Australia tests & ODIs vs India in India, Feb-Mar 2023

[PKBasu]

Australia are coming to India for what is billed as a preview of the WTC final -- as Australia is certain to play that final, and India are in second place, hence pretty close to making the final (but need to win this series comprehensively in order to secure their place). The tests are in Nagpur (9-13 Feb), Delhi (17-21 Feb), Dharamsala (1-5 March) and Ahmedabad (9-13 March). The tests will be followed by 3 ODIs in Mumbai, Vizag and Chennai.

India have suffered a big setback with the serious accident suffered by key 'keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. The question of who will replace him will be a key one to answer. I think Wriddhiman Saha (who just made a Ranji century against Punjab yesterday) should be called back, with Srikar Bharat also in the side. If Saha fails with the bat in the first two tests, he can be replaced by Bharat. I wouldn't want to give a debut to Bharat at the start of such a crucial series. Saha continues to be in excellent form behind and in front of the stumps, and hence should play.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Plenty of changes required in Odi set up. NZ & AUS are favourites as far odi series are concerned, even if full team plays the series. Saha is now completely out from selection radar. Bharat will definately find place in XI with Ishan Kishan as reserve wicket keeper. Upendra Yadav's name might also be there as he has been regular with India A and havent done too bad in all these games.

[prasen9]

I too think Saha is the best keeper bat now. But, Dravid wanted to build up the next gen in case of a Pant injury. In reality though, he did not do that. Instead just junked Saha and there was some mistreatment somewhere in the way things were handled. So, because of politics, Saha will not be chosen. The prudent way would have been to tell him and Ishant that they will be demoted instead of being totally junked. That is you move down to #3 and we want to give a different #2 a chance. Now they did not give anyone else a chance either and have axed and mistreated Saha. Such is the idiocy of Indian selection policies.

Bharat is not a very good bat. I'd rather want Yadav who is a better bat. However, is Yadav a good enough keeper? Anybody knows?

[Atithee]

How about taking a punt on Samson?

[prasen9]

His keeping was really poor as is Kishan's. I may be wrong. That is my impression. We need people to hold on to sharp catches. Assuming we will be having rank spinning tracks against Australia. Kishan and Samson are not regular wicketkeepers in their Ranji teams either because their keeping is not that good.

Samson is not that great a batter (than Sikhar) either. He is a hitter with a lot of power but he cannot hit consistently either. In T20Is, that may be acceptable with his dodgy keeping. But, a 38 domestic average will possibly not translate that well in tests. Kishan also is marginally better at 38.76. Bharat is slightly worse at 37.46 but is a very good keeper. We know Samson and Ishan more than Srikar because Bharat is not a great T20 player. But that should count for diddly squat in an ideal world. Anyway, I'd rather have one who can hold on to those catches than get a run more per innings.

Now Upendra Yadav is a much better bat at about 44.8 runs/innings. That difference may be worth something. But, how is his keeping?

I generally hate taking punts based on a hope and a prayer. Seldom (although there are some very rare exceptions) has it worked.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

WTC 2021-23 points table is clear now. India needs to win atleast 2 test out of 4 against the Aussies at home to qualify for the WTC final, keeping situation in mind if SL win 2-0 against NZ in NZ. Its 75% now India V/s Australia at the Oval for WTC final

[SaniaFan]

If Sri Lanka wins 2-0, India would need to win 3-1 or better. 2-0 won't be enough. But realistically, more than Sri Lanka, South Africa is a threat as they have 2 matches against west indies at home. If they win both then they will be at 55.55% so India would need to win al least 1 match and draw others or win at least 2 matches.

[prasen9]

Thanks for doing the calculation SF.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.

Note: Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in the squad is subject to fitness.

[rajitghosh]

Bumrah unfit?

[Atithee]

^^Yes, I believe Bumrah is unfit.

[Mukherjee Babu]

SKY getting picked in test before Sarfaraz Khan Terrible selection

[SaniaFan]

I believe their argument is that Sarfaraz has not done enough in A tours. Not sure how has Surya performed in those matches.

[rajitghosh]

To be fair to Surya he has been playing in the Ranji Trophy and doing well.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

To be fair to Surya he has been playing in the Ranji Trophy and doing well.

Dont know which league was Sarfaraz paying and performing. Sarfaraz should start playing Ranji like SKY to be included in Test Squad