Indian Batting Lineup: Now you know the truth

[Microshocker]

I'd been saying it all along, the Indian batting lineup is NOWHERE near the best of the modern era, which was the claim by Indians and even Aussies. Performing against a Aussie attack without Lee and Warne isn't really like performing against a full strength west indies attack, ya know.

Sachin Tendulkar: Equal to Brian Lara when he was at his peak around the year 2000, but ever since he is no better than a Gavaskar or a Boycott (Cant you see, the man is dying!). The reason his averages have still gotten better is a couple of not out innings, including one against BD. There is no doubt he is still one of the best, but not the BEST, which he was a few years ago.

VVS Laxman: Most overrated batsman. I generally love wristy players (Anwars, Waughs, Azhars and Youhanna) but this guy looks like a doofus and is perhaps the worst looking player of his kind. His record is good in both tests and odis but when compared to legends of the modern era, he wont even make the top 50. Makes wristy players look BAD (especially with those baggy pants he wears)

Rahul Dravid: GREAT GREAT player in test matches a not a rat either when it comes to ODIs. But ask him to chase at 7.5 runs an over with a tailender on the other side, and your stuck in manhole.

Sehwag: Perhaps India's best player at the moment, but he will never be as successful as someone like Gilchrist. He is in the best form of his career and I figure he will go into a big hole. The only reason he performed against Pakistan? (No Ws, No Shoaib, No Saqqy, etc.) And as for that 309?!?? Heres the truth: He had about 3 SIMPLE outfield catches dropped. And as always, Sanjay Manjrekar and that monkey Navjot Sidhu, didn't even talk about it after the match.

Ganguly: Enough said. This guy is a horrible player against the real quickies and as far as spin bowlers are concerned, he's even deterriorating against them. GREAT player against Bangladesh.

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by Microshocker

VVS Laxman: Most overrated batsman. I generally love wristy players (Anwars, Waughs, Azhars and Youhanna) but this guy looks like a doofus and is perhaps the worst looking player of his kind. His record is good in both tests and odis but when compared to legends of the modern era, he wont even make the top 50. Makes wristy players look BAD (especially with those baggy pants he wears)

From his debut in 1986 to 1989, Steve Waugh had gone 27 tests without a century. He broke through in 1989 against England at Headingley where he made 177 not out. A few years later, Steve Waugh said: "Something had to change. I was out there looking $1 million for 20 runs. I told myself I should be looking 5 cents for 100 runs". So, Microshocker; Steve Waugh wasn't an attractive player, but was so often held in the esteem of Lara and Tendulkar. Does it really matter how a player looks?

[greg]

I'd rather have India's batting line-up than Pakistan's.More class,more depth,far greater quality.

[Chuck Palumbo]

The Indian batting line up is certainly not secure as it once was. They've always had problems with the opening batsman slot alongside Sehwag but now there are doubts creeping into a once daunting middle order.

Dravid is still his reliable self but Tendulkar isn't the relentless run machine he once was. Laxman is very on and off and Ganguly's form has gone completely.

During India's good run during 2002/03, everyone was getting runs and making themselves counted. At that time they were the best batting line up in test cricket. Now they are increasingly relying on Sehwag and Dravid to get them runs and if they don't, invariably no one else does.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by greg

I'd rather have India's batting line-up than Pakistan's.More class,more depth,far greater quality.

Not sure about that at all. Yes Dravid has more class than most batsmen playing cricket these days, but as for the rest, its a fairly even match. Inzamam is more consistent these days than any Indian bat bar Dravid, and more of a match-winner than even Rahul. The others are probably equally matched; over the past year both teams have batsmen who blow hot and cold, and who can get out to atrocious strokes.

Of course, if you want to go by reputation, then SRT is still the world's best batsman and Ganguly the most prolific left-hander around However, reputations don't determine the outcome of a match, actual performance on the field does.

India probably have the better start, since Sehwag is more consistent than most of his Pakistani counter-parts. However, there still isn't a consistent or even half-decent partner for him around. On one point, Pakistan do have the clear edge, and that is in depth - with Razzaq at 7, Kamran Akmal at 8 and Shoaib/Sami at 9, the lower middle-order is very strong indeed, as was shown in the epic fight-back at Mohali earlier this year.

Of course, the above applies to Tests alone. In ODIs, Pakistan do have greater class, greater quality and much greater consistency than the Indian bats.

[Rachael]

If you could combine the two sides.. who would be starting? I suspect the XI would read something like this:

Sehwag
Butt
Dravid
SRT
Inzi
Youhana
Razzaq
Akmal
Kumble
Pathan
Akhtar

I'm not sure about Butt or Pathan.. but the alternatives are equally unproven. I'm also unsure about Akhtar... on the basis of attitude, etc... and I'm not entirely convinced that the side mentioned could manage with a 4 man attack: if Razzaq had to play at 6... then maybe Umar Gul or Shabbir Ahmed (or even Kaneria) could play at 8.

Of course.. a combined Asian Xi would sort that problem.. as Vaas and Murali would be definites.. Zoysa would probably get in as the second seamer... and Mortaza would stand as much chance as anyone of making up the numbers... with Javed Omar immediately leaping ahead of Butt for the second opener's spot.. but any of 4-5 Sri Lankan batsmen making selection very complicated.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Javed Omar immediately leaping ahead of Butt for the second opener's spot.

But both remaining a fair way behind Jayasuriya and Atapattu!

[Rachael]

Fair point... but both might well end up accomodated as specialist batsmen... as might Jayawardene and Sangakkara: Sri Lankan batting seems to me to be much under-rated. That said.. Youhana and Younis Khan seem similarly under-rated in much of the world...

[Chuck Palumbo]

I don't think Javed Omar is good enough for any of the top 8 international teams let alone a combined XI team from Asia. He is a fighter but is seriously lacking in any productive shots and his technique is very suspect....some of his dismissals in England were woeful to say the least i.e swiping across the line and getting out LBW.

He was one of the better Bangladeshi batsman though.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Chuck Palumbo

I don't think Javed Omar is good enough for any of the top 8 international teams let alone a combined XI team from Asia.

He's perhaps not great.. but India seems bereft of decent partners for Sehwag... and it's far from clear that Pakistan have a better option. I am HOPING that Butt will prove a class act.. and Afridi hasn't been doing badly of late.. but right now Javed Omar deserves to be mentioned int he same breath.

As Maranello points out though.. Jayasuria and Atapattu both make stronger claims to any Asian Xi position.