[robotpenguin]

Mark Boucher is a great wicketkeeper, but I feel it's a job which AB could do better. It would allow SA to play another all rounder or batsmen which could strengthen their batting line up

[Straight up G]

****ing ridiculous Taufeeq Umar given out after the ball pitches a mile outside leg stump ****ing unbelievable. I've never seen so many **** decisions on one tour it's ****ing ridiculous, we were robbed in the first two ODIs and the first test and now we've lost out to three ****ing awful decisions here as well Simon Taufel is going blind, **** Sri Lanka Cricket, **** the BCCI

[Straight up G]

I don't even care about the result of this series, Sri Lanka know that they've gotten ridiculously lucky and Mahela will write his usual smug article on Cricinfo despite being a **** batsman that's yet to score more than 5 runs outside of the flattest pitch in the world at the SSC absolutely ridiculous tour. All that matters is the bloody rankings and thanks to Taufel, Gould and co justice will be served there ****ing unbelievable it's just got to breaking point, how can umpires be so awful? I just don't understand, ****ing stupid ICC

[Rachael.]

Sad to hear about Boucher's retirement, what an unfortunate end to a fantastic career!

(Original post by robotpenguin)
Mark Boucher is a great wicketkeeper, but I feel it's a job which AB could do better. It would allow SA to play another all rounder or batsmen which could strengthen their batting line up

As good as that sounds, I don't think AB is interested in taking over the gloves in the long-term. I read here that he's keeping in the first Test but SA are calling up a replacement to play after that.

AB is such a versatile cricketer that that he can bat/field anywhere and he'll still be one of the best in the world. He'd make it into my World XI in any format!

[Captain Crash]

(Original post by robotpenguin)
Mark Boucher is a great wicketkeeper, but I feel it's a job which AB could do better. It would allow SA to play another all rounder or batsmen which could strengthen their batting line up

AB isn't a good enough keeper to be anything more than a temporary replacement outside of limited overs matches.

[shyamshah]

(Original post by ♥ ♥ ♥)
Good move. Time for the youngsters to be groomed. Don't need Sachin taking up a crucial spot in the line up. I personally think Sachin should only focus on Tests now. Don't think he'll be playing many ODIs in the remainder of his career, and rightfully so.

I totally agree tbh, he should definitely play the New Zealand series though so he is ready for the massive series' coming up.

[♥ ♥ ♥]

(Original post by shyamshah)
I totally agree tbh, he should definitely play the New Zealand series though so he is ready for the massive series' coming up.

Yeah. Have no issues with him playing all of India's future tests, so long as his contribution is a positive one. No point having Sachin if he's not going to perform well, and just block a space for a newbie.

NZ series should be his warm up series before England. Although there is quite a gap between September and November. But he'll also play the Champions League too (MI did qualify for that didn't they?)

[shyamshah]

(Original post by ♥ ♥ ♥)
Yeah. Have no issues with him playing all of India's future tests, so long as his contribution is a positive one. No point having Sachin if he's not going to perform well, and just block a space for a newbie.

NZ series should be his warm up series before England. Although there is quite a gap between September and November. But he'll also play the Champions League too (MI did qualify for that didn't they?)

I honestly can't remember if they did. Yeah but otherwise he will be unprepared like he was for the England series last year when he skipped the WI tour. We have enough experienced players in the ODI team to groom in another player so we don't really need Sachin for that, but yeah as long as he performs he should have an automatic place in the team.

[♥ ♥ ♥]

(Original post by shyamshah)
I honestly can't remember if they did. Yeah but otherwise he will be unprepared like he was for the England series last year when he skipped the WI tour. We have enough experienced players in the ODI team to groom in another player so we don't really need Sachin for that, but yeah as long as he performs he should have an automatic place in the team.

Definitely. Also, he doesn't have an excuse not to play. For the WI series, he had an idea to 'rest' after the WC.

We need the younger guys to be set in the team. Gambhir, Kohli, maybe Rohit, Raina, Yuvi (when fit), Dhoni will be our set batsmen.

You can't really bench 'the Sachin Tendulkar'. Until he retires, Sachin will play all Tests. Methinks

[shyamshah]

(Original post by ♥ ♥ ♥)
Definitely. Also, he doesn't have an excuse not to play. For the WI series, he had an idea to 'rest' after the WC.

We need the younger guys to be set in the team. Gambhir, Kohli, maybe Rohit, Raina, Yuvi (when fit), Dhoni will be our set batsmen.

You can't really bench 'the Sachin Tendulkar'. Until he retires, Sachin will play all Tests. Methinks

Yeah, I don't think Sachin will wan't to miss any test matches tbh only ODIs, He is missing the SL ODIs because he want's to spend time with his family which is fair enough but he has had a long time to do that, we haven't played since the Asia cup.

