India tour of Australia - 2018/19

[LiveLoveABD]

This is the end of Vijay. It will bury Rahul's confidence. Mayank's success is down to this great man. I think this is a serious warning for Ashwin and MSD in the public domain.

Rejoice my countrymen!

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

This was the weakest SA/ENG/AUS teams I can remember and the best bowling attack we ever had.

Basically you say this is the strongest Indian team

 

[aditya123]

Basically you say this is the strongest Indian team

Basically, this is the strongest Indian bowling lineup we`ve ever had but yet we`ve underperformed, given the resources we have. With a comparatively weaker bowling attack in 2003 and an all-time great Aussie batting lineup, we were one session from winning the test series 2-1. To call this win on par or greater than 1983 or 2011 is nonsense. Forget the world cup wins, you`d be delusional to claim this is a greater achievement than the overseas series wins in 1971 under Wadekar (WI and England). I rate the 2007 series win in England higher than this and even the 1-1 draw in SA in 2010 as a huge achievement. Shastri and Kohli claim everything they do as the greatest ever. Humility during good times is an underrated aspect of sport. Goti and gang would do well to realize that. The way he took potshots at guys like Tendulkar and Gavaskar in the press conference ('there are no Gods or demigods in this side') was uncalled for. This achievement has been made possible because these guys are standing on the shoulders of some giants of the sport who laid the ground for all this. The period between 2002-2010 was the best one for Indian cricket. Most sides were a notch above the current ones. Australia and SA were at their best ever in history. England had Vaughan, Flintoff, Pietersen, Harmison, Caddick, Stewart, Hussain etc during that period. Even the WI side of 2006 (our first win in WI for a long time) was really solid with guys like Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Ganga, Bravo, Edwards, Collymore, Lawson etc. Shastri can claim anything he wants but as fans who`ve given our all supporting this side, we know how to rate our sides.

India`s performances overseas between 2002 and 2010:

1.) Tours to Engand: 1-1 draw in 2002 followed by a 1-0 win in 2007
2.) Tours to Australia: 1-1 draw in 2003/4 followed by a really close 2-1 defeat in 2007/8 (a couple of bad decisions away from a 2-1 win)
3.) Tours to SA: A close 2-1 defeat in 2006 (first test win in SA. a session away from a win in the decider at Cape Town) and a 1-1 draw against arguably the best SA side ever (Smith, ABD, Kallis, Steyn, Boucher, Morkel etc) in 2010
4.) WI: 1-0 win against a solid WI side in 2006 (a side that had Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Darren Ganga, D. Bravo at his peak, a fast bowling attack of Fidel Edwards, Jermaine Lawson and Correy Colleymore on some spicy tracks)
5.) NZ: First series win in NZ in 2009 in a very long time
6.) Pakistan: First ever series win in Pakistan in 2004 against a superb Pakistan side that had Inzy, Shoaib, Sami, Gul etc.
7.) 1-1 against SL in SL in 2010. A SL side that included Mahela, Sanga, Samaraweera, Murali, Mendis, etc. SL in SL was a challenge those days.

Compare that to the achievements of the current side which have come against sides in transition and it pales in comparison. This is surely not India`s best touring lot ever! It had the potential to be that but that is it. Shastri and Kohli are `bigheads'. The mainstream Indian media are just cashing in on the hype and have no context. For us fans, we have followed this side through good and bad times.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Shastri can claim anything he wants but as fans who`ve given our all supporting this side, we know how to rate our sides.

Great post !!

And excellent point. Maybe the new cricket fans would not have as much detailed info and hence Shastri's words don't sound offensive and over the top to them. But for folks who have followed Indian cricket starting from the 90s and 2000s, his jibes are very irritating and in poor taste

