Ganguly should not open, we should save him to tackle Murli and other slow bowlers later.
If you have obserevd Ind-lanka matches, Ganguly is one person who has handled Murli really wel, i think he is the most comfortable of all indian bastmen against him. And also, you dont want to expose him against one of the best fast bowlers in the world, thats not ganguly's strengths anyways. If ganguly opens Vaas will most likely knock him early.
Agarkar should seriously take a break.
Pathan opening ? He certainly has the batting technique to handle(read defend) quality fast bowling. He has opened for india in the past and has not dissapounted. Further it would be a sort of surpise element to the opposition, who right now must be making plans to knock Dada,Sehwag etc early on .
If Uthappa fails early, Sehwag should step in, else Dravid. If we dont lose early wickets and caryon with good pace, then he should get back to number 6-7 and come later.
Why Uthhapa still in team despite failures off late? Well Uthappa is almost a sehwag like player, chances that these guys click are usually less but when they do its almost game over for the opposition. And thats why you tempted to keep them both, hoping either of them clicks...
Playing spin is not yuvi's forte. He would be vulnerable to murli, will typically go for that high risk sweep, and end up top edging to the wrong one. So our game plan should be letting him play murli as less as possible. so when he comes to bat should be timed well. We dont want him to play entire quota of murli.
kumble is certainly a better bet than bhaji considering very recent form, but then Srilanka have lot of left handers, and so bhaji's off spin will help.
RE:Team and Strategy
by Wilson Wilson on Mar 23, 2007 10:28 AM Permalink
Good sameer. It looks very meaningful. But can v dare to take such good decision. If we follow your line up probebly we can win with out any fuss. It is a more sensible line up. Gangu should be brought down. But i do not think that gangu and bengalis will agree for that!!
RE:RE:Team and Strategy
by sameer naik on Mar 23, 2007 10:48 AM Permalink
Wilson, Rayker thanks for your respones. I dont think i can sleep tonight. :) Lets hope atleast irfan is played in palce of agarker.
RE:RE:RE:Team and Strategy
by Kaushal Shah on Mar 23, 2007 12:32 PM Permalink
Yes, atleast they should give Agarker a break. What about using Sreesanth instead? He also can use his bat. It will be a bright new combination - Sreesanth & Uthapa. SL would never have expected this. Uthapa can take a back stand & Sreesanth can do the early damage.. something similar to what Kaluwidharana used to do when Jayasuriya & Kalu started the whole Pinch Hitting thing.
RE:RE:Team and Strategy
by sameer naik on Mar 23, 2007 10:41 AM Permalink
Well to be honest, ganguly is the only batstmen i can see murli hitting on the long on stands tomorrow. So letting him come down the order shouldn't be seen as a demotion in any way, we want to see him capitalizing on his strengths. Also this is just a make shift for tomorrow's match. And in one of the matches against lanka when he was a regular opener and captain, he him self demoted himself. I am pretty sure this was the reason then.
RE:Team and Strategy
by Abhijit on Mar 23, 2007 12:04 PM Permalink
If Ganguly opens will get blows from Malinga & Vas on Hip or Legs. He should come at 11th spot. As observed in match against Bermuda, he was the only one not able to score run per ball.
RE:RE:Team and Strategy
by arindam dutta on Mar 23, 2007 12:33 PM Permalink
he has palyed both of them. In any case Vaas doesn't and cant threaten with pace, he relies on swing and control. socha bhi karo kisi ko bhi criticise karne se pahle. c*****a kanhi ka.
RE:Team and Strategy
by sameer naik on Mar 23, 2007 10:16 AM Permalink
small correction: If Uthappa fails early, Sehwag should step in, else Dravid. If we dont lose early wickets and caryon with good pace, then he (Dravid) should get back to number 6-7 and come later.
RE:RE:Team and Strategy
by rayker rayker on Mar 23, 2007 10:22 AM Permalink
yeah - if uthappa clicks, nothing like it. he's another sehwag in his earlier form. also a fresh batsman wouldnt have been analused as yet by the bowlers - hence he's a better bet at the begining. anyways, lets see them in action, i wouldnt bet on anyone in particular.
