Saturday, January 27, 2007

My 15 BLUES

I suspect that when the 'Colonel' & company sit together to decide the 15 who would take the flight out to the Caribbean, there would be billions wanting to be a fly on that wall. Every four years, this major upheaval in our mindset is ample reflection of an entire nation's conscience possessed. If 2003 was all about Laxman or not, 2007 has a few more intricate issues attached. A look at who will make the cut for the WC starting in two months time.

The safest bets would be on the wicketkeeping and spinning department. India have come a long way since 2003 when Rahul Dravid did a Gianlugi Buffon. Rahul might have looked more like a football goalkeeper in his efforts, but he did a mighty fine job ala the Italian custodian. Mahendra Dhoni has captivated international audiences ever since he set foot on the international stage and though he still has his critics, there is no doubt that his dismantling of international attacks has been consistent and effective and that he is a safe bet behind too. Dinesh Karthick has shown lot of spunk and fight and he is a mighty good fielder too. India will need Karthick in the middle order as a specialist batsman to rotate the strike.

India will struggle with their fast bowling department. Agarkar and Zaheer will lead the pack but that is again a step back from 2003 when Zaheer, Nehra and Srinath were at the peak of their prowesses and represented India's most potent fast bowling attack. Sreesanth has been India's revelation in 2006 but except for a 6 wicket haul against England in the early part of the year, his performances in the one-day format have been built more around passion and aggression rather than consistency. I would have to put Pathan in this category even though I am sure he will end up playing just the Group stages in the World Cup. India's success in the one-day format, when it happened, was due to Pathan's new ball bowling and his presence allowing India to play five bowlers. At the World Cup, that would mean playing Kumble and Harbhajan together, a combination that would take some stopping in slow, low Caribbean conditions. Kumble's bowling over the last 24 months has been right alongside the likes of Warne and Murali whereas Harbhajan was the best slow bowler in one-day cricket in the year 2006 with an economy rate of around 3.7 .

Without Pathan, five bowlers would mean too long a tail and with 20 over powerplays, it would take a very brave team management to play two spinners in an Indian setup with four bowlers. Hence, to say that Pathan would be crucial to India's chances would be a gross understatement. India will risk Munaf as their fifth seam bowling option inspite of his fickle fitness for prior to South Africa, he was head and shoulders above the rest when it came to the fast bowling stakes. His height and ability to hit the deck gives the attack some variety as well. People might consider Ramesh Powar unlucky to miss out but facts will suggest that his best bowling performances have come against shoddy opposition. Brian Lara and Sarwan consistently found him out on India's last trip there. His will be a career in the shadows- a large shadow that.

India's travails in the batting department have been well documented and with six spots up for grabs, there is bound to be some serious thought there. Yuvraj, Sachin, Rahul and Sourav are sure to take up four of those spots. His lengthy layoff not withstanding, Yuvraj is India's best middle order batsman as he showcased in 2005 and early 2006; Sachin is still indispensable for he offers flexiblity in the batting department with the array of strokes he possesses and his bowling has always come up trumps in pressure cooker scenarios; Dravid continues scaling new heights and Sourav has made too 'impressive' a comeback, and is probably odds on favourite to open.

I feel the selectors should have given Ganguly an extended run before coming to a conclusion. A 98 on a flat pancake against a travel weary bowling attack is not exactly my idea of returning to form. The signs were there: balls smoted out of the ground, the quick dab and runs and of course a run-out. Yes, Ganguly ended up being India's top run getter in the test match series but the selectors seem to be losing sight of the fact that Ganguly's performances in the test match arena had been 'passable' leading upto the time he got dropped. It was his one-day efforts that had taken a more drastic dip, averaging under 20 against test playing nations over a two year period. I hope that the "Prince" is back for good but my gut feeling is that his selection will go down as one made in haste. Sourav will disappoint.

That leaves us with two more spots. Sehwag, inspite of all his miseries is too serious a matchwinner to be ignored. His bowling will also be valued and towards the end of the South African series, there was a certain commitment that didn't reflect on the scorecards. The last spot will be a tussle between Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina depending on their performances over the next few matches. My call would be Robin for he is a good top order one-day player and Greg and Rahul seem convinced that they need a specialist opening bat.

That would leave Laxman with the strange honour of never having been in a World Cup Squad; Kaif would be desperately unlucky to miss out despite having scored three fifties in the West Indies, unfortunate for a honest tryer who has somehow been always typecast as villain whenever India has lost in recent times. Raina's time will definitely come.

My call on what the World Cup squad would be:

Rahul Dravid (c), Sachin Tendulkar (vc), Virendra Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthick, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth

Expecetd Duds: Irfan, Sourav
Expected Hits: Sachin, Karthick

And since I am sticking my neck out, a chocolate on my part for every error that I make and spotted by you. So chocolate-crazy people, the comments section is all yours!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

My 15 would be pretty much the same as yours. But I feel Powar might just make it, but for whom i don't know. yeah in probability, he would be my 16th also.
By the way, your new additions to the blog - article for the day, word for the day, etc. are pretty interesting.
everyday i learn a couple of new words while reading your blog.

ARK said...

pretty much there I'd say. don't see myself going for a squad very different from yours. for me, Pathan looks a bit doubtful and I would really prefer Laxman over Sehwag or Uthappa. I think with Dada sure to open, we can as well go with either Viru or Uthappa rather than taking both. Laxman in the middle order offers a certain solidity, atleast on paper. for finality, I would have Laxman for Sehwag. but then I realize you're pciking the team likely to be chosen rather than who you'd like to be picked.

one more thing, this will be the worst Indian team I've ever seen going to WC no matter who they select. and I hope the team will flunk big time. seriouly, we need a make over.

Varun Murali said...

RAVI
Powar,I believe would be a bad option, because his presence in the team necessitates playing five bowlers and his batting and fielding aren't upto international standards. Besides he isn't what you call a match winning off-spinner. A luxury when you consider Kumble and Harbhajan. As for the word of the day and other 'interesting' articles, it is just an honest attempt to make the blog informative.

Varun Murali said...

ARJUN
Can't quite join issue with you in wishing the team all that bad. This was the best available pool in front of the selectors and the larger question that has to be raised is about the potency of our domestic structure in throwing up talent. Gambhir, Raina, Kaif and co. have been given too long a hit and they are no better off now than when they started.Sehwag, I believe is an option that will be looked at as far the middle order is concerned. With Sachin joining Rahul in the middle order, Laxman would have been left warming the benches.

Anonymous said...

Just one change- Raina in for Uthappa. The team has enough stroke makers and could do with a grafter. From the little I've seen of Uthappa, he can be belligerent, but with Sehwag, Ganguly, Yuvraj, and Dhoni in the team, we need a Husseyesque batsmen at no.6. Raina or Karthick will be the best men for the job. Laxman should keep himself match-fit because if our middle order starts caving in regularly we'll need Dr.Laxman to fill the cavities.

wolverine said...

delte this blog on sport and start something on life and philosophy...

:D

i love your style, its only the content that bores me...

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Anonymous said...

visibly u guys are determined keep OPULENCE'2007 in air till OPULENCE'2008 when i speculate u to blast ITBHU as never b4(as this time)..doing a great job with pragyan n all..hats off to u dudes..

i agree with ravi that i learn a couple a things each time i read ur blog.

as far as indian cricket is concerned, its no more euphoric me..its digression to political and corporate fuss is reason enuf for me to enjoy sumthing else!