New Zealand's Tour Of India Aug-Sep 2012

[ferg512]

Yep I mean they could have at least tried someone new so they could have gained some experience. Their reasoning for picking Patel is that hes done well in county cricket, like he did last season and then got a pummeling from Zimbabwe. They've picked Franklin because he played in the IPL so he knows the conditions (apparently). If we somehow draw one of the tests it will be a massive over achievement.

 

[CG123]

Yep I mean they could have at least tried someone new so they could have gained some experience. Their reasoning for picking Patel is that hes done well in county cricket, like he did last season and then got a pummeling from Zimbabwe. They've picked Franklin because he played in the IPL so he knows the conditions (apparently). If we somehow draw one of the tests it will be a massive over achievement.

Yeah, I read that, it just shows what a shambles NZC is. Franklin's probably going to be batting at six, so we're effectively going to be going in with only five batsmen, of which the second opener (Flynn or Watling) isn't really worth having there. Patel was smashed last time we were in India, and then he had that shocker in Zim. Even last domestic season he struggled to make Wellington's team, and they're the worst of our domestic teams. It's just bewildering how they were even in consideration for selection, considering how many opportunities they've each had.

 

[Chewie]

Recalling Patel is stupid, Franklin isn't as stupid but is still pretty silly

 

[icyman]

6 pacers for an Indian tour is a bit too many. Agreed that Franklin brings a booster shot to the batting, but he has not done exceptionally well in the bowling arena for him to know the conidtions well.

Drawing a test wont be impossible, the batsmen will get pure flat tracks and if they just apply themselves well enough, we can expect run-feasts on our tracks. Factor in the current Indian spin-situation and you won't even be disturbed to that great an extent from our spinners.

 

[SaiSrini]

6 pacers for an Indian tour is a bit too many. Agreed that Franklin brings a booster shot to the batting, but he has not done exceptionally well in the bowling arena for him to know the conidtions well.

Drawing a test wont be impossible, the batsmen will get pure flat tracks and if they just apply themselves well enough, we can expect run-feasts on our tracks. Factor in the current Indian spin-situation and you won't even be disturbed to that great an extent from our spinners.

Last time we played at home against West Indies, Ashwin himself picked 22 wkts and Ojha also came up with a rich haul himself. I don't see New Zealand being very different and better than the WI that played in India. In fact WI came into that series having played Bangladesh in subcontinent conditions. Yet, they gave so many wickets to our spinners.

 

[jacobfelix]

Piyush is back..... and as expected it was Pujara who got the nod and not Rohit Sharma...

 

[Gaurav_7]

Happy with Pujara and Rahane in the Test squad. Hopefully both of them are given ample opportunities in this series. Surprised what makes Chawla come back. We have two good spinners in Ashwin and Ojha already. And, why is Raina there? Shouldn't be anyway near the Test squad.

Sehwag
Gambhir
Pujara
Tendulkar
Kohli
Laxman
Dhoni

My choice for the batting department. Hopefully Rahane gets in there too. Maybe Laxman can make way for him. It's time we start giving the youngsters a go now and frequent one at that.

 

[icyman]

Why is Laxman the only one to be targetted. Target Tendulkar once atleast

Rahane wont get a chance in unless one of the big-wigs are injured. Pujara will go in at No.3 as a direc tDravid replacement, goes as many people predicted. Raina and Rahane should be on the sidelines unless MSD flexes his muscles and has Raina in the side at the expense of Pujara.

Overall, a pretty decent squad here and have no doubt that we can beat NZL in one Test match. I have doubts over the 2nd one cause, we still lack a bowling department that can bag 20 wickets even in our conidtions.

 

[jacobfelix]

Since this is home conditions, India might as well send in future captain Kohli at No. 3...i.e the think-tank might be inclined to see Kohli settle down at No.3 in tests as well.....

As for Pujara, he might have to come in at 6

 

[icyman]

Kohli at 3/4/6,we have seen them all....I think the days of Gary Kirsten handling the team are over. Kirsten is doing the same with RSA at present and the frequent chopping and changing of the batting line up is not desirable.

