India the Test Future?

[andy]

Players have bad days.

They hardly went after him in the 3rd ODI when he conceded 30 runs in 10 overs.

agree, i think ashwin is a tremendous young talent.

[braveneutral]

Players have bad days.

They hardly went after him in the 3rd ODI when he conceded 30 runs in 10 overs.

33, but it wasn't the most exciting ODI in history.

[Red Devil]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v ... 50433.html

well said that man!

Indian curators really need a talking to - Ind at home should absolutely be preparing wickets to suit us and make life difficult for the visitors. A wicket that turns from day 1 is equally as valid as a pitch that is hard, bouncy and has lots of grass, which is what we get away from home all the time.

[andy]

every country should prepare pitches that suit their strengths...thats the benefit of touring, you learn to play in all conditons

[HarryPotter]

Absolutely there should be bunsens in India. Gambhir has a valid point but his timing and the way he puts it makes him sound like a poor loser and the implication that he is failing because if the pitches is laughable. He is just an average player going through a poor patch.

[ddb]

He's not an average player at all but agree with the timing. But reading his whole interview, he sounds balanced on the whole, it's just cricinfo have selected specific comments.

Because he also said this:

Gambhir admitted his form has been disappointing in the series and he was nervous to start with. But things have picked up lately for him.

"The conditions are very different. There's a lot of bounce. To start with, you are far more nervous and in anxiety poke at the ball.

"Gradually, you get the feel of bowlers and what's their game plan. I hadn't known it at the start of the series. Then you start preparing differently and work out the areas where you could score runs.

"It was disappointing initially but then after Sydney, I felt far more comfortable in first innings in Perth.

The Delhi opener though has no plans to change his batting style for the series.

"Whatever your game plans are, you need to stick to it. You can't change it in the middle of Tests or you get confused. In international cricket, you need to have a game plan where you score runs, what's your strength, what you need to be careful about," Gambhir said.

"Test cricket is about percentage cricket. You need to cut down on a lot of areas where the bowlers can get you out," he added.

And the main point in that article is the ICC won't allow rank turners anyway.

[shankycricket]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2011/content/current/story/550433.html

well said that man!

Indian curators really need a talking to - Ind at home should absolutely be preparing wickets to suit us and make life difficult for the visitors. A wicket that turns from day 1 is equally as valid as a pitch that is hard, bouncy and has lots of grass, which is what we get away from home all the time.

Totally agreed But Gambhir has got the timing of this statement horribly wrong IMO here just the way Swann did when he called for ODIs to be scrapped.

[andy]

i agree but also, gambhir isnt an average player, he is a very good player, but he is going through a bad run of form, and evryone goes through a bad run of form at some point.

[HarryPotter]

Average Test player to me is still a decent player, but I think we basically agree.

[meninblue]

Openers Sehwag and Gautam are clearly a major issue on this tour. The No3 and middle orders are virtually opening the batting. One series in subcontinent will get everyone back in form though.

[shankycricket]

Openers Sehwag and Gautam are clearly a major issue on this tour. The No3 and middle orders are virtually opening the batting. One series in subcontinent will get everyone back in form though.

Yes openers havent done great.But thats no excuse for the middle order failing.Aussie openers didnt score much in the first and the second tests and look what Punter and Clarke(and Huss at Adelaide) did to India.
The Indian middle order is better IMO.But they just havent performed barring Sachin.
Dravid's exceptional series in England should not mask the fact that he has been a passenger for the most part of the last 4 and a half years and should have probably gone after SA.Lax was excellent form 2008-2010 but hasnt looked like buying a run in his past 2 overseas series.Its time to move on from these 2.Not only because they havent scored runs but they seem to have lost their reflexes.I have immense respect for both and it feels sad to say this but I cant see India progressing if these 2 are still in the Test side come November.
IMO Sehwag should move down the order.I think that would help him regain his form and also provide the much needed experience to the middle order alongside Sachin.
Mukund can open with Gambhir and Rahane can slot in at 3.

[Red Devil]

Openers Sehwag and Gautam are clearly a major issue on this tour. The No3 and middle orders are virtually opening the batting. One series in subcontinent will get everyone back in form though.

