The Alphabet Game

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fair enough. Get V.irate in the side.

[ianp1970]

1. Katich
2. Kirsten
3. Kanhai
4. Younis Khan
5. Kallis
6. Kohli
7. Imran Khan
8. Knott
9. Kumble
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Kasprowicz

In this instance is there a case to be made for a no. 1 with five no. 3's and 4's, being a better bet than 2 openers whilst leaving out a better player?

Dunno. Change it how you see it. Kat averages 45 from 56 Tests, with ten tons, no runs against minnows and averages over 50 in 33 Tests as an opener, by the way.

Having had a secondary look, I cannot justify omitting neither Katich nor Kirsten in favour of a non-specialist. Similarly to Hayden in regards to the 'H' openers position, seems like a very good middle order 'K' is going to miss out. I can't pick one myself, so am happy to either go with the flow or let the numbers decide.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'd have thought Katich is the most vulnerable of the openers. He did have a good run though when he reinvented himself as a top order bat, at least when he and Watto weren't running each other out.

Kanhai played very few Tests as opener, I think (I checked his stats earlier) averaged about 5.

[ianp1970]

Kanhai also kept in his early games, but not enough to warrant inclusion in this...

[braveneutral]

It's a difficult one. We need a good keeper-batsman who starts with K and opens.

[ianp1970]

It's a difficult one. We need a good keeper-batsman who starts with K and opens.

Kaluwitharana gets in the ODI side BN

[braveneutral]

We've got all that to look forward to then!

[Arthur Crabtree]

The A-Z ODI side!

[braveneutral]

Yep then T20.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Kohli gets in that.

[DiligentDefence]

Having had a secondary look, I cannot justify omitting neither Katich nor Kirsten in favour of a non-specialist. Similarly to Hayden in regards to the 'H' openers position, seems like a very good middle order 'K' is going to miss out. I can't pick one myself, so am happy to either go with the flow or let the numbers decide.

Agreed, I would always want a reasonable opener. It is a specialist position.

[braveneutral]

Openers it is.

It's Sunday still we can move on a team.

[DiligentDefence]

Openers it is.

It's Sunday still we can move on a team.

[meninblue]

we've went with players with a small-ish body of work at international level before based on "what if" or their domestic record but not when there have been obvious alternatives with a much longer career behind them

I've often said that to succeed at the highest level in any sport you need 3 things, talent, temperament and commitment. Kambli is someone that had talent in abundance but not enough to overcome his problems in the other two.

Yes, Vinod Kambli was too much to handle for the captain and the management. He was compared to Sachin, some even rated him better than Sachin as far as strokeplay was concerned. However, he did not have the attitude of Sachin. Sachin could handle the fame and expectations and used it in a positive way, whereas when Vinod was getting compared to Sachin the fame got to his head and he lost his way to frequent drinking, abusing own players after having drinks. Azhar was the captain at that point of time. This attitude did not go well with the coach too. Ultiamtely he was dropped. Also was injured due to fitness issue. Made ODI comeback in Dubai or Sharjah and while playing a ODI there , he twisted ankle while fielding at mid off. Left the field and it hurt his ODI team comeback.

Definitely Rohan seems to have good enough average as well (havent watched him play) and if he is not a liability as a fielder or a team man with attitude and issue creator, then Rohan has to be selected over Vinod.

[meninblue]

Virat at 6. Personally think it is waste of his talent at 6 as he is a 200+ scorer. He has to bat higher.