Pakistan in India

[aditya123]

^ You contradict yourself with regards to Bhajji. You say that Bhajji has shown nothing in the ODIs to deserve a Test spot and then you sideline him as an ODI specialist. Make a decision, buddy. Also, since when did ODI performance become the criteria for Test selection. Harbhajan's obviously going to be a lot different in a Test match.

I do not contradict myself there.
I clearly have said that he has been economical in ODIs but has`nt looked like taking wickets and can be played as an ODI specialist .

As for his test selection, I have clearly stated that his performances in the most recent tests that he was part of were nothing special.

 

[Animator!]

In my opinion Laxman should bat one down for India. He's got something over the Aussies. You can't describe it, he just has something over them. I've been reading John Wright's book on his experiences when coach of India and he was saying how he felt Laxman needed to bat top 3, especially if he played one dayers, because he's a stroke maker, he needs to be able to hit gaps. I remember watching him hammer Warne in that famous test. He just kept coming down the pitch, anything he didn't quite get to he drove inside out through the covers, if he got to the pitch he just flicked it through mid-wicket. He's done that to arguable the best spinner in the world, so I'd see him as taking MacGill apart if he got going. This also cements a lot of strength in the Indian batting, to have someone like Dravid or Tendulkar coming in at 5 would just be incredible. Especially if the top 3 have got going. If they've put on 200 for 2 against Australia, the last thing Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark want to see is argueable the best batsman alive, or the most technically correct batter in the world.

 

[sohum]

Yup. Laxman has performed brilliantly at one-down and there is no arguing that. But I still think Dravid is one of the best number 3 batsmen going around. It's difficult. I'm all for sending Laxman in at 3 if we get off to a half-decent start. But if it's an early wicket, I think we should send Dravid in.

 

[icyman]

Look out for the Wall.
He's going to be back with a vengeance.
Also,a Very Very Special Ton is in the offing.

 

[RoboRocks]

Yup. Laxman has performed brilliantly at one-down and there is no arguing that. But I still think Dravid is one of the best number 3 batsmen going around. It's difficult. I'm all for sending Laxman in at 3 if we get off to a half-decent start. But if it's an early wicket, I think we should send Dravid in.

It might be a good thing too considering Dravid has been out of form for a while. If it works and Laxman can gets some big runs then the pressure will be off Dravid a lot.

 

[Adarsh]

The biggest decision that the selectors have to make is to decide whether or not Yuvraj is going to play. I think he's far too good a player not to be playing. Very similar to KP in England in playing style and personality. I think the opposition fear him more than Ganguly nowadays.

 

[.Mob]

Damn, Sree and RP injured. Munaf called in, I don't see why they don't pick Irfan.

 

[baburao]

I disagree with you on Harbhajan Singh`s selection.
Harbhajan does not deserve to be in the Test match squad, to be honest.
He has`nt shown me anything in the ODIs to suggest that he can be a wicket-taker in tests. He has managed to keep it fairly quiet in ODIs and T20s by bowling it flat which will be of no effect in tests.
I`d strictly think of playing him as an ODI specialist from now on.
His strike rate in test matches in recent years has`nt been anything flash.
Except for the 2 tests against the Windies in 2006, his test record (average and SR) has been abysmal.
He struggled against England in India in 06 and is still not looking like a wicket-taking option.

He does not have a great record against Pakistan and was taken to the cleaners in the previous 2 series against them.
The Pakistani middle order are very good players of Off-spin bowling and I do not se the likes of Malik,Younus and Yousuf troubled by Harbhajan.

We`ll be playing the first test at Delhi and winter has started to set in there. The conditions should assist Seam/swing bowling .
Hence I would go in with a 3-prong seam attack of Zaheer,R.P.Singh and Sreesanth.
If we do play Harbhajan , it has to be at the expense of a batsman which I doubt they`ll risk against Akthar,Sami and Gul.

We also need to look at bringing Yuvraj in for Ganguly.
Yuvraj always seems to enjoy the Pak bowling and with Sehwag not there in the side, we need someone who can lift the run-rate in test matches and Yuvraj should be ideal as the No.6 batsman who could play the attacking role.

