Has Dravid had a greater contribution to Indian cricket.....

Pretty moot anyway. The BCCI will never, ever, ever, ever, ever do that. They're no doubts the most money-grubbing, short-termist, obtuse pieces of sh!t running anything that even resembles a company. They can all line up and chow down on my wiener.

the problem is the bcci runs both the ipl and is responsible for the indian national team. it will not severely devalue its most lucrative product by taking its most sellable players out of it

what the bcci should do is plan tours better, so that major tours are not undertaken without at least a month's gap between the end of the ipl and the start of the tour. the ipl should be cut to a maximum of 30 days

they should also have a set home season like australia and england where they should not tour but only host teams. they certainly have the muscle to push for it. ideally this could be from january to march

Do you think the Test team are the most sellable though? I mean, some are, sure. But they aren't the top performers, mainly, are they? The BCCI are surely making the most sellable players by making the positions for them?

The IPL should have more than one game on at a time, but that's not going to happen - it's all "here, choke this down".

The problem with 'not touring here and there because our Test side must play in our domestic competition', for a start, is weather. I know the BCCI are all-powerful, but the last time I checked, they cannot change the weather in their own country, let alone anywhere else. For instance, we don't play between April and September because we feel like it - it's the only time of the year when there's some likelihood of it not being sh!t. Therefore, it's most feasible to play in between those times. India is a massive place and has the 'fortune' of many periods of cricket conducive weather and hence it's understandable that they play sporadically at home all year round.

I don't think it makes that much sense to compare Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman, for skill or effect.

India should be grateful for all three.

I do agree with the comment that Tendulkar is the greatest artist with the willow, Dravid the most resilient and persevering (good technique too, mind ), and Laxman the most monumental against Aus (but now it seems sadly on the wane ..?). But you should revel in The Golden Trio while you can ....

SG wrote:

India won for the first time in Aus for 22 years (their only win down under since then btw,

It actually isn't. India won at WACA as well after that Adelaide test.

Calm down Edward Scissorhands, take a deep breath and read the post in full rather than snipping it up.

India won for the first time in Aus in 22 years. Their only win since this - at the WACA - Dravid was top scorer in that match too. That's what I said. Gold star for me.

Brass Monkey wrote:Do you think the Test team are the most sellable though? I mean, some are, sure. But they aren't the top performers, mainly, are they? The BCCI are surely making the most sellable players by making the positions for them?

The IPL should have more than one game on at a time, but that's not going to happen - it's all "here, choke this down".

The problem with 'not touring here and there because our Test side must play in our domestic competition', for a start, is weather. I know the BCCI are all-powerful, but the last time I checked, they cannot change the weather in their own country, let alone anywhere else. For instance, we don't play between April and September because we feel like it - it's the only time of the year when there's some likelihood of it not being sh!t. Therefore, it's most feasible to play in between those times. India is a massive place and has the 'fortune' of many periods of cricket conducive weather and hence it's understandable that they play sporadically at home all year round.

lets see. from india's test team you have tendulkar and dhoni who are uber-sellable

then you have sehwag, gambhir, dravid, our number 6 (yuvraj/raina/kohli/sharma), khan, ishant, harbhajan who are the next most sellable players in india

the ones who are just odi/t20 specialists are players like yusuf who don't compare in sellability. cant see the bcci taking the test players out. they may as well shut the ipl down

apr-sep is 6 months of the year. aus has a home season for at least 3 months a year. i think india would do well to have a fixed home season for two reasons. assured periods at home for the players means they are more likely to play domestic cricket. and more importantly a set home calendar can mean people might be able to plan which tests they can go to, like in aus. we could easily have our equivalent of boxing day tests (maybe on 26th jan which is republic day). this could greatly enhance the prestige of test cricket in the country and its following

The One wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Do you think the Test team are the most sellable though? I mean, some are, sure. But they aren't the top performers, mainly, are they? The BCCI are surely making the most sellable players by making the positions for them?

The IPL should have more than one game on at a time, but that's not going to happen - it's all "here, choke this down".

The problem with 'not touring here and there because our Test side must play in our domestic competition', for a start, is weather. I know the BCCI are all-powerful, but the last time I checked, they cannot change the weather in their own country, let alone anywhere else. For instance, we don't play between April and September because we feel like it - it's the only time of the year when there's some likelihood of it not being sh!t. Therefore, it's most feasible to play in between those times. India is a massive place and has the 'fortune' of many periods of cricket conducive weather and hence it's understandable that they play sporadically at home all year round.

lets see. from india's test team you have tendulkar and dhoni who are uber-sellable

then you have sehwag, gambhir, dravid, our number 6 (yuvraj/raina/kohli/sharma), khan, ishant, harbhajan who are the next most sellable players in india

the ones who are just odi/t20 specialists are players like yusuf who don't compare in sellability. cant see the bcci taking the test players out. they may as well shut the ipl down

apr-sep is 6 months of the year. aus has a home season for at least 3 months a year. i think india would do well to have a fixed home season for two reasons. assured periods at home for the players means they are more likely to play domestic cricket. and more importantly a set home calendar can mean people might be able to plan which tests they can go to, like in aus. we could easily have our equivalent of boxing day tests (maybe on 26th jan which is republic day). this could greatly enhance the prestige of test cricket in the country and its following

Which would probably count SA and Aus out.

