Sri Lanka in India

[SaiSrini]

Its getting murkier by the minute.
Reports are in that the selectors had decided to give Sourav one more chance to prove himself at Ahmedabad and if he failed he would be outta the team. 2 out of the 5 selectors were of the opinion that Sourav had performed well enough to atleast retain a position in the last test. It was decided that Kiran More should speak to Sourav and tell him the plan.

But for some reason, Mr. Chairman did not do so.

All the selectors agree that Pawar has nothing to do with this and was unaware of the whole incident.

Also Chappel had strongly and aggresively fought against Sourav's inclusion in the team as he was a 'lazy fielder', 'created rifts in the team' and 'did not laugh and mix with the team'

Dravid too had wanted him out of the team because he was aware that Chappel was against Sourav's inclusion in the playing 11 and he did not want a former captain sitting in the dressing room and carrying drinks.

The source also said that the coach did not want Zaheer in the team, but his name was to be considered for the Pak tour.


Ok thats the report, I don't remember the news site or i would've just put the link.

@Chappel: Lazy fielder? Not after the last test.
Rifts in the team? You started it all.
Not laughing? Give the man a break he's back in the team after a long time feeling emasculated and dethroned it will take a while!


@ Dravid: I for one have lost all respect for this seemingly 'nice guy' and feel he is a backstabber after all Ganguly did for him he could've atleast given the man a chance.

@ Ganguly not laughing and mixing with the team :

Its one thing to act on the field as if everything is alright but its a different thing within the dressing room. We Indians are known to be great actors in front of the camera! So even if Ganguly looked to be jelling with the team on the field, I wouldnt fully believe it. Neither would I believe it had Dravid or Sachin been there in the same shoes!

I think there is more to what we see it with our eyes!

@ Dravid's respect:

Crap! Why blame Dravid in all this? Without knowing the truth, its idiocracy to blame Dravid. According to various sources, Dravid is said to have maintained a silence on this whole issue even when the selection for the team for the third test at Ahmedabad was made. Of course as captain, he had to make that statement of "it wont be probably right on the person who is left out". That is now being taken as a weapon by Dravid to backstab Ganguly!

Also Chappell didnt create those rifts within the team! Clearly, the Indian team (Ganguly) have been so ignorant that they thought Chappell would easily mould into the lazy indian way of functioning by not questioning all what happens! john wright did that, and we enjoyed success when everything went our way. when we were pushed to a corner, we never came back! thats what we need to do, and chappell now seems the perfect man to change that!

 

[Indiangod]

He is inconsistent ... but that is the last 2-3 years ... before that, he was very consistent ...

I think he is suffering from a psychological problem rather than a technical problem in his batting ...

If Geoffrey Boycott were to be believed (Form is temporary, class is permanent) I think he very well deserves to be in the elite 11 ....

Ganguly just needs time to get his toach and form back whilst playing in the domestic games........I want Ganguly to leave on a high note.

 

[SaiSrini]

He is inconsistent ... but that is the last 2-3 years ... before that, he was very consistent ...

I think he is suffering from a psychological problem rather than a technical problem in his batting ...

If Geoffrey Boycott were to be believed (Form is temporary, class is permanent) I think he very well deserves to be in the elite 11 ....

Ganguly just needs time to get his toach and form back whilst playing in the domestic games........I want Ganguly to leave on a high note.

I think Ganguly can well serve India in the shorter version of the game! Even for that, he needs to improve his fielding (he is on the path of improving his fielding!).

Clearly in the tests, his place is sealed! But they need to give him one last chance to go out in a dignified manner!

 

[furyfoxx]

You want to give the selectors nightmares?
Suppose that the Kaif, Gambhir and Laxman perform well in Ahmedabad.
Suppose Sehwag goes about the business of captaincy with spirit and smartness.

Would the selectors dare to keep out Dravid they way they kept out Gangz? Saying that all positions are filled by people in form?

Of course Sachin will retain his position even if he doesn't do well in the 3rd test coz he's God and u never know when he's gonna produce his magic inspite of a one match failure. :

 

[Adarsh]

Would really be funny if that happens. I hope the three of them get 80+ scores in atleast one innings.

 

[Indiangod]

You want to give the selectors nightmares?
Suppose that the Kaif, Gambhir and Laxman perform well in Ahmedabad.
Suppose Sehwag goes about the business of captaincy with spirit and smartness.

Would the selectors dare to keep out Dravid they way they kept out Gangz? Saying that all positions are filled by people in form?

