India's tour of West Indies - July/August 2016

[LiveLoveABD]

Wait !! Vijay is fit? and he was still not played?

Yes, he is fit and dropped.

 

[Akshay.]

So Rahane basically had to do what Pujara was being blamed for - scoring at a SR of less than 30 to stabilize and then unfortunately got out

It wasn't rahane's fault
He had to play like this because we had lost 5 wickets already

 

[abhi_jacko]

It wasn't rahane's fault
He had to play like this because we had lost 5 wickets already

Ofcourse !! Never said it was his fault

I am just saying this is exactly what Pujara has been doing to stabilize the innings, since he had to regularly walk out within the first 10 overs of Test Matches. And he was criticizes no end for this

 

[Akshay.]

Ofcourse !! Never said it was his fault

I am just saying this is exactly what Pujara has been doing to stabilize the innings, since he had to regularly walk out within the first 10 overs of Test Matches. And he was criticizes no end for this

Yes it is true that pujara provided the stability on which kohli and rahane built up their innings

 

[Aalay]

That Rahane wicket was again so painful to watch.

 

[SaiSrini]

What utter bull crap team selection. The experimentation is laughable. Kohli saying he's building bench strength when we don't yet have a settled test side shows how much over analysis goes around these days.

I said this before the series and I will say it again- 'It is absolute lunacy that Rahul and Vijay are not our settled openers yet.' Being friends with Kohli helps I guess if you're Dhawan.

I'm okay with the bowling changes. Don't understand Pujara's exit. Certainly don't get Rohit Sharma playing. I like Kohli @ 3!

Vijay being dropped is a bigger story than Pujara!

I like Kohli at No.3 in the shorter formats - not in test cricket. Its far more crucial in tests where the No.3 makes or breaks the balance. I would prefer a sheet anchor or someone who has solid stone walling technique to occupy that place. Kohli has not given me that feeling. Yes, Ricky Ponting was a flashy No.3 who was successful, but Ponting had really solid defence and the stone walling ability.

Ashwin has proved it - when you have his batting, why do you need Jadeja? Why can't you back the more specialist spinner, Mishra? What if he had a bad spell in the 2nd innings of the last game? Why can't you back him for the series? Jadeja might pick some easy wickets here, but I would still say Mishra deserved the backing.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Ashwin saves us from total embarrassment against West Indies yet again - he has a phenomenal all round record against them

 

[Aalay]

I like Kohli at No.3 in the shorter formats - not in test cricket. Its far more crucial in tests where the No.3 makes or breaks the balance. I would prefer a sheet anchor or someone who has solid stone walling technique to occupy that place. Kohli has not given me that feeling. Yes, Ricky Ponting was a flashy No.3 who was successful, but Ponting had really solid defence and the stone walling ability.

Ashwin has proved it - when you have his batting, why do you need Jadeja? Why can't you back the more specialist spinner, Mishra? What if he had a bad spell in the 2nd innings of the last game? Why can't you back him for the series? Jadeja might pick some easy wickets here, but I would still say Mishra deserved the backing.

I disagree with both of your points here.

As always, the best batsman of your team should bat at number 3. I think it's fair to say that our best batsman is Virat Kohli and therefore he should be batting at number 3. It's good that you compared him with Ponting because Kohli plays his cricket just like Ponting did for Australia. I am not worried about Kohli's defence, I think he is alright there. The main concern with Kohli is his temperament. It gets exposed often when he is consistently bowled at around that 4th stump line outside the off stump with ball going away from him. He has started to leave the ball but he will once in a while have a poke at it. He has the ability to leave the ball but he just wants to get on with it and be positive which is good but can sometime also lead to his downfall. This temperament also reflects in his captaincy as well when he starts changing bowlers around if they are not creating enough opportunity.

I have watched Mishra very closely this series and he has looked very average. I think I mentioned it after the end of 2nd test, once someone goes after Mishra, it totally upsets his line and length. For example, in last test match, Blackwood just went after him and Mishra had no clue what to do to come back. He bowled absolutely rubbish after that until late in the evening where he dragged it back a bit. This is not something new with Mishra. I also noticed this back in 2014 T20 WC where had a great tournament up until the semi-finals against South Africa. In the game against South Africa, Faf du plessis went after him and he looked completely lost. Yes, it is always a plus to have a leg spinner in the line-up but if he is not bowling well then I don't see any reason to keep him there.

Good to see Ashwin perform well with the bat once again. Hopefully these 2 can put up a good score tomorrow.

 

[Velocity]

Rohit Sharma is a brainless cricketer. He is talented, but gets a place ahead of Murali Vijay. Sharma is only good in the shorter forms. Vijay is a true Test player. This clown finds a place in the Test XI without making any significant scores. I don't even care if Dhawan was dropped and Vijay and Rahul opened with Pujara at 3. That would be a right decision if India were testing bench strength with the series still alive.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I like Kohli at No.3 in the shorter formats - not in test cricket. Its far more crucial in tests where the No.3 makes or breaks the balance. I would prefer a sheet anchor or someone who has solid stone walling technique to occupy that place. Kohli has not given me that feeling. Yes, Ricky Ponting was a flashy No.3 who was successful, but Ponting had really solid defence and the stone walling ability.

Ashwin has proved it - when you have his batting, why do you need Jadeja? Why can't you back the more specialist spinner, Mishra? What if he had a bad spell in the 2nd innings of the last game? Why can't you back him for the series? Jadeja might pick some easy wickets here, but I would still say Mishra deserved the backing.

