India's tour of West Indies June 2011

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

So Harbhajan and Raina get India past 200 and that's an awesome recovery. If they bat the way they are Indians might get to 300 also

 

[tarun87]

Hope Harbhajan Will Complete His 3 hundred

 

[AngryPixel]

Hats off to Bhajji and Raina. Amazing Counter attack

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Off to sleep hoping that these two survive the day and score at same rate. 36 overs left so if they score around 4 runs an over then I see 144 odd runs

Expecting too much but greed does not go down.

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And I jinx it

 

[aussie1st]

Impressive display by the Windies hopefully they finish off the tail and bat like demons.

 

[AngryPixel]

Praveen is getting tremendous swing. He should control it better in the next over. We need some quick wickets

 

[lewissaffin]

Asking as someone who doesn't often watch India or Indian cricket, how close is this team to India's strongest line-up?

 

[War]

I always suspected that West Indies could skittle this Tendulkar less Indian batitng line-up on that traditional bouncy Jamaica deck.

Imagine how much damage they could have caused India if Taylor and Roach were partnership Edwards/Rampaul out their.

Windies now have great oppurtunity to get way in front in this test match if they can get close to 400. They way how they play Harbhajan/Mishra will be key to all of that.

 

[AngryPixel]

Its 40% to full strength IMO. Sehwag,Gambhir,Tendulkar and Zaheer are not playing. Zaheer is more than half of bowling line up and these 3 are also more than half of Batting.

 

[War]

Asking as someone who doesn't often watch India or Indian cricket, how close is this team to India's strongest line-up?

About 50-60% close their best XI. Tendy, Sehwag, Gambhir, Zaheer missing who would have played instead of Kohli/Raina, Mukund, Vijay, Kumar.

But this series is a chance for Indian to test its best strenght, which many consider to be fairly weak (especially the bowling) for a so called # 1 test team.

 

[AngryPixel]

@War, Every team is weak somewhere. Aussie's are crying for decent batsmen. Read Ian Chappell's article on cricinfo. Indian's have lots of batting but not so much in bowling.

 

[War]

@War, Every team is weak somewhere. Aussie's are crying for decent batsmen. Read Ian Chappell's article on cricinfo. Indian's have lots of batting but not so much in bowling.

AUS crying out for quality experienced batsmen @ test level. India have talented but unproven batsmen @ test level. Big difference.

AUS have alot of talented young bats as well in Khawaja, Hughes, Marsh, Ferguson, Cosgrove, but have the same unproven achillies heel tag.

My point was India for a # 1 team is weak in its bench strenght when certain established players are out as. A problem that recent dominant # 1's like Australia certainly didn't have or need to prove to anyone.

Showing that you have quality depth is a key part of any teams rise/progression as the best team in the world.

 

[AngryPixel]

I haven't seen Aussie sending such a depleted side to any series. Then again, that was some era when they have atleast 6 world class bowlers to choose from and 10 batsman

 

[SaiSrini]

Excellent recovery by India to reach 246. Didn't watch Raina's batting (did he bat most of his innings against the faster bowlers and the moving deliveries or did he cash in on the spinners and average balls?) but must say he has more than done what was expected of him, and it would be fair to say that more of such innings from him will seal his test spot permanently. This is a lesson for Badrinath that one gets very rare chances to play for India and one should take it by the horns. Raina's temperament and attitude is exceptional and that's what serves him best.

Hope Mishra can do the same magic he did in the ODI's and get WI to below 300. If that happens, this match will head towards a very exciting finish. India will bat far better in the 2nd innings (by that time, the pitch would have eased out and turn a lot), and so it would be a great test match.

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Asking as someone who doesn't often watch India or Indian cricket, how close is this team to India's strongest line-up?

Considering the guys missing out this series (Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar and Zaheer), thats almost 50% of the strongest lineup India has lost.

Back to the test, I feel playing Dravid and Laxman with no batsman between them is not a good ploy. Laxman should be reserved for the lower order as he bats very well with them, and Laxman is our eternal savior in case of collapses and need for victory. Laxman should bat at his usual position of No.5 or 6. Kohli should come in at No.4, a spot he is most likely to occupy in the future.

 

[Gurjot95]

Don't forget that there are 3 debutants playing this match.