Australia v India, 3rd Test, Perth, 13-17 January, 2012

I think Lillee has a Fremantle Doctor button.

From what i'm hearing there's a strong chance that VVS will be dropped and both Kohli and Rohit will play. They might also consider batting Dravid down the order.

Sunny tweeted you?

To be honest, i'm just reading the reactions of some prominent former Indian players, some of whom surely have influence. They've all called for change, and in particular the retention of Kohli, and the dropping of VVS.

Here-

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/548562.html

But I love it how amongst all the awfulness and former players speaking out, BCCI butt kisser Shastri sits on the fence, giving a vague opinion without actually saying who should be dropped.

And I do agree that VVS and perhaps Dravid as well should be dropped. Yes they are great players, but India are still losing with them in the side. What's the point in losing with an ageing side? With the series now un-winnable, they may as well give the youngsters a go now and perhaps they might learn something and discover a new champion.

At the moment they have the double whammy of losing, and not learning anything because they are not giving new players a go.

Henry wrote:To be honest, i'm just reading the reactions of some prominent former Indian players, some of whom surely have influence. They've all called for change, and in particular the retention of Kohli, and the dropping of VVS.

Here-

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/548562.html

But I love it how amongst all the awfulness and former players speaking out, BCCI butt kisser Shastri sits on the fence, giving a vague opinion without actually saying who should be dropped.

He is paid a retainer by the BCCI to promote their message so you can't expect him to be different

Henry wrote:And I do agree that VVS and perhaps Dravid as well should be dropped. Yes they are great players, but India are still losing with them in the side. What's the point in losing with an ageing side? With the series now un-winnable, they may as well give the youngsters a go now and perhaps they might learn something and discover a new champion.

At the moment they have the double whammy of losing, and not learning anything because they are not giving new players a go.

I'll be surprised if they make any changes. Seniority in the Bannie ranks counts for a lot and I'm not sure Rohit deserves to be thrown in on an allegedly very bouncy Perth deck. Still, will be interesting to see what the Bannies do.

Yeah, it's more likely they'll drop the one young player in the batting lineup (Kohli) and blame the batting failures on being distracted by Sachin's 100th 100. Anything to avoid facing the truth......

Henry wrote:And I do agree that VVS and perhaps Dravid as well should be dropped. Yes they are great players, but India are still losing with them in the side. What's the point in losing with an ageing side? With the series now un-winnable, they may as well give the youngsters a go now and perhaps they might learn something and discover a new champion.

At the moment they have the double whammy of losing, and not learning anything because they are not giving new players a go.

....sage from Trev...the bannies, oz and the poms to remain competitive must continue to introduce new blood as the saffies have done ('cept for boucher and jackie)..

bannies have several players on the decline - as does Oz ...

Oz has sought under the new NSP to enter a period of renewal ... haddit (hopefully soon)and punter and snicket will soon be gone

the pomgolians are now on that cusp with many of the established players having long left their best behind them - strausser, jandy, fat bres, shermanator and kp

I wonder if V Sehwag at 6 is an option especially if the pitch is a bit difficult for batting! Sharma should certainly play.

Instant Mascara was not the worst in Sydney and will get bounce at perth

horace wrote:

Henry wrote:And I do agree that VVS and perhaps Dravid as well should be dropped. Yes they are great players, but India are still losing with them in the side. What's the point in losing with an ageing side? With the series now un-winnable, they may as well give the youngsters a go now and perhaps they might learn something and discover a new champion.

At the moment they have the double whammy of losing, and not learning anything because they are not giving new players a go.

....sage from Trev...the bannies, oz and the poms to remain competitive must continue to introduce new blood as the saffies have done ('cept for boucher and jackie)..

bannies have several players on the decline - as does Oz ...

Oz has sought under the new NSP to enter a period of renewal ... haddit (hopefully soon)and punter and snicket will soon be gone

the pomgolians are now on that cusp with many of the established players having long left their best behind them - strausser, jandy, fat bres, shermanator and kp

Horrie, this was a decent post until the anti-English and untrue bile at the end.

Australia face a similar problem as India with Ponting and Hussey. Scoring hundreds against a poor and badly captained Indian attack on a flat pitch might give them and the Aus selectors the illusion that they can go on longer than is really the case. I think the end of this series would be as good a time as any for them to both pull the plug on fine careers.

It would be if the replacements could match their expected output...

But I think there's a different mindset for a young batsman if he goes from being a young support batsman to a vital member of the side which is what would happen with the likes of Khawaja and Marsh for Australia if Ponting and Hussey retire, and Kohli and Rohit for India if Dravid and VVS call it a day. It must be quite intimidating to come into a batting lineup with such big names. I reckon the younger players from both India and Australia would step up if allowed to step out of the shadow of the big names, and given more responsibility.

Henry - you should hope your NSP does not take your rest on the laurels point of view..

it was not anti english but a quick summation of those pomgolian players whose best is behind them...are you suggesting that better cricket is in front of those I named?

horace wrote:Henry - you should hope your NSP does not take your rest on the laurels point of view..

it was not anti english but a quick summation of those pomgolian players whose best is behind them...are you suggesting that better cricket is in front of those I named?

Horrie, look at KP, Bell, and Bresnan's stats for 2011- Hardly the stats of players in decline. KP is 31, Bell 29, and Bresnan 26 FFS. They've got a few years left yet.

Strauss? Well his best has been behind him since 2004.

But of course, you are just trolling...........

actually I wasn't...you do have players whose best is ahead of them - chef, lady di, finn...not sure about Chinhead - his form could improve and I think Monty is maturing into a worthy supplement

however my issue is whether the best is ahead of the others I named and you have not made a case...I really hope the your NSP shares in your Panglossian complacency

I haven't made a case? Bell averaged 90 in 2011, and KP averaged 70. Where are the signs that these two are over the hill?

In fact, if this was actually a 'case' and you were the prosecution, the Judge would have dismissed it at the first hearing.

That would be h talking out of his arse as usual.

one could mount a case that KP's form last year was an aberration that he is unlikely to replicate and that Bell's best was last year - and against substandard opposition at that (inc Oz)

horace wrote:one could mount a case that KP's form last year was an aberration that he is unlikely to replicate and that Bell's best was last year - and against substandard opposition at that (inc Oz)

One could also mount a case that the best is behind every player in world cricket because there is a statistical chance that a meteorite will hit Earth sometime in the next couple of years, and wipe out everything in existence, including cricketers.

spose that is one way the poms could keep the number 1 mantle for eternity

Yep, and it's also one way to guarantee that Aus and their gum chewing, bullying Hayden's will never be number 1 again, and preach us about "the Australian way being the only way, amen."

Hmm, so Koo does well on a greeny in a Massive Wank game. Will that aid his chances of getting a run in the T3 XI - or has Pup and co made up their minds?

koo is worth persisting with...and not just to keep those turkey lefties - bollybogan and midge - out of calculations


and rofl at mudge - still carrying on about hayden after all these years