gaurav_indian said:
Whats crap in my posts tell me?I am just giving my views.See teams are not built up of good players they are good when they play as a unit their planning is good and don't underestimate the WI team like the Indian team they underestimated them and see what WI have done to them.Kenya went to the WC2003 semifinals bcoz of the team work and unity.It seems as you have forgot that phrase "Never ever underestimate anyone in your life" if you forgot then just store it in memory its very useful.And talking about your batting and bowling comparisons I think u said that they were lucky and my god they were lucky in all the four matches what a luck.You don't want to confess that they played better than us rather we were unlucky.
You always seem to be a little too hyper, don't you? You have assumed at least 3 things that I said, and then built your argument around them. First of all, I did not say that your posts were crap, I just suggested that one can be the biggest fan and still be a total idiot. You automatically assumed that I labelled you as posting nonsense. Guilty conscience, perhaps?
Again, you are only citing examples of ODI cricket. Kenya, West Indies, etc. Test cricket is a whole different ball game. I did not see you mentioning anything in your argument along those lines. You did not even respond to any of the questions that I asked about the same. How come?
Of course West Indies has team unity. Of course you need luck in ODI cricket. If you win a single match in ODI cricket without luck, you're probably playing for Australia, and even then it is a rare occurrence. Now, since it seems that you cannot really sit down and compare for yourself, let me do it for you.
Batting
Chris Gayle vs. Virender Sehwag
Gayle has definitely been in better form than Sehwag, but he is also a hit-and-miss player for me. He goes for his shots which means he is always giving the bowlers a chance. His record is pretty good, but who is he going to open with? Sehwag has shown his test class in the past. He is in a rough patch, but you can be sure that he will come good at least once in the series, and it will probably be a big one (or he'll be dropped midway).
Devon Smith? vs. Wasim Jaffer
Smith averages in the 20s and has 1 century in 16 matches. Jaffer's record is similar, though he has played only 10 matches. On paper, you could say they were about equal. But Jaffer has showed that he can play long and gritty innings, and will be the ideal counterfoil for Sehwag, or whoever else may be chosen to open.
Rahul Dravid vs. Ramnaresh Sarwan
The only reason a question of comparison would arise here is because Sarwan is in hot form, and Dravid has failed in two consecutive ODIs. But everyone knows Dravid's stability as India's #3 batsman and that test matches are a whole different ball game. I expect Dravid to outperform Sarwan.
VVS Laxman vs. Brian Lara
West Indies, with an advantage here. Laxman has been out of cricket for a while while the Prince looks in supreme touch.
Yuvraj Singh vs. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Very close call. I would say Chanderpaul's experience about balances Yuvraj's red-hot streak, at the moment. It could go either way, especially given both have got a few good knocks down in the recent past.
Mohammad Kaif/Suresh Raina vs. ???
West Indies are playing an extra all-rounder, or will most probably be doing that. Surely an extra specialist batsmen is an advantage?
All Rounders
Irfan Pathan vs. Dwayne Bravo
Pathan has not yet come to the party and he is raring to go. Bravo is a proven ODI player and has shown some of that form in the test matches, in the past. Remember, however, that he got almost all his wickets to slower balls, something he cannot count on so much in the test matches. Irfan Pathan is usually very economical in test matches, and if he can pick off an early wicket or two, he could put India in the driver's seat. If he fails, we always have our spinners to fall back on.
Ramesh Powar vs. Dwayne Smith
I don't expect Powar to play a match, because India will most probably be taking in 5 bowlers (including Pathan). West Indies will probably not be doing that, and may play Dwayne Smith as one of their frontline bowlers.
Wicket-Keeping
MS Dhoni/Dinesh Kaarthick vs. Carlton Baugh/Dinesh Ramdin
We don't know who the keepers to play will be, but I would expect Dhoni and Baugh to get the selections ahead of their counterparts. Baugh has played 5 test matches without any sort of success whereas Dhoni has got a century and two 50's at the highest level. I would give the advantage to Dhoni.
Bowling
Munaf Patel vs. Fidel Edwards
Fidel Edwards goes at over 4 an over in 23 test matches. Munaf Patel had a nice start to his career against England. Edwards does have more experience, but he really needs to be in rhythm to do anything. He can cause problems early to players like Sehwag, but he needs to be in rhythm. A big if, although this player has shown that he has talent. As has Munaf, in test matches. Has not really been able to translate that into ODI success--just another glaring example of how different ODI and test cricket is.
S Sreesanth vs. Jerome Taylor/Corey Collymore
Taylor had a great start to his international career--against Zimbabwe. His initial stint in test cricket 3 years back was far from successful. Sreesanth has less experience (by 2 test matches) and more wickets (by 6 wickets) and proved to be hot to handle even in the placid pitches of India. He has shown accuracy, heart and speed, and has a tendency to pick up wickets. Corey Collymore is another rhythm bowler, and he is more accurate than he is likely to pick up wickets. A trend for many Windies bowlers: they strangle the batsman out. This ploy is less likely to succeed in test matches.
Harbhajan Singh vs. Marlon Samuels
Need I explain? Samuels is another one of those strangling bowlers. You need a lot of class to succeed at off-spin bowling in international test cricket. In the ODI's, he simply put it into the blockhole. Not going to fetch too many wickets. Batsman are willing to wait it out, and once you have more than 10 overs, you are bound to be tired and drop it short once in a while.
Anil Kumble vs. Ian Bradshaw/another pace bowler/random spinner
With over 500 international test scalps, there is hardly a need to elaborate why Kumble will be a key, key member in this team. If I remember correctly, it was Kumble who came in and bowled with a fractured jaw, and all the support material on his face to boot, against West Indies, and caused them trouble, the last time we toured. Such is the heart of a lion.
Also, it may be fruitful for you to know that West Indies' last test series came in October/November of last year, against Australia. It has clearly been a while since they've played competitive cricket at the highest level. When India has not been able to translate hot ODI form into test form, what makes you think the West Indies can do so, with ease? No one is saying that this series will be a cakewalk (something you seem hell-bent on arguing against) but if the Indians don't come out of this with at least a drawn series, they don't deserve to be anywhere in the top 5.
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