[VWAllstar]

It was destined to happen. Saha had dropped a catch in the match (arguably a really tough one) and then his batting was not good (no one apart from Kohli in that sense).
Pant scored a blitzkrieg century in the warm up match. He has shown in his previous few outings that he is learning to control his aggression. The issue is he has only one release shot - the slog on the leg side. To survive in Test Cricket one need to be able to play on most sides of the ground.
Pujara holds the key for the series now. If he performs then we have a good chance to keep the series alive. Rahane has to step up and score minimum 2 centuries in the next 4 innings.
Hopefully Sir Jadeja brings luck!

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

...
If I am Kohli tonight, I would stay back in Australia and devise ways to come back from this horrible defeat...

Originally Posted by dailydriver

...
It is time the captain stands up and gets counted. Whatever his sentiments were when he decided to skip the series midway, this abysmal defeat should force him to question himself. History will call him a deserter - a leader who wasn't there for his team when it needed him the most...

Disappointment is natural after a walloping, but that's a bit of an overreaction there, surely?

Now one could argue he probably could've opted out of the Tests entirely so a stable squad played all four games (but they've got potential replacements like Rohit missing too), but it's still just a game, he's still a highly accomplished player, and you only ever become a father for the first time once so the man's entitled to want to be there.

If anything, it's an opportunity for others to demonstrate they can be competitive without him.

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

If anything, it's an opportunity for others to demonstrate they can be competitive without him.

He can very well be there for his family, that is not the issue here. Issue is with the system where a player (that too a captain) thinks that it is okay to not play a test when I am representing the country and I can opt out according to my fancy.

Now what if his replacement scores heavily ? Where will be his confidence if he is to be dropped for Kohli to return ?

The selectors should have told Kohli to take the whole series off, so that the replacement player gets at least some matches or a series to come good. Kohli is the best batsman of the team and his performance always makes the team look good. The team needs him more as a batsman than a captain but then he has decided to skip, so there’s nothing one can do.

A playing spot in the national team is not to be taken as granted and that is my only contention. Even a Ganguly had to play the first class matches to get back to the Indian team despite being the most successful captain of the time !!

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

...A playing spot in the national team is not to be taken as granted and that is my only contention...

You're not going to like what I say next.

I'm not going to name names, but letting players become bigger than the team has been an issue with Indian cricket for as long as I can remember. The fault lies with the BCCI, not the players.

...Even a Ganguly had to play the first class matches to get back to the Indian team despite being the most successful captain of the time !!

That's how it should be; you earn a spot on current merit, not historical reputation. Other teams retire their highly succesful players/captains once they no longer deliver results, and it's not uncommon for some to take a stint in first-class cricket to get over a slump, but that isn't how it works in Indian cricket (or ever really has), does it?

Why single out Kohli for benefiting from a lack of administrative will from the powers-that-be?

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

You're not going to like what I say next.

I'm not going to name names, but letting players become bigger than the team has been an issue with Indian cricket for as long as I can remember. The fault lies with the BCCI, not the players.



That's how it should be; you earn a spot on current merit, not historical reputation. Other teams retire their highly succesful players/captains once they no longer deliver results, and it's not uncommon for some to take a stint in first-class cricket to get over a slump, but that isn't how it works in Indian cricket (or ever really has), does it?

Why single out Kohli for benefiting from a lack of administrative will from the powers-that-be?

Oh, I endorse every word you say and my views are exactly the same as well.

My only grouse is that I thought Kohli to be different and that his zeal to win for India at any cost will override his personal emotions !!

P.S- Please merge with the previous post since I just crossed the edit window.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

Issue is with the system where a player (that too a captain) thinks that it is okay to not play a test when I am representing the country and I can opt out according to my fancy.

Taking Paternity Leave is not unusual for cricketers from other countries. This probably is the first time I'm coming across an Indian player taking paternity leave. In this case, Kohli sought permission & BCCI granted it. He would have missed lesser tests if it weren't for the quarantine rules.

Now what if his replacement scores heavily ? Where will be his confidence if he is to be dropped for Kohli to return ?

The replacement would very well know that Virat is irreplaceable. So whatever chances the replacement gets he has to make the most of it.

The selectors should have told Kohli to take the whole series off, so that the replacement player gets at least some matches or a series to come good.

In that event, critics would have said Virat could have played a few tests! I guess can't keep everyone happy.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

A capable player can adjust his technique according to the format he is playing.

Of course he will be good. And a collection of such players will make a good team. What I am saying is that it will not make a world beater team. As I said, England is excelling in all three formats of the game because it has different teams playing each format - specialists.

Rahane was a wonderful player in both the test and ODI format before being dropped in one format despite scoring good and since then he is not the same player anymore.

Every player has to play a role. Rahane excelled as an opener but did not play the #4 role well according to the captain. He could not rotate the strike as well as the team wanted. The team had better openers, and hence he was discarded.

You will always need a player or two in tests and odi’s to drop encore whenever the situation demands.

Tests - no doubt. Every team needs a Pujara or two, along with a Warner.
ODIs - to a certain extent. Depends on the batting depth. India needs one, and wants to groom Iyer for that role. England has Root, but he is not indispensable because of the batting depth the team has. So Iyer is critical for us, and Root is important for the world champions.

Players should be supported when there is potential otherwise a Sehwag or a Yuvraj or for that matter Rohit Sharma would not have happened to the Indian team since they were failures early on.

