India in South Africa

[Cricket_god]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/271214.html
As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Ajit. He is the finest ODI quicke have produced, why do people still feel he has no role in the team?
He belongs in the Test side if fit.

He Bowls Wicket taking bowls in odis where batsman generally are attacking and get out thinking he is medium pacer but he gets on to them a bit quicker
Its a Disgrace how his potential of a match winning allrounder with both bat and bowl has been reduced to a good odi bowler and a tailender by various team managements.he has been dropped most of times due to no reason and his career has been murdered.he will remain as one of the guys whose system has engulped like kambli,sivaramakrishnan and many more.

 

[sohum]

Have to agree about Agarkar there. He's never been given a long stay in the team to secure his spot. His remarkable ODI performances haven't been rewarded with a Test cap, even when the rest of our pace bowling line-up couldn't buy a wicket.

Also, I feel it has something to do with our last tour of Australia, in 2004 (was it?) when we picked 3 quickies and Agarkar completely lost his marbles and forgot how to bowl. He was trotting in and bowling it at around 110-120 km/h, getting no swing and not troubling the batsmen at all. Sort of like Irfan Pathan these days.

 

[cricket_lover]

India will not go in with a 5 bowler theory. It'll be two pacers/two spinners or three pacers/1 spinner.

Ganguly, if selected, will contribute along with Sachin.

But its still too early. The selection will also depend on the outcome of the tour match.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/url/271302.html
Promising signs?

 

[surendar]

Also, I feel it has something to do with our last tour of Australia, in 2004 (was it?) when we picked 3 quickies and Agarkar completely lost his marbles and forgot how to bowl. He was trotting in and bowling it at around 110-120 km/h, getting no swing and not troubling the batsmen at all.

Just like to say something here,

Agarkar got 16 Wickets in that tour in Australia which was the second highest wicket taker of the series ( including Aussie bowlers ) and the highest being Kumble with 24 wickets!

Agarkar's best in that tour was, 6/41 !

 

[Cricketman]

Agarkar, is good in tests. (GOD THAT WAS HARD TO SAY!!!)
I'm no fan of him, not one bit. But what we need now is experience in the quick bowlers, and Ajit is it. Zaheer must play with Munaf, and Agarkar can support.
But, he is not the greatest in the field, and having him field for 2-3 days is going to be tough.

 

[Cricketman]

@suren, that aus series was 2 years ago, and that was the inciting incident for really good indian cricket for 2 years, now we are just falling

 

[SaiSrini]

In my opinion, Only Munaf has that great ability(stump to stump) making batsman to struggle a lot! For entire Champions Trophy, Munaf bowled stump to stump!

If Munaf is fit, he should play. And Munaf has to crank up his pace too. He is bowling too slow at the moment. But Zaheer and Munaf will be leading us in the World Cup 2007 with Agarkar, Sreesanth and Pathan providing the backup!

Irfan pathan is not bowling well enough in tests to get picked as a pure bowler .For the first test my combination will be-Munaf,Zaheer/irfan,sreesanth,kumble,VRV Singh if India play 5 bowlers Harbhajan is useless outside India and indian Commentators call him a world class bowler capable of taking wickets any where but i think the team management knows his limitations.

Zaheer right now is 100% for the test matches. With the form that he is in and with the experience that he has, he is 100% confirmed for the test matches. Its Zaheer, Munaf/Sreesanth, Kumble, Harbhajan/Irfan (depending on the wicket)

http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/url/271302.html
Promising signs?

It seems Saurav is now more fitter and stronger... He it seems has worked quite a bit on his fitness. Very exciting now the tests are going to be! Whenever Saurav comes to the team, there is a certain aura around Indian cricket. It makes all of us wait for the action to unfold when he is in the team! Thats Saurav for U!

Agarkar, is good in tests. (GOD THAT WAS HARD TO SAY!!!)
I'm no fan of him, not one bit. But what we need now is experience in the quick bowlers, and Ajit is it. Zaheer must play with Munaf, and Agarkar can support.
But, he is not the greatest in the field, and having him field for 2-3 days is going to be tough.

I dont think you should too much importance to fast movers on the field, in test cricket. You need specialists who have experience and who can do the job for you!

 

[sohum]

Just like to say something here,

Agarkar got 16 Wickets in that tour in Australia which was the second highest wicket taker of the series ( including Aussie bowlers ) and the highest being Kumble with 24 wickets!

Agarkar's best in that tour was, 6/41 !

Hmm, I definitely got the wrong series then. I remember now that Agarkar was largely responsible for victory in Adelaide (or is my memory being naughty again?). What series was it, then....? Gah.

 

[cricket_lover]

Tour match starts today, lets see how the batsmen play this time. All the players will be under pressure, and with Dravid likely to play in the first test, we're in for some competition.

 

[SaiSrini]

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/indiainsaarticleshow/733394.cms

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/indiainsaarticleshow/733396.cms

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/indiainsaarticleshow/733387.cms

Is the whole team on its feet because of the presence of that "someone" amongst them? Smiling, relaxed and looks like they are training ferociously for the upcoming battles. Oh god! Please dont let me dream so soon! Allow me to wait and see the results because a shattered dream is more painful to bear!

News like these brings back the optimism among the fans and supporters! I wish the team all luck! Hope they bring back the smiles in the faces of their now 'upset' fans!

Surprising to see Dravid almost announce the final eleven for the first test match! Is it some sort of a tactic?? Because he says all the 6 regular batsmen, if fit, will play in the first test! Thereby signalling that Saurav will definitely be there in the first test along with Dravid (if fit) and Laxman.

Tour match starts today, lets see how the batsmen play this time. All the players will be under pressure, and with Dravid likely to play in the first test, we're in for some competition.

The wicket for tomorrow's game is expected to be a batting beauty! Seems like a clever ploy from the South Africans to put the Indians into complacency mode when they come into the tests! But little do they know that after the sound thrashing in the ODI's, its not so easy to push the Indian team into complacent mode. I wish all batsmen get a good hit in tomorrow's game and bring that confidence into the test matches!

Hmm, I definitely got the wrong series then. I remember now that Agarkar was largely responsible for victory in Adelaide (or is my memory being naughty again?). What series was it, then....? Gah.

Oh yeah! Wasnt Agarkar the bowler of that series? He got 6 wickets and bowled India to victory at the Adelaide Oval!

 

[sohum]

I sincerely hope Dada strikes some form. We/he need/s it. Although if he fails, one really can't blame anyone for ending his career.

 

[gamerkid22]

Sehwag 0
Jaffer 0
Sachin 10

now Laxman and Ganguly at the crease . All hopes on Ganguly .

 

[sid_19840]

Is it being shown on tele or is are you guys just following scores from Cricinfo or somewhere?

 

[gamerkid22]

Is it being shown on tele or is are you guys just following scores from Cricinfo or somewhere?

Cricinfo

btw Ganguly in double figures now :happy and 2 boundaries to him now and he is scoring at at a good rate :happy

EDIT : Indians are playing the same way as they played in ODI's(not scoring runs only losing wickets) Laxman gone too as India lose their 4th