the big difference is that when we went to Australia the last time we had a Viru in Hot form and a A Chopra determined to keep the Aussies out no matter what! From one end we had a dasher that counter punched the bowling attack and from the other end a guy blocking it out and rotating strike !! SO we got starts most visiting teams dreamt about in their wettest WET DREAM!!
This time around I think the test opening batsmen are not capable of giving them a solid foundation, like in England we get the likes of Dravid and Tendulkar facing a relative new ball and unlike the english the Aussies will be all over them like a bad rash! Some how we got to get some solid openers ready for the tour!
To look at the positives this would be the best attack we taking to Aussie shores for ages! could be capable of grabbing 20 of their wickets in a test!!
RE:Opening Batsmen
by Sameer on Nov 17, 2007 06:38 AM Permalink
Lot of people are saying ajit agarkar is very poor bowler of india. I am not big fan of agarkar or he is not my relativs but i still feel he is better that all other 3 (zahir/rp/srrsantH) so I just check crickeinfo and collect the information and found he is better than other 3. if you compare overall career or last 10/15/20, his is no. 1 then other 3. just check below data.
Ajit Agarkar Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50 W BB BowlAv 5w Ct St
RE:Opening Batsmen
by CricFan01 on Nov 17, 2007 06:24 AM Permalink
I agree that opening pair for tests is not ideal but that is the best we have. My gut feeling is that Dinesh Karthik will not play all the tests because he will be taken out early by the Aussies. With Jaffer the problem is early on in the innings he is very tentative and many times get bowled or LBW, but overall is solid. I still think they should take Sehwag to Aus. Middle order looks solid with Dravid, Sachin, Laxman and Ganguly/Yuvraj. Dhoni is unknown at this point on Aus wickets. Bowling is OK, the mercurial Sreesanth should not get carried away and start his theatrics. Fielding is the weakest link. In one dayers India have a better chance to give Aus a good fight and if they play to potential they may even surprise Aus in few games. Hopefully they give a good fight and not go down tamely like SL is/
RE:RE:RE:Opening Batsmen
by Edwin Babu on Nov 20, 2007 02:44 PM Permalink
One thing is sure - Indian cricket team is not going to change for the better - good talent is seldom recognized and we are very happy to carry the past performance and talk laurals of it for another 10 years thereby deprieving the opportunity for younger guys. We are more than happy to be on the loosing end - blaming the pitch and the conditions all the time rather than putting the best performance. Australia is a far superior team in all aspects and it takes phenominal character and skill to match them (if not beating them). Guys pls use your time in other productive means rather than closely following Indian team - THEY ARE DETERMINED TO BE WHAT THEY ARE - COME WHAT MAY
RE:Opening Batsmen
by Michael Ponnudurai on Nov 21, 2007 02:32 PM Permalink
1. W. Jaffer 2. Tendulkar 3. Dravid 4. Laxman 5. Sourav 6. Dhoni 7. Pathan 8. Kumble 9. Zaheer Khan 10.Sreesanth 11.R. P. Singh or Harbhajan based on pitch and other conditions The stress is to have 6 batsmen, one allrounder in Pathan, and including him - 5 bowlers. 5 bowlers are key for us bowl out Aus twice
RE:Opening Batsmen
by TandooriRasamKadhi rosgula on Nov 17, 2007 08:43 AM Permalink
After watching kartik in England Test series, I think he is going to be ok in Australia. With the moving ball in England and opening the test innings for the first time in his career, he did well. I am not sure you're watching Srilanka and Aussie, but the pitches seem dead in Aussie. they have outstanding bowlers, but this Kartik character is one gutsie kid. I can see him do better then Jaffer, although I hope they both sign equally... Cricket is played in mind a lot too, and if we go fearless in Aussie, we can upset them...
