From: guptar@ucs.orst.edu (Rakesh Gupta)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: Some thoughts...
Date: 31 Dec 1992 16:51:05 GMT
Organization: University Computing Services - OSU
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucs.orst.edu

In article <CSa=gp-@engin.umich.edu> sudhama@engin.umich.edu (Sudhama Gopalan) writes:
>
>So here's another dismal performance by India's frontline batsmen. As someone
>said it's time the long knives were unsheathed. On performance alone, I don't
>think any of the Indian frontline batsmen would make it to any of the better
>Test sides of today. But, of course, they are "on paper" a batting side with 
>tremendous potential. So what does one do when faced with a collective "loss
>of form". The main problem seems to be a score-card which looks like 0,2,12,1,
>105,8,23,8,9,12,2. Look at any of the frontline batsmen's performance in the
>last n games - you'll find a trend of x,x,x,x,x,x,109,x,x (repeat cycle where
>x is insignificant). So this way everyone manages an average which does'nt look
>that dismal - moral of the story, do what Shastri is famous for - get a big 
>score when your place looks to be at stake. 
> Well I don't think anyone who has more than one cycle (as illustrated above)
>deserves a place in the Test side - you can't lose form that often. However,
>sadly this would mean axing each and every one of the frontline batsmen who are
>on duty in South Africa. Following the principle that you give everybody a long
>rope, the first to be axed should be Shastri, Manjrekar and Azharuddin. That's 
>the only way to keep them on their toes - ie if they ever come back (which they
>should).
> Well, what about the captaincy issue? For a start, it was never a good idea to
>have Azhar as captain. For one reason - if your captain is suspect against 
>genuine pace and hops around like Azhar does against short-pitched stuff, it
>does'nt do much for the morale of the other batsmen. To top it off, if your
>captain tries to hit his way out of a tough spot, that puts a premium on
>application - which is an absolute must for a Test batsman. The choice seems to 
>be Kapil for a couple of years.
>The saving grace, so far, has been the bowling. A veritable pop-gun attack,
>probably #9 among Test bowling sides (on paper), has consistently stuck to it's
>task and bowled it's heart out - and come up with performances away from home
>which they can justifiably take pride in. No Sir, the problem is definitely
>not whether Raju is pathetic, or Srinath has been given too much rope or Kapil
>is waning or whatever ..... The thing that needs immediate sorting out (before
>the England tour starts) is the batting. 
>For a start, it's time we got ourselves some real openers. And some middle/upper
>order bats who don't carry the tag of strokeplayer on them. Suggestions - recall
>Navjot Siddhu, try out people like Surendra Bhave, Shantanu Sugwekar,          
>K. P. Bhasker, etc - some of those dependable types. Pick totally different
>batting lineups for the Test and one-dayers for the games against England (after
>all the luxury of a series at home is rare)
> Or maybe I'm over reacting - maybe you have to lower your expectations of a  
>team which has'nt played a Test at home for ages now???!
>
>Any comments?
>
>Sudhama
>

 I also think we should be picking a new batting line-up. throw azhar,
shastri, manjrekar, out (may be some more) like raman, sachin tendu.
even in bowling srinath, raju banarjee shoul dbe replace by other new bowlers.

not only player we need a drastic change in management and coaching staff.
I think they are also to balme for poor performance of indian team.

rakesh gupta