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Basically, this is the strongest Indian bowling lineup we`ve ever had but yet we`ve underperformed, given the resources we have. With a comparatively weaker bowling attack in 2003 and an all-time great Aussie batting lineup, we were one session from winning the test series 2-1. To call this win on par or greater than 1983 or 2011 is nonsense. Forget the world cup wins, you`d be delusional to claim this is a greater achievement than the overseas series wins in 1971 under Wadekar (WI and England). I rate the 2007 series win in England higher than this and even the 1-1 draw in SA in 2010 as a huge achievement. Shastri and Kohli claim everything they do as the greatest ever. Humility during good times is an underrated aspect of sport. Goti and gang would do well to realize that. The way he took potshots at guys like Tendulkar and Gavaskar in the press conference ('there are no Gods or demigods in this side') was uncalled for. This achievement has been made possible because these guys are standing on the shoulders of some giants of the sport who laid the ground for all this. The period between 2002-2010 was the best one for Indian cricket. Most sides were a notch above the current ones. Australia and SA were at their best ever in history. England had Vaughan, Flintoff, Pietersen, Harmison, Caddick, Stewart, Hussain etc during that period. Even the WI side of 2006 (our first win in WI for a long time) was really solid with guys like Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Ganga, Bravo, Edwards, Collymore, Lawson etc. Shastri can claim anything he wants but as fans who`ve given our all supporting this side, we know how to rate our sides.

India`s performances overseas between 2002 and 2010:

1.) Tours to Engand: 1-1 draw in 2002 followed by a 1-0 win in 2007
2.) Tours to Australia: 1-1 draw in 2003/4 followed by a really close 2-1 defeat in 2007/8 (a couple of bad decisions away from a 2-1 win)
3.) Tours to SA: A close 2-1 defeat in 2006 (first test win in SA. a session away from a win in the decider at Cape Town) and a 1-1 draw against arguably the best SA side ever (Smith, ABD, Kallis, Steyn, Boucher, Morkel etc) in 2010
4.) WI: 1-0 win against a solid WI side in 2006
5.) NZ: First series win in NZ in 2009 in a very long time
6.) Pakistan: First ever series win in Pakistan in 2004 against a superb Pakistan side that had Inzy, Shoaib, Sami, Gul etc.
7.) 1-1 against SL in SL in 2010. A SL side that included Mahela, Sanga, Samaraweera, Murali, Mendis, etc. SL in SL was a challenge those days.

Compare that to the achievements of the current side which have come against sides in transition and it pales in comparison. This is surely not India`s best touring lot ever! It had the potential to be that but that is it. Shastri and Kohli are `bigheads'. The mainstream Indian media are just cashing in on the hype and have no context. For us fans, we have followed this side through good and bad times.

This to me is the post of this thread.

 

[SaiSrini]

Goti and gang would do well to realize that. The way he took potshots at guys like Tendulkar and Gavaskar in the press conference ('there are no Gods or demigods in this side') was uncalled for

Shastri took potshots at Tendulkar? What did he say?

 

[aditya123]

Shastri took potshots at Tendulkar? What did he say?

Not directly. In his press conference, he said something like "This is a side which fights for each other. There are no `Gods' or `demi-gods' or any hierarchies in this side." Read that the way you want.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Not directly. In his press conference, he said something like "This is a side which fights for each other. There are no `Gods' or `demi-gods' or any hierarchies in this side." Read that the way you want.

It felt like a 100% pot shot to me. I felt the same. In the interview I've posted, I think he has signalled the end for Ashwin.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Basically, this is the strongest Indian bowling lineup we`ve ever had but yet we`ve underperformed, given the resources we have. With a comparatively weaker bowling attack in 2003 and an all-time great Aussie batting lineup, we were one session from winning the test series 2-1. To call this win on par or greater than 1983 or 2011 is nonsense. Forget the world cup wins, you`d be delusional to claim this is a greater achievement than the overseas series wins in 1971 under Wadekar (WI and England). I rate the 2007 series win in England higher than this and even the 1-1 draw in SA in 2010 as a huge achievement. Shastri and Kohli claim everything they do as the greatest ever. Humility during good times is an underrated aspect of sport. Goti and gang would do well to realize that. The way he took potshots at guys like Tendulkar and Gavaskar in the press conference ('there are no Gods or demigods in this side') was uncalled for. This achievement has been made possible because these guys are standing on the shoulders of some giants of the sport who laid the ground for all this. The period between 2002-2010 was the best one for Indian cricket. Most sides were a notch above the current ones. Australia and SA were at their best ever in history. England had Vaughan, Flintoff, Pietersen, Harmison, Caddick, Stewart, Hussain etc during that period. Even the WI side of 2006 (our first win in WI for a long time) was really solid with guys like Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Ganga, Bravo, Edwards, Collymore, Lawson etc. Shastri can claim anything he wants but as fans who`ve given our all supporting this side, we know how to rate our sides.

