier this year.

 

[Haarithan]

Without Zaheer, that looks an incredibly weak bowling attack tbh.

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Australia news: Mitchell Johnson considers surgery on foot | Australia Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo

I don't know what the others make of him especially given his present form, which has indeed been awful. But if there's one Aussie bowler whom I always count on to win matches for them, it's Mitch. A massive body blow (imo) if he considers surgery and rules himself out for the summer. I was wholly expecting him to do a Stuart Broad this summer as I'd earlier said. :/

 

[War]

Could be a blessing in disguise since unfortunately the captain, selectors and coach still overate him and haven't accepted as yet that he is too inconsistent to be a test regular anymore.

 

[SaiSrini]

I fear that with Praveen being picked for the tests, neither Yadav nor Aaron will get a chance in the XI in Australia (if Zaheer is fit which is likely). Zaheer, Ishant and Praveen will be the 3 seamers with Ashwin the lone spinner. I want Yadav or Aaron to get tests in Australia. I dont have confidence in Praveen Kumar with his limited pace. Already Zaheer has sacrificed pace for control. Ishant also occasionally bowls slower than his potential to get more control. We need one bowler in the XI to bowl full throttle and at really good speeds. Yadav/Aaron are capable of that. And also, grooming them for the future by playing them in such crucial series is very important.

 

[sifter132]

Without Zaheer, that looks an incredibly weak bowling attack tbh.

Unlike the Aussie attack, led by the mighty Peter Siddle Could be an absolute run fest this summer if the pitches are flat and the batsmen play sensibly.

 

[icyman]

Without Zaheer, that looks an incredibly weak bowling attack tbh

We did not have Zaheer during the 2003 and 2007 tours of Australia and we did quite well. Australian tour has always been one where India has found new pacers thanks to Zaheer's breaking down during the 1st test.

In 2003, Zaheer broke down and thus were born L Balaji and Irfan Pathan. In 2007, we found a new star in Ishant Sharma.

I expect Praveen to lead the attack and he will be quite a handful on those wickets. Aaron and Yadav will make up the remainder of the 2 spots with R Ashwin likely to play as the spinner.

 

[Cricketman]

What about Ojha? Mighty unfair to drop someone from the XI after taking 20 wickets in a series, dontcha think?

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dhoni
Ashwin
Praveen
Zaheer
Ishant/Aaron/Yadav (Yadav for me)
Ojha

Thoughts?

(Ashwin at 7 is working might fine for me in ICC )

 

[SaiSrini]

@Rohit (Cricketman): We need that 6th batsman in the tests against Australia. Thats how you have the chance to blood a new batsman who is eventually going to replace one of our seniors who are not willing to retire anytime soon. Either Kohli or Rohit Sharma or Rahane have to get their chances in the tests. And also from the team point of view, batting is not going to be easy in Australia, especially if the wickets are helpful for the bowlers. So the 7th batsman is needed. Its tough on Ojha but thats the way it is.

For me, the pacers would be Zaheer, Ishant and Yadav. I wish Praveen's injury extends into the Aussie tour :P No offence, but I want to see either of Yadav or Aaron play most of the tests.

 

[Aalay]

What about Ojha? Mighty unfair to drop someone from the XI after taking 20 wickets in a series, dontcha think?

Sehwag
Gambhir
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dhoni
Ashwin
Praveen
Zaheer
Ishant/Aaron/Yadav (Yadav for me)
Ojha

Thoughts?

(Ashwin at 7 is working might fine for me in ICC )

ahah, how can you even expect India to go with 5 bowlers? Yes, it is unfair to Ojha, who did really well in WI series but Ashwin also provides that batting option with his off spin which helps him cement his spot in final 11 with three seamers.

Yes, if Zaheer is fit then Varun and Umesh are not going to be in final 11. But I still feel that Praveen will do we even if the conditions does not suit him. He is a hard working bowler. I will be watching How Ishant bowls in Australia. He only got 5 wickets against WI but bowled beautifully throughout the series without much luck.

 

[0601731]

@Rohit (Cricketman): We need that 6th batsman in the tests against Australia. Thats how you have the chance to blood a new batsman who is eventually going to replace one of our seniors who are not willing to retire anytime soon. Either Kohli or Rohit Sharma or Rahane have to get their chances in the tests. And also from the team point of view, batting is not going to be easy in Australia, especially if the wickets are helpful for the bowlers. So the 7th batsman is needed. Its tough on Ojha but thats the way it is.

For me, the pacers would be Zaheer, Ishant and Yadav. I wish Praveen's injury extends into the Aussie tour :P No offence, but I want to see either of Yadav or Aaron play most of the tests.

Your wish has come true. Praveen Kumar is out of the Australian series due to injury.