Of course Sachin will retain his position even if he doesn't do well in the 3rd test coz he's God and u never know when he's gonna produce his magic inspite of a one match failure. :

Dravid is very consistant in both forms of the game. Sachin is god.....the Indian selectors woud'ent dream of dropping Tendulkar. I want evreyone to play good in the 3rd test........if Ganguly can get his form from the 99, 00 and 01 years then It will be a treat to watch.......and it will be a big benefit to the Indian team. I think we should all not rush into things and give all the players time.........even if it means resting them.......we need a squad with the perfect batsmen, bowlers, very good fielders, very fit players for the 2007 world cup.

I think Ganguly is Indias second best batsmen......I have checked out stats on the two best odi sides in this era and a lethal bowling attack.


(vs) Proteas

Sourav Ganguly 26(m) 1240(t.r) 141*(h.s) 53.91(avg) 3(100's) 8(50's)
Rahul Dravid 31 1116 84 39.85 0 12

(vs) Aussies

Sourav Ganguly 30 647 100 22.31 1 4
Rahul Dravid 33 858 80 27.67 0 7

 

[cricket_lover]

I hope we put a full stop to Ganguly and the selection process. Whatever has happened and whatever will happen, we will not have any say in it. All we can do is hope..no politics is being played in cricket and that players get what they deserve.

Coming back to Sri Lanka in India

Its a big moment for Kumble. After a long journey spanning 15 years he has finally reached one mark that all cricketers would want, 100 test matches! He has been an amazing bowler and i really hope this test match will be something he will remember for a long time.

Sehwag is the captain, so i guess Kaif will replace Dravid and Sehwag will come in the place of Ganguly and Gambhir will open with him. It looks like a 50:50 wicket though, i think India might want to replace Agarkar with RP Singh.

 

[vibs89]

Why is Dravid out man?

 

[Adarsh]

He's got diarrhoea.

 

[SaiSrini]

Dravid is very consistant in both forms of the game. Sachin is god.....the Indian selectors woud'ent dream of dropping Tendulkar. I want evreyone to play good in the 3rd test........if Ganguly can get his form from the 99, 00 and 01 years then It will be a treat to watch.......and it will be a big benefit to the Indian team. I think we should all not rush into things and give all the players time.........even if it means resting them.......we need a squad with the perfect batsmen, bowlers, very good fielders, very fit players for the 2007 world cup.

I think Ganguly is Indias second best batsmen......I have checked out stats on the two best odi sides in this era and a lethal bowling attack.


(vs) Proteas

Sourav Ganguly 26(m) 1240(t.r) 141*(h.s) 53.91(avg) 3(100's) 8(50's)
Rahul Dravid 31 1116 84 39.85 0 12

(vs) Aussies

Sourav Ganguly 30 647 100 22.31 1 4
Rahul Dravid 33 858 80 27.67 0 7

He is better only against South Africa. Against Australia, its there to be seen that Dravid is better!

If you look at that record in the last 3 years, Dravid outbeats Saurav in every department!

Why is Dravid out man?

He is suffering from 'gastroentitis'

Bad luck! My Sehwag shoul occupy his place in the middle order and Jaffer should open with Gambhir. Would be gr8 to see two specialist openers opening after a long time!

 

[vibs89]

Yeah Sai. You're right. But man the indian team is incomplete without Dravid. That's horrible.

 

[SaiSrini]

Yeah Sai. You're right. But man the indian team is incomplete without Dravid. That's horrible.

I see at it as an opportunity for the replacements to prove themselves!

We can test out Jaffer and/or Mohammed Kaif and see how they do now!

 

[vibs89]

I think you're right Sai. Also atleast they it can prove Shewag captaincy on how he's doing it and etc.

 

[Dhoni]

Bad luck! My Sehwag shoul occupy his place in the middle order and Jaffer should open with Gambhir. Would be gr8 to see two specialist openers opening after a long time!

Sai, isn't Sehwag a specialist opener?

 

[SaiSrini]

Sai, isn't Sehwag a specialist opener?

A specialist opener is one who has been specifically trained for opening (i.e.) before playing international cricket! Sehwag came in as a middle order batsman and since the team needed to fit him into the team, they made him an opener and he has been a huge success!

Jaffer and Gambhir are trained openers (i.e.) they are coached to open the innings, face the new ball, etc. They have also opened a lot in domestic cricket! They are called specialist openers!

I think you're right Sai. Also atleast they it can prove Shewag captaincy on how he's doing it and etc.

I think Sehwag might not be a great test captain! Its not like ODI captaincy where your real captaincy skills get covered up easily. In test matches which are over 5 days, the captain needs a lot of skill, patience and needs to manage his team well.

I dont know how good Sehwag is going to be! I feel Kaif might be a better test captain! But anyways, Sehwag has to do the job at Ahmedabad and he will have the services of Sachin and Kumble with whom he can discuss and get support! He should just do fine! Also Dravid will be there from the pavilion to help him!