eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:47 AM |
India have many problems on their hands when they come to Sri Lanka. The entire composition of the side is in doubt, and there are very few players having secured their spot when Sri Lanka come calling a week from now.
OPENING CONUNDRUM:
India have three players performing for the opening role. The question is, which two of the three will they go with?
Murali Vijay: HS: 167 Last Innings: 150 AVG: 41.75
Shikhar Dhawan: HS: 187 Last Innings: 173 AVG: 41.50
Lokesh Rahul HS: 110 Last Innings: 16 AVG: 32.50
Murali Vijay is the established opener. It will be highly unlikely that Virat Kohli deviates from him, Vijay is also most likely to take up vice-captaincy. Vijay is a solid, unflappable opener, good in overseas conditions, and because this is the subcontinent, even more reason to play Vijay. Vijay should and will most likely be in the side for the first Test.
Shikhar Dhawan had a very poor tour of Australia, but because he bounced back and scored dual hundreds in the World Cup, and then followed it up with a 173 vs Bangladesh in Tests, the Indian selectors could possibly note that as just poor form and play him vs Sri Lanka. Dhawan only played vs Bangladesh because Rahul was out ill.
Lokesh Rahul is the newcomer to this conundrum. He began very poorly, with scores of 1 and 3 in his debut match in Melbourne, but after a first-innings ton in Sydney, his maiden Test hundred, Rahul appeared to have solidified his spot as Indian's opener, until he got sick before the tour of Bangladesh. Ruled out of the tour allowed Shikhar Dhawan to respond with 173, and now puts Rahul and unlikely to begin in the first test vs Sri Lanka.
Is there possibly a way to play all three of them in the squad? Rahul is a part-time wicketkeeper, and Wriddiman Saha, India's current wicketkeeper is not very promising with the bat, and with only six batsmen, would India rather have a makeshift batsman-keeper than a full-time wicketkeeper? However, I do not feel that it is the correct move. If they wanted to bring in a part time keeper, they would've brought in 29 year old Ambati Rayudu. He's not a first-choice keeper, he hasn't played in a test, but has been performing consistently in ODI's, averages 45.
Continuing on with the wicket-keeping conundrum, India appear to have a standby wicketkeeper nominated if Saha does not perform(once again.) But the question is, who is this part time wicketkeeper? Is it Naman Ojha, who is 32, or Sanju Samson, who is 20? Samson opens in domestic cricket, so bringing in Samson may not be the best option as of now with the current opening tussle. If Saha responds to the pleas for more runs and smashes a ton or something near it, the wicketkeeping debate will be settled, but as of now, the next keeper for India is very much needed.
The next question is whether India will go with three spinners, two seamers, or two spinners, three seamers. If Mohammed Shami was on the tour(he is still recovering from a knee injury,) he would be a guaranteed lock for a seamers spot. The way the wicket in Colombo looks(green), I expect to see captain Virat Kohli go with two spinners and three seamers. I expect to see Off-spinner and bowling allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin retain his spot, and because of Saha's terrible batting prowess, I expect him to chip in the runs too. However, because Harbhajan Singh is also an off-spinner and is second on the depth chart, I do not expect to see Harbhajan in the squad for the first test. Instead, Amit Mishra, the leg-spinner, who has come on after Yasir Shah and Imran Tahir, other leg-spinners, had made an impact on their recent tours to Sri Lanka, I see him grabbing his spot over Harbhajan Singh. Mishra can also chip in with the bat, so expect to see him at No. 8 or 9.
For the seamers, I see Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbing his spot, because he is the most skillful of all India's seam resources. He as well can bat a fair bit, which will be very useful with basically five batsman in the squad, because of Saha's lack of runs. I find that Ishant Sharma will take the No. 11 batsman role, which will leave the No 10. batsman and final seamers spot a toss-up between Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, both similar fast bowlers. They are expensive, but the first genuine fast bowlers India have produced. I find Yadav has the slight edge over Aaron, because Aaron has got less experience.
The final question India have is: Cheteshwar Pujara or Rohit Sharma at No. 3? Pujara and Rohit have both been having horror runs of form with the bat, Rohit at least in just Tests, but because of Virat Kohli's public assurance of his faith of Rohit at No. 3, and Pujara's recent horrible India A series, I find Rohit Sharma making his way into the playing XI vs Sri Lanka in the first test.
So, the XI I feel will look like this:
1. Murali Vijay 2. Shikhar Dhawan 3. Rohit Sharma 4. Virat Kohli(c) 5. Ajinkya Rahane 6. Wriddiman Saha(wk) 7. Ravichandran Ashwin 8. Amit Mishra 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10. Umesh Yadav 11. Ishant Sharma
Do you think the playing eleven will look like this, or am I horribly wrong? Should youth be given a run over experience in both cases? Should Pujara be backed for the No. 3 role or should Rohit Sharma be given his chance?
We'll see. Tell me what you think.
