From: 000087384@cats.ucis.vill.edu (GUNNA, SANDEEP)
Subject: Re: (none)
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: Villanova University
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 05:20:00 GMT

In article <9211100123.AA24278@planck.ece.scarolina.edu>, rajagopa@charlie.ece.scarolina.edu (Sundararaman Rajagopal) writes...
>Hi everyone!
> 
>With the first test of the series just a few days from now I thought it was
>appropriate to discuss who will make it to the final eleven of the Indian
>team.With most of the players picking themselves, according to me there is just
>one place in the team that should be debatable.
> 
>And that is whether an extra batsman is to be played or to stick with the same
>composition that played against Zimbabwe.Looking at past records it is only
>prudent to go with the former option.Indian team has always done badly in the
>first test match of a series after which we have come back strongly in the rest
>of the test matches.Infact under Azhar's captaincy there is a 100% record of
>India losing its first test except for the one test match against Zim.

I think the above argument certainly holds good as India has had a 
bad record in the recent test series under Azza as far as first test is 
concerned.  It started with a bad session in NZ and carried on to the 
Lords test ( the famous catch drop of More- could be the costliest
yet so far in test cricket) to the bad start in the tour down under.
And it has been the bowling- considered to be the weak link of the 
Indian team which has held its own in the past few seasons with the
usual night mares in batting going on. and with the fast green
tops in SA and Donald and company raring to go it would be better
to go in with an extra batsman.
> 
>Going with the first option the man to be left out is definitely Raju who had
>a real bad test against Zim.Also the faster tracks in SA,would tend to help
>Kumble better than Raju if we are going in with a spinner.I also think we shouldgo in with a specialist spinner rather than 4 pacers since if 3 of them cant do the job then it is unlikely that the fourth one is going to do it.
> 
agree here. IMHO i feel that Kumble would do better than Raju with his 
fastish spin on a fast pitch. Also if the pitch takes turn later in the match
(could be possible as SA have certainly picked a spinner) Shastri could be
asked to bowl)
>Raman should be retained although it was not by any means a great performance
>against Zim.Shastri is our best opener after Sunny retired.It is infact true

I dont think Raman could be a good idea. He tends to be too offish 
with his airy shots off the fast bowlers and his lethargic style
of batting. his batting could be easy prey to the guiles of Donald 
and Pringle. But lets wait and watch. But i would hate to watch 
M'kar come out with just a few overs in as has been the case in the
last few series with a non too good opening stand.

A ggod option would be to open with Shastri and Jadeja. Jadeja IMO has come 
good on this tour and his eye set should be able to carryon his exploits.
Another option would be to come in  as the 4th down batsman 
before the allrounders come in. This position should and is certaily imp
as he would be the last specialist batsman and and graet deal of application
would be required in case of a early batting collapse in the top order.
And he certainly has proved that he has the capabilities to play a 
long innings.
>that Shastri's performance as an opener has been remarkable.He has scored 
>atleast 4 centuries since then and everyone of them as an opener.Add to that
>the matchwinning 89 against sriLanka in India.Remember all the 4 tons came in
>foriegn soil - 1 against WI,2 in England and a double century in Australia.
>Hence it is tough to drop him although he is not in the best of nicks.

I think there is no way Shastri would not play. He has to play( which i dare
say the spectators would love to watch;-))
> 
>That leaves us with either Jadeja or Amre.I would say Amre since he is a test
>match player and has played well in the limited chances he has got.Also Jadeja
>primarily being an opener will not fit into the middleorder.Also it is not
>advisable at this stage to keep changing his order in the batting lineup.
> 
This is where i think a change could come in. Thus my team would have 
either raman as opener and Jadeja as 4th down or to open with Jadeja
and carry Amre in as the extra batsmen. Also Jadeja being an allrounder
could be utilised as the 4th pace bowler if necessary. Also I think
T'kar shouldnt be troubled with bowling and made to concentrate on
his batting. 
>Hence my team would be:
> 
>Shastri
>Raman          Raman         Jadeja
>Manjrekar
>Tendulkar
>Azhar
>Amre           Jadeja        Amre
>Kapil Dev
>Prabhakar
>More
>Srinath
>Kumble
> 
This team would have 3 fast/medium fast bowlers- kapil, manoj and srinath-
with the 4th bowler to be Jadeja. In the spinning dept. Kumble and Shastri
would finish the bowling line-up. And the batting order would have 6 regural
batsmen.
>Discussions welcome!
> 
ya certainly/

/sandeep
villanova univercity

>Raj.
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