Monday, August 09, 2010
Selection of depleted squads for yet another ODI series in Sri Lanka
A depleted Indian team takes on a depleted (to a lesser degree) New Zealand team tomorrow in another series played entirely in Dambulla whose only possible utilities are:
- Gather funds for next year’s world cup
- Help New Zealand's adjust themselves to the dead pitches of Sri Lanka for the same event.
So I expect the teams to use the tournament to figure out their backup combinations. Hence I believe these are the teams they should go for in batting orders.
India
V Sehwag
KD Karthik
V Kohli
Yuvraj Singh
MS Dhoni
SK Raina
RA Jadeja
R Ashwin
A Mithun
P Kumar
A Nehra
This would be a very deep batting lineup where newcomers Mithun and Ashwin should get a chance to play with the seniors. Since Yuvraj and Jadeja both are decent at slow left-arm orthodox, Ojha sitting out makes sense so that there is more bowling variety. Karthik would get in only because there is no one else to open. Kohli is a slightly better batsman than Rohit Sharma and there are enough Right-arm offies in this team anyway. It would be great if Rohit Sharma learns to be an opener.
New Zealand
MJ Guptill
BJ Watling
LRPL Taylor
GD Elliott
JDP Oram
SB Styris
GJ Hopkins
Any 1 out of
KS Williamson
JS Patel
NL McCullum
DR Tuffey
AJ McKay
KD Mills
or
or
TG Southee
Hopkins gets in as mandatory keeper. This is a very fungible squad, even for perennial Dark-horse New Zealand. There is no variety in New Zealand bowling. Kyle Mills ,Southee and Daryl Tuffey have formed the core of the Kiwi pace attack ever since the retirement of Shane Bond. Apart from Styris the run choking bowler and McKay bowling left arm, there is only right arm pace or right arm off. All except one can bowl and all can bat in the 15 though only a precious few can do either well. All these bits and pieces players need to chip in. Nathan McCullum and McKay; though they seem old, have played in less than 5 matches (only 6 of the current 15 are under 30). New Zealand selectors should have got more youngsters into the squad and give them chance in the tournament. It is not as if there were many great players that they needed to displace.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Teams I hope to see for Murali's farewell test
As Muttiah Muralitharan prepares for his farewell Test,there is a lot of speculation and gossip :
- No other Sri lankan Tamil player will be allowed to do well in near future
- Murali will settle down in Chennai
- Sreesanth's injury means bye bye next year's world cup for him.
Here is the makeup I would like to see among the 2 teams in batting order:
India
G Gambhir
V Sehwag
R Dravid
SR Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
MS Dhoni
Harbhajan Singh
A Mishra
PP Ojha
I Sharma
MM Patel
Sri Lanka
Tharanga Paranavitana
TM Dilshan
KC Sangakkara
DPMD Jayawardene
TT Samaraweera
AD Mathews
KTGD Prasad
SL Malinga
HMRKB Herath
M Muralitharan
UWMBCA Welegedara (He also gets the award for longest name)
IMHO, both teams will need the full quota of 5 bowlers if they expect to get a result on the Sri Lankan pitches. I would also like to see India bat first . So on to Galle.
IMHO, both teams will need the full quota of 5 bowlers if they expect to get a result on the Sri Lankan pitches. I would also like to see India bat first . So on to Galle.
Monday, July 05, 2010
Troubling news from Singapore
Last week, ICC said that participating teams, it is possible that the World Cup could be reduced and the World Twenty20 expanded. I support the first and oppose the later suggestion. It is a very stupid move. There are already 10 full test playing nations among the 14 allowed who will ask to be qualified automatically. Without increased participation, the world cup will not get any more interest like the recently concluded Asia cup .Like I have said elsewhere, ICC is basing it’s decisions based on money and not the game. There should be 16 teams for the ODI version and 32 for T20. That is, if ICC wants to show that it cares for the game. That it cares for Afghanistan too and not just it’s neighbors.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Indian selectors will be meeting today to decide on a team for the Sri Lanka tour.
Presented here is what I believe should be the team of 16.
G Gambhir
Harbhajan Singh
I Sharma
IK Pathan
M Kaif
MS Dhoni
PP Ojha
R Dravid
S Sreesanth
SR Tendulkar
V Sehwag
VVS Laxman
Z Khan
+3 new guys out of
Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, M Vijay, S badrinath ....
India need better pace bowlers for the WOrld cup and a long spell in Sri Lanka should be given the best bowlers we have .
Presented here is what I believe should be the team of 16.
G Gambhir
Harbhajan Singh
I Sharma
IK Pathan
M Kaif
MS Dhoni
PP Ojha
R Dravid
S Sreesanth
SR Tendulkar
V Sehwag
VVS Laxman
Z Khan
+3 new guys out of
Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, M Vijay, S badrinath ....
India need better pace bowlers for the WOrld cup and a long spell in Sri Lanka should be given the best bowlers we have .
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
My team for first match in Dambulla
MS Dhoni
Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Suresh Raina
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
Harbhajan Singh
Pragyan Ojha
Praveen Kumar
Ashok Dinda
India's biggest worry is the bowling.They should give Dinda and Ashwin one last chance against Bangladesh . DO not need more than 2 pacers on Sri lankan pitches.Sehwag is returning from a shoulder injury and can use more rest.Rest will then get a thorough test before meeting Pakistan .
Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma
Suresh Raina
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
Harbhajan Singh
Pragyan Ojha
Praveen Kumar
Ashok Dinda
India's biggest worry is the bowling.They should give Dinda and Ashwin one last chance against Bangladesh . DO not need more than 2 pacers on Sri lankan pitches.Sehwag is returning from a shoulder injury and can use more rest.Rest will then get a thorough test before meeting Pakistan .
Thursday, September 17, 2009
My team for SuperSport Park
SuperSport Park, Centurion will host the first match for India against Pakistan in the Champions trophy.
This is what I believe should be the team.
SuperSport Park, Centurion
All the teams in the Champion's Trophy know what to do with RP Singh and Ishant Sharma after they lost their nerve against Sri Lanka.Still India will need pacers there.Amit Mishra and Kumar have done well .Unless Gautam Gambhir recovers and plays in the place of Mishra, Dravid and Tendulkar the only decent opening combination for the Seaming wickets.
This is what I believe should be the team.
SuperSport Park, Centurion
All the teams in the Champion's Trophy know what to do with RP Singh and Ishant Sharma after they lost their nerve against Sri Lanka.Still India will need pacers there.Amit Mishra and Kumar have done well .Unless Gautam Gambhir recovers and plays in the place of Mishra, Dravid and Tendulkar the only decent opening combination for the Seaming wickets.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Gross inequity
Gary Kirsten cribbing about Flintoff retiring from test cricket.
But no one is cribbing about Younis khan retiring from T 20.