MY OTHER CRICKET ARTICLES: ZIMBABWE'S DILEMMA: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169786403 WHO CAN REPLACE SANGAKKARA: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169888681 THE CONTROVERSY OF WALKING: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169969990 |
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Swagudelo
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| Joined: 23 May 2013 |
| Total Posts: 24436 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:52 AM |
| you make way too many quality posts to appear so sparsely on this forum |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:53 AM |
| I feel quality > quantity, tbh. |
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Swagudelo
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| Joined: 23 May 2013 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:38 PM |
| india will obviously win... |
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lemonease
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| Joined: 09 Dec 2011 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:40 PM |
| They are both really good but in my opinion India is a stronger team. Thanks for another interesting post eelee! |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:41 PM |
>baseball is better
yeah ok let's swing with brute force and hope it goes somewhere!!!!
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:42 PM |
| I mean I respect baseball, it's a good sport, but the debate about Baseball > Cricket or Cricket > Baseball is so annoying. Just show some respect to the other sport, alright? |
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lemonease
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| Joined: 09 Dec 2011 |
| Total Posts: 61 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:43 PM |
| I really enjoy reading these posts eelee. I can write a few posts but they are not as interesting in my opinion as yours. Keep up the good work man. |
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SRHL
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| Joined: 10 May 2010 |
| Total Posts: 13484 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:45 PM |
I remember watching a cricket livestream when Sri Lanka was playing. It was the last game for some really famous Sri Lanka player and the stadium went DEAD SILENT when he was caught out.
I think his name was Jayawardane or something. |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:49 PM |
Mahela Jayawardene. Yes. He's a legend of the game. He retired from all formats after the World Cup. I mention him a lot in this article: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169888681
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:49 PM |
"I think his name was Jayawardane or something."
Wasn't him cause I remember his last game was the WC quarters |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:50 PM |
| well then again it could still happen in australia/ new zealand |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:51 PM |
| His last test match** was July 2014 vs Pakistan. His last T20I was the WT20 and his last ODI was the quarter-final. |
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Swagudelo
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| Joined: 23 May 2013 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:55 PM |
| Mahela Jayawardene is one of the best humans to ever touch a cricket bat |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 12:56 PM |
| True. I feel Sangakkara > Jayawardene for the only reason that Sangakkara was more consistent. Still, the two of them were always better together-- remember the 624 they put on vs South Africa, the best bowling attack, in 2006? I remember watching that game as a kid and going absolutely insane when Jayawardene got his triple. |
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SRHL
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| Joined: 10 May 2010 |
| Total Posts: 13484 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:11 PM |
Correction,
The match I watched was Jayawardene's final ODI in Sri Lanka, not his final ODI ever. It was against England in December 2014. |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:16 PM |
Jayawardene finished the game off, through his bowling. Last man Tredwell's scorecard read:
St. Sangakkara b. Jayawardene.
That was Sangakkara's last ODI in Sri Lanka as well. Fitting end for the both of them. |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:17 PM |
| it a shame that we (sri lanka) got owned vs south africa for both of their final world cup matches |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 06 Aug 2015 01:18 PM |
| I feel the mistake they made that game was having Kusal Perera open after Thirimanne-Dilshan had done well throughout the cup. The game was lost the moment Thirimanne got out. |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 10 Aug 2015 11:54 PM |
It appears Murali Vijay is out with a hamstring injury. Ishant's 5-for in the tour game secured his place, Bhuvneshwar's accuracy kept him his place as well. Kohli and Rohit are in bad runs of form, but Kohli's the captain, and Murali Vijay is the most likely candidate for vice-captaincy(oldest + most experienced + spot secured.) and without the "technical" vice-captain, I doubt the selectors will drop the captain. Rohit, though, may be under threat, after 2 single digit scores, plus, Cheteshwar Pujara, the man who Rohit replaced put a couple of decent knocks together in the tour game. However, because of Sanjay Bangar and Ravi Shastri's comments before the game tomorrow, that they are backing Rohit at no. 3, I still expect him to maintain his place. Finally, Wriddiman Saha. He failed as well in the tour game, but because of Bangar's comments, and there being no reserve keeper named/in Sri Lanka, I do not see Saha losing out in the first match. I expect, however, Rohit Sharma, despite his poor run of form and his spot not secured, to take over the vice-captaincy role, because Rohit has real talent as a captain. And especially because he has been backed for this test, and it will probably be a one-time thing till Vijay returns.
1. Lokesh Rahul 2. Shikhar Dhawan 3. Rohit Sharma(vc) 4. Virat Kohli(c) 5. Ajinkya Rahane 6. Wriddiman Saha(wk) 7. Ravichandran Ashwin 8. Amit Mishra 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10. Umesh Yadav 11. Ishant Sharma |
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| 11 Aug 2015 12:50 AM |
India have many problems on their hands when they come to Sri Lanka. The entire composition of the side is in doubt, and there are very few players having secured their spot when Sri Lanka come calling a week from now.
