India's tour of Australia - December/January 2015

[SaiSrini]

Your starting XI looks good but I don't like the idea of having only 4 main bowlers, just look what happened in New Zealand. Zaheer and Ishant each bowled some 40 overs in a single innings in that second test and they were not looking good physically. If India want's a chance at winning overseas, you need to play with 5 regular bowlers so I would take 4 fast and 1 spinner (Ashwin) even though knowing Dhoni this is unlikely to happen. Maybe Ravi Shastri might make a difference this time in the final XI selection.

India need an extra batsman in Australia. I would personally play Raina and have him/Kohli handle the 5th bowler duties. We need an extra batsman against the quality of Australia's bowlers.

My XI for Brisbane would be this:

M Vijay
KL Rahul
C Pujara
A Rahane
V Kohli*
S Raina
W Saha
K Sharma
I Sharma
M Shami
U Yadav

This is my ideal XI, although I am pretty sure this is not going to be the final XI. Play Rahul soon enough as we cannot provide time for Dhawan to get going. Also play Rahane at the crucial No.4 spot because he was our best batsman in England, and Kohli can feel more comfortable at the No.5 spot (where he also did well last time in Australia). Raina for the left hand variety and also the fact that he can bowl useful overs of off spin and a brilliant fielder (safe slip catcher). And I want raw pace and height from my fast bowlers. Brisbane could be a fast bowler's wicket and I definitely want more pace in the attack, and thereby my ideal XI has no place for Kumar for Brisbane

 

[abhi_jacko]

Very ambitious changes there by you @SaiSrini. Interesting one

But I would definitely play 5 bowlers. Last time in Australia, Umesh would get us early wickets and then the 4 bowlers would get tired and get thrashed because there was no proper 5th bowler.

Which is why Jadeja becomes crucial. He hasn't been consistent, but has provided a couple of crucial counter attacking knocks. His 60+ score in the Lord's test was critical as Ishant's short pitched bowling in winning the test. Plus he got 9 wickets over 4 test matches, which is fairly decent for a 5th bowler. But he needs to learn to control his aggression when needed and prove more valuable with the bat.

If Raina has become an equally adept wicket taker, then I would definitely go for Raina over Jadeja. But if not, then I would give Jaddu atleast a couple more chances.

And I would definitely give Bhuvi a chance to prove himself as well, given than he was the most successful new ball bowler. He has natural swing, which would definitely trouble the batsmen early on with the new ball.

Openers
Vijay
Dhawan

Middle Order
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane

Lower Middle order
Saha
Ashwin / Bhuvi
Jadeja

Tail
Aaron
Ishant/Shami
Umesh

 

[shravi]

Surely Aaron has to start after the England series? Especially over Shami or Umesh. I would go Ishant, Aaron, Bhuvi.

 

[abhi_jacko]

^Yeah you are right. I would consider Bhuvi/Ashwin to be replaceable depending on the wicket, and 3 of Umesh, Aaron, Shami, Ishant to make the starting lineup

edited my lineup a bit

 

[PokerAce]

I disagree in part with both the sides above. I think we Dhoni out we need a batsman and so Raina automatically walks into the side for the first test.

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Raina
Rahane
Ojha
R Ashwin
Bhuvaneshwar Kr
Ishant/Yadav
Varun

 

[abhi_jacko]

I disagree in part with both the sides above. I think we Dhoni out we need a batsman and so Raina automatically walks into the side for the first test.

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Raina
Rahane
Ojha
R Ashwin
Bhuvaneshwar Kr
Ishant/Yadav
Varun

Reasoning behind Ojha over Saha ? Just curious

 

[PokerAce]

Reasoning behind Ojha over Saha ? Just curious

Well none actually, I mean whoever is the no. 1 keeper after MSD

I figured it would be Ojha, but if its Saha I am fine with either. The two are interchangeable for me right now. I would play either. There is no preference. I am equally fine with Saha playing.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I am pretty sure Saha is the keeper of choice from management pov, since Ojha has clearly been named as the backup keeper who is expected to fly back once Dhoni arrives in Australia. Plus I feel Saha deserves this chance. Poor guy has been on the fringes Forever

But you guys really don't think we should play 5 proper bowlers ? Even after last time's horror show ?

