Can't ask them about retirement, don't want an argument !!

Chandan wrote:Wonder why you argue with Josh, Goel. Josh wanted Tendulkar out of the team ever since I joined C4 ie, 6 years back. Since then, despite injuries, Tendulkar has piled on thousands of runs. But that doesn't matter.

True.

And then he has guiles to say that he doesn't have any agenda against Tendulkar.

Oh yes take the siege mentality, "The whole world is against my hero and the World ends for me with him".

Obvisoulsy being positive and moving with the times means nothing to you. Hopefully it will mean something to the new selectors.

And whats more his hypocrisy regarding Tendulkar knows no bounds.

He wants Tendulkar out permanently but would still give Dravid 2 more chances. Little does he know that Dravid is dire for almost 2 years now. Same is true regarding another of his hero, Kumble.

I still remember his non appearance during Australian series when Tendulkar scored almost 500 runs in that series.

The whole world is against my hero

No its not. Only miniscule percentage of your ilk which in any case doesn't matter.

SG wrote:

Chandan wrote:Wonder why you argue with Josh, Goel. Josh wanted Tendulkar out of the team ever since I joined C4 ie, 6 years back. Since then, despite injuries, Tendulkar has piled on thousands of runs. But that doesn't matter.

True.

And then he has guiles to say that he doesn't have any agenda against Tendulkar.

Doesn't matter if anyone has an agenda against any of India's golden hero. The truth is that their end is nigh and with it India's performance in test cricket too.

Did you read Mukul Keshavan's article? It was absolutely brilliant!

Obvisoulsy being positive and moving with the times means nothing to you

Like playing Dravid and Kumble in the team.

Is that moving with time for you then?

Did you read Mukul Keshavan's article?

Yep, I did.

Chandan wrote:I suspect that this is the last test series that we'll enjoy for India because after that the golden period --batting and spin bowling wise, will be over

sad, but true. the saddest part is that india's greatest team was never the world's best. managed to win test matches everywhere, but not too many test series away

i have to say its been a massive privilege to have seen the complete careers of tendulkar, kumble, dravid, ganguly and laxman

You got to have good bowlers to win test series especially overseas, something we hardly had ever.

SG wrote:You got to have good bowlers to win test series especially overseas, something we hardly had ever.

And now that we have them, they won't get a sizeable score to defend!!

Don't think we still have them. I mean the ones who can perform in all conditions.

Zaheer - Don't think he is fit enough.

Ishant - May well become one.

Kumble - Has been crap for almost an year now.

Bhajji - Doesn't bowl well overseas.

Good spinner will be gone with kumble. But we will keep on having three seamers who are bowling well, no matter who is injured or fit.

BCCI has already asked for VRS from fab 5. They want a plan from seniors in how long they want to play, say how many months more and upto what series so a glorious farewell can be planned. BCCI will be phasing out all seniors over the year one by one and phasing in youngsters and they have asked the players to spell out the timeline to see if they can be accomodated till that time possibly. Starting with Ganguly. If he is selected, it will only be after a discussion on when he will pull out max till England home series. If unselected Ganguly is already sure he won't attempt another comeback and will announce retirement anyways. But I feel they will give him a last shot at a good farewell so lets see. Dravid is next on the line with Kumble. No one is assured of lonegivity at the moment. Not even Tendulkar. If he feels he can last another attempt at the WC then he will need to prove it. The selectors may not wait too long if he hits bad weather again. Once a player selects his cut off date then he won't get a run even if he piles a 1000 runs in the series. The seniors can choose to not submit their retirement plan in which case the selectors will decide their fate and unceremonious exits may become the order of the day as is the case with most of our players.

