> If Shastri is fit :-
> ++++++++++++++++++
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.
> +++++++++++++++++++++
> 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 }
> --------------------------------
[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