I agree with u on Harbhajan Singh.He is not a test match bowler anymore.Infact he hasnt done anything special in the one dayers also recently.

 

[SaiSrini]

Holy damn!!! Our best test bowler, Sree is out now! Hope he can come back for the rest of the series. We need to have him fit and ready for Australia. He is crucial for our bowling success and our future of the fast bowling too.

Munaf - Oh god! May be they brought him for the right arm angle (Irfan would have made it two left armers in tandem). Lets see how he does. I have no faith in him.

I have a feeling Pakistan will be doing well in this test series than India. It somehow gives me that feeling. The tide is changing over from India to Pakistan in the last game and now with all these injuries.

 

[Insomniac]

What are the causes for these wonderful injuries.

I'll be honest, from a Pakistani perspective, we'd rather have Zaheer out rather than RP and Sree.

Don't feel RP and Sree will trouble us "too much", although I place RP a lot higher than Sreesanth (his bowling, not dancing techniques)

 

[Cricketman]

Munaf?
After the Challenger series? What the heck?!
I would have gone for Irfan as well. Might have even gone for someone like Bose.

 

[baburao]

Holy damn!!! Our best test bowler, Sree is out now! Hope he can come back for the rest of the series. We need to have him fit and ready for Australia. He is crucial for our bowling success and our future of the fast bowling too.

Munaf - Oh god! May be they brought him for the right arm angle (Irfan would have made it two left armers in tandem). Lets see how he does. I have no faith in him.

I have a feeling Pakistan will be doing well in this test series than India. It somehow gives me that feeling. The tide is changing over from India to Pakistan in the last game and now with all these injuries.

I told you earlier that resting big players just for the sake of giving new players chance is risky.Look what is the situation now.We should have won it 4-1.:And that have boosted our confidence.But still india will win the test series against Pakistan.Common look at the batting lineup.This is a good situation for india that guys like ganguly,yuvi,laxman have to score to keep their place in the team.Even Dinesh is in pressure to perform.Its a healthy situation for indian cricket.Everyone is fighting for their places not like pakistan though.

Munaf?
After the Challenger series? What the heck?!
I would have gone for Irfan as well. Might have even gone for someone like Bose.

He is better than Agarkar.

What are the causes for these wonderful injuries.

I'll be honest, from a Pakistani perspective, we'd rather have Zaheer out rather than RP and Sree.

Don't feel RP and Sree will trouble us "too much", although I place RP a lot higher than Sreesanth (his bowling, not dancing techniques)

You forgot our new captain Kumble.You are in india buddy oh first test is in New Delhi.Kumble got 10 wickets in an innings on this very ground against Pakistan.

It might be a good thing too considering Dravid has been out of form for a while. If it works and Laxman can gets some big runs then the pressure will be off Dravid a lot.

Dravid has scored two centuries in Ranji match.One of them was double hundred.You call it out of form?

The biggest decision that the selectors have to make is to decide whether or not Yuvraj is going to play. I think he's far too good a player not to be playing. Very similar to KP in England in playing style and personality. I think the opposition fear him more than Ganguly nowadays.

Yes yuvi should play.He has a good record against Pakistan.Remember his century against them in Pakistan in 2004 test series?

 

[Jit]

yuvi hasnt been a good player in longer form so i dont think selectors will select him or might the battle is between yuvi and laxman i think india batting oder will be same as england series no kidding

 

[aditya123]

Are they showing the test series live on DD as well ?
I hope they do. My cable operator does not show NEO SPORTS :-(

 

[anakwalajinn]

Indians over here are confident Maybe a bit over confident?
Well, we will see
I am 100% backing up Pakistan FTW in the test series
Pakistan Zindabad!
Will be interesting, Asif injured. So is RP & SREE
But any other player who is recalled to the national team is good enough to play for the national team, so we should not say "because" and "if"
Match tomorrow
Here is my Pakistani line up which shall help us 1-0

Salman Butt
Yasir Hameed
Younis Khan
Mohammad Yousuf
Shoaib Malik
Kamran Akmal
Sohail Tanvir
Shoaib Akhtar
Mohammad Sami
Umar Gul
Danish Kaneria

Maybe put Misbah in instead of a bowler if it is a batting pitch.