World Test Championship Finals - India vs Australia @ Oval

Who will lift the trophy?


  • Total voters
    36
While the talks have been for the inclusion of Ashwin and maybe India should have played with two spinners, does anyone thinks that someone like a Hardik Pandya would have given us the liberty to go with two spinners?

I mean Shardul is okay but he is a swing bowler while Hardik can hit the deck hard and has extra yard of pace making him more potent in comparison on unhelpful conditions and is definitely a better batsman who could have been utilized for Pant-esque batting role as well.

I know he hasn't been around the Test side for quite some time now but given how much Shardul relies on the swinging pitch and isn't too reliable with the bat, I thought India might as well try and look back to Hardik especially when he has shown a bit of reliance in his batting lately.
A genuine seam bowling all-rounder would allow India to play two spinners and still have four seam bowlers.

Gill
Rohit
Pujara
Kohli
Pant
Jadeja
Pandya
Ashwin
Shami
Bumrah
Siraj

Would be a strong XI.
 
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Yeh, looking all downhill from here on out. I honestly thought it would be a well fought Test match but Australia deservedly are well placed for a win.
 
Just caught this gem by Harsha Bhogle in the highlights "Just drifts onto the pads, and for Pujara, that’s daal and rice"
 
A genuine seam bowling all-rounder would allow India to play two spinners and still have four seam bowlers.

Gill
Rohit
Pujara
Kohli
Pant
Jadeja
Pandya
Ashwin
Shami
Bumrah
Siraj

Would be a strong XI.
Oh god, KL fan ignoring KL.
 
Twitter abuzz with how KL and Ash inclusion might have helped. To be honest, it wouldn't have, unless we were playing on turning tracks. In that case, inclusion of anyone wouldn't make a difference.

No and no. Rahane is 35 and Jadeja is not a captain material.

Once this final is over, Rohit should definitely hang up his boots for this format and remember Bumrah being the VC? Either he if fit takes over or Iyer when back.
Bumrah isn't capable of it,man. Indian VCs keep changing at a rapid pace. Agree both are above 30, but the board needs a stop gap solution.

Iyer would be my first choice, but God knows when he'll be back
Whoever be the captain indian team fate can't be changed & can't win on big occasions agree this as fact and move on
Get rid of Dravid! Bring in a man manager like Bayliss/Hesson and have Bharat Arun back in the setup.
 
India lacked preparation coming into the final.

Playing in English conditions just like 10 days after IPL is always gonna be tough with no warm up or county matches either.

Although Pujara played county cricket but he has been struggling to get runs in international cricket especially in English conditions against quality attack.

Anyways one final gone already expect to lose another knockout (final or semi) in the 50 over world cup.
 
Reckon I should just follow @SaiSrini path and become an IPL fan forever although I have zero affinity with any franchise or any players associated just enjoyed watching games this year.
I just told my wife that if we lose this finals which looks like certainty, the ODI wc will be my last following this team.

No other sport teams would be able to go 10 years without winning one trophy and no shakeup happening.
 
But what will BCCI do, if Hardik Pandya voluntarily opts out of test selection? The diplomatic reason given by him is "I don't want to be unfair to the players who have played well in this 2 year cycle to take the intl team to the WTC final". :D
Why is Hardik trying to sound like a saint is beyond me. If the team needs his services, he should be available (if fit).

Moeen Ali on the other side came out of retirement because his team needed someone who can cover for Leach...
 
India lacked preparation coming into the final.

Playing in English conditions just like 10 days after IPL is always gonna be tough with no warm up or county matches either.

Although Pujara played county cricket but he has been struggling to get runs in international cricket especially in English conditions against quality attack.

Anyways one final gone already expect to lose another knockout (final or semi) in the 50 over world cup.

I dont think we can reach the semis of the World Cup. In fact, I would be glad if that doesnt happen as it will get a few heads rolling finally. Imagine the ignominy of crashing out in the 1st round of a home World Cup. The team was berated in 2007, in 2003 the first 2 games vs Netherland and Australia provoked reactions back home. It might be better for India to crash out.
 
Why is Hardik trying to sound like a saint is beyond me
It is common in Asian Cricket. Key Players in PAK , BAN had done it before! Once you're captaining limited over side, you just don't want to play test cricket. That's about it. Not playing mr. Nice guy or Saint or whatever. It's just politely saying, I don't wanna play test. Recent example was Shakib.
 
Well, whether you like it or not- Test cricket is going to die soon. I just dont see the smaller nations playing the longest format, especially one where the gulf is so evident between England, Australia and the rest. If they play in India, they will end up playing on turning tracks wherein the matches get done in 3 days.

Apart from the Ashes, BGT, Pataudi Trophy I really do not see Test matches surviving more than 5 years. The public doesnt have the timeor the stomach for the games,which are becoming increasingly one-sided day by day.

To that effect, will not blame the players for not wanting to play the format. I also believ most players end up stating "Test is ultimate" cause of peer pressure/ media pressure.
 
Well, whether you like it or not- Test cricket is going to die soon. I just dont see the smaller nations playing the longest format, especially one where the gulf is so evident between England, Australia and the rest. If they play in India, they will end up playing on turning tracks wherein the matches get done in 3 days.

Apart from the Ashes, BGT, Pataudi Trophy I really do not see Test matches surviving more than 5 years. The public doesnt have the timeor the stomach for the games,which are becoming increasingly one-sided day by day.

To that effect, will not blame the players for not wanting to play the format. I also believ most players end up stating "Test is ultimate" cause of peer pressure/ media pressure.

Australia were one brainfade session of sweeps away from being the first team to win a series in India in a decade. New Zealand is still competitive enough despite nuking themselves with ridiculous selections and lack of planning, South Africa have got a promising rebuild going on, there’s a crop of red ball specialists developing in West Indian cricket right now and Bangladesh seem to have a pace attack that doesn’t wilt away from home finally. I’ve not even talked about the Bazball of England yet or how away games have been more competitive in recent years which was the main issue for tests due to home teams overtuning their pitches.

This is doomsday levels of posting at it’s finest, test cricket is at it’s best in arguably the last couple of decades.
 

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