NZ in India

First topic message reminder :

India has picked the squad and unfortunately promising all rounder Binny has been left out without a fair run...while Rohit gets picked with a promise of extended run.

Today NZ are playing Mumbai and promising swing bowler Balwinder singh Sandhu has picked both of NZ wickets

Gambhir has come into the squad for T2 and T3 as a replacement for Rahul....that's a shame that Rahul is unfit again
although I am sure dhawan will play

and Jayant Yadav replaces Ishant for T2 only

Gautam Gambhir back in the test squad, injury replacement for KL Rahul....... Haryana offspinning all-rounder Jayant Yadav also makes it into the squad, for Ishant Sharma, who has not recovered yet.
Thought they should have tried young Kuldeep Yadav and given him some squad time, though Jayant has been doing well in last couple of seasons. Think Mishra does remain the 3rd spinner, and he will in fact complete the package, offspin from Ashwin, left-arm orthodox from Jadeja and legspin from Mishra....... Kuldeep could have offered some Chinaman as well........

Shame sure that Rahul got injured just when he looked on top of his game in all formats. I wouldn't have selected Gambhir though I don't know who else could have come in. Mayank Agarwal? Abhinav Mukund? Akhil Herwatkar? Now that he's selected, think I would prefer Gambhir over Dhawan....... Perhaps Rohit can open as he does the same in limited overs and at the top of the order, he's unlikely to face the moving ball in Indian conditions.....

the natural opener choice would be Fazal the guy who is in the ODI and A team

Not sure about Fazal. His FC record, despite playing most of his domestic cricket on the roads of Vidarbha isn't great, and he's not a youngster coming up the ranks, with whom a punt can be taken.

Well, I was very disappointed when Virat Kohli was able to get away with his shambolic decision to drop Murali Vijay in West Indies along with Cheteshwar Pujara. I was particularly disappointed that Anil Kumble went along with the nonsense. But now things are becoming clearer, as Kumble is working his way around the side, he's starting to make Kohli see sense. http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2016-17/content/story/1059481.html

msp83 wrote:Not sure about Fazal. His FC record, despite playing most of his domestic cricket on the roads of Vidarbha isn't great, and he's not a youngster coming up the ranks, with whom a punt can be taken.

For mature FC cricketers you don't go by career record...but the last season or two.

He may havbe started his career at 10 years back and too 10 years to mature to international quality
he had a great 2015-16 season and a marvellous Irani trophy inning against the best of Indian bowling.

31 age is oK.......still gives 5 to 7 years

Once they picked him...he must be the natural first choice

This gives further strength to my earlier logical speculation that Kohli moving away from the 5 bowler theory is a concession he had to make to the sensible, reasonable and logical Kumble, and that's why Vijay and Pujara soon found their way back to the side.

But rather than picking him, or the other opener with the A team, Mumbai's Akhil Herwadkar, they went In for the not so convincing option of Gambhir........ Guess the skipper would have preferred his Delhi teammate.......

Herwadkar is young, has had a decent FC last year, is a left hander who can compliment Vijay well, and can chip in with some parttime offspin that is better in quality than that of the man who changes tests in a session!

msp83 wrote:Well, I was very disappointed when Virat Kohli was able to get away with his shambolic decision to drop Murali Vijay in West Indies along with Cheteshwar Pujara. I was particularly disappointed that Anil Kumble went along with the nonsense. But now things are becoming clearer, as Kumble is working his way around the side, he's starting to make Kohli see sense. http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-new-zealand-2016-17/content/story/1059481.html

Th captain wants positive cricket...and that's OK...his prerogative.
He has to deliver results....and if he doesn't you can get rid of him.

Vijay should not haave been touched...he's been India's best and most consistent overseas batsman along with Rahane

But Puajara and Rahul did need to have a fire lit under their backside...and it's worked

msp83 wrote:But rather than picking him, or the other opener with the A team, Mumbai's Akhil Herwadkar, they went In for the not so convincing option of Gambhir........ Guess the skipper would have preferred his Delhi teammate.......

I don't think Kohli has a say in any team selections yet
and given a choice he would not want Gambhir...his fights with Gambhir in IPL are well known.

I agree Gambhir is regressive....but I am a believer in FC and consistency...and do not care for age.

Fazal was rewarded for his FC show.....that he is 31.....should not come in the way......it's unfair devoid him of 6 years of top cricket if he can prove that he can perform.
and now that he has been selected.....he must be given a fair run before being dumped

Where is he selected? He's playing for the A team, a side in which he opened along with young Herwadkar, who also had a pretty good previous Ranji season and a good innings in the Irani Trophy.
Between Dhawan and Gambhir, who would be your choice, KPF?

