Over reactions are good. If a turnaround comes, it feels all the more good to pick on those reactions
Dont know when the BCCI is going to wake up and listen to the players and put a break in their schedule. Dhoni is right about the cramped schedule (its been like that for years now). As much as we can blame players for opting to play IPL, they are forced to play the IPL or else lose their place in the side (even Dhoni and Sachin face that risk because no one in Indian cricket is indispensable). So if at all a player needs rest, it has to be in the form of the BCCI giving a break for the whole team in the calendar, which does not happen at all. Thats why we saw Sehwag, Zaheer all get injured and affect us badly. As War said, losing our strike bowler, our attack looks deflated, showing a serious concern that we again rely on a few individuals to guide us rather than moving on despite injuries. Dont know how we can fix that hole in the long term. Its hard finding good pace bowlers in Indian circuit these days (almost all want to become flat track bullies). I feel pretty soon we will give up our aspirations of being on top in test cricket and we will focus on the other formats, thereby neglecting tests. More so when the trinity retires. Indian test cricket, I feel, might be going down the drain unless some miracle happens.
We have good test worthy players in our domestic circuit but we continue to pick these Raina's and Yuvraj's based on their ODI and T20 showing on flat tracks. What makes Yuvraj and Raina more worthy of a test spot ahead of Badrinath, Rahane, Pujara, Rohit Sharma, etc? Dont tell me Badrinath failed in the ODI series in WI and so he got his chances. He is a test batsman and he has played only 2 tests so far (scored a 50 in one). Pujara showed great test temperament and technique but sadly he was injured. Even if he was fit, there is no guarantee that he would have played ahead of Raina or Yuvraj in this test series against England (because Raina, Yuvraj are the superstars and they get better preference)
Well, I completely agree with you here! India will be in deep deep troubles, once the trio retires. I don't see any reliable future with Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman. They'll retire next year, all at once- because one cannot play after he has crossed 39. Sachin should retire first among the all. He has done much to country, let him retire straightaway after the Australian series. He might say "No one asked me to play and no one has right to ask me to retire", but the fact is that India will be in troubles, if he continues to play till his body supports. He might be a superman, but I'm sure he won't play after 2012. He should be followed by Dravid, right after the tour to Sri Lanka/Hosting New Zealand. The conditions will not differ much, so experimentation will be an easy task for the selectors as well.
India will not host Pakistan in 2012, but if it happens on some foreign land, I'm sure the one replacing Sachin will get good experience (Kohli/Badrinath/Pujara are my choices). These three should be tested in the three series' which India play without Sachin before the retirement of RD after the New Zealand test Series.Then, we're hosting England and Australia for 4 test matches each, which means the one replacing RD in the main team will also get fair form before Laxman retires. Laxman should retire after hosting Aussies, which means, India will be without Sach, RD and Laxman after 2013.
India will definitely lose Numero Uno, as the three pillars fall down, but it is it, nothing is permanent.
Regarding Yuvi and Raina in Test cricket, at current situation, we are forced to play Yuvi. He is the only man, who is not tired of playing cricket.
Raina should be given some rest, before he is given a chance! WC followed by IPL, followed by full WI tour followed by England tour, he's already strained. He should be given fair amount of rest by not selecting him for the ODi series. Again there is CLT20 coming up straight away followed by hosting England and Windies. I'm sure Cheeka would give Raina again a captaincy chance to Raina for the West Indies tour with all juniors playing, so, he deserves some rest. Bunking CLT20 isn't possible as Srinivasan will cry, if Raina says he's unfit- so He has to be rested, at any cost. Its high time for him.
Harbhajan is going through rough patch, which he's trying to get rid off. He must come back to form by the Australian series, which means he should be rested as well. He has to strictly concentrate on his bowling first in NCA and then rejoin the team. He has got bit of over confidence, nothing much. We have Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha doing well, they can be stand ins for Bhajji in English ODi tour.
One last thing I want to say is Dhoni should strictly constrain himself only to One Day cricket! He is unable to play test cricket- its clearly visible. Make him a non playing captain- but no Dhoni into test cricket action please. He might do average stuff in sub continent pitches, but no way he can play good test cricket on foreign lands. He cannot become real test cricket star with a single huge knock, he should play consistently 50+ knocks, which he isn't able to.
