Sport Today

  [stuff deleted]

Since the team will be selected immediately after the ongoing fourth test, I
don't think it is wise (unless it is *very clear* that Shastri will be fit by
Feb 20 or so) to select Shastri. We can only select 14 and there is no point
in wasting one spot. ( I am assuming that replacements are not allowed.)

So I'll stick to the second part of the article.

Everything is fine except the selection of a fifth seamer.

[Bowling performances in Duleep trophy final:
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  Atul Wasson      16-1-47-2     11-0-52-1
  Chetan Sharma  21.3-3-65-6     18-3-56-1
  Vivek Razdan     14-2-40-1     22-6-46-3
  Abey Kuruvilla   31-12-6-3   30.3-7-98-6
  Maninder Singh   16-5-32-0   29.3-7-55-4
  Narula         23.4-4-28-5     30-6-96-2 ]

Atul Wasson, though he showed promise in NZ and England, didn't do that
well in Duleep trophy (which is the thing that will matter the most in his
possible selection). Though west zone bowlers Kuruvilla and Narula did well,
they are unlikely to be tested when so raw. Especially because the selection
is for onedayers. Vivek Razdan is not doing well in domestic matches (his
batting is good, though) and it is a pity a bowler of his talent is not doing
well.

            (( Let me deviate a little bit here. I was personally very
impressed with Razdan. His bowling action was excellent. Just like Lillee's.
He took 5 wickets in the first innings of Sialkot test. He bowled well then.
All his 5 wkts were top or middle order wkts. Though two of them were more
because of the batsmen's fault rathr than his ability, his two balls to Salim
Malik and Shoaib Mohammed were very good. One was a nice incutter and the other
beat the batsman by sheer pace. He bowled at lively pace. And it was all
*without any first class experience!* Just because Lillee was supposed to have
said,"he will be a good bowler. Will serve India for a long time", selectors
took him into team very raw (his training at MRF pace foundation was still
incomplete to add to inexperience). Then they benched him for no good reason
during the NZ tour and later. They tried him in ODI's, a very stupid decision
IMHO considering the fact that he gave away 5 runs per over in the Sialkot
test (he was a natural test bowler, not a ODI bowler. He would've learnt      
how to restrict with some first class experience.). He lost all his confidence
and, though occasionally he comes up with some good performances, his domestic
performance is far from satisfactory. He is another classical example of a
promising career ruined by the stupidity of selectors (took him with no first
class experience. Benched after doing well. Kept him waiting for ever. Played
him in wrong matches. Sialkot test was his last test.). I don't think he will
regain his confidence and do well again. Oops, never thought it would be sooo
long...))

Though Prasanth Vaidya and Aashish Zaidi are supposed to be good, selectors
may not take them so early. Though Chetan is known for his erratic bowling, he
seems to have edge over others and might be selected as the fourth seamer. Now
let us come to the question of fifth seamer. Wasson hasn't been doing great to
make it to the team now. Moreover, what is the need of going for five seamers?
What is the rationale in selecting only six batsmen (I am not counting Pandit
as a batsman, though he can do well), especially when the batting has not been
good in the previous matches on tour? Tendulkar is ok for ODI's. If he fails,
we can try Srikkanth's spin. Even Kambli can bowl. (Talking about Kambli, what
do you propose to do if he fails? So 6 batsmen arn't enough) So I would think
of taking only four medium pacers (ie drop Wasson) and go for an extra batsman
(or an alrounder. But do we have one? - Ajay Jadeja has bee doing well in the
domestic matches. He had good performances in Ranji trophy and Irani cup. But
he is very raw and the selectors are unlikely to take him back into the Indian
four***. But however it is a debatable option.)

Who are the batsmen we can try? K.P.Bhaskar (century in Duleep trophy finals)?
W.V.Raman (opener or first drop, left hander. Can bowl!)? Ganguly? Who?

Why not retain Manjrekar? After all, he had two half-centuries in WSC. If not
as a batsman, as a standby keeper, who can bat also. I guess that's what is
going to happen finally.