And I certainly wouldn't consider Fazal above Gambhir, Dhawan and Herwadkar....... In fact Jiwanjot Singh would be next in line for me beyond the 3.
My pecking order of openers would be.
Vijay, Rahul, Dhawan, Herwadkar, Mukund, Jiwanjot. Unmukt and Fazal additional options along with Srikar Bharat. I would have Bharat up the order but he can be a strong contender for the gloves as he is a wicketkeeper batsman who has opened with a great deal of success for Andhra. But if he has to keep for India, I wouldn't have him open. Another opener I would like to see given far more exposure through A teams and zoanal tournaments is Hyderabad's Akshath Reddy. His FC record is very impressive, but most of his runs have come in Ranji Div C. But he is been very consistent for his side, and has not had a lot of support from the rest, and the only player who has been holding up, Hanuma Vihari has now moved to Andhra.......

Ravichandran Ashwin has an injured finger, and there is just a little bit of doubt about his availability for the 2nd test. In the event of he not being able to play, Jayant Yadav might just get the opportunity, particularly if they go in with 3 spinners.

Kumble on a bit of a role, making it clear Rohit was the 6th choice batsman. There is no garbage on how he changes test matches in a session, no nonsense about his strike rate,. There was appreciation for his contribution, and most certainly a note of warning........
If only he does the managing and Kohli takes charge of matters onfield regularly.......
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/1059527.html

msp83 wrote:Where is he selected? He's playing for the A team, a side in which he opened along with young Herwadkar, who also had a pretty good previous Ranji season and a good innings in the Irani Trophy.
Between Dhawan and Gambhir, who would be your choice, KPF?

Dhawanthink undoubteldy

For Gambhir is mentally finished for the longer format I think.....

Jayant Yadav is on a stand by because of Ashwin's finger issue......
well it's a long season ashwin needs to be fit for the better part of it

Ashwin will probably be rested if there's a doubt, no point pushing him if he isn't fit

If Ashwin doesn't play, think they should go in for Mishra. He might not have the same control and may not have similar threat levels, but he's a wickettaker and is experienced. But him and Yadav shouldn't be part of the combination, has to be Mishra and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mishra for Rahul, Rohit to open and Bhuvi for Umesh.......

Rohit to open?! In a test match... are you high?!

if ashwin is unfit...--both jayant and Mishra will play

India won the toss...NZ are missing Williamson...that put india's nose ahead even before a ball is bowled.

NZ mae the right changes....drop Sodhi and bring the fast Henry and that immediately pays

Kohli 3rd failure in a row....Pujara going strong...must convert this into not only a 100 but a mega 100

India crawling at a RR of 2 on home turf...and that's not good enuf......they have deeper batting with Bhuvi in.
Bhuvi is a good selection adds depth to batting...but more important.....on these pitches where seamers have a limited role.....gives India two diffrent variety of seam option.....7 overs of classical swing with each new ball to Bhuvi
and fast reverse swing through Shami.......a well rounded attack

Pujara faily to convert to 100 leave aside a big hundred....Rohit faily after averaging 100+

Rahane's gotta convert this now to a BIG 100....and Saha should score some runs today

saha , jadeja, bhivi and shami have to eek out another 60 runs somehow to get India to 300

as I said in the last game....play to your strength and pick your best bowlers rather than medicores suited for the pitch...

a good fst bowler Henry is been far more useful and the seamers have 5 of the 7 fallen Indian wickets

it's not an easy pitch to bat from whatever i could make out in the highlights.....some are bouncing and a few are keeping low.....assistance for quality seamers.......and patel was getting turn and bounce

