Inquest....

[Zainub]

Nikhil, what's your first choice Indian XI these days? How confident are you of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy? Do yo think Sachin will be fit in time for the second test?

[Beny]

I have a feeling the idea of playing lee may have been to try and get flintoff to pull him and get a shock from the speed, therefore getting a top edge. Stupid idea if you ask me. The problem is that Lee is trying to force his way back into the squad before he is ready. He is not a bad bowler though. Ave 13 during the world cup.

As for Watson. He is a very good player who has been unfortunate with his injuries. He's only 22 and is a prospect for later on. Dont rate his bowling though.

Hodge got the call? God what have I missed?

Why was australia's performance lame? I reackon if you'd have said to Ponting or Vaughan "what would you like", 260-280 would have been the answer batting first on that pitch.

True, but I think we've come to expect more from a team that knocked up 345 in the world cup final.

BTW, whats the situation on the T.V rights over in India. I'm hearing the tour could be called off.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Beny

BTW, whats the situation on the T.V rights over in India. I'm hearing the tour could be called off.

The tour is definately on. Australia have arrived in India as a matter of fact, they landed in Mumbai yesterday, and will take on the Ranji Trophy Champions in a three day warm up match very shortly, not sure though who will have the coverage. I still haven't seen any adds on ESPN/Star Sports. The decesion is still pending as far as I know, it rests on the supereme court. Meanwhile Ricky Ponting will not nead surgery for the fracture in his finger. And despite wide spread reports confirming that it is very unlikely Sachin will participate in the first test, one news paper report going as far as saying it will be a "miracle" if he gets fit in time Ganguly said yesterday he was confident Sachin would play. I hope he's not rushed into playing. Andrew Lewpis said regarding the injury it was the "worst" of Sachin's 14 year long career and I feel it is imperative he gets excatly one hundred percent fit before he even thinks about playing, Ganguly has a habbit of rushing players recovering from injuries into cricket - he's done that to Harbajjan Singh and Zaheer Khan in the past, even to him self at times. I hope Sachin doesn't play if he's not completely out of pain. Otherwise there is a danger he might agrivate his elbow further, and end up needing surgery on it.

[Nikhil]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

Nikhil, what's your first choice Indian XI these days? How confident are you of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy? Do yo think Sachin will be fit in time for the second test?

My Indian XI will be this in batting order:
Sehwag, Chopra, Dravid, (Mongia/Sriram), VVS Laxman, Ganguly, Patel, Kumble, Pathan, Harbhajan, Agarkar (Zaheer if he's *fully* fit).

Now, I think Yuvraj will play instead of Mongia or Sriram, since Ganguly favours him. I also think Zaheer may play and break down in the first test and Agarkar will get his chance in the second test on.

As for Sachin, I think he should be fit by the time the second test starts (though I'm not an expert, this is what a report says). I hope he's fit before that and has a few good nets before the test.

I think Warne will be a bit more effective this time around, though not half as effective as he's against other teams. I think his series average will be in the fourties rather than the fifties this time around.

I also think India can win the series. They have to pile big scores in the first innings to do that.

[Zainub]

Nikhil. Thanks for answering.

Always nice to see supporters in a postive frame of mind. All the best!

[Nikhil]

Thanks a lot, Zainub.

Well I'm optimistic, since I believe we are a better test side than OD side. There are some basic problems with the OD setup and Ganguly does not really have a balanced team in ODI's.

Btw, I'm sure Sachin will play a huge role in the matches he plays. I also hope the umpiring is a clear this time around. Not that I'm a against anyone, but for such an important series, I think poor umpiring be will be a damp squib.

[Zainub]

You are most welcome Nikhil. Who except the Aussies perhaps wouldn't want Sachin to get fit, he's such a class act, I always enjoy seeing him bat. I hope he gets fit soon. On the umpiring debate, I have a theory - incorrect umpiring decesiosn will never drift the match towards one side , unless in very very dire situations. I don't know who has been nominated for the seies, but I'm sure who ever does will try his best, and will make the occasional mistake. That should not dampen the spirits. I have respect for umpires, and I beleive they do the hardest job in this sport getting in result the least respect and the least pay. We always seem to remember the decesiosn the get wrong but all the while forget how well they do most of the time, 92% of the times as a matter of fact.

[Beny]

I dont know about that.


I remember the Sachin 200 over here last summer. Best comeback innings i've ever watched.

[Nikhil]

Originally Posted by Beny

I remember the Sachin 200 over here last summer. Best comeback innings i've ever watched.

That was one inning, which will last my memories for ever. He hardly hit a boundary through the off-side. As if he wanted to prove he could leave all those deliveries which would tease him. That was awesome.