Why Pathan is dropped when he is the only one performing with his bat (only guy to hit a century in the four day match agains Rest of SA) and virtually no performance from Sehwag at all finds himself in the team on a mere reputation and no hard work. We need to bite the bullet and give Pathan a chance to bat. Let Jaffer open with Tendulkar. when is this political situation going to improve in Indian cricket.
Our strength is in spin bowling. I strongly feel that keeping Anil Kumble sitting on the bench has been a mistake. As also not allowing Harbhajan to play to his potential. Though Kumble has been brought back for the Test, he should be allowed to bowl in tandem, and hence another spin bowler should have been included in the team. Monty Panesar has taken 5 for 92 against Australia on the first day of the third Test. He was the highest wicket taker for England. That should speak for something! India's reliance & its emphasis on fast bowling is misplaced, we do NOT have fast bowlers.
In the current mental make-up the Men in Blues can even be beaten by a SouthAmerican team(if any) hidden in SouthAfrican colours.,as that uniform has sent the shivers each time the MIBs step on to the middle recently.Only the much discussed(disgusted?)Dada and some young firing fast bowlers seem to raise hope of decent showing;and that added to the frail SA batting with not much meat in the middle could if approached with UNITY,SINGLE-MINDEDNESS,and AGRESSION can mean decent performance.The much explosive Sehwag should not remain a wet diwali cracker,Tendulkar should not wait for the "COUNT of 10",VVS should assume that this is the AUSSIE attack and be ready with fork&spoon(and he doesnot need a napkin as he hardly spills a sumptous Aussie Meal)and Dhoni should not forget why he is here and forget a certain Presidential compliment of his hair and ONLY remember the background leading to that comment.South Africans should remember that if they get a green top the new Indian bowling machine could love it too.The one-day big hitting is over folks.If TEST cricket is the REAL thing,let both the TEAMS prove that they are ready to be TESTED.
