Apparently Gavaskar has scored tons of runs too. Why do we not bring him back. Why don’t we get back Chandu Borde, give him a runner and a walking stick too? He can bat as well. Anyone for Amarnath? I mean the father. He is in the grave, I hear? But why not? Get the skeletons. That will do.

Ganguly got run out in the NZ-A game. Anyone surprised by that?

My points (succinctly):
- I don’t care if it is Badrinath or Surendranath,

I do care. I will not like any Tom Dick or Harry to play for India.

- Courage is required and action needed,

Agree

- Progress requires change,

Agree

- Ganguly wasn’t Ganguly before Ganguly became Ganguly,

Ganguly wasn’t a test player who had scored neearly 7000 test runs, when he debuted-sure. But there was a certain talent in him. Many such players have been tried when selectors saw a certain talent in them when some succeeded and some failed badly. This is how selection will go–it’ll always be a trial and error thing.

- Ganguly, like Badrinath, came from the Ranji system,

True. But more than 1000 batsmen have also come from Ranji. Not all went to play for India and even those who did, not everyone succeeded.

- You don’t make selection decisions on the basis of the last (few) innings,

That is true. In India the selection is always on the basis of potential.

- Badrinath has got tons of runs against good opposition.

Not that I have seen any apart from that one good knock vs SA where the only recognised bowler was Charles Langervelt.
Can you tell me of other instances where he scored big against quality pace bowlers?

- I am not anti-Ganguly (indeed, I have ‘batted for him’). I am pro-change.

So am I. I wanted change too. And I think the selectors did so as well. The change in selection panel put Indian cricket back a bit. Otherwise I was all for blooding a young talented guy in form.

As I said, I am not sure what you are arguing for or against.

I was arguing that Kaif could have been a better choice than Badrinath since Badrinath will not succeed against good pace bowlers, in my opinion. He seems to have some flaw.

But you tell me which other country has a vision for selection? Why is Australia not able to choose a spinner after Warne’s retirement? What is ECB’s vision for replacing freddie? Where is it communicated?

Jaffer, will not be chosen because he was given a fair run and counld not hold his place in unknown conditions, ie, Australia and SA. If selectors would like to replace either Gambhir or Sehwag and if the match is being played in the subcontinest or in WI, selectors “might” pick him if they go for horses for courses policy.

So there you go.

I’ve read your posts and could not find the names whom you want to include apart from some Badrinath or Surindernath or any TDH to be precise.

That can’t be a vision. You have been following Indian domestic cricket too. You should have a clear idea as to the selectors should go for in your opinion.

BTW, who will Ojha, Chawla, et al replace for the 3rd Test? And why not Yuvraj and Jaffer? After according to your “apparent” vision of the selectors, these guys would have been in BUT for a minor hiccup in the Iranis. Well that hiccup seems to be over. So clearly one ought to be ushering everyone in hollus-bollus?

– M

Not just vs Australia but A tours too. And I don’t include Jaffer and Yuvraj in the batsmen who are good for test cricket, no matter how many runs they’ll make against this Australian side.

I think selectors will do that as well after these players’ failures many times in test cricket especially in conditions unknown to them. These can’t be long term replacements.

I’m not including Kohli so soon too.

Team for Australia has been chosen for two tests. So don’t think any of the heir apparent would get a crack till then.

I’m all for replacing whoever fails.

BTW, what is your vision? Who would you have included and in whose place? BTW, please give me