'I don't rate India a long-term No.1'

[sohum]

That's the thing with India. They have a superb batting line-up, easily the best in the world (though I would like to see them play a game on a seaming pitch sometime soon) but the bowling is average. England, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan all have better seam attacks (heck maybe even the Windies). They really do lack that killer blow.

While I agree that all those sides have better seam attacks than India, the thing is that our seam attack performs adequately outside the country, in conditions that suit them. Of late, our meaningful victories abroad have been due to a spectacular bowling performance rather than a spectacular batting performance. ZaK's 6-fer in England, Sree's 5-fer in South Africa and Ishant's something-fer in Australia spring to mind. The thing is, these guys end up playing most of their cricket in India, where sadly the pitches have become flatter rather than dustier. Even on a dusty pitch that cracks up over the 5 days, these guys would be useful in the second innings and with reverse swing. However, the pitches of late in India completely favour batsmen, whereas it would be nicer if they favoured spinners, at the very least.

Anyways, back to the main point, our pacers end up gnashing their teeth on the crappy pitches a home and end up being dropped/lose rhythm before they get a chance to actually deliver on pitches that offer something to them.

 

[ahmed shah]

india is a good side but some times they gets unlucky i think they can be long term no.1 if they work hard

 

[TruSachFan]

when you go back again and again to Ashish Nehra, you know you've run out of options. :doh :crying

Err. Ashish Nehra does not play test matches any more. And this is about tests not odis.

Thank you very much, come again

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Batting talent still looks good. Take out Sachin, Dravid and VVS, and we still have some talent left. Gambhir, Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Raina, Yuvraj, Kohli, MSD, Pujara, Tiwary, Jaffer, Kaif, Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Badrinath are the first few names that come to mind.

it's about quality not quantity though, the openers are dead certs, but you have to make up the middle order out of only 4 of those. I've no doubt that india could field the best batting team out of 2nd string players, but the best 4 of that lot. say Yuvraj, Raina, Kohli and.... Sharma maybe? not a great test batting line-up.

 

[Master Khan]

Irfan Pathan was a really Bowler.. don't know what happen to him lol

 

[MS Dhoni]

If this is one tests then he can go watch India's recent test matches and see how good they performed but if he is talking about ODIs then it is 90% agreeable. Indian bowlers are totally different in test matches compared to their performace in ODIs.

 

[Cricketdude]

Ishant's something-fer in Australia spring to mind.

Ishant Sharma had a bowling average of like 56 over here. He bowled well but didn't get the rewards. It was the commonwealth bank series that he did well.

 

[rocky_g]

Ishant Sharma had a bowling average of like 56 over here. He bowled well but didn't get the rewards. It was the commonwealth bank series that he did well.

In short he is a one series wonder.

 

[sohum]

Ishant Sharma had a bowling average of like 56 over here. He bowled well but didn't get the rewards. It was the commonwealth bank series that he did well.

True, but he certainly raised the intensity level on one end and thus contributed to the fall of wickets at the other.

One can add RP Singh to that list, too, although he has fallen a bit after contributing to our wins in England and Australia.

 

[Cricketman]

it's about quality not quantity though, the openers are dead certs, but you have to make up the middle order out of only 4 of those. I've no doubt that india could field the best batting team out of 2nd string players, but the best 4 of that lot. say Yuvraj, Raina, Kohli and.... Sharma maybe? not a great test batting line-up.

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Ajinkya Rahane (FC average 67.70)
4. Subramanium Badrinath (58.63)
5. Chet Pujara (56.00)
6. Virat Kohli (55.75)

Looks pretty good to me. Can't even find room for Vijay who has starred in Test match cricket already.

 

[shravi]

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Ajinkya Rahane (FC average 67.70)
4. Subramanium Badrinath (58.63)
5. Chet Pujara (56.00)
6. Virat Kohli (55.75)

Looks pretty good to me. Can't even find room for Vijay who has starred in Test match cricket already.

Badri won't make it.

 

[Dare]

Badri won't make it.

agreed, he might as well give up. Its clear that he isn't getting selected to play for India. If he hasn't up to now he never will.

 

[Cricketdude]

True, but he certainly raised the intensity level on one end and thus contributed to the fall of wickets at the other.

One can add RP Singh to that list, too, although he has fallen a bit after contributing to our wins in England and Australia.

We still won 2-1.

The best Ishant Sharma got was 2 wickets.

 

[sifter132]

I agree with Ian Chappel on most of it except for the part where he says India did not challenge Australia much when they were at their peak. I think Ian totally missed the fact that we have had the best record against Australia on a consistent basis, something which other sides cannot boast of (in tests).

I think Chaps is pretty right. See here:

Australia at their peak:
1999/00 in Aus: Aus 3-0
2001 in Ind: Ind 2-1 - Needed the partnership of the decade to win the series.
2004 in Ind: Aus 2-1 - India won the final Test which was dead

Overall: Aus 6, India 3
Series: Aus 2-1

Australia not at their peak:
2003/04 in Aus: Draw 1-1 - No McGrath or Warne. Brad Williams, Andy Bichel and Nathan Bracken (yes in Tests!!) feature in the attack :doh and India racks up big scores. No surprise...
2007/08 in Aus: Aus 2-1 - McGrath and Warne retired. Langer and Martyn too. Big hoo-har in Sydney.
2008 in Ind: Ind 2-0 - Australia's primary spinner: Cameron White :doh
Overall: Ind 4, Aus 3
Series: Draw 1-1

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

that's challenging imo, beyond the 99/00 one, which is the furthest back one, gambhir would be 17, dhoni 19, sehwag 22, ishant sharma 8 years old.

it hardly supports an arguement that the current team couldn't challenge. I have to go with the indians here, the aussies were still the better team but they never managed to get miles ahead of india when it came to playing india.

I don't want to drag up sydney controversy, but merely the fact the got 3 wickets off the penultimate over, australia were the better team but not by much. also if you mention that warne mcgrath weren't available, seems unfair to mention that tendulkar wasn't available for two tests in 2004, easily your biggest nemesis and india's best player. and who wasn't available in the spin department in 2008? that's like writing off 07/08 because india picked jaffer ahead of sehwag.

StinkyBoHoon added 1 Minutes and 55 Seconds later...

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Gautam Gambhir
3. Ajinkya Rahane (FC average 67.70)
4. Subramanium Badrinath (58.63)
5. Chet Pujara (56.00)
6. Virat Kohli (55.75)

Looks pretty good to me. Can't even find room for Vijay who has starred in Test match cricket already.

see, I hear a lot about these guys, and still when the no.6 berth came open the selectors gave it to failraj. furthermore, it's Raina the one everyone always says is the leading light, or has done until Kohli started playing well and he averages 43.