--------
PVR Narasimha Rao

|>    
|> >      If Shastri is fit :-
|> >      ++++++++++++++++++
|>   [stuff deleted]
|>  
|> Since the team will be selected immediately after the ongoing fourth test, I
|> don't think it is wise (unless it is *very clear* that Shastri will be fit by
|> Feb 20 or so) to select Shastri. We can only select 14 and there is no point
|> in wasting one spot. ( I am assuming that replacements are not allowed.)
|>    
|> So I'll stick to the second part of the article.
|>  
|> >      If Shastri is NOT fit :-
|> >      +++++++++++++++++++++
|> >
|> >      Batsman                                 Playing XI
|> >      ---------------------------------       ---------------------
|> >      1. C.Pandit (cum) Wicket Keeper  }
|> >      2. Navjot Sidhu                  }      1. K.Srikkanth
|> >      3. Srikkanth                     }      2. C.Pandit
|> >      4. Praveen Amre                  }      3. Sidhu / Amre
|> >      5. Mohd. Azharuddin (Captain)    }      4. M.Azhar
|> >      6. Sachin Tendulkar              }      5. S.Tendulkar
|> >      7. Vinod Kambli                  }      6. V.Kambli
|> >      ---------------------------------       7. K.Dev
|> >                                              8. M.Prabhakar
|> >      Bowlers                                 9. C.Sharma / A.Kumble
|> >      ---------------------------------      10. V.Raju  
|> >         8. Kapil Dev                  }     11. J.Srinath
|> >         9. Manoj Prabhakar            }
|> >        10. Javagal Srinath            }
|> >        11. Anil Kumble                        }      
|> >        12. V.Raju                     }      
|> >        13. Chetan Sharma              }
|> >        14. Atul Wassan                        }      
|> >      --------------------------------
|>    
|> Everything is fine except the selection of a fifth seamer.
|>      
|> [Bowling performances in Duleep trophy final:
|>  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|>   Atul Wasson      16-1-47-2     11-0-52-1
|>   Chetan Sharma  21.3-3-65-6     18-3-56-1
|>   Vivek Razdan     14-2-40-1     22-6-46-3
|>   Abey Kuruvilla   31-12-6-3   30.3-7-98-6
|>   Maninder Singh   16-5-32-0   29.3-7-55-4
|>   Narula         23.4-4-28-5     30-6-96-2 ]
|>      

                ------Lot of stuff deleted-----------
|>    
|> --------
|> PVR Narasimha Rao

 Hello PVR:-
        Your point is, why I selected A.Wassan?. The above figures you have
        is of the Duleep Trophy finals, I agree A.Wassan didn't have a
        great match here. The point you are miss is, you are not taking
        into consideration the previous matches. You cann't select/drop
        a player just based on one match. This is the most foolish way of
        selection.

        Now, let me give you the Duleep Trophy 1991 semi-finals( N.Zone Vs
        S.Zone) bowling figure of A.Wassan. Then tell me if there is any
        substance in me selecting him.
                Ist Innings :- 6/72
                2nd Innings:- 9-2-29-2

        He is been repeatedly taking 5-6 wicket in the domestic cricket.
        He needs to be called back. Now, comparing his pace with V.Razdan,
        V.Razdan is no where close to Wassan(this is eye witness report). But
        Razdan may be a better mover of the ball.

        The best pace bowling talent right now in India is non other than
        Abey Kuruvilla. I recently read in illustrated weekly or Times of
        India that, his out ***s are unplayble. A guy who is playing his
        first Ranji season, to have such a devastating out *** is
        incredible. But they shouldn't pick him until and unless he completes
        one or two complete Ranji seasons.

        Now talking about an extra back up batsman for Kambli. The reason
        why Amre was picked over Manjeraker is, he can be accomodated either
        at one down or if the need arises at Kambli's position. As I wrote
        the one down position should go for Sidhu, but Amre is his backup too.

Bye Now
Tittu Mathew

Nope, my point was not that. My point was whether there was a need for
taking five medium pace bowlers (your list contains Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath,
Chetan and Wasson).

