From: d188sid@utarlg.uta.edu (S RAMACHANDRAN)
Subject: Re: (none)
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 05:53:00 GMT

Re your article - excellent insight! 
In article <9211120324.AA00822@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.

The key will be the first test and we may need an extra batsman like u
pointed out.

>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.

Raju is better off being played in the 1-dayer.

> 
>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
>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.

Raman SHOULD be retained like you mentioned ..he was the first choice 
opener and he should be included in the 1 st test squad. It is not prudent
to shift around too much unless things don't work..and we will know that 
after the first test.
> 
>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.

While the practical and conventional thing to do is to include a middle 
order specialist for a no.6 position , Form,stroke-play and rapport w/
other players often interfere w/ the former rule. Moreover Jadeja (nor Raman)
started their careers strictly as opening batsmen..and when it suits the 
team (and them!) decide to play lower down the order. I would tend to pick
Jadeja as he is said to be adaptable to "difficult" wickets.


My 11 for the 1 st test too...though Jadeja may play instead of Amre.
>Hence my team would be:
> 
>Shastri
>Raman
>Manjrekar
>Tendulkar
>Azhar
>Amre
>Kapil Dev
>Prabhakar
>More
>Srinath
>Kumble
> 
>Discussions welcome!
> 
>Raj.

Sidd.R