Indian dilemma

[John]

Should India of played an extra batsmen? or were they right to play the extra bowler?
To ask these questions is to miss the point. There is a fundamental imbalance in the Indian side. The four bowlers they have got are not good enough for a good Test match attack. The seamers compared to England's shows the qualitative difference. So really you have to give Kumble and Harbajan some support.
The dilemma is in fact not resolvable.

[Vrock]

Pathan is a good batsmen and is showing his ability in this match. If he chips in with one or two wickets, then he would fill his place. Problem is, when he doesn't get a wicket he just looks like a medium pace part timer. This would give India two full pace bowlers, two spinners and Pathan. Then they always have Sachin to bowl a few overs.

[John]

The basic side is unbalanced you can only play a four man attack if you have got the quality bowlers like Australia had. Last summer Australia didn't have the quality attack they had had so thet struggled.
If Flintoff got injured or his wife had tripletts and he had to leave the side for a long while England would struggle on the Test scene with four bowlers.
So the problem cannot be easily solved for India at present, play extra bat or bowler who knows?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by John

So the problem cannot be easily solved for India at present, play extra bat or bowler who knows?

Or find another all rounder the class of Dev, for a side with the reputation of being the best batting side in the world ,look light at the top playing the extra bowler.

It is a problem.

[Vrock]

It depends IMO if Pathan becomes more accomplished as an all rounder, if his bowling was to become more influential in a game consitently then I would warrant only playing one more pace bowler, however if his bowling does not improve to a higher extent then surely he should be dropped for a much more attacking bowler?

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

At home, they can and frankly should have got way with it. If you have a top 5 with Sehwag, Dravid and tendular in it and can feel you can drop VVS Laxman AND have kumble and Harbajan on a traditionally spinning wicket, against a side with novice spinners - on paper it should have been in the bag by now. Problem being it had a bit for the seamers and with the seam attack (even without 2 first choice bowlers) that is arguably the best in the world, playing an extra bowler doesnt allow much error.

That said the tail wagged with kumble et al putting on some useful runs. In indias postion, I'd have done the same.

[Mr Hutt]

Indias current batting lineup... waseem, Sehvag, tendulkar, dravid, dhoni, yuvraj...is perhaps the best in the world... all they needed to do was bat first......i dunno what dravid had for breakfast.. but it wasnt curry hehe

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Avkar

all they needed to do was bat first......i dunno what dravid had for breakfast.. but it wasnt curry hehe

For his dinner at the end of day 1 he probably had a generous helping of humble pie

[John]

Originally Posted by Avkar

Indias current batting lineup... waseem, Sehvag, tendulkar, dravid, dhoni, yuvraj..

This is highly questionable that it is the best lineup in present circumstances. Sehwag and Tendulkar are out of form. Although Yuvraj looks very good his exact quality has to be fully established. Its been Dravid who has been holding things together he needs others to make a contribution if India are going to be restored as the number 1 lineup.

[south beds mikey]

I agree the balance of the side is dependent on Pathan scoring the necessary runs. At the moment he is vital to their make up