Saturday, October 02, 2004

The Team I would Like for Bangalore Test

The Team I would Like for Bangalore Test

Indian squad for first two tests puzzles me a bit. I was bit disappointed to see Dinesh Kaarthick not given a opportunity to be in the team especially after taking 15 member squad. If management is in such a decision I believe he should be given a fair chance in Indian A squad. Apart from that I am bit happy with over all selection even though its a big squad for home test. Murali Karthick may just got in because of Aussies have traditional problem with left arm spin I don't think so he will be playing any matches.

My choice of openers will be Shewag and Yuvraj. Its hard on Chopra but the fact is that you have to be a match winner on your own to be in great team. I believe India is in door steps of becoming a great team. To be a great team your opening pair should set the tone. I have confidence in Shewag and Yuvraj that they will do it. If they fail then we might look in to Ghambir, Dheeraj or Sriram. Chopra did the job very well assigned to him to face off new ball but sadly its too much of luxury to have a opener for this reason alone.

Our batting strength lies with our Middle order. Its arguably worlds best middle order. If Tendulkar is not playing then we should play Kaif and open with Yuvraj. I would like to see Laxman at 4 if Tendulkar is not playing or at 5 if he is playing. If openers gave decent starts then our middle order will capitalize on that.

I think Parthiv is not best when he is keeping to spinners. He kept superbly to seamers in New Zealand but spinners he seems to have some serious problems. I for one who strongly felt he along with bucknor was reason for not winning Sydney test. But his batting is really improved I am very impressed with his batting in his last match with Pakistan. He outscored Gilly in last series with Australia. I will settle for anytime to a keeper who will out score Gilly. Hope he does that this time too.

Coming for the Bowlers we will be going with two spinners and two seamers. Spinners will be Harbajan and Kumble they pick themselves. Seamers are a bit tricky question. I would love to have Agarkar in the team he seems to bowl well against Aussies and get Langer quickly. But if they choose to have other other two that's too fine with me.

my team for first test will be

* Yuvraj Singh
* Virender Sehwag
* Rahul Dravid (VC)
* Sachin Tendulkar/Mohammad Kaif
* VVS Laxman
* Sourav Ganguly (C)
* Parthiv Patel (WK)
* Irfan Pathan
* Ajit Agarkar/Zhaeer Khan
* Harbhajan Singh
* Anil Kumble

2 comments:

Viks said...

i think that the side will be slightly different. They will pursue with Akash as the opener atleast for this game and Yuvi will take Sachin's spot. Zaheer has been a sore spot for SG for the last few tours. Cant afford the embarassment of him breaking down again- gonna be AG .. not that he is much better in terms of injuries.

* Akash Chopra
* Virender Sehwag
* Rahul Dravid (VC)
* Yuvraj
* VVS Laxman
* Sourav Ganguly (C)
* Parthiv Patel (WK)
* Irfan Pathan
* Ajit Agarkar
* Harbhajan Singh
* Anil Kumble

RPM said...

I do think that Gangs plays favorites a bit, so I think the XI would be:

1. Sehwag
2. Yuvraj (should not necessarily open, but ... )
3. Dravid
4. Laxman
5. Ganguly
6. Kaif
7. Patel
8. Pathan
9. Harbajan
10. Zaheer (should not be there, but .... )
11. Kumble