The last session in Edan continues to be one for the bowler. India owned the middle session, but was pushed on to the backfoot early in the first session. New Zealand's day for sure.
Fine effort from Pujara and Rahane. Since Kumble has provided Pujara with the necessary support that has been lacking from the captain and chest-thumper Shastri earlier, Pujara is finding his way back. Rather than playing for his strike rate when the team was 3 down, he set out to bring the innings back on track along with Rahane. 3rd 50 in 3 innings, but Pujara should be disappointed that he hasn't converted any of them into a ton. When you are in good form, you have to capitalize and get them big.
Rahane yet agained produced the goods when the team was in trouble. He has certainly taken over the crisis man tag from VVS Laxman. He looked more assured against spin in this innings, an area of his game that needs a bit more finetuning.
Ravichandran Ashwin looked good for his 26 and could consider himself a bit unlucky that his innings was cut short by a debatable umpiring call. But the fact that he's fit and playing itself is great news for India, and on a track that really isn't spinning much, his skills have to produce the wickets, at least in the NZ first innings.
Murali Vijay was nicely setup by Henry and after starting the series well in the first test, he failed here. Virat Kohli, after his double hundred in the West Indies, seems to have lost the plot a bit. Old bad habits returned when he went chasing after a 6th stump delivery and nicked behind. The captained needed to play a more responsible innings at that stage, as the team was already 2 down. Kohli's great batting rhythm got upset after he took the obnoxious decision to bat 3 to shield Wonderboy when Pujara and Vijay were dumped to accommodate him. Dhawan's luck stayed with him only up to him making it back to the side, yet another failure wouldn't help, not only as Rahul would return soon, but even for the 3rd test, if Shikhar can't produce the goods in the 2nd innings, Gautam Gambhir should be in with a great chance to make an international return.
As for Rohit Sharma, there wa no surprised, nobody expected him to score runs, and he didn't surprise anyone. The bonus runs that came in the preious innings that gave extra protection to his place in the side would see him playing the entire season, but a few surprises here and there would be much welcome, particularly when the team needs to navigate a crisis.
With Bhuvneshwar back in there, thre is a bit more depth to the lower order, but Henry and Boult will be quite a handful with the still new ball in the morningThink Jadeja nd Saha should try and play their shots, they wouldn't be surviving against Boult's quality and Henry's pace wieh a defensive approach.
With New Zealand missing Kane Williamson, their batting is a bit inexperienced and brittle. If India could somehow drag their total close to 300 somehow, they can make a match out of it.......

msp83 wrote: New Zealand's day for sure.
.

can't say for sure.....we'll find out when NZ bat how difficult the pitch is.
it' s a new pitch.....a new square actually.....and quite uneven per the reports

A fighting half-century from Wriddhaman Saha helped India stretch their first innings to a compentative 316. Then New Zealand, without the unfit Kane Williamson their best batsman, had a top order collapse when they lost their top 3 for just 25. Though Luke Ronchi played his shots in the company of Ross Taylor, the former was done in by Ravindra Jadeja for 35, his 3rd unconverted start in as many innings. Light rain has held up play since, NZ 85-4. Taylor is looking set and Watling is a fighter. Santner showed he has got a fine temperament in the last test. Though they are without Craig and Southee, the NZ lower order can slog a few....... But they do need a partnership to get back into the game. If India manage a lead of over 40, they will be going in with a lot of advantage.

Talking about Ronchi, when he played that blistering knock against England standing in for the injured Watling, not many expected him to come back to test cricket as he was getting on in age and he wasn't quite seen as making it as a batsman only.
But since Brendon McCullum retired, Ronchi made it to the side again as Watling's stand-in/reserve. But he has taken his opportunity to play as batsman only in this series it has to be said and has looked better than Henry Nichols who he replaced, and certainly better than New Zealand's very own version of Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptill Ronchi couldn't convert his 80 into a hundred in the last game, and got out a couple of times in the 30s. But he certainly has looked the part, though he hasn't played very orthodox cricket.

Saha's performances have been assuring for India......he is nearly 32 and if he can go on for 3 more years add 30 more tests.....he would finish with 45 odd tests...100 dismissals and 1500 test runs at average 30+........not outstanding but steady yeoman service.

the keepers of my era have been similar.......Kiran More 49 tests......120 dismissals....batting average 25 for 1200 runs
Mongia.....44 tests.....batting average 27 for 1300 runs and 100 odd dismissals
Kirmani just played double the tests compared to More and Mongia and had double the dismissals and runs at very similar average

Saha may finish a shade better as a batsman...looks like he can cross the average 30 barrier as a batsman

amidst his crap captaincy in tests...what gets overlooked is Dhoni's outstanding record as a WK.....300 dismissals in 90 tests......reliable , robust and safe, even though he was not electric like More, Mongia and Kirimani........and poor as he was as an overseas batsman...he still finished with batting average of 38.


Faroq engineer to me still remains india's best batsman WK

Don't see any immediate challenger for Saha's position. Karthik and Parthiv are done, Samson doesn't keep in longer format, Ojha is considered 2nd to Saha in the pecking order and has not done enough to displace him.
Rishabh Pant will need time to first establish himself in First Class cricket, and they don't seem to consider all the runs that Uday Kaul has been scoring for Punjab. Andhra's Srikar Bharat is the other contender, has a very impressive FC record, don't know much about his keeping. Saha the batsman has come along a bit in the last couple of serieses, and despite the initial struggles, his glove work has started to live up to the hype. So all-in-all, think he's safe for now.

Play has restarted after rain took away well over 2 hours of play. Unlike in the recent Australia Lanka series, they are using light when possible. But it has to be seen how much of the lost time can be made up.
Interestingly, Kohli continuing with Shami after the resumption. Think India have to make sure they get in as many overs as possible today, a wicket or 2 today, they will be through the the NZ lower order.

