India's tour of West Indies June 2011

[SaiSrini]

Regarding celebrations,
Ashwin is no less than Bhajji, I still remember the ipl finals and the playoffs, His sendoff"s to agarwal and Gayle(some commentator also said the same thing)
And Agression is Bhajji"s key to success,
Ashwin is better in t20 but no where in ODI"s

Nowhere in ODI's because he has never been there in ODI's enough. You seriously comparing Ashwin's celebration with Bhajji's celebration? Bhajji has bordered on insanity at quite a few times. Anyways leave that out because thats upto the bowler and captain.

----------

Well I don't agree that Ashwin is a better bowler then Bhajji in any format barring T20. Harbhajan always seems to do the work for India, and with all his experience behind him, he is India's best spinner any day.

Ashwin does have variations and is surely a future prospect, but in now way he is better than Bhajji.

Harbhajan seems to start looking like the best spinner again only because a certain Ashwin seems to be propping up the ranks and comes from an IPL/state side thats accused of fixing IPL's, favoring Chennai/CSK/Tamil Nadu players in India selection and taking dominant hold in BCCI. Its funny how in the past 5-6 months, so many people have been highly vocal of Harbhajan losing his mojo and looking highly mediocre and ordinary and not deserving of being the best spinner of India tag. Suddenly now, he "seems to do the work for India" when Ashwin is breathing down his neck heavily?

----------

Harbhajan may be out of form. Ashwin may be better bowler on current form but he won't wrap SA batting lineup and take last wicket when 3 overs are spare to draw. Harbhajan was out of form with lot of criticism coming into that match as well.

My point is experience comes play on tense situations not form.

Experience comes with chances being given, and form translates into chances being given. But Ashwin doesnt seem to be getting his proper chances because of Harbhajan and his reputation and the fact that both are off spinners.

 

[AkshayS]

Harbhajan seems to start looking like the best spinner again only because a certain Ashwin seems to be propping up the ranks and comes from an IPL/state side thats accused of fixing IPL's, favoring Chennai/CSK/Tamil Nadu players in India selection and taking dominant hold in BCCI. Its funny how in the past 5-6 months, so many people have been highly vocal of Harbhajan losing his mojo and looking highly mediocre and ordinary and not deserving of being the best spinner of India tag. Suddenly now, he "seems to do the work for India" when Ashwin is breathing down his neck heavily?

The simple fact is this that Ashwin hasn't played enough and hasn't performed enough to outclass Bhajji, Bhajji remains India's best spinner any day and has won us many matches.
He was instrumental in the World cup finals stage too. He was instrumental during the SA ODI series and helped us win the durban test.

Just because Ashwin has been performing good in domestic cricket, has been performing good against IPL team doesn't make him greater than bhajji.
He's an offspinner is surely a curse for him, but that's how things works, he is a good bowler but Bhajji can't be dropped for him.

 

[Cricketman]

OK we can all say that Harbhajan is more certain of a spot just for the experience factor. But Ashwin certainly deserves to get a few games in... isn't that the point of this series? To test bench strength? What is Bhajji doing then... seems to me like he is trying to get a few good games in as Ashwin is breathing down his neck.

Mishra has been bowling beautifully. I would love to see Ashwin and Mishy bowling together sometime soon. Hell, the way the pitches have played out I would sit out a guy like Munaf or Praveen and play 3 spinners.

 

[AngryPixel]

I would love to see 3 spinners too. Kohli can bowl 4 or 5 overs with new ball. Play Praveen,Ashwin,Bhajji and Mishra. Without Gayle, WI are just too weak to counter 3 spinners.

 

[6ry4nj]

OK we can all say that Harbhajan is more certain of a spot just for the experience factor.

Sorry but what I'm hearing is "don't give Ashwin any experience, even when he's playing/performing better - because he doesn't have enough experience".

The bowler who is picked for experience alone is called a 'bowling coach', and he need never leave the pavilion.

 

[Gurjot95]

Experience comes with chances being given, and form translates into chances being given. But Ashwin doesnt seem to be getting his proper chances because of Harbhajan and his reputation and the fact that both are off spinners.

