India tour of New Zealand - Jan to Feb 2014

[SaiSrini]

So India has 6 warm up games before the test series? They better win the series this time.

I am pretty sure Raina will get to play all the ODI games, and I am sure he is very much an integral part of Dhoni's plans for the near future, which includes the WC. So hope Raina uses this opportunity to get needed exposure of these conditions where he will most likely be playing the WC games. I don't want Raina in the ODI team, but since Dhoni will persist with him, might as well hope Raina gets going in ODI's. Might not be bad for him if he is pushed up the order. See if batting down the order bogs him down. Dhoni will score runs in ODI's at any position, in any conditions, against any opposition. We need to use Raina smartly.

Hope Binny plays, and hope Ashwin is the spinner. As much as Ashwin has been bad abroad, I would give him the opportunity in ODI's ahead of Jadeja. Ashwin is a specialist spinner, and I would try him first. And on recent form, Ashwin is a far better bat than Jadeja, esp. abroad.

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Rahane
Raina
Dhoni
Binny
Ashwin
Bhuvi/Ishant
Aaron
Shami

 

[ferg512]

If the pitch warrants inclusion of Sodhi, then New Zealand have already lost half the battle. From what little I saw of him in the WI series, the Indian batsmen will look to feast on him.

Decent bat, though.

Its a big worry for sure, its why I'm a bit disappointed Vettori decided to sit this series out. Sodhi looks promising for sure but even against WI there were a couple of boundary balls most overs.

Despite all this talk about greentops, I'll still be extremely surprised if the pitches are anything but roads. Last year against England the pitches were extremely flat and as a result each test went five days. NZC needs the money badly so they need to both keep India happy and make the games last five days.

 

[asprin]

I hope they don't rush Milne into the Test team

On the contrary, I would definitely play him against India. History has time and again proved that express bowlers have a had a lot of success against India if they are facing him for the first time. Case in point - Akhter, Lee, Tait.

Get him in while he is still new.

 

[Aalay]

SAnd on recent form, Ashwin is a far better bat than Jadeja, esp. abroad.

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Rahane
Raina
Dhoni
Binny
Ashwin
Bhuvi/Ishant
Aaron
Shami

You do realize that Jadeja had a 6-fer in his last match and Ashwin did not get a single wicket. With that you are dropping India's most successful ODI bowler in last year.

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India in New Zealand 2013-14 : India seek clarity over No. 4 slot | Cricket Features | New Zealand v India | ESPN Cricinfo

It will be really interesting to see who they go for at number 4. I hope they show a little more trust in Ajinkya Rahane

 

[War]

On the contrary, I would definitely play him against India. History has time and again proved that express bowlers have a had a lot of success against India if they are facing him for the first time. Case in point - Akhter, Lee, Tait.

Get him in while he is still new.

Ye Bond, Holding, Donald, Wes Hall, Roy Gilchrist, Steyn, Trueman as well. It all depends on how he bowls in the ODI series though, if he bowls well - its obvious NZ will rush him into the test. If not so well, they will not.

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Despite all this talk about greentops, I'll still be extremely surprised if the pitches are anything but roads. Last year against England the pitches were extremely flat and as a result each test went five days. NZC needs the money badly so they need to both keep India happy and make the games last five days.

Yes everytime i hear this fact, i cringe. This alone threats to curtail what could be a good test series.

 

[SaiSrini]

You do realize that Jadeja had a 6-fer in his last match and Ashwin did not get a single wicket. With that you are dropping India's most successful ODI bowler in last year.