Big wicket for India as Ross Taylor goes, edging Bhuvneshwar to slip for 36! Bhuvi's been doing a very fine job, picking up his 3rd wicket.......

Bhuvneshwar takes 2 in 2 and New Zealand are 122-7. First 5for for Bhuvneshwar at home.......

So New Zealand end the day at 128-7. Batting had become really tricky in that last mini session. The bounce was so uneven. Think the rain didn't help much.......
India would be hoping to role them over quickly tomorrow morning. NZ would be hoping that Watling would be able to fight it out with the lower order and stretch the total closer to that India first innings score.

well I got the feeling that the day was over at tea due to rain.....and return not to see NZ almost knocked out

as I said....can't judge the pitch until both sides have batted.
this is an uneven pitch.....and Bhuvi teaches another lesson to Kohli..

that.....130-135kph high quality swing is better than 137-144kph pace with little seam....and will be a front-runner to be the first choice seamer now after his show in the west indies.

just like kohli should have learnt...it's not about fast scoring only as batsman but innings building ability that's important too in tests...

Bhuvi, Ashwin, Jadeja in the 11 if fit......in all conditions gives India the depth in batting and versatility in bowling

KPF, in between all the cricketing action and bit of a nonsense from Kohli on selection and things, we seem to have missed this interesting take from the Indian captain.
What do you say?
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/1059603.html

Shambolic batting display from NZ, however well bowled Bhuvi, good performance with the new nut

msp83 wrote:KPF, in between all the cricketing action and bit of a nonsense from Kohli on selection and things, we seem to have missed this interesting take from the Indian captain.
What do you say?
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/1059603.html

He speaks decisively...and I think this is the way forward.......use the clout that BCCI has to get DRS with modifications as India want it not to block it.

I feel though that there is a greater royalty issue in the backdrop....BCCI may be asking for a share of DRS revenues or some kind of subsidies in lieu for it's usage in key home games

Good old BCCI, can't just help! They are just made that way!

msp83 wrote:Good old BCCI, can't just help! They are just made that way!

Supreme court has issued last warning.....will dismantle them if they do not adhere to the Lodha recommendations.
Lodha has cleaned out the hand held old boys network club that BCCI was

The BCCI is still resisting and picking and choosing what to accept. Think the judiciary will again come down hard on them.

Meanwhile New Zealand doing quite well in the morning to reach 204 in their first innings. That still is a first innings lead of 112 for India, but from 122-7, that's been a bit of a recovery. Jeetan Patel, the 36 year old spinner making a a rather unexpected international return, added an enterprising 47 to his impressive first innings bowling. BJ Watling yet again found himself running out of partners, and as Sanjay Manjrekar observed on air, perhaps they have to consider batting him above Santner Santner hasn't done too bad atall, but Watling is a good test batsman......

Mohammed Shami finished with 3 wickets, he bowled well without much reward yesterday, today he got a couple of wickets. Just the 1 wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin, who didn't bowl that much In fact both he and Jadeja got a bit of respite as the seamers bowled a considerable number of overs between them. Just wonder whether Kohli is just a bit concerned about Ashwin's finger though......... Even when Patel and Watling were putting together a partnership, he first turned to Jadeja and introduced Ashwin much later, and he got Patel to play a slog first ball and got him caught in the deep.

Uncomfortable moments for the Indian openers against Henry and Boult. Vijay played a couple of loose defensive pushes outside off and got beaten, and edged 1 to the boundary. But its been Dhawan who's been getting a pounding from Boult. He has got hit on the fingers twice in 2 overs and is struggling to put bat to ball.

New Zealand continue to stay alive in the game as they take out both Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara soon after lunch. Henry with both the strikes, Vijay edging to slip and Pujara given out LBW, a rough umpiring call but as Kohli says, India is in no position to complain. The umpiring has been poor in the series, that is another matter. Things have sort of evened out in terms of the number of bad decision, but in actual impact terms, I have never believed they would even out. Time Virat stop batting like his friend, and bat like the Kohli we know and produce a captain's innings.

Dhawan gone too, and India struggling. At 42-3, they do have a lead of 154, but New Zealand are very much in this.

At 49-4 as Rahane is the latest to join the procession, this is Rohit Sharma's opportunity to repay his captain who has stood by him when there has been no rime or reason to do so. India still are a head in the game as a chase of 150 won't be easy on this track, but New Zealand are trying their heart out, and if they can restrict India to under 120 130 and set up a chase under 250, they might just have a chance if Ross Taylor or someone else gets going.......