I think publishing statistics and telling Kumble is not good looks like partiality. First publish the statistics of the Indian spin bowlers who have done well abroad and then compare with him.
I consider it as 'ill treatment' if someone writes bad about Anil, who has fought so well for India on numerous occasions. Why don't you blame the mediocre Indian fleiding. Shall I give the statistcis on number of wickets that Kumble and Srinath would have got if our fielders knew catching?
And why don't you write something about our batsment? When did they score a good total down under? When Gavaskar hit a century 20 years ago?
Its true that Kartik should have been there, but not at the expense of Kumble, he deserves a place there. I still remember how we allowed Kapil to play more just becuse he wanted to complete the record.
Its the same country which gives chances to an 18 year old poor stumper when there are many other better than him waiting behind? Patel has more years of cricket to come and he can get in any time later. Why dont they consider some one like Yadav or Ratra or Tilak Naidu?
Kumble is still the best spinner we have. Not exactly a spinner though. He is a good bowler. A bowler who can put pressure on the opposition. One who believe that Harbajan is a better bowler, are just getting carried away with his performance in one series, i.e., against Aussies (in India). The reason for Kumble not being effective in recent times is because instead of allowing him to put pressure on opposition, the press and the team are putting him under pressure, which i guess is a stupid thing to do. In recent times, he might have fallen from being a "great bowler" to a "good bowler". But Indian team does need services of a good bowler, and given the experience he has got in his pocket, he should be an abvious choice. The selectors do very few right things and to have Kumble in team can be takes as one such thing. I do feel sorry for Murali Karthik, he should have been in the side in place of Deep Das Gupta.
It was really disheartening to see Chopra & Sehwag in the opening slot..dropping the man who saved the match for India against Victoria and easily the best Indian batsman so far..
i do agree that anil doesn't have good record abroad against australlia,who else have others even srinath doesn't have(nor any 80's 90's bowlers),anil is a class player,even world best batsman fear him,he is an intelligent bowler,and he always comeback with more talent when he is down.it's our fielding that has made bowler's unsucesfull.by now one day of the test is finished and results r known(???).you can never compare anil kumble with our dear bhajji our karthik .he is inpar with shane,murallitharan,mushtaq.../.and i doubt on selectors why the hell they give so imporatnce to shewag(as he ever proved to his talent ) why did they keep ramesh out(he has scored well in practice match.
all the best indian team all our wishes are with you play well .
India needs to urgently look at the root cause of cricket problem: Lack of good facilities at Junior cricket level.
Youngsters are mistreated, mishandled and have to put up with the egotistic sadism of greedy selectors.
India has the talent to be a global force. But to harness that talent, India must provide good hard bouncy pitches at school level. Get the fancy sponsors of cricket in India to put their money in school cricket. Put the money in bouncier pitches. Get the sponsored superstars out into the junior cricket to encourage the teenagers.
Instead Sehwag and Yuvraj are the classic bullies who cant play when the heat is on. both have proved they have the talent, but now their ego is greater than the talent.
On the other end of the scale are four shining stars who won out of India's junior level - Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman and Dravid.
Can we provide the teenagers the facilities? I think so if only the BCCI and sponsors woke up!
If India want to win in Australia then they should immediately fly in Gambhir and Kartik.
Gambhir scored runs in the West Indies and is scoring consistently in domestic cricket. What is he doing back in India?
Kartik should also be in Australia and playing test cricket. Kartik is a handy bat too- he is a fighter and can open the batting. He cant do any worse than Sehwag and Chopra, surely?
India's only hope is to play 3 spinners each test.
Ganguly can open the bowling with Nehra and Tendulkar can fill in with a few overs of swing. The spinners would do the job. If a second seamer has to play then Agarkar can join the team in Sehwag's place with Laxman opening the batting or even Kartik - he has opened for Railways before.
India's only hope for a win is to field well, hold catches and spin Australia out. Zaheer, Balaji, Agarkar and Pathan are the kind of bowlers you find in B division of club cricket in Australia. Hayden and Langer must be licking their lips already.
Kumble's away record is average compared to his home record.
the real reason behind this should be attributed to indian fielding. when a catch is missed in india the next opportunity comes along soon enough. but on good solid pitches like in australia, a second chance may not come too quickly again.
i watched the 1999-00 series in Australia, india fielded badly and missed too many chances. some close decisions went wrongly against India. Kumble was one of the main sufferers. He should have had at least 15 wickets in that series and who knows it might have been closer than 3-0.
Kumble might still turn the tables this time. It will all depend on well India field. If they drop catches like against Australia in Kolkata or against NZ in Mohali, then even God wont be able to help India!
Kumble and Harbhajan must play together in all 3 tests. but then Ganguly is not too smart.