Yes openers havent done great.But thats no excuse for the middle order failing.Aussie openers didnt score much in the first and the second tests and look what Punter and Clarke(and Huss at Adelaide) did to India.
The Indian middle order is better IMO.But they just havent performed barring Sachin.
Dravid's exceptional series in England should not mask the fact that he has been a passenger for the most part of the last 4 and a half years and should have probably gone after SA.Lax was excellent form 2008-2010 but hasnt looked like buying a run in his past 2 overseas series.Its time to move on from these 2.Not only because they havent scored runs but they seem to have lost their reflexes.I have immense respect for both and it feels sad to say this but I cant see India progressing if these 2 are still in the Test side come November.
IMO Sehwag should move down the order.I think that would help him regain his form and also provide the much needed experience to the middle order alongside Sachin.
Mukund can open with Gambhir and Rahane can slot in at 3.

so you suggest Mukund, Gambhir, Rahane, Sachin, Sehwag, Kohli ... ???

I'd argue that Rohit and Pujara should be coming in for Dravid and VVS ... don't think Mukund should be ahead of those 2 and if that means Viru opening in India then i think that's fine. Probably a choice between rahane and Gambhir for the other slot

[shankycricket]

Openers Sehwag and Gautam are clearly a major issue on this tour. The No3 and middle orders are virtually opening the batting. One series in subcontinent will get everyone back in form though.

Yes openers havent done great.But thats no excuse for the middle order failing.Aussie openers didnt score much in the first and the second tests and look what Punter and Clarke(and Huss at Adelaide) did to India.
The Indian middle order is better IMO.But they just havent performed barring Sachin.
Dravid's exceptional series in England should not mask the fact that he has been a passenger for the most part of the last 4 and a half years and should have probably gone after SA.Lax was excellent form 2008-2010 but hasnt looked like buying a run in his past 2 overseas series.Its time to move on from these 2.Not only because they havent scored runs but they seem to have lost their reflexes.I have immense respect for both and it feels sad to say this but I cant see India progressing if these 2 are still in the Test side come November.
IMO Sehwag should move down the order.I think that would help him regain his form and also provide the much needed experience to the middle order alongside Sachin.
Mukund can open with Gambhir and Rahane can slot in at 3.

so you suggest Mukund, Gambhir, Rahane, Sachin, Sehwag, Kohli ... ???

I'd argue that Rohit and Pujara should be coming in for Dravid and VVS ... don't think Mukund should be ahead of those 2 and if that means Viru opening in India then i think that's fine. Probably a choice between rahane and Gambhir for the other slot

Yes thats the team I suggest.Wouldnt really mind the team that you picked but I dont know what Pujara has done since coming back form injury to walk back straight into the side though ahead of Rahane who is in the current squad and has a better f/c record.Apart from that,I agree with you.

[ddb]

Pujara is better than Mukund, Rahane, Kohli and perhaps even Rohit IMO from the little we've seen of them in Int cricket. Rahane is in the current side as a back up opener really. Pujara isn't going for that spot.

His main problem is his knees both now have been operated on I think...

[shankycricket]

Pujara is better than Mukund, Rahane, Kohli and perhaps even Rohit IMO from the little we've seen of them in Int cricket. Rahane is in the current side as a back up opener really. Pujara isn't going for that spot.

His main problem is his knees both now have been operated on I think...

He was indeed impressive in that run chase in Bangalore.But hardly scored a run in SA.Not that I blame him.Its not fair to expect a youngster with very little test experience to succeed on those pitches but Kohli was impressive and top scored for you in both the innings on a similar pitch at the WACA.So I dont know from where you get this notion that Pujara is better.I am not saying that Kohli is definitely better.Too early to pass a judgement I guess.But Kohli has acheived more in his career so far.I rate Pujara highly by the way.

Regarding Mukund,well,Pujara is better IMO but you need an opener,dont you?
As far as the comparisons with Rohit and Rahane is concerned,Rohit and Rahane are better backfoot players,Pujara's technique looks more solid against the moving ball though.

Basically,the point I was trying to make is that it is not fair for Pujara to walk straight back into the side without having scored runs at f/c level since his return from injury on the basis of 1 Test innings that he played more than a year ago ahead of Rahane who is there in the current squad,has done nothing wrong and also has a better f/c record(not that Pujara has a bad one).
Anyways,your next Test series is in November and a lot would depend on the form then.

But the question is,do these guys really have any oppurtunity to play any f/c cricket before November?
The BCCI would do well to organise a few 'A' tours.