India-England-Australia Tri-series - January 2015

[Greninja]

So the abandoned match means the India vs England becomes a knockout game.

Yes and now it is necessary for both the teams to win the game

 

[PokerAce]

Dhawan's slump has come at a terrible time for India, and puts him in a position where he can possible have no real role in the WC.

If India were starting against the minnows, then we could stick with him and hope that he could have found some form as he went along. However with India starting off against the two of the toughest sides in the group in the first two matches, India cannot hope that Dhawan will suddenly find form.

So India kinda have no option but to start with Rohit and Rahane. If they kick off and do well, then there is no reason to go back to Dhawan. Even if they don't do well in the first two, Dhawan is so out of form that India will then given Rohit and Rahane the matches against the lesser sides to find their form.

So either way, barring an injury, and perhaps even then, Dhawan has already put himself in a position where he can be nothing more than a passenger on the tour. At best he could get a game if India have already qualified or so on, where again he is not really making a meaningful contribution.

In a squad of 15 for there to be 2 rather clear passengers, Binny being the other one, is not really the strongest of squads. Its infact quite liekly that Binny could actually make a bigger contribution than Dhawan, and who would have thought that possible when the squads were announced.

In fact speaking of Binny as long as Binny gives us around 25 runs an innings he could still prove to be invaluable. As for Dhawan, I think India need to find a way to use him, and there is no point in him being a passenger. If he cannot contribute right at the top, then India must try him in the middle order against an older ball. Remember his finest knock on the tour so far was when he was not batting right at the start.

Dhawan has some shots and could perhaps be useful lower down the order in the 35-50 over period. I think India should try that option in the final game against England.

 

[abhi_jacko]

India's lack of ODI form looks very disturbing going into the World Cup. Actually reminds me of the build up to World Cup 2003, where we had a winless tour of NZ, and a poor start to the World Cup against Aus before stringing together a winning streak upto the finals.

Ofcourse we had a really competent bowling attack with Zack, Srinath, Nehra in top-form. And Sachin and co. got into cracking form with the bat.

 

[SaiSrini]

Contrary to what you say Poker, Dhawan should be in the starting XI vs Pakistan. The game is going to be played in Adelaide, which is probably the best batting friendly pitch across Australia. And also, its against arch rivals Pakistan. You need a swashbuckling opener at the top for India who has the ability to take the attack to the opposition. Dhawan might be out of form, but I expect the occasion to charge him up along with the fact that we should not be experimenting with our lineup in possibly the biggest of all matches for us in the World Cup. Dhawan is the only specialist opener picked and he should play vs Pakistan, no matter what his form is.

He should be rested from the warmups (and if Rohit is fit for Perth vs England; then Dhawan can be rested next game too). To me, Dhawan needs to play vs Pakistan.

 

[SaiSrini]

India's lack of ODI form looks very disturbing going into the World Cup. Actually reminds me of the build up to World Cup 2003, where we had a winless tour of NZ, and a poor start to the World Cup against Aus before stringing together a winning streak upto the finals.

Ofcourse we had a really competent bowling attack with Zack, Srinath, Nehra in top-form. And Sachin and co. got into cracking form with the bat.

That bowling attack looks competent now, but before that tournament, it was not that competent. Only Srinath was reliable at that time before Nehra stormed that tournament with that special performance vs England at Durban. If one of our bowlers can have a great day in this upcoming WC, we too can turn things around.

 

[IceAgeComing]

How many of you are playing the World Cup Fantasy League Fantasy Cricket - World Cup 2015 | Official Website

Do Join, and it would be fun to compare our teams over there. If enough of us join I will create a league for only ppl from the forum.

I just got the team done.