Again, this is all a matter of opinion. I've been screaming for Kohli/Rahane at 3. I don't buy into all this 'best batsman at 3' logic, but I believe it is the most crucial batting position and in our team, although Kohli is the best batsman I don't see anyone apart from him and Rahane with the pedigree to bat there. This is just my opinion. I'm not worried about Kohli's technique. He's quite solid. He's just a little impatient sometimes but he'll learn.

I don't doubt Ashwin is a more proven batsman than Jadeja at test level. Is he a permanent No. 6? I have my reservations. He's doing alright on this tour but he was quite lucky yesterday. I get where you're coming from with Amit Mishra, but Jadeja is a much much more improved test bowler of late. I would opine that these three are our best spinners at the moment and after Ashwin, either or could play depending on form/opposition/conditions.

What I'm totally lost at sea about is Dhawan being preferred to Vijay. I said before it all began itself that Vijay and Rahul are our two openers for now. One 80 odd has got Dhawan the nod while Vijay has basically made runs everywhere in the world. What a joke!!

 

[pujan]

Again, this is all a matter of opinion. I've been screaming for Kohli/Rahane at 3. I don't buy into all this 'best batsman at 3' logic, but I believe it is the most crucial batting position and in our team, although Kohli is the best batsman I don't see anyone apart from him and Rahane with the pedigree to bat there. This is just my opinion. I'm not worried about Kohli's technique. He's quite solid. He's just a little impatient sometimes but he'll learn.

I don't doubt Ashwin is a more proven batsman than Jadeja at test level. Is he a permanent No. 6? I have my reservations. He's doing alright on this tour but he was quite lucky yesterday. I get where you're coming from with Amit Mishra, but Jadeja is a much much more improved test bowler of late. I would opine that these three are our best spinners at the moment and after Ashwin, either or could play depending on form/opposition/conditions.

What I'm totally lost at sea about is Dhawan being preferred to Vijay. I said before it all began itself that Vijay and Rahul are our two openers for now. One 80 odd has got Dhawan the nod while Vijay has basically made runs everywhere in the world. What a joke!!

Our k factors not have confidence in Vijay and Pujara because they bats so slow, both kohli and Rahul (65 ball) 's body Language says they plays ODI than test cricket.only between lunch and tea India way slow down with 42 runs in 29 over.I think its Foolish selection regarding pujara who can easily bats good 40/50 over in such a condition and most importantly removes the shines of the ball.I doubt India can even reach 300.

WI selected failure player Johnson who had bad record vs present Indian team but at this wicket he had 2
Fifty's but s.Hope better batsmen.Darren bravo and Samuels can return to form here.

R.jadeja is kind of bowler who can removes holder, chase and Dowrich much easier coz he has ability to keep the ball low from good length spot which mishra failed to deliver in previous test.no way WI can hits 348 for 2 on day 5 again vs Jadeja.

After all R FACTOR good so far Rahul,Ridhiman,ravichandran,so it could be Ravindra jadeja also successive only Rohit break my hearts who hits 177 vs WI (2015)his début century after playing 100 ODI

 

[pujan]

Yes it is true that pujara provided the stability on which kohli and rahane built up their innings

I am not saying because pujara is my neighbor, but for over seas test our middle order plunder runs because CP bats 35/45 overs to removes shine (cherry) of the new ball which benefits virat and Ash while hit centuries but yesterday India were 87 for 4 ,Kk underestimate WI bowling.Lucky escape yesterday Ash on 26 otherwise India dismiss under 200.

I do not see Kumar bowls other than nets so its not piece of cake for our bowlers while Home team bats.Binny might good choice who plays cricket
Continues in Indian domestic.I predict century from Samuels in present and next test,sabina park.

 

[pujan]

One thing is strange about virat,during Australia tour,i think MS retired in the middle of tour and virat take over and Sydney test virat dropped pujara coz previous test he batted much slow plus not makes enough to impress New captain.

Pujara even joins other players in net practice prior to Sydney test but Virat told him to leave and stays to the hotel
"'you not playing at Sydney'' was the word virat says.
(one of test in Australia virat told Rahul '' we will send you to open innings '' but when the game starts Rahul was send at 5 in both
Innings were he slog in both innings and got out in single digit
He open in next test as opener and hits 100)
I feel sorry for virat coz I bet C.Pujara will be playing at port of spain.

 

[pujan]

Next mos.NZ will coming in India for 3 test I bet our captain and Coach has plan to send Vijay /Dhawan open and Rahul,virat,rahane,
But Ashwin can not bats at 6 in India so rohit might make it and pujara will be out..

Rohit walks in 11 coz Vijay not plays but Rohit is ideal choice in India especially at indore test.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I do not buy the "best batsman at no.3" theory at all

Kohli and Rahane have been settled at no.4 and no.5 for a while now and Rahane especially has been amazing at no.5 - has shown the ability to play with the middle order and with the tail. I don't see why they should be shuffled around just to make room for the ever inconsistent Rohit (no one can deny that he was shielded like crazy yesterday).

There are 3 batsmen I see in our team who can GRAFT and tire out the bowlers with their defence, and Kohli is not one of them. He has a very solid defence but he is a natural stroke-maker and he is PERFECT for no.4. The three players would be Vijay, Rahane and Pujara. I wouldn't change Vijay and Rahane's positions for anything because they are perfect.

I wouldn't mind Pujara opening in Tests, but the openers slot is already being fought for like crazy. No.3 is the next ideal situation for him, and as mentioned time and again before, he might not have scored big but he has still played critical stabilizing knocks

Rohit sharma in Tests is even more senseless than Stuart Binny as the "all rounder"