Their only win since this - at the WACA - Dravid was top scorer in that match too.

But that was not what you said in your original post.

And I agree with India having a set home season. Quite a few former players too have argued for it. Just don't know whats the BCCI's problem in not agreeing to it.

Brass Monkey wrote:Do you think the Test team are the most sellable though? I mean, some are, sure. But they aren't the top performers, mainly, are they? The BCCI are surely making the most sellable players by making the positions for them?

The IPL should have more than one game on at a time, but that's not going to happen - it's all "here, choke this down".

The problem with 'not touring here and there because our Test side must play in our domestic competition', for a start, is weather. I know the BCCI are all-powerful, but the last time I checked, they cannot change the weather in their own country, let alone anywhere else. For instance, we don't play between April and September because we feel like it - it's the only time of the year when there's some likelihood of it not being sh!t. Therefore, it's most feasible to play in between those times. India is a massive place and has the 'fortune' of many periods of cricket conducive weather and hence it's understandable that they play sporadically at home all year round.

Agree with having more than 1 IPL game at a time though surely, its not gonna happen.

Something to ponder about India's weather. Even in extremely hot season of Apr-Jul they could possibly develop some venues in north India (like Dharmshala and Srinagar) which don't only have excellent weather for cricket but also great tourist attractions. They could also go to north eastern India which again has great weather during those months and a good tourist destination.

But as everyone knows BCCI and common sense don't go hand in hand.

taipan wrote:Which would probably count SA and Aus out.

in cases where it clashes with someone else's home season the two countries could take turns in travelling. say sa travels to india in 2015 and india returns the favour in 2017

the two most contentious tests for these nations are boxing day and the new year tests. a 26th jan playing date avoids that, leaving enough time for travel, acclimatisation, etc

The One wrote:

taipan wrote:Which would probably count SA and Aus out.

in cases where it clashes with someone else's home season the two countries could take turns in travelling. say sa travels to india in 2015 and india returns the favour in 2017

the two most contentious tests for these nations are boxing day and the new year tests. a 26th jan playing date avoids that, leaving enough time for travel, acclimatisation, etc

Not if you are having a 4/5 test series.

Whilst I don't agree with TOE's overtly nationalistic and predictable "PERFORM PROSKYNESIS!!! WE HAVE THE MONEY!!! INDIAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" rationale, surely most Japie and Strine series are done by mid-Jan at the latest?

you really should read the posts properly BM

taipan wrote:

The One wrote:

taipan wrote:Which would probably count SA and Aus out.

in cases where it clashes with someone else's home season the two countries could take turns in travelling. say sa travels to india in 2015 and india returns the favour in 2017

the two most contentious tests for these nations are boxing day and the new year tests. a 26th jan playing date avoids that, leaving enough time for travel, acclimatisation, etc

Not if you are having a 4/5 test series.

like i said, in case its an unavoidable clash the two countries take turns in sacrificing parts of their home season

The One wrote:

taipan wrote:

The One wrote:

taipan wrote:Which would probably count SA and Aus out.

in cases where it clashes with someone else's home season the two countries could take turns in travelling. say sa travels to india in 2015 and india returns the favour in 2017

the two most contentious tests for these nations are boxing day and the new year tests. a 26th jan playing date avoids that, leaving enough time for travel, acclimatisation, etc

Not if you are having a 4/5 test series.

like i said, in case its an unavoidable clash the two countries take turns in sacrificing parts of their home season

Why. January is winter in India, is it not?

an indian winter is comparable to summer in england. in most parts of the country the temperature ranges from 18 to 30 degrees celsius. only delhi and mohali would have day time temperatures of around 15 degrees

mid-april to may is too hot. june to almost early october is the monsoons. nov-dec would directly clash with the aussie/saffie seasons. late jan to early april is ideal

Well its moot anyway. Aus won't give up part of their summer

they may not need to if we start in late jan. aussie/saffie tours could take place from late feb onwards, with one of the other test teams taking up the earlier part of the season

boxing day and new years day tests are the ones most special to these countries. as long as we dont ask them to tour then i am sure the two boards could find a suitable arrangement

The One wrote:you really should read the posts properly BM

This is how I'm reading it:

The One wrote:what the bcci should do is plan tours better, so that major tours are not undertaken without at least a month's gap between the end of the ipl and the start of the tour. the ipl should be cut to a maximum of 30 days

To translate: "We should f*ck the international schedule up because of our domestic competition, other Test nation's domestic competitions just carry on about their business when their nation is playing Test match cricket. We should not."

The One wrote:they should also have a set home season like australia and england where they should not tour but only host teams. they certainly have the muscle to push for it. ideally this could be from january to march.

To translate: "We can play a good proportion of the year round, but f*ck it we're big bucks bullies, let's dig our heels in and change to a set time".

Maybe I'm misconstruing it, but you'll have to go some to change my mind.

its ok. i won't bother

The One wrote:its ok. i won't bother

To translate:"INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA! INDIA!

SG wrote:

Their only win since this - at the WACA - Dravid was top scorer in that match too.

But that was not what you said in your original post.

No, think you'll find I did.

Sachin ruled out of ODI series with poorly toe. Didn't fancy anymore English conditions?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14784585.stm

Meh, better for India anyway. What're they going to learn about a chap who's played 12,284 ODIs? The WC is four years away - JAMODI.