You missed out Sehwag or do you not think that he will play many more ODIs? I think in a way our team is better without Sachin because then Sehwag and Gambhir open and then Kohli plays at three and that is the positions which they are the best at, but in saying that if Sachin is available you can't 'drop' him.

[♥ ♥ ♥]

(Original post by shyamshah)
Yeah, I don't think Sachin will wan't to miss any test matches tbh only ODIs, He is missing the SL ODIs because he want's to spend time with his family which is fair enough but he has had a long time to do that, we haven't played since the Asia cup.

You missed out Sehwag or do you not think that he will play many more ODIs? I think in a way our team is better without Sachin because then Sehwag and Gambhir open and then Kohli plays at three and that is the positions which they are the best at, but in saying that if Sachin is available you can't 'drop' him.

I think that's just a poor attempt at conveying the message that he's not going to play limited overs international cricket anymore.

An error! Forgot Viru! Him and Gauti are the best opening pair we have. Yeah, agree with Viru and Gauti, then Kohli at 3. I don't think Sachin will make himself available for any ODIs. Well I hope not anyway.

[shyamshah]

(Original post by ♥ ♥ ♥)
I think that's just a poor attempt at conveying the message that he's not going to play limited overs international cricket anymore.

An error! Forgot Viru! Him and Gauti are the best opening pair we have. Yeah, agree with Viru and Gauti, then Kohli at 3. I don't think Sachin will make himself available for any ODIs. Well I hope not anyway.

Maybe the ones against England and Australia and then he can finally 'retire' or just have an extended break if he doesn't want to tell everyone that he doesnt't want to play ODIs again.

[♥ ♥ ♥]

(Original post by shyamshah)
Maybe the ones against England and Australia and then he can finally 'retire' or just have an extended break if he doesn't want to tell everyone that he doesnt't want to play ODIs again.

Yeah, I guess. I still think he should leave the ODIs for the younger guys. But if he were to play, it wouldn't be too bad,

[shyamshah]

(Original post by ♥ ♥ ♥)
Yeah, I guess. I still think he should leave the ODIs for the younger guys. But if he were to play, it wouldn't be too bad,

Yeah I agree, we already have a replacement for his opening position in Gauti and then Kohli at 3 and then the rest of the order sort of picks itself although I am not sure about Rohit Sharma but the rest pick themself and when Yuvi is fit he should come straight in to the team.

[barnetlad]

Michael Clarke ha ha ha (as Roddy Doyle might put it after the 4-0 defeat of Australia).

[robotpenguin]

(Original post by Captain Crash)
AB isn't a good enough keeper to be anything more than a temporary replacement outside of limited overs matches.

He is more than good enough, but he wants to concentrate on his batting. In my opinion, he is one of the most valuable players in the cricket right now and would fit into any team. As wicket keepers go, he is more than adequate and his athleticism makes him a more active member.

[Captain Crash]

(Original post by robotpenguin)
He is more than good enough, but he wants to concentrate on his batting. In my opinion, he is one of the most valuable players in the cricket right now and would fit into any team. As wicket keepers go, he is more than adequate and his athleticism makes him a more active member.

What makes you think he is a good test wicket keeper? Yes, he can keep to a reasonable enough standard in limited overs, but keeping in a 5 day contest is a different kettle of fish.

[robotpenguin]

(Original post by Captain Crash)
What makes you think he is a good test wicket keeper? Yes, he can keep to a reasonable enough standard in limited overs, but keeping in a 5 day contest is a different kettle of fish.

Can you name a specialist ODI or specialist Test wicket-keeper?

[barnetlad]

An old one but worth repeating:

Australian mobile phone- type in LORDS the predictive text gives you LOSER!

[Captain Crash]

(Original post by robotpenguin)
Can you name a specialist ODI or specialist Test wicket-keeper?

I wouldn't say there's such a thing a specialist test or ODI keeper. My point was that you can get away part-time wicket keepers because their potential drawbacks of their ability (e.g. dropped catches, byes etc) are limited by the length of the game and made up for by their batting ability.

In test cricket, batting is a plus, but ultimately you can cost the team more if you are a part-time wicket keeper who bats well than if you are a decent keeper who bats less well because the emphasis of the game is being able to take 20 wickets.

As an example, Kieswetter is a good aggressive batsman with passable keeping skills. However, his keeping would likely result in more leaked runs and dropped catches than his batting would gain over a better wicket keeper, say, Prior.



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In other news, England are now number 3 in ODI, 2 points behind the top spot and ahead of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Not that anyone in England should actually care.