The Cricket Society III

Why keep any of the older players? Yes, Laxman looked good against WI, still, surely India need to solely focus on the future prospects of the team.

I think, for our home tour it should be:

Gambhir, Rahane/Pujara, Kohli, Rohit, Raina, Dhoni, Ashwin/Bhajji,Ojha, Yadav, Zak.

Irfan is only 27, he can still comfortably play test cricket for 5 years before he even thinks about retiring. As for Ishant, he is simply not bowling well enough considering he has had so many opportunities and attention. After the number the test matches he has played, you would expect a bowler to have ironed out any flaws and inconsistencies they may have.
When a bowler doesn't take wickets, they must be dropped. When Bhajji stopped taking wickets, he was dropped. When Munaf stopped taking wickets, he was dropped. So why does the same not apply to Ishant Sharma? He should be sent back to Ranji trophy or county cricket to prove himself before they let him back in the team.

Test or ODIs? Because I can't see them playing that, and I can't see it working either. Sehwag, Sachin, Ishant?



Ishant is a bowler who is vastly, vastly overrated by the cricket world. It's only on the Australia tour that people have sort of started mentioning that, previously it's always about him being an 'unlucky' bowler etc. The Ishant love affair created by the media is ridiculous, he gets massively praised just for bowling a maiden and I've heard the most contrived praising of him from Arun Lal etc. He's an awful batsman and a poor fielder. He's got a dire average and a mediocre strike rate.

That being said, India have invested 45 test matches of trust into him. He's now 23/24, and has matured physically. He's tall and quick, and if someone can just sort out a few of the kinks with his action, he could become good. India have invested far too much in him to give up now. After 38 test matches, Zaheer also averaged 38, but he's come good now hasn't he, and he's a good bowler now. India will have to pray that the same happens to Ishant, because Zaheer's injury record isn't brilliant, and I reckon he's coming to an end soon.

The only reason they have invested so much in him is because he is very tall, for an indian man. They are afraid that if they let him go, they will never find another tall fast bowler. I think he is a complete waste of space who has done significant harm to indian cricket by hogging all the attention of the bowling coaches and not allowing other quality bowlers to get into the test team.

Test or ODIs? Because I can't see them playing that, and I can't see it working either. Sehwag, Sachin, Ishant?

What the **** just happened? I have no allegiances in the IPL (though I supported Kallis/RCB a few seasons back) but I watched the end of today's match. What the **** was the thinking process to give the second last over to Kohli ahead of the recognised bowler? I don't know jack about Bhatkal but apparently he's in the team as a bowler so he should be bowling ahead of Virat Kohli, who is there as a batsman. Anyways, Albie Morkel does what he, Afridi, Razzaq and all the other glorified sloggers in world cricket do once a season, turn a ridiculous position into a victory. RCB handed it to him on a plate though, astonishing. And then Vinay, a recognised international bowler, can't not concede 15, what is going on...

Why isn't Azhar Mahmood being played..again?!

EDIT: Visa issues

^TBH, that wouldn't be awkward at all. There does seem to be a perception that the relationship between Indian and Pakistani players is to the point that they don't get on or will start a ruck and I think that's probably far from the truth.

In an interview, Imran Khan said that the relationship at the time he had, the best was with Indian players and I'd like to think - further than just cricket - that both sets of players have more in common than not.

Sure during games that's tense moments and players going up against each other but like in all cricket matches, doubt that is genuienly transferred to behind the scenes.

It's a big shame that Pakistani players aren't in the IPL - they made a huge impact in the first IPL and it adds to the event. But reading on Cricinfo, that ain't going to happen till relations between both countries improve and that'll probably take ages!

The bigger question (and elephant in the IPL room) is why aren't the other Pakistan players allowed to play? (If you did something similar in the EU it would be unlawful...)

Surely the indian public would want to see Afridi walking out to bat for their side. Plus he is the perfect panto villain foe everyone else!

The bigger question (and elephant in the IPL room) is why aren't the other Pakistan players allowed to play? (If you did something similar in the EU it would be unlawful...)Surely the indian public would want to see Afridi walking out to bat for their side. Plus he is the perfect panto villain foe everyone else!

I for one would pay good money to see Afridi playing in the IPL. You're right, he's the perfect "anti-hero", the one that most people would love to hate. IPL, MAKE THIS HAPPEN

^TBH, that wouldn't be awkward at all. There does seem to be a perception that the relationship between Indian and Pakistani players is to the point that they don't get on or will start a ruck and I think that's probably far from the truth.

In an interview, Imran Khan said that the relationship at the time he had, the best was with Indian players and I'd like to think - further than just cricket - that both sets of players have more in common than not.

Sure during games that's tense moments and players going up against each other but like in all cricket matches, doubt that is genuienly transferred to behind the scenes.
!

it's because bcci has that grudge against pakistani players (...well pakistan in particular) and that's why they aren't playing.it's a shame though, pakistan have got the best t20 players gul for instance, india would love to see him in action.yeah, i'm, sure indian fans would love to see shahid afridi too. But, the thing is this "feud" will just go on and on,
takes the piss tbh.