 

[SaiSrini]

Though Laxman's presence is a little disccouraging, still Dravid's retirement opened up an additional spot and thats good enough. I think Laxman might not last the entire season, could be his swansong against NZ itself. Happy that Rohit Sharma is dropped from the test side and Pujara and Raina are given chances. Raina in home/subcontinent tests is a very sound option. If Sehwag can keep playing in test cricket despite his very obvious flaws, WHY NOT RAINA?

Chawla is back because India want a legspinner and they have to drop Rahul Sharma due to his latest controversy with those recreational drugs. Overall, this team is pretty decent. Once Laxman retires, the team hopefully be good.

 

[icyman]

Raina in home/subcontinent tests is a very sound option. If Sehwag can keep playing in test cricket despite his very obvious flaws, WHY NOT RAINA?

Chawla is back because India want a legspinner and they have to drop Rahul Sharma due to his latest controversy with those recreational drugs. Overall, this team is pretty decent. Once Laxman retires, the team hopefully be good.

Dude, Raina and Sehwag are two very different creatures. One can easily and single-handedly demolish the opposition while the other has done nothing to be even worthy of claiming a place in the Test side.

And again, if Tendulkar deserves to go on his own terms, so does VVS. Else ,its quite unfair on him.

 

[SaiSrini]

Dude, Raina and Sehwag are two very different creatures. One can easily and single-handedly demolish the opposition while the other has done nothing to be even worthy of claiming a place in the Test side.

And again, if Tendulkar deserves to go on his own terms, so does VVS. Else ,its quite unfair on him.

As much as Laxman has won matches for India (especially batting second), HE IS NO TENDULKAR!! This is again going to re-open the age old debate of what is more important - batting stats or getting runs in pressure situations. Tendulkar has been the more consistent in getting runs, Laxman has been the more consistent in getting those runs in tight situations. But in recent times, Laxman's form has been miserable, and his fitness levels are pretty poor (in comparison, Sachin's fitness levels are far better).

And having Sachin in the team still gives the team the aura to feel that they can still compete with the best teams. One senior player has to carry the team through the transition and that player HAS TO BE SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR!! It can't be Laxman. People in the team respect Tendulkar to the hilt. His advice will be given more weightage.

Raina has played only 15 tests, and has a test century to his credit. Sehwag has batted mostly at the top of the order. And almost all of his demolition work have been on subcontinental wickets or wickets that have been excellent for batting. Give Raina a chance in home conditions. I have a feeling Raina has the attitude to overcome his problems and still succeed in test cricket. With test wickets favoring batting a lot more these days all over the world, Raina can still be given a shot. I would back him more than Rohit Sharma just because of their attitudes. If Yuvraj was in contention for a test spot, I would put Yuvraj in the higher pecking order than Raina and Rohit.

 

[sifter132]

So this is the squad:

Test squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma

Interesting Srikkanth said "We have picked the best possible Test team". By my count the ONLY difference between this team and the one that got beaten 4-0 in Australia is no Dravid. The other 6 batsmen are the same, the 4 bowlers are the same. There are some changes in the periphery of the squad eg. Raina/Pujara reserve bat instead of Rohit, and they've bought Chawla as reserve spinner rather than Vinay Kumar as reserve paceman. That's all!! Is there no one else that could challenge for these spots? Did the "best possible Test team" really get flogged 4-0 or is it still being written off as a fluke?

 

[Epic]

Test squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Pragyan Ojha, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma

Not a whole lot of changes, but I wasn't really expecting any, spineless selectors we've got. Anyway, Pujara directly replaces Dravid, Rahane remains the reserve opener and Rohit loses his bench to Raina? Of all people they could choose, they choose Raina, personally would've went with Manoj Tiwary, but whatever.

1. Virender Sehwag or Ajinkya Rahane
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Virat Kohli
6. VVS Laxman
7. MS Dhoni
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Zaheer Khan
10. Pragyan Ojha
11. Umesh Yadav

12. Suresh Raina

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T20 squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Irfan Pathan, R Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, L Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Dinda

Glad Yuvraj is getting a go before the World Cup, will give him and us a chance to see where he really stands. 3 total shockers, Bhaji, Chawla and Balaji, only one really deserves it and that's Balaji, good luck to him. Just realized Rahane didn't make the squad, bit stupid considering they could've left out Rohit Sharma.