 

[PokerAce]

I am pretty sure Saha is the keeper of choice from management pov, since Ojha has clearly been named as the backup keeper who is expected to fly back once Dhoni arrives in Australia. Plus I feel Saha deserves this chance. Poor guy has been on the fringes Forever

But you guys really don't think we should play 5 proper bowlers ? Even after last time's horror show ?

I would not mind sacrificing a Batsman is MSD was playing. I would infact prefer to go in with 2 spinners and 3 seamers. However without MSD playing 5 bowlers would be a gamble. Makes the batting too weak. After Rahane MSD walking in has a totally different feel to it, as opposed to Saha Walking in.

Also the reason I back Raina is that if need be then Raina can chip in with a fair share of overs as well. Its one factor that none of the other batsmen have. In fact I would pick Raina and tell him that he will be our second spinner too.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I do agree about MSD's presence, especially after his fairly good showing with the bat in England.

The issue with Raina is, his role reminds me of Sehwag's role in the last tour down under where he and Kohli were supposed to chip in with a few overs. But that ploy failed repeatedly. Dhoni either dint give them the ball or they just never got any wickets or kept one end tight.

 

[SaiSrini]

I will definitely start with Yadav as he has had prior successful experience of touring Australia with the national team. He was very good in that disastrous tour for India. And currently Yadav is in good form after a good ODI series vs Sri Lanka. Ishant gets in due to his experience and the fact that he is different from Yadav and Aaron (Ishant is a tall, hit the deck kind of a bowler). That leaves us with only one more seamer to pick. Bhuvi or Shami or Aaron? Bhuvi would be my very last choice on these wickets. I just dont see him getting the same purchase as he got in England. Between Shami and Aaron, Shami is almost equally fast (if not as fast as Aaron). Shami has a very good reverse swing, and I believe Shami has slightly more control than Aaron. Aaron should play soon, but I see people above him who warrant a place.

Two spinners should surely be a luxury at Brisbane considering its history. If Jadeja has to play over Raina, then we might take an extra fast bowler. I think we are facing a problem of plenty. Same with keepers too. Tough between Saha and Ojha, but I would give it to Saha purely because he has waited longer than Ojha and Saha is a more classical wicketkeeper.

 

[Yuvi.]

The way Dhawan struggled against the 130 - 132 kmph short ball of Thisara at Hyderabad isnt gonna help him!
He and other batsmen better preapare themselves for the Chin Music.
Bu as AngryAngry quoted , there might be some loose pitches due to the bad forecast but You cant rely on that.

 

[PokerAce]

Bhuvi or Shami or Aaron? Bhuvi would be my very last choice on these wickets.

While arguments for the rest of the points you have made either way but I just cannot cannot agree with you dismissing Bhuvi so easily. Bhuvi can adjust to conditions. Even in England in the first test on a road of a wicket he got a 5 wicket haul. Bhuvi has been our best seam bowler off late, and he simple needs to be given an opportunity in Australia. I just don't see any justification in dropping him without so much as even giving him an opportunity to play. This is just unnecessary overthinking.

That is not even going into the stubborness he brings in with the bat lower down the order.

 

[PokerAce]

In a somewhat unrelated note, Sehwag (80) and Gambhir (93) helped Delhi hammer Haryana.

 

[lion100lion]

Australia and sledging are inseparable companions, they say.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that Australia pacer Peter Siddle has already started the mind-games against the Indian side that is due to visit them in December.

Virat Kohli will find it daunting against 'rowdy' Gabba crowd: Peter Siddle

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"Obviously, the captaincy is going to be a bit daunting for him, coming in for a big Test series in Australia and taking over. He'll be up for it and no doubt we will be. I'm sure the crowd will be right behind us, backing us up and putting a lot of pressure on him," Siddle told reporters on Thursday.

"The Gabba crowd gets a bit rowdy. I've played a few games up there for Victoria and it's been hard work. So I can't imagine playing an international there when everyone's against you. I'm sure it'll be tough for him, but any game when it's your first Test as captain is going to be a tough contest. No doubt we'll make it a lot of hard work for him."

Virat Kohli will find it daunting against 'rowdy' Gabba crowd: Peter Siddle - Cricbuzz