From: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu (R. Bharat Rao)
Subject: Re: (none)
Reply-To: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 22:20:56 GMT

pvr@argo.rice.edu (PVR Narasimha Rao) writes:
>Very sanely said.

>We must decide between Raman and Jadeja and play _only one_ of them. If we
>are indecisive and play both (with one of them coming in the middle order),
>it doesn't look convincing.

Why?  Why do we bother how it looks?  One of the big concerns seems to
be that Raman is NOT an opener.  he is too airy and not solid enough
for an opener.... SO...

>Jadeja has never played in the middle order (I'm not considering first down
>as a part of the middle order) except in the World Cup match against Aus.
>There's no point in mindlessly manipulating the batting positions to fit
>the guys we want. Of course, it may pay off, but it's a risk not worth
>taking.

>I think the only decisions to be taken are

>(1) Who should be Shastri's opening partner: Raman or Jadeja?

I think the selectors will reason as follows.  You MUST play Jadeja
after his 200.  It was against a bad attack, but what more can he do
to get in.  So Jadeja is in...  but Raman had a reasonable
performance, and it is TERRIBLY UNFAIR to keep dropping players
whimsically.  Every one cannot burst onto the scene like Azhar (or
have the luxury of facing England circa 84-85:-) in their debut
series, so players must be persevered with....

>(2) (a) Should Amre make his test debut or should we play 5 specialist
>        bowlers?

I think this question should be 

2(a) Should we play an extra batsman or shall we play 5 specialist
bowlers.

As has been pointed out by you and others, India's batting (sorry,
India's TOP order) has consistently flopped in the first Test of a
series, and an extra bat is necessary.  Also, Shastri seems to have
magically retained his touch as a spinner (perhaps he feels the added
pressure of having 2 young openers, or maybe Axhar is finally being
firm with him).  Anyway, I would suspect that the selectors will
decide that 4 bowlers + a rejuvenated Shastri will be enough.  Also,
if Jadeja is taken, then he and Tendulkar (though I hope the last is
not needed) can add sufficient variety to the attack.

2(b) Who will be the extra bat(s)?

Obviously, the 4 sure spots are Shastri (I know this will dismay many,
but there is no question that Shastri is a regular as a Test opener),
Manjrekar, and Tendulkar.  The two vacant spots will be filled from
Jadeja, Raman, and Amre.  Although, in my initial article before the
tour I had thought Amre would play, Jadeja has definitely come shown
some ability and is good nice (if you don;t play him now, when will
you -- a good way to destroy the young guys confidence).  I disagree
with PVR that playing all 3 openers is bad -- besides I suspect Raman
is a number 6 bat, masquarading as an opener (also, didn't Chappel say
tat you should always play a third opner at number 6, for when the
second new ball is taken -- however, with India by that reckoning we
should play our second opener at number 8 or number 9:-).

Anyway, what I think the team will be...

Shastri
Raman
Manjrekar
Azharuddin
Tendulkar
Jadeja		I suspect they will foul up and bat Jadeja at number
		6.  He isdefintelky more of an opener than Raman and
		the raman at 6 would be much better.

Another possibility is to bat Shastri, Jadeja, Raman at the top of the
lineup -- but with Manjrekar back in form (boy, is he ever, this is a
bad move).

>    (b) If it is the second, should we play Raju or should we play
>        Banerjee/Chetan as the fifth specialist bowler?

While I think Kumble is the better bowler, I suspect that (given 4
bowlers) they may well (gasp) go with Raju.  I don;t think they will,
but it is not an impossibility.  However, I am reasonably confident
taht the eleven for the Test will be...

Azharruddin, Shastri, Jadeja, Raman, Manjrekar, Tendulkar, Kapil Dev,
More, Prabhakar, Srinath, Kumble... 

>|> Discussions welcome!

Ditto. 

>PVR

Bharat
--
R. Bharat Rao                          E-mail: bharat@cs.uiuc.edu 
AI Group, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
405 N. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801  (217)337-6498(H)
Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana
OFFICE: (217)244-0292, 333-5978 (NOTE new numbers)