India`s performances overseas between 2002 and 2010:

1.) Tours to Engand: 1-1 draw in 2002 followed by a 1-0 win in 2007
2.) Tours to Australia: 1-1 draw in 2003/4 followed by a really close 2-1 defeat in 2007/8 (a couple of bad decisions away from a 2-1 win)
3.) Tours to SA: A close 2-1 defeat in 2006 (first test win in SA. a session away from a win in the decider at Cape Town) and a 1-1 draw against arguably the best SA side ever (Smith, ABD, Kallis, Steyn, Boucher, Morkel etc) in 2010
4.) WI: 1-0 win against a solid WI side in 2006 (a side that had Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Darren Ganga, D. Bravo at his peak, a fast bowling attack of Fidel Edwards, Jermaine Lawson and Correy Colleymore on some spicy tracks)
5.) NZ: First series win in NZ in 2009 in a very long time
6.) Pakistan: First ever series win in Pakistan in 2004 against a superb Pakistan side that had Inzy, Shoaib, Sami, Gul etc.
7.) 1-1 against SL in SL in 2010. A SL side that included Mahela, Sanga, Samaraweera, Murali, Mendis, etc. SL in SL was a challenge those days.

Compare that to the achievements of the current side which have come against sides in transition and it pales in comparison. This is surely not India`s best touring lot ever! It had the potential to be that but that is it. Shastri and Kohli are `bigheads'. The mainstream Indian media are just cashing in on the hype and have no context. For us fans, we have followed this side through good and bad times.

But I don't feel it to be right to compare the achievements of the sides to the ones before 2011-12 and current ones. Before 2011, there were players who were playing their 3rd or 4th series in those countries and this time we had many players who are out for the their first full series against Australia that too in Australia and we still won it, and when you bring in reasons like previous sides used to be stronger than current sides but you also need to take into account that the Indian team had maintained the same level that they had before so this is still a great achievement in itself. It's not the quality of Cricket but this time it's about result. If it was easier to win we would've had so many opportunities in those 70 years which we even didn't made use of. Years after today nobody would remember the quality of the side that we played but people would remember the result and the result is that we won a Test series in Australia after 70 years. Do you remember what was the quality of NZ team just before 1968 when MAK Pataudi won the Test series in NZ, you need to remember the fact that Pataudi had a very poor Overseas record before that series but still people call him a great Captain right ? Do you know the quality of English team in 1971 and their form ? But what you remember is Wadekar won a series in England which was India's first series win in England, you consider that achievement as great or not ? That is how it is. It's time to keep the hatred aside for people and celebrate this series win now. No further discussions should be held regarding this now.

 

[abhi_jacko]

No further discussions should be held regarding this now.

Ok BOSS

Only problem is, no one here started the comparison. Our cricket team's coach did!!

Bottom line: Our "COACH" is an A-grade nincompoop and it would be great to get rid of him so that the fans can enjoy a series win, without having to hear him spew sh*t every time he opens his mouth[DOUBLEPOST=1547033180][/DOUBLEPOST]

If it was easier to win we would've had so many opportunities in those 70 years which we even didn't made use of.

That almost sounds like a Modi speech..

MOD EDIT- No translation provided.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

That almost sounds like a Modi speech..

Now please atleast don't degrade me by comparing me with politicians of our country

I just don't like them. They always speak big but reality is it's the people of our country who have started realising their mistakes so that is why our country is prospering, it's nothing to do with Narendra Modi being our PM[DOUBLEPOST=1547040801][/DOUBLEPOST]I was against Ravi Shastri since the time he was appointed as our head coach and is still against him. Don't know what made Virat Kohli trust him so much. Ravi Shastri seems to be purely an attention-seeker to me

 

[Bigby Wolf]

That almost sounds like a Modi speech.. bhaiyon aur behenon, sattar saal mein kuch nahi hua - sab kuch humnein kiya hai

You missed the most important word .....Mitronnnn!

