Over the decades Indian cricket is plagued with make shift openers, spinners bowling in tailor made tracks in Indian conditions. This causes a problem wjen it goes on tour.
With a strong middle order and spinners, the game is tilted towards conditions at home. The cycle of bad overseas tours and then followed by a revenge series at home is the traditional norm.
Instead of beating 3-0 at home, the development of fast bowling would be a better approach. If India gets a lead of 2-0 why not try Aaron for the 3rd Test?
In addition, position #6 belongs to Several middle order bats waiting in the wings. Yuvraj, Raina and many others were ODI bats tried out in Test matches.
Rahul Sharma, Manoj Tiwari and Pujara could be the ones tried out for the #6 spot with domestic FC averages of 62, 55, and 54 in that order.
The selectors typically try out players backwards. This was true in the case of Rahane with a batting average of 69, was the last to be considered
Ashwin played only a few matches and did very well no doubt. But can he play for a long time at the same level of performance like Kumble or Bhajji? There was Hirwani who could not continue and there was Sivaramkrishnan meeting the similar fate. Let us not forget the good performances of seniors while appreciating new guys.
Re: Funny to write off Bhajji and glorify Ashwin
by Asit Chakraborty on Nov 15, 2011 12:02 AM
He should be thrown out from the game, no? what is the problem for encouraging juniors?
Bhajji do not have variation and do not spin the bowl also. He has survived in the team because of his closeness to captains. It is high time India look for Ashwin or Ojha as their main spinners in test cricket.
Ojha was sidelined just to accomodate Bhajji. Ojha's average is far better than Bhajji over the last 2 years.
DADA U R RIGHT ABOUT R.ASHWIN & HARBHAJAN SINGH'S STATEMENT...............NO DOUBT.............HARBHJAN DID SO WELL FOR INDIA......& ASHWIN STILL HAS TO BE PROVE HIMSELF.............. & YUP........NO DOUBT INDIA HAS A GREAT TO CHANCE TO BEAT WI AT HOME SOIL.........& IT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR INDIA IN POINTS TALLY........
Re: DADA
by TARUN KHULLAR on Nov 12, 2011 05:50 PM
Had there been any other bowler during Ganguly's tenure,he wouldnt have played the amount of test matches Bhajji played. As a result the great Anil Kumble had to sit out of these tests.Dada was known for his personal preferences. It was only later that Ganguly realised his mistake and reinstated jumbo as no 1 spinner in the side. But Jumbo lost precious matches to take more wkts. Ashwin has come up as trumps and remember he played in ODIs and Ranji before being blooded in test matches. He is certainly a better choice than Bhajji. I am sure Bhajji wud have struggled on that placid kotla pitch
Re: Re: DADA
by T P on Nov 12, 2011 06:05 PM
You are not exactly right in your assessment. Kumble had to sit after the operation on his shoulder. He found it difficult get back his earlier rhythm. Also India decided to go with 3 fast on overseas tour, a strategy which paid dividends. Ganaguly repeated said leaving out Kumble was the most difficult decision he faced but Harbhajan then was in the form of his life. The same is the situation with Aswin and Ojha now, getting preferred over Harbhajan. This is way life goes on.
Re: Re: Re: DADA
by TARUN KHULLAR on Nov 12, 2011 06:14 PM
Well..sorry to say..that was Ganguly before the press..at his diplomatic best. Also cant recall as to how many matches Bhajji won singlehandedly for India after that famous 2001 series.Even after that when Bhajji was chosen in overseas matches over kumble, he dint exactly set the stage on fire..so he wasnt what u call in form of his life. Whereas Jumbo always maximised out of limited opportunities Ganguly gave him.Ganguly finally accepted Kumble's class. Sad to see how a great cricketer was treated.Credit to Kumble that he has never expressed anything in public inspite of the treatment
Re: Re: Re: Re: DADA
by Raja Ivaturi on Nov 12, 2011 08:47 PM
I agree with Tarun. Ganguly openly supported Bhajji at the cost of Kumble. By default if one spinner has to play, Kumble used to sit in dressing room. I remember a case where Kumble was out of the team and Bhajji played first test in Australia hiding his injury. Kumble played from 2nd test and returned as the higher wicket taker including 13 wickets in the last test.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: DADA
by harisha rn on Nov 13, 2011 06:00 AM
Even in 2003 world cup finals against austraila when fast bowlers were bleeding runs, only bhajji was bit economical but was not very effective. imagine if Kumble was also bowling in tandem, the history could have been different
Re: Re: DADA
by kumar kn on Nov 12, 2011 06:06 PM
Lt us not be over confident and boast that we will beat WI 3-0.Remember how they took the first innings lead in the 1st test.Let our actual performance show the end result.I don't want Dada to eat his words if something goes wrong in the next 2 tests.
