India v Pakistan, 1st ODI, Guwahati, 5th Nov

doremi wrote:I was at the ground today. Was a fun day, though it's left me absolutely tired. Was F-ing hot, and this is November FFS!

When Gambhir was edging all those shots early on in his innings, the stand I was in all started singing the song "Zindagi maut na ban jaaye" from Sarfarosh.

Great song, good movie, well done India.

Good game and well played India.

Can't put my finger on it but something was missing in this game....it just didn't have the normal India-Pakistan feeling about it.

Well done India.
Another batting failure for Tendulkar. Looking foward to Vengsarkar's lucid justifications in the press.

Another batting failure for Tendulkar.

Sack him!

Josh Carney wrote:Another batting failure for Tendulkar.

You seem to be waiting with bated breath for that to happen. You always do.

You may not appreciate it but Tendulkar's twin strikes during Pak innings ensured that India didn't have to chase something like 270-280, a score which would've been easily made by Pak had India's nemesis Afridi and Malik stayed a bit longer than Tendulkar allowed them to.

Josh Carney wrote:Well done India.
Another batting failure for Tendulkar. Looking foward to Vengsarkar's lucid justifications in the press.

lol! after being india's highest run-getter in 4 of their last 5 series (excl. bangles)

josh in 'only making a post when sachin doesnt score' shock. expect him to be off the net the next time he makes a score

The One wrote:
lol! after being india's highest run-getter in 4 of their last 5 series (excl. bangles)

Those matches/series don't matter since Tendulkar scored in them.

Seriously, Josh's xenophobia for Tendulkar has reached at an all time high.

No SG I am not waiting for it. In tests he is well past that point, has been for 2-3 years and have been saying that for a while.

The irony is that he is now moderately successful in ODIs but wants to give that up because his body is not holding and also because he sees a future in tests, potentially as Captain, something that some of the twisted influences of Indian Cricket appear to be angling for.

The nonsense that people like Dilipji have been branding around on the lack of talent in the Country to justify the "pet ones" has been torn apart in no uncertain terms. Indian Cricket would have been so much more successfull in the last 3-4 years if we had dared to bite the bullet and build for the future instead of giving into sentimentality.

Josh Carney wrote:The irony is that he is now moderately successful in ODIs

He is only moderately successful in ODIs?

If thats what you want to say, then it says volumes about rest other Indian bats' performance.

PS: As TO pointed out he is India's highest scorer in last 4/5 ODI series.

Josh Carney wrote:In tests he is well past that point

Dravid scored @22-odd in India's last 2 meaningful test series India played overseas.

You'd drop him too?

It seems that Dhoni has lost it.

Gambhir

To quote him, Gambhir batter superbly yesterday.

Did he? I think Dhoni must be watching a different match then.

SG wrote:

Josh Carney wrote:In tests he is well past that point

Dravid scored @22-odd in India's last 2 meaningful test series India played overseas.

You'd drop him too?

Stick to Tendulakar. Don't dilute the discussion by dragging in other names.

When it comes to ODI's in the one that really mattered in recent times ie. the WC he did virtually nothing.

Leaving that he scored against oppositions like a sub standard England without 5 of their front line bowlers, WI at home, Under strength SL, Scotland and so on. The performances against SA were credible I will give him that.

The problem here is that we some fans are so attached to their heroes that they will find and construct all sorts of reasons / numbers to keep them on at the cost of the team. That kind of obsession with not just the fans but some of the one eyed administrators is killing the career of many bright young stars. Sad state of affairs.

Josh Carney wrote:Stick to Tendulakar. Don't dilute the discussion by dragging in other names.

Why? Because you've a soft spot for Dravid? Or to use your words he is your hero?

Because we are discussing about Tendulkar not Dravid ! Stick to the point.

Josh Carney wrote:When it comes to ODI's in the one that really mattered in recent times ie. the WC he did virtually nothing.

Then please tell me which Indian bat did anything in that WC, apart from a few consolation innings by Yuvraj and Dhoni.

And whether you like to accept it or not, WC'07 was a collective failure for entire Indian team. If you want to discredit just Tendulkar for it, its your wish.

WC was a collective failure because we did not have enough youth. It was not just Tendulkar. We needed a positive Captain and a fighting team much like what has been on display recently.

Leaving that he scored against oppositions like a sub standard England without 5 of their front line bowlers

Then tell me which 5 bowlers were they?

Freddie and Anderson both played in that series. And you may not be knowing that, they're Eng's best ODI bowlers.

Or are you confusing tests with ODIs?

Again you may be oblivious of the fact that English selectors don't think Hoggard to be good enough in ODIs and Harmi, however crap he was in ODIs, has already retired from ODIs.

Under strength SL,

Vaas averages almost 46 (as against almost 27 overall)against Ind in Ind in ODIs, while Murali averages almost 33 (as against almost 23 overall) against Ind in Ind in ODIs.

Yep, Tendulkar would've quaked in his boots seeing the sight of Murali and Vaas in India.

Leaving that he scored against oppositions like a sub standard England without 5 of their front line bowlers,

The same 'sub standard' England that beat India 4-3? Tendulkar was India's leading batsman in a series that India lost. Why does that make him worthy of being dropped?

Josh Carney wrote:fighting team much like what has been on display recently.

And Tendulkar is a part of it. Thank you very much.

Or are you confusing Twenty20 with ODIs? If thats the case its futile to argue any further with you.

Henry wrote:

Leaving that he scored against oppositions like a sub standard England without 5 of their front line bowlers,

The same 'sub standard' England that beat India 4-3? Tendulkar was India's leading batsman in a series that India lost. Why does that make him worthy of being dropped?

Since Tendulkar scored close to 400 runs in that series, opposition attack has to be a substandard one.

Imo Ganguly should still be on thin ice. Yes, he averages close to 50 since his recall, but his fielding gets worse by the match, and a John Deere tractor can turn quicker than him.

Flintoff was still hampered with his fitness issues. Anderson did better than expected but he is no ODI specialist, with his swing he is more suited to tests.

Henry wrote:Imo Ganguly should still be on thin ice. Yes, he averages close to 50 since his recall, but his fielding gets worse by the match, and a John Deere tractor can turn quicker than him.

Both should go IMO.

Josh Carney wrote:Flintoff was still hampered with his fitness issues. Anderson did better than expected but he is no ODI specialist, with his swing he is more suited to tests.

Quiet ...the pommy selectors might get a hint