This is where Kohli-Shastri are the weakest strategists in recent times. Sourav and MSD were much much better in this regard.

Selection blunders are the norms in the Kohli-Shastri era and it continuos with gay abandon.

Dropping Pujara and Rahane are two prime examples of this stupidity. ODI number 4 also fell prey to a similar mindset.

England and Australia are still the two countries who give immense importance to their domestic structures. All the national team players still play majority of first class matches as well as shorter formats of the game. They have a robust structure and that helps in identifying talents as well as continuity of game for players who get constant match practise. How many of Indian cricketers play the Ranji or the Deodhar trophy these days ?? When the players are not playing for the country, they are playing the IPL !! And the branded test players like Pujara or a Rahane are left with no contracts or a contract with no play time. This effects the game and hence the result. And that is why I said what I said.

A player can only play 200 days in a year (for example) before his body and mind give up. Unfortunately, the Indian calendar is very busy and those 200 days are spent playing international cricket.

I can opt out according to my fancy.

Parental leave is not opting out of fancy, c'mon.

[harry10]

You guys keep forgetting one simple fact. This team plays for BCCi, not India. They are paid by bcci, a private entity who isn't accountable to anyone. So, they will do whatever bcci will say. Neither fans nor govt. has a say in any matter concerning the team. So, coach, captain will always be selected as per bcci convenience. And what does BCCI care most about, of course Money. They don't give a damn whether team is losing or winning till their revenues are full.

Even many players who are now multimillionaires knows there pay checks and endorsement deals are good even if they just play IPL. If the play for Indian team well and good otherwise life will be set even with just IPL. It's usually only us fans who get charged up upon such defeats.

Trust me, even if we are drubbed by 4-0 Shastri will remain coach and not sacked like he should have been long back. Also, we will for sure win against England in Jan-Feb and all will be forgotten what happened on Australia tour.

Anyways, there are reports of 3 changes coming for next match. Gill for Shaw, KL for Kohli and Pant for Saha. All good changes. I would only like to add one more change. Jaddu if fit for Vihari. He will make same amount of runs and his 5th bowling option will be really needed at the roads of MCG.

[hondafanboy]

You guys keep forgetting one simple fact. This team plays for BCCi, not India.

We all are disappointed because what happened in the first test but this is not the way to react.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by harry10

Anyways, there are reports of 3 changes coming for next match. Gill for Shaw, KL for Kohli and Pant for Saha.

...and Siraj for Shami.

Vihari will play definitely.

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

...
If I am Kohli tonight, I would stay back in Australia and devise ways to come back from this horrible defeat...

Originally Posted by dailydriver

I completely concur with this.

It is time the captain stands up and gets counted. Whatever his sentiments were when he decided to skip the series midway, this abysmal defeat should force him to question himself. History will call him a deserter - a leader who wasn't there for his team when it needed him the most
...

Originally Posted by hondafanboy

...Virat cancels his trip to be with his wife...

Over reaction much guys? This is, at the end of the day, a game.
Cricket is, for a reason, a team game. Let the man enjoy the special moment in his life. If we lose so be it.

[hondafanboy]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Over reaction much guys? This is, at the end of the day, a game.

Cricket is, for a reason, a team game. Let the man enjoy the special moment in his life. If we lose so be it.

I agree. I wasn't serious and was being dramatic about it. I wish him and his family well. He is the best in the game and nothing will take that away from him.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

...and Siraj for Shami.

Vihari will play definitely.

Vihari might open with Mayank if rumours are to be believed.

Ideally it should be Siraj for Shami but we also have Natarajan with us. If we want a left arm pacer like Australia have Starc for some variety and different angle then he can be tried too.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by harry10

Anyways, there are reports of 3 changes coming for next match. Gill for Shaw, KL for Kohli and Pant for Saha.

Today's HT says five changes: Siraj/Saini for Shami and Jadeja for Vihari.

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Over reaction much guys?

Absolutely; people seem to be flaming for Kohli for taking paternity leave. In 2020. Quite hypocritical since society as a whole is rooting for paternity leave to be standard in professional services. A friend compared sports with War, saying sportspersons and Armed Forces should not take leave and give the nation priority. Laughable at how seriously they take sports.

Also, if one guy is making/breaking the team, it also speaks to an unbalanced team. (Which unfortunately is Kohli and Shastri's doing )

[harry10]

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Today's HT says five changes: Siraj/Saini for Shami and Jadeja for Vihari.

Absolutely; people seem to be flaming for Kohli for taking paternity leave. In 2020. Quite hypocritical since society as a whole is rooting for paternity leave to be standard in professional services. A friend compared sports with War, saying sportspersons and Armed Forces should not take leave and give the nation priority. Laughable at how seriously they take sports.

I support Siraj over Saini. He swings the ball and bowls a good test match line and length whereas Saini is all pace.

Like I mentioned before Jadeja for Vihari is a good change. On current form Jaddu will make similar or better runs and his left arm bowling is a huge plus against Aussies as most top batsman are right handers. Plus like fast bowlers hunt in packs spinners also love bowling together. Will also reduce the workload on Pacers as we can't afford losing another pacer to injury.

As for paternal leave let's be honest. Don't we all take it from our jobs or any leave when our family needs us? So, I support Kohli taking it. Most cricketers do. Williamson just did for the birth of his daughter. He didn't had to quarantine so he was back to play asap but due to 14 days quarantine Kohli unfortunately can't.