You have taken six specialist batsmen (Srikkanth, Sidhu, Amre, Tendulkar,
Azhar, kambli), five seamers (mentioned above) and two spinners (Kumble and
Raju).

What I tried to say (and perhaps couldn't succeed - I was almost sleeping when
I wrote that article) was taking an extra batsman in the place of fifth seamer
would be wiser. Considerations:

(1) Indian batsmen haven't been doing well. Moreover, we are trying Kambli. If
he fails, you have only Srikkanth, Sidhu, Amre, Tendulkar and Azhar in the
batting line-up. Not much scope to do anything.

(2) Bowlers have been doing reasonably well. Four seamers will be sufficient.
In case of need, we have Tendulkar (he's ok for ODI's). Srikkanth can bowl.
Even Kambli can roll his arm.

So only one of Chetan and Wasson should be taken. I didn't mean to belittle
Wasson's performances on NZ and England tours, and in domestic competitions.
He is a hard worker and bowls well. But since you listed Chetan ahead of
Wasson, I thought you preferred him to Wasson and suggested dropping Wasson.
Nothing specific about that.

Amre is already in the team. In effect, you are replacing Manjrekar by Kambli
and Shastri by Sidhu in the batting line-up of the WSC finals.
                ie there is no extra batsman!

--------
PVR Narasimha Rao

|>    
|> >  Hello PVR:-
|> >      Your point is, why I selected A.Wassan?. The above figures you have
|> >      is of the Duleep Trophy finals, I agree A.Wassan didn't have a
|> >      great match here. The point you are miss is, you are not taking
|>  
|> Nope, my point was not that. My point was whether there was a need for
|> taking five medium pace bowlers (your list contains Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath,
|> Chetan and Wasson).
|>  
|> You have taken six specialist batsmen (Srikkanth, Sidhu, Amre, Tendulkar,
|> Azhar, kambli), five seamers (mentioned above) and two spinners (Kumble and
|> Raju).
|>  
|> What I tried to say (and perhaps couldn't succeed - I was almost sleeping when
|> I wrote that article) was taking an extra batsman in the place of fifth seamer
|> would be wiser. Considerations:
|>  
                -------Lot of stuff deleted------

|> --------
|> PVR Narasimha Rao

Hello again:-
        Your point is well taken. I thought about it when I selected the
        14.

        Let me throw some light into how the bowling attack is going to
        comprise :-
        1. (against a team having weakness against spin)
           Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath, a spinner, Tendulkar/Srikkanth
        2. (against a team which is strong against spin)
           Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath, C.Sharma, Tendulkar/Srikkanth

        Now, how many teams have weakness against spin:-
             W.I, Newzealand, may be Zimbawae(sp.) ie. 2 or 3
             How many team that are strong against spin:-
             Pakistan, Aus, Srilanka, England, may be S.A ie. 6 or 5

        So 6 or 5 out of 8 matches the attack is going to look like
        Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath, C.Sharma, Tendulkar/Srikkanth.

        "IF" Kapil or Prabhakar or Srinath becomes unfit/sick (like what
        happened yesterday to Prabhakar) OR if Chetan in one of the matches
        doesn't live upto the mark, whom will you relace him with.
        You cann't replace him with a batsman or spinner. You need to replace
        him with an experienced seamer, neither a debutant(P.vaidya ) nor
        Banerjee. That was why A.Wassan was included(plus he has already been
        exposed to Newzealand conditions).

        I take your point of having an extra batsman very seriously. I
        debated this myself a lot, finally I decided to chop him off and
        include one spinner at his expense. I may be wrong here and you
        may right taking into consideration the present batting form.
        So my suggestion is, if you want to include that extra batsman
        it should be at the expense of a spinner not at the expense of
        the 5th seamer. So as you said that extra batsman can be Manjerakar
        and the out going spinner will be Kumble.

        So the final 14:-
        batsman:- (Srikkanth, Sidhu, Amre, Tendulkar, Azhar, kambli,
                  Manjerakar)   ?
        seamers:- Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath, Chetan and Wasson.
        W.keeper:- Pandit.
        spinner:- Raju.

Bye now
Tittu Mathew