While the World plays - Australia go about their business, England and South Africa slug it out, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe fight for the wooden spoon and New Zealand find solace in playing unofficial cricket to help out tsunami victims - Team India relaxes at home.
This break would be (at least should be) a very good one for the team. It will help them think about the last season and the coming season as well - reflect on the events that occurred on Tsunami Day - I am referring to the defeat against Bangladesh - and of the shoddy performances preceding it in the Asia Cup, Champions Trophy and a host of insignificant matches; while at the same time they can take hope from 2 good series victories over Pakistan and South Africa and a reasonably well-fought series against the World Champions.
So now is as good a time as any to start thinking about the team composition for the upcoming Pakistan series. Let us start with the Test Team first because a) it is easier and b) the Test matches come before the ODIs (thankfully).
After the Australia series I had raised questions against Ganguly's captaincy but subsequent victories over South Africa and Bangladesh mean that he should be the undisputed leader for some time at least. There needs to be no debate about who the vice-captain should be - Rahul Dravid - and yes, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up leading occasionally given Ganguly's recent fitness and track record with match referees.
Happily and as a refreshing change, I have to think no longer than a second to decide the openers - Sehwag and Gambhir should do the job. The big question remains about the fitness of Tendulkar - if unfit, Kaif should find a place in the XI. Laxman has been in patchy form but he would still walk into the side.
Karthik has done reasonably well as keeper. Pathan and Zaheer would be the first 2 choices for the seamers. I would persist with Paul to see what he has and if Balaji is unfit, retain the other youngster Gagandeep as well. This effectively means I would blank out both Nehra (happily) and Agarkar (sadly) for the Tests at least. Kumble, Harbhajan and Karthik would be the 3 spinners. Pretty neat huh ??
Squad:
Ganguly (c)
Dravid (vc)
Sehwag
Gambhir
Tendulkar (or Yuvraj)
Laxman
Kaif
D. Karthik (wk)
Pathan
Zaheer
Balaji (or Gagandeep)
Paul
Kumble
Harbhajan
Karthik
4 comments:
There's again a cloud over Tendulkar's fitness. He says he has been advised "complete rest"...of course that doesn't apply to crucial games against Bangladesh, for records can and need to be made there. Now, since we do care so much about Sachin's helath, we should infact give him that break he so duly requires and rest him for the Pakistan series. That way, he can be fully fit and charged for the next record breaking series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka(?)
yaa..I guess this is the best available side...hey, can u put some light on the bowlers who in the past have performed well particularly against Pak?
who is Paul?..never heard of him!
Kapil Dev holds the record for the max number of wicktes against Pakistan 99 in 29 tests at a moderate average of 30. Kumble is the second best amongst Indians - 37 wickets in just 6 matches at a superb average of 22 - remember the 10/74 6 years ago ? - of course you do !!! - after that a host of old timers in the list - mankad gupte doshi maninder shastri etc - as far as modern times go I remember Srinath did really well in 1999 particularly at Eden and Prasad at Chennai - in 2004 of course Pathan and Balaji stole the show - which is why I am insisting on Balaji.
Paul is a young medium-pacer from Orissa - never seen him bowl but he deserves a chance - he looks quite overweight to me tho !!
For home series, there is no vice-captain :p
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