No need! Code is 4896

 

[abhi_jacko]

To be frank, Rahane might not look the type, but he can be pretty swashbuckling with more success than Dhawan. @srini - you are right about the bowling attack. Need one of the bowlers to get early breakthroughs like Zak did on a consistent basis. Maybe Bhuvi can rise to the occasion

No need! Code is 4896

Havent played in a long time, but might give it a try this time. Thanks

 

[PokerAce]

No need! Code is 4896

Joined

 

[PokerAce]

Contrary to what you say Poker, Dhawan should be in the starting XI vs Pakistan. The game is going to be played in Adelaide, which is probably the best batting friendly pitch across Australia. And also, its against arch rivals Pakistan. You need a swashbuckling opener at the top for India who has the ability to take the attack to the opposition. Dhawan might be out of form, but I expect the occasion to charge him up along with the fact that we should not be experimenting with our lineup in possibly the biggest of all matches for us in the World Cup. Dhawan is the only specialist opener picked and he should play vs Pakistan, no matter what his form is.

He should be rested from the warmups (and if Rohit is fit for Perth vs England; then Dhawan can be rested next game too). To me, Dhawan needs to play vs Pakistan.

I see the point about the only 'specialist' opener, but even so I think it may be too much to hope that he will suddenly find form. For most of last year he has been the closest thing a specialst batsman can be to a walking wicket. It got so ridiculous that today when he was at 8, I was thinking well he got a start today, and then I said, he is on fking 8, its not a start by any strech. Sure enough next ball out.

I would personally still be willing to try him lower down the order, but at the top I think it would be a mistake.

Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
Raina
Dhawan
MSD
Binny
Axar/Jadeja
Ashwin
Bhuvi
Shami

I would be willing to gamble on this side. Have a guy all the way to #10. Thats the way India have to look to go about this WC. Its clear the bowling is not doing it, and India will have to look to outscore the opponent, and not really restrict them.

 

[PokerAce]

To be frank, Rahane might not look the type, but he can be pretty swashbuckling with more success than Dhawan. @srini - you are right about the bowling attack. Need one of the bowlers to get early breakthroughs like Zak did on a consistent basis. Maybe Bhuvi can rise to the occasion


Havent played in a long time, but might give it a try this time. Thanks

Remember one of the key reasons for our CT win was Bhuvi was just exceptional with the new ball and there was perhaps not one match where he didnt pick up a wicket in his first spell. I know the Aus pitches have not been of much help to him, but I do look forwad to him doing the same on NZ pitches which are likely to offer him more help.

And do play.

 

[abhi_jacko]

but I do look forwad to him doing the same on NZ pitches which are likely to offer him more help.

Hmmm. Our two games in NZ are against non-Test teams I think. And its setup in such a way that our QF and SF (if we get there) will end up in Australia as well. But anyways, I really hope atleast a couple of bowlers pull up their socks and provide some stability to our bowling.

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Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
Raina
Dhawan
MSD
Binny
Axar/Jadeja
Ashwin
Bhuvi
Shami

I like this lineup. Only issue would be Raina at no. 4. Maybe he can be swapped with Dhawan.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Dhoni's seems to be backing Dhawan as his opener

If after each match, we keep changing people's career and slots, after each match we will have to make a lot of changes in the team. We will have to be patient. I am not sure about the statistics but I have felt that the openers have been doing a good job. They did well in the Champions Trophy. There will be the odd series here and there where, when you are playing the best bowlers in the world in helpful conditions, we will lose the odd wicket. But overall I am quite happy with their performance

Off-stump blues leave Dhawan flailing | Cricket Features | Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series | ESPN Cricinfo

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Also read somewhere that chappelle wants Binny to open. Sounds quite retarded on first look. But Binny as the pinch hitting opener might not be a bad idea either [HASHTAG]#TheReturnOfThePinchHitter[/HASHTAG]

 

[Jagar]

Dhoni's seems to be backing Dhawan as his opener




Off-stump blues leave Dhawan flailing | Cricket Features | Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series | ESPN Cricinfo

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Also read somewhere that chappelle wants Binny to open. Sounds quite retarded on first look. But Binny as the pinch hitting opener might not be a bad idea either [HASHTAG]#TheReturnOfThePinchHitter[/HASHTAG]

Have thought the same thing about Glenn Maxwell from an Aus point of view. The guys shown he can't change his batting to suit a situation anyway, so might as well let him open and go ballistic where he can't hurt the side in a tense situation and his natural boom or bust gamestyle can do the most damage.

 

[Greninja]

No need! Code is 4896

Joined

I too joined

 

[lion100lion]

Forget Dhawan, I don't understand the role of Rayudu as no. 3