Right. But we need Harbhajan for England Tour and he will come into form only if he plays. I think everyone should agree that India needs Harbhajan more than any other spinner for England Tour. I hope we win tomorrow's match and series and let Ashwin play rest of games.

 

[SaiSrini]

OK we can all say that Harbhajan is more certain of a spot just for the experience factor. But Ashwin certainly deserves to get a few games in... isn't that the point of this series? To test bench strength? What is Bhajji doing then... seems to me like he is trying to get a few good games in as Ashwin is breathing down his neck.

Mishra has been bowling beautifully. I would love to see Ashwin and Mishy bowling together sometime soon. Hell, the way the pitches have played out I would sit out a guy like Munaf or Praveen and play 3 spinners.

Bhajji is not skipping this series only because Ashwin is vying for his spot. And the fact that other seniors all opted out helped Bhajji get the vice captaincy spot which has made his place in the XI all the more secure. I would love to see Harbhajan perform (when he is in rhythm, he is a joy to watch) but I also hope Ashwin's talent is not wasted just because he is another off spinner. Right now on form, Ashwin deserves that place ahead of Harbhajan (if he cant play alongside Harbhajan)

----------

I would love to see 3 spinners too. Kohli can bowl 4 or 5 overs with new ball. Play Praveen,Ashwin,Bhajji and Mishra. Without Gayle, WI are just too weak to counter 3 spinners.

Yeah, that maybe a good idea. Ashwin is anyway almost a specialist opening bowler. Harbhajan is a good 'darts' bowler (just kidding!). In these WI pitches, we can go in with three spinners and have only Praveen as the seam up option.

----------

Right. But we need Harbhajan for England Tour and he will come into form only if he plays. I think everyone should agree that India needs Harbhajan more than any other spinner for England Tour. I hope we win tomorrow's match and series and let Ashwin play rest of games.

Harbhajan for England tour? I am more concerned about Zaheer and our seam attack when it comes to England tour. Even if Harbhajan is in form, England won't provide him big purchase as a spinner. We need more guys who can move the ball around (Praveen, Irfan, Sreesanth are the guys we need along with Zak)

 

[jacobfelix]

So with Zaheer and Sreesanth ruled out of the Test series.....Mithun and Praveen have been drafted in.....

No hopes on Mithun..... district quality bowler ....still has lots to learn

 

[cricket_icon]

no real quality on show from both teams. I miss the stars of Tendulkar, Sehwag and co. This series has been as lacklustre and as one sided as the recent Pakistan tour. Hope things heat up towards the end.

 

[Params7]

no real quality on show from both teams. I miss the stars of Tendulkar, Sehwag and co. This series has been as lacklustre and as one sided as the recent Pakistan tour. Hope things heat up towards the end.

Its already one sided and you want Tendulkar and Sehwag?

Mishra does it again. We win the series now a whitewash.

 

[SaiSrini]

Its already one sided and you want Tendulkar and Sehwag?

Mishra does it again. We win the series now a whitewash.

For him, its one sided and also there is no star gazing to do. He wants Sachin and Sehwag because he can atleast watch them and have fun.

Mishra is thumping this WI side. Mishra has booked himself a permanent spot atleast till the end of the England tour. Lets hope he keeps performing. Now Ashwin probably wont get a chance even in the T20 game in England (if any). Feel bad for him (though nothing wrong in Mishra making use of his opportunities).

 

[cricket_icon]

Mishra has bowled terrific throughout the whole series and might be a handful in England in the ODI series/

 

[Aditya]

I'm really impressed by this guy Russell. Saw him in the world cup as well and he was impressive there too, he was very unlucky to not make the playing XI because of Sammy. What I have seen of him so far is that he is quite talented with the bat. Russell has batted remarkably today, it's because of him West Indies have reached to a score of 200+.

 

[cricket_icon]

what an innings by Russel. Goes to show Indias "pace" attack can be a weak link, still the total is too small for the WIs bowlers to back.

 

[LegBreakGoogly]

Come on WI, Yeah man