England in India 2024-25 : The Pataudi Trophy

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Why Bishan Bedi is not even in discussion ?

[prasen9]

Why Bishan Bedi is not even in discussion ?

My take. I thought of that. But, Jadeja gives me the batting along with the bowling. I am looking for total utility. And, thus the 3rd spinner is Kumble for me. Not Bedi. Kumble gives me batting again and variety from Jadeja, who is the pre-eminent left-arm spinner, solid batter, and awesome fielder in the last 10-15 years. In essence, why should I play with one batter less (Bedi had a hole in his bat) when I can play with one batter more. And, the bowlers are about the same wrt their utility.

I am big on total utility of all players.

[PKBasu]

Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli, Pant, Jadeja, Kapil, Ashwin, Shami, Bumrah.

Of the first four, whom would you kick out and with whom? Last 15 years, we have 6 in my team.

Third spinner: Kumble replaces Shami in India. I'd take Kapil's batting and fielding.

I agree with the team. Yashaswi Jaiswal could challenge Sehwag for the second opener's slot eventually, but it is too early to judge him.

Outside India, I would play Vinoo Mankad instead of Ashwin. There would be two left-arm spinners, but that shouldn't be a problem; alternatively, Kumble outside India (as he became much more effective outside India once he had developed the googly fully). In home tests, I would play three spinners, so Kumble would replace Shami. Bumrah and Kapil would be perfect with the new ball in India.

[PKBasu]

If all the Indian players were available (i.e., excluding Pant, whose fitness and form cannot be automatically assumed after his grievous injury), what would the XI look like now? Kohli and Shami come in automatically for tests (home or away), so for home tests (against NZ and Bangladesh for instance), the XI would be: Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

On the Australia tour, Rishabh Pant replaces Sarfaraz as a pure batsman (Padikkal very close behind for both home and away tests),Mohammed Siraj or Akash Deep comes in place of Ashwin (except perhaps at the SCG). Depending on form, the second spinner's slot will be between Ashwin and Kuldeep. I would always play two spinners, even abroad. In tests, KL Rahul (with a batting average of 34 after 50 tests) cannot command a spot ahead of the young talent.

[prasen9]

Are you talking about what we think realistically be the selection? Or what we think would be the best to put up if you or I would be the selector?

[SaniaFan]

If all the Indian players were available (i.e., excluding Pant, whose fitness and form cannot be automatically assumed after his grievous injury), what would the XI look like now? Kohli and Shami come in automatically for tests (home or away), so for home tests (against NZ and Bangladesh for instance), the XI would be: Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

On the Australia tour, Rishabh Pant replaces Sarfaraz as a pure batsman (Padikkal very close behind for both home and away tests),Mohammed Siraj or Akash Deep comes in place of Ashwin (except perhaps at the SCG). Depending on form, the second spinner's slot will be between Ashwin and Kuldeep. I would always play two spinners, even abroad. In tests, KL Rahul (with a batting average of 34 after 50 tests) cannot command a spot ahead of the young talent.

Why only for Australia tour, Rishabh pant has an average of 63 in India. His average is less than 50 only because he has played very few tests(One fourth) in India. I think he would be among top 3 batters for India during the time he has played test cricket. I think he can play just as a batter both in India and as well as abroad.

[prasen9]

Absolutely, if he comes back and shows us that he is one of the top batters in the IPL. Otherwise, we need to see him in the domestics.

[PKBasu]

SaniaFan, Pant has to show that he has overcome his injury. It cannot be assumed, given the life-threatening accident he had, that he can automatically return to being the batsman or 'keeper he was before the injury. This is true of any sportsperson returning from injury, but particularly for Pant, given the horrific nature of his injuries to muscles, joints, etc. that could affect his ability to play the sport as he used to in the past. MAK Pataudi, for instance, might have been an even greater cricketer if he had both eyes. But he had to show the world he could bat with one eye before selectors were convinced that he could be picked.

[PKBasu]

On a different topic, it is really irritating that the term "chinaman" to describe Kuldeep Yadav's stock ball is no longer usable for some political-correctness reasons. The Chinese should be flattered that there is a term in cricket that comes from a cricketer of Chinese origin inventing a type of bowling. Kuldeep doesn't bowl a "leg break" unless he is bowling a googly. The stock ball he bowls is a chinaman. Now apparently it can only be called a left arm unorthodox ball! Ludicrous!

[SaniaFan]

SaniaFan, Pant has to show that he has overcome his injury. It cannot be assumed, given the life-threatening accident he had, that he can automatically return to being the batsman or 'keeper he was before the injury. This is true of any sportsperson returning from injury, but particularly for Pant, given the horrific nature of his injuries to muscles, joints, etc. that could affect his ability to play the sport as he used to in the past. MAK Pataudi, for instance, might have been an even greater cricketer if he had both eyes. But he had to show the world he could bat with one eye before selectors were convinced that he could be picked.

Agreed. But my argument was why only for Australia tour and not for other places especially India. All the above criteria applies for Australian tour selection as well.

[prasen9]

If we are going to have different home and away teams, then our most successful players have been different.

Rohit, Sehwag would open. Rohit has been phenomenally successful in India. Over 60 I think. Gavaskar averages about 50 everywhere. Obviously, I would choose Gavaskar in India too but if we are looking for a home-specialist team, then Rohit has done very well.

Then, it would be Azhar, Kohli, and Hazare. These are players who have been great in India and not as great abroad but pretty good nonetheless. If you want more runs, you would replace Hazare by Vengsarkar. Kohli, like Rohit, averages 60+ in India.

Bowling-wise, I would still have Ashwin, Kumble, Kapil, Jadeja, Bumrah.

So: Rohit, Sehwag, Azhar, Kohli, Hazare/Vengsarkar, Pant, bowling lineup.

However, really, Rohit for Gavaskar is hard to take. As is Azhar, Vengsarkar over Dravid, Tendulkar. But, that is reality. Rohit, Azhar, and Vengsarkar have been home stalwarts and decent abroad.

[Kumar]

Gavaskar, Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli, Pant, Jadeja, Kapil, Ashwin, Shami, Bumrah.

Of the first four, whom would you kick out and with whom? Last 15 years, we have 6 in my team.

Third spinner: Kumble replaces Shami in India. I'd take Kapil's batting and fielding.

well, i am really flabbergasted that u have not chosen Srikanth as your opener .. but other than that no complaints.

u can quibble about playing Ashwin ahead of Kumble.. but Ashwin batting should put him over the top. Pant is an interesting selection, he has been absolute God in very small sample size. Even if he were to implode, I think his pre-injury performance absolutely puts him in the team. If u wanted a defensive keeper, i would have gone with Syed Kirmani .

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Can Farokh Engineer be selected ? He can be regarded as one of the best before Pant, was in Wadekar's side that beat England in England in 1971 series

[rajitghosh]

He didn't go to WI in 71. Krishnamurthy kept wickets. Rusi Jeejibhoy was rhe 2nd keeper

[Atithee]

Mohinder Amarnath over the likes of Vengsarkar and Viswanath, if they are in consideration. Even otherwise, as a batting all rounder over others would be a worthy consideration.