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India in New Zealand 2013-14 : India seek clarity over No. 4 slot | Cricket Features | New Zealand v India | ESPN Cricinfo

It will be really interesting to see who they go for at number 4. I hope they show a little more trust in Ajinkya Rahane

Jadeja's 6-for was in a test match. And now with Binny being drafted in as the allrounder, the better option would be to go with a specialist spinner first and in case he doesn't perform, try other options. I would have Binny as the allrounder and Ashwin as the specialist spinner. If Ashwin doesn't perform, I would try Mishra. If that also fails, then Jadeja can be tried.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Dropping Jadeja doesn't make sense and I highly doubt that it will happen. He has performed as well as Ashwin in ODIs which says something given that Ashwin is the frontline spinner. Ashwin wont be dropped either. I don't think Binny will get an opportunity in the first 2 games atleast - his List A and First Class records aren't very flattering either.

No.4 is a puzzle. Ideally Pujara would be perfect for this spot. The dude knows how to build/pace his innings and he can accelerate with ease. But he is not in the squad. I hope we saw the end of Raina experiment in SAfrica. He is decent as a finisher. That leaves Rahane/Rayudu. Rahane deserves the spot for his gritty performances in SAfrica in Tests. Raina is good at 5 for now. Ideally he wouldn't even be in the playing XI on current form

 

[Aalay]

Jadeja's 6-for was in a test match. And now with Binny being drafted in as the allrounder, the better option would be to go with a specialist spinner first and in case he doesn't perform, try other options. I would have Binny as the allrounder and Ashwin as the specialist spinner. If Ashwin doesn't perform, I would try Mishra. If that also fails, then Jadeja can be tried.

Yes I know's his 6-fer came in a test match but you missed my point again there. Jadeja was India's best ODI bowler last year and he was much ahead of Ashwin. As mentioned before, I don't think Binny will get a chance in the first couple of games and Dhoni will go with a safe move which includes Jadeja as the all-rounder and Ashwin as the main spinner. However, If Jadeja out bowls Ashwin in the first 2 game, than you might see Jadeja playing as the frontline spinner and Stuart Binny getting his debut.

 

[used2bcool]

On the contrary, I would definitely play him against India. History has time and again proved that express bowlers have a had a lot of success against India if they are facing him for the first time. Case in point - Akhter, Lee, Tait.

I'll give you Shoaib and Lee. But Tait had no success in the one test he played against us at Perth. He went wicketless, Australia lost, and then he cited stress and disappeared from test cricket for a few years.

 

[asprin]

But Tait had no success in the one test he played against us at Perth.

Hmm..must have him confused with someone else then. Are you sure Tait played only a single test against India during his test career?

 

[Epic]

Where do you guys stand on Rohit opening ODIs and T20Is? For some reason I just can't seem to get around to that idea, Rahane would be my guy to open with Dhawan.

Yes, Delhi had two grounds, the flat Feroz Shah Kotla and the green swinging Roshanara Club.
I guess they just played one game on Kotla, rest all on Roshanara.

The Roshanara Club ground is termed as India's second most green swinging wicket after the one at Dharamshala. The team kept on choosing it as they had plenty of quick bowlers; and the plan seemed to work pretty well too as Delhi managed to bundle out their opponents thrice below 100 I guess.
Punjab at one stage was 34/8.

Interesting, maybe we can get a hold of the Roshanara for some much needed practice before heading out to England.

 

[Aalay]

Hah, Jesse Ryder just looks so dominant against Indian bowling. I always get that feel that he can reach to that 200 mark anytime he bats against us.

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Nah, not today Jesse.

 

[surendar]

Shami is just brilliant, he needs some real proper guidance to survive with fitness & without getting rusted like every other promising Indian pacers! We always had the history of promising young pacers getting rusted after few series, Zaheer is the only exception!

 

[ferg512]

Why did sky have to hire Gavaskar for the commentary? He is absolutely woeful, probably just going to listen on the radio now.

 

[Aalay]

Why did sky have to hire Gavaskar for the commentary? He is absolutely woeful, probably just going to listen on the radio now.

Well just be thankful that you don't have to hear Ravi Shastri.

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Ishant Sharma is looking down and out and this is the reason Varun Aaron should have played this game. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar is bowling faster than Ishant.