I think it's to do with some sort of status within India, the way things like the FA Cup final are on the protected list - I don't think it means what you think it means and what I thought it meant initially.Erm, what's your source for that?
I think it's to do with some sort of status within India, the way things like the FA Cup final are on the protected list - I don't think it means what you think it means and what I thought it meant initially.Erm, what's your source for that?
You forgot to rage at Sreesanth being given a contractIndian selectors really are major idiots. Dropping Harbhajan is a gutsy move but Rahul Sharma in the squad instead?! Are the selectors insane. Have they no idea about the distinction between OD and Test cricket. Bloody morons. I make a similar complaint about Varun Aaron too, who didn't even bowl much over 140kph in the Irani Trophy - so not successful and barely quick.
Morons!
Grade C though. A token "thanks for doing all that work at net practice for the last year" effort if ever I've seen one.You forgot to rage at Sreesanth being given a contract
So you'd rather the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman went in cold to the Australia series?Mixed feelings.
Good to see Yadav, Kohli, Rahane, Ojha in the squad.
Good to see PK get a rest.
But picking Ishant, VVS, Dravid, Gambhir, MSD, Sharma, Sachin...all stupid, stupid picks.
Overall...stupid squad. Ishant, VVS, Sachin, Dravid, Gambhir, MSD...all have seen so much cricket already and are crucial to our series in Australia. Why have they been picked? What if they get injured? Ishant and MSD are already carrying niggles.
Ojhan and Ashwin are our top two spinners...what's Rahul Sharma doing there? Similarly, Aaron is nowhere ready for Test cricket. They both have hopefully been picked just to gain experience. But given there are only 3 fast bowlers in the squad, Aaron might play. Which is just BAAAAAAD foresight. RP Singh was picked for the England tour, played, did alright for a guy horribly out of shape and form, then played some Challenger trophy games...if he's still in the picture, then why isn't he on this tour? You pick him out of nowhere to play a couple of crucial tests, and then when he finally has some match practice behind him you drop him? And where's Munaf? Or Vinay Kumar? Aaron as third seamer over all those guys? SERIOUSLY?
And somehow Yuvraj has wormed his way back in. Why?
Baaad selections.
They've been given ample time to recover. Ishant has even played in the SMAT iirc. Gambhir had a break for the entire England OD series.But picking Ishant, VVS, Dravid, Gambhir, MSD, Sharma, Sachin...all stupid, stupid picks.
Overall...stupid squad. Ishant, VVS, Sachin, Dravid, Gambhir, MSD...all have seen so much cricket already and are crucial to our series in Australia. Why have they been picked? What if they get injured? Ishant and MSD are already carrying niggles.
No he didn'tRP Singh was picked for the England tour, played, did alright for a guy horribly out of shape and form
It was a ****ty selection to bring him over to England and they've rectified the mistake.You pick him out of nowhere to play a couple of crucial tests, and then when he finally has some match practice behind him you drop him?
Agree with Vinay Kumar, think he should've been given a shot. Yuvraj did well in the one test he played in England iirc.And where's Munaf? Or Vinay Kumar? Aaron as third seamer over all those guys? SERIOUSLY?
And somehow Yuvraj has wormed his way back in. Why?
I don't care how much money he gets. Personally, I'd pay him to stay away from international cricket.You forgot to rage at Sreesanth being given a contract
I don't even think it's about that as such. Selecting players who quite easily deserve their places in the team for a Test match can never be called "stupid" IMO. If someone is to miss a Test there better be a damn sight good reason and resting the entire team just in case they get injured is ridiculous.You can't just expect players to simply play the Australia series without any match practice, it'll end up like the England series.
2 of your 4 seam bowling "auditionees" are proven crap. Munaf should never darken an international cricket field again with his presence.I'd rather see them go in fit. We have 2 warmup games there, they've come off a whole series against England not so long ago.
If anything, use this series to get the bench-strength in shape. Identify the key batsmen outside of those 4 (ie Sehwag, Kohli, Rahane, Yuvraj, Pujara, and whoever else could be on the touring squad) and get them in shape. Gambhir, Sachin, VVS and Dravid are coming off quite a bit of cricket and have two warmup games there to get ready.
Ishant and MSD I'm more concerned about. Ishant's already got a bad ankle he's delaying surgery on, MSD's been playing non stop for the last year. Give them a break.
I dunnow. You've got a valid point about not wanting them to go in cold (Look at Zak), but our reserve strength is so weak I'd rather keep the key players fit, and give the reserves a run so they have some development behind them instead.
Zak is missing Australia I guess, so our seam attack is Ishant, Praveen, and someone. Yadav, Munaf, RP and Vinay should be auditioning for that third and fourth seamer spots. Not Aaron.
Agreed, stupid move to select RP in the first place.No he didn't
It was a ****ty selection to bring him over to England and they've rectified the mistake.
Unfortunately there is little evidence to suggest they have any better, though. Sometimes you just have to pick the "least crap" player available.2 of your 4 seam bowling "auditionees" are proven crap.
I'd rather see them go in match fit.I'd rather see them go in fit.
Why so much Munaf hate here? :P2 of your 4 seam bowling "auditionees" are proven crap. Munaf should never darken an international cricket field again with his presence.
Meh, agree to disagree. I for one don't feel, given India's lack of resources, that it's worth risking injury to any of the key players for an unimportant series. Better of getting some match practice in for the rubbish reserves.I'd rather see them go in match fit.