Batman wrote:BCCI has already asked for VRS from fab 5. They want a plan from seniors in how long they want to play, say how many months more and upto what series so a glorious farewell can be planned. BCCI will be phasing out all seniors over the year one by one and phasing in youngsters and they have asked the players to spell out the timeline to see if they can be accomodated till that time possibly. Starting with Ganguly. If he is selected, it will only be after a discussion on when he will pull out max till England home series. If unselected Ganguly is already sure he won't attempt another comeback and will announce retirement anyways. But I feel they will give him a last shot at a good farewell so lets see. Dravid is next on the line with Kumble. No one is assured of lonegivity at the moment. Not even Tendulkar. If he feels he can last another attempt at the WC then he will need to prove it. The selectors may not wait too long if he hits bad weather again. Once a player selects his cut off date then he won't get a run even if he piles a 1000 runs in the series. The seniors can choose to not submit their retirement plan in which case the selectors will decide their fate and unceremonious exits may become the order of the day as is the case with most of our players.

Suddenly you seem to have lot of ideas about what the selectors will be doing. How?

he reads the newspapers. its in the morning TOI

Part of it is in newspapers, part in media announcements in BCCI. The remaining one can logically sumise. The Ganguly thing is in papers. Then there was The BCCI leak about asking retirement plans from seniors last week. BCCI doesn't make sudden suggestions like asking the players about their retirement plans unless they are serious about putting the process in place especially after the way things worked out in Sri Lanka. Also seniors like Ganguly know that if they are dropped again then another comeback by the age of 37 is not given. Ganguly knows it too. Ganguly has already accepted his forced one day retirement and would have no option than to accept the same in tests too.

Gutless Cricket board. Instead of making the decisions that are right for the future of Indian Cricket , wants to pamper and pander the big ego's not to mention the hoards of irrational fans. A case of "definitely only in India".

Great opportunity for Indian Cricket to shed the self centred individual legacies and move on to strengthen the team culture. But alas they are held to ransom by these statistical delights, zonal influences and simpleton media.

Josh Carney wrote:Gutless Cricket board. Instead of making the decisions that are right for the future of Indian Cricket , wants to pamper and pander the big ego's not to mention the hoards of irrational fans. A case of "definitely only in India".

Great opportunity for Indian Cricket to shed the self centred individual legacies and move on to strengthen the team culture. But alas they are held to ransom by these statistical delights, zonal influences and simpleton media.

Rhetoric.

Probably was true before, but definitely doesn't apply to the Indian Cricket of last 5 years or so.

Do you really think BCCI is acting decisively with the senior players in the best interests of the team ? Whilst it may gotten a little better I reckon there is still some way to go.

Josh Carney wrote:Do you really think BCCI is acting decisively with the senior players in the best interests of the team ? Whilst it may gotten a little better I reckon there is still some way to go.

Lets see.

ODIs: All the ageing players who "haven't been doing well" have been phased out. Laxman, Kumble, Dravid, Saurav.

Tests: The only series the senior middle order failed collectively for a long long time was the recent SL series. (Laxman averaged around 43 which is what Ian Bell would average when he is in great nick).
And people forget that many batsmen got raw deal in taht series because of the referral system. And Ajantha Mendis factor. I bet most teams bar Australia would have lost that series 3-0.
Before the SL series Indian middle order did not fail collectively. Sure they were not at "their" best (Ganguly probably was), but they were performing adequately.
Anyways, no test team makes wholesale changes,, they always work on their weakest links,, one at a time. Selectors probably believe Saurav is the weakest link in the middle order, hence they are trying other options.

ODIs: All the ageing players who "haven't been doing well" have been phased out. Laxman, Kumble, Dravid, Saurav.

Tests: The only series the senior middle order failed collectively for a long long time was the recent SL series. (Laxman averaged around 43 which is what Ian Bell would average when he is in great nick).
And people forget that many batsmen got raw deal in taht series because of the referral system. And Ajantha Mendis factor. I bet most teams bar Australia would have lost that series 3-0.
Before the SL series Indian middle order did not fail collectively. Sure they were not at "their" best (Ganguly probably was), but they were performing adequately.
Anyways, no test team makes wholesale changes,, they always work on their weakest links,, one at a time. Selectors probably believe Saurav is the weakest link in the middle order, hence they are trying other options.

FACTS.