 

[aditya123]

But I don't feel it to be right to compare the achievements of the sides to the ones before 2011-12 and current ones. Before 2011, there were players who were playing their 3rd or 4th series in those countries and this time we had many players who are out for the their first full series against Australia that too in Australia and we still won it, and when you bring in reasons like previous sides used to be stronger than current sides but you also need to take into account that the Indian team had maintained the same level that they had before so this is still a great achievement in itself. It's not the quality of Cricket but this time it's about result. If it was easier to win we would've had so many opportunities in those 70 years which we even didn't made use of. Years after today nobody would remember the quality of the side that we played but people would remember the result and the result is that we won a Test series in Australia after 70 years. Do you remember what was the quality of NZ team just before 1968 when MAK Pataudi won the Test series in NZ, you need to remember the fact that Pataudi had a very poor Overseas record before that series but still people call him a great Captain right ? Do you know the quality of English team in 1971 and their form ? But what you remember is Wadekar won a series in England which was India's first series win in England, you consider that achievement as great or not ? That is how it is. It's time to keep the hatred aside for people and celebrate this series win now. No further discussions should be held regarding this now.

You are missing the context here. In 1971 and 1968, India neither had the resources of today. Cricket was`nt the sport that it is in India today. In 1971, India were punching above their weight not just as a cricket team, but as a nation! We were not underdogs going into this series by any stretch of the imagination. This is an achievement for sure, but to call it bigger than 1983 and all other test wins of the past is nonsense. As Sai pointed out, the 2001 win against Australia, even if it was at home was phenomenal. That Australian side was on a record winning streak before it was halted by India. Those tracks were not dustbowls like today either. Personally, you might be okay with the lack of humility on display here but a lot of us are not, and that is why this discussion.

 

[SaiSrini]

It felt like a 100% pot shot to me. I felt the same. In the interview I've posted, I think he has signalled the end for Ashwin.

Let him say whatever he wants. We know what their signals really mean. They tried to signal such a thing with Murali Vijay during the England tour last year, but then brought him back for Australia.

And even for a Ashwin disliker like you, you really think Ashwin is at a stage in test cricket where it should end for him? Yes for a spinner like him, its very annoying and wrong that he gets injured and takes a long time to recover, costing India. But that's a body management thing. Ashwin was very good in the first test in England and similarly in the first test here in Australia. Had he played with 100% fitness in both series, he could've possibly had 2 great overseas tours that would've really balanced out his lean overseas record. But he is nowhere near the end. Among spinners, he is still India's best on home pitches and the most valuable option overseas considering his batting skills.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Let him say whatever he wants. We know what their signals really mean. They tried to signal such a thing with Murali Vijay during the England tour last year, but then brought him back for Australia.

And even for a Ashwin disliker like you, you really think Ashwin is at a stage in test cricket where it should end for him? Yes for a spinner like him, its very annoying and wrong that he gets injured and takes a long time to recover, costing India. But that's a body management thing. Ashwin was very good in the first test in England and similarly in the first test here in Australia. Had he played with 100% fitness in both series, he could've possibly had 2 great overseas tours that would've really balanced out his lean overseas record. But he is nowhere near the end. Among spinners, he is still India's best on home pitches and the most valuable option overseas considering his batting skills.

I am not as nice as you. I don't like the things being said, one bit. Yes, as you say I am an Ashwin disliker but I'm not a goon to not recognise his contribution. If we take his contribution with the bat also into account, he's as good as anyone at the moment. Also, the whole fitness thing I will only believe when I hear it from Ashwin's mouth. The sort of rubbish that's been thrown at us pertaining to fitness is very very confusing i.e Jadeja the second test. He was fielding on the boundary for most of the test and throwing his usual cannons from the rope and we are supposed to believe he was suffering from a shoulder injury. Why would you appoint him 12th man with a squad of 18-20?

My point is, whatever the management is thinking and planning it does not need to be in the public domain and be in the domain so vehemently. I would at worst render thought if it came from the skipper but who the hell is that drunk moron to call on Ashwin? I don't know what you think but this is definitely the end for Vijay and if so, it's been done in a very very disgraceful manner. If I was Ravi Ashwin, I would just tell Shastri to twerk off.