OPENING CONUNDRUM:
India have three players performing for the opening role. The question is, which two of the three will they go with?
Murali Vijay: HS: 167 Last Innings: 150 AVG: 41.75
Shikhar Dhawan: HS: 187 Last Innings: 173 AVG: 41.50
Lokesh Rahul HS: 110 Last Innings: 16 AVG: 32.50
Murali Vijay is the established opener. It will be highly unlikely that Virat Kohli deviates from him, Vijay is also most likely to take up vice-captaincy. Vijay is a solid, unflappable opener, good in overseas conditions, and because this is the subcontinent, even more reason to play Vijay. Vijay should and will most likely be in the side for the first Test.
Shikhar Dhawan had a very poor tour of Australia, but because he bounced back and scored dual hundreds in the World Cup, and then followed it up with a 173 vs Bangladesh in Tests, the Indian selectors could possibly note that as just poor form and play him vs Sri Lanka. Dhawan only played vs Bangladesh because Rahul was out ill.
Lokesh Rahul is the newcomer to this conundrum. He began very poorly, with scores of 1 and 3 in his debut match in Melbourne, but after a first-innings ton in Sydney, his maiden Test hundred, Rahul appeared to have solidified his spot as Indian's opener, until he got sick before the tour of Bangladesh. Ruled out of the tour allowed Shikhar Dhawan to respond with 173, and now puts Rahul and unlikely to begin in the first test vs Sri Lanka.
Is there possibly a way to play all three of them in the squad? Rahul is a part-time wicketkeeper, and Wriddiman Saha, India's current wicketkeeper is not very promising with the bat, and with only six batsmen, would India rather have a makeshift batsman-keeper than a full-time wicketkeeper? However, I do not feel that it is the correct move. If they wanted to bring in a part time keeper, they would've brought in 29 year old Ambati Rayudu. He's not a first-choice keeper, he hasn't played in a test, but has been performing consistently in ODI's, averages 45.
Continuing on with the wicket-keeping conundrum, India appear to have a standby wicketkeeper nominated if Saha does not perform(once again.) But the question is, who is this part time wicketkeeper? Is it Naman Ojha, who is 32, or Sanju Samson, who is 20? Samson opens in domestic cricket, so bringing in Samson may not be the best option as of now with the current opening tussle. If Saha responds to the pleas for more runs and smashes a ton or something near it, the wicketkeeping debate will be settled, but as of now, the next keeper for India is very much needed.
The next question is whether India will go with three spinners, two seamers, or two spinners, three seamers. If Mohammed Shami was on the tour(he is still recovering from a knee injury,) he would be a guaranteed lock for a seamers spot. The way the wicket in Colombo looks(green), I expect to see captain Virat Kohli go with two spinners and three seamers. I expect to see Off-spinner and bowling allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin retain his spot, and because of Saha's terrible batting prowess, I expect him to chip in the runs too. However, because Harbhajan Singh is also an off-spinner and is second on the depth chart, I do not expect to see Harbhajan in the squad for the first test. Instead, Amit Mishra, the leg-spinner, who has come on after Yasir Shah and Imran Tahir, other leg-spinners, had made an impact on their recent tours to Sri Lanka, I see him grabbing his spot over Harbhajan Singh. Mishra can also chip in with the bat, so expect to see him at No. 8 or 9.
For the seamers, I see Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbing his spot, because he is the most skillful of all India's seam resources. He as well can bat a fair bit, which will be very useful with basically five batsman in the squad, because of Saha's lack of runs. I find that Ishant Sharma will take the No. 11 batsman role, which will leave the No 10. batsman and final seamers spot a toss-up between Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, both similar fast bowlers. They are expensive, but the first genuine fast bowlers India have produced. I find Yadav has the slight edge over Aaron, because Aaron has got less experience.
The final question India have is: Cheteshwar Pujara or Rohit Sharma at No. 3? Pujara and Rohit have both been having horror runs of form with the bat, Rohit at least in just Tests, but because of Virat Kohli's public assurance of his faith of Rohit at No. 3, and Pujara's recent horrible India A series, I find Rohit Sharma making his way into the playing XI vs Sri Lanka in the first test.
So, the XI I feel will look like this:
1. Murali Vijay 2. Shikhar Dhawan 3. Rohit Sharma 4. Virat Kohli(c) 5. Ajinkya Rahane 6. Wriddiman Saha(wk) 7. Ravichandran Ashwin 8. Amit Mishra 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10. Umesh Yadav 11. Ishant Sharma
Do you think the playing eleven will look like this, or am I horribly wrong? Should youth be given a run over experience in both cases? Should Pujara be backed for the No. 3 role or should Rohit Sharma be given his chance?
We'll see. Tell me what you think.
MY OTHER CRICKET ARTICLES: ZIMBABWE'S DILEMMA: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169786403 WHO CAN REPLACE SANGAKKARA: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169888681 THE CONTROVERSY OF WALKING: http://www.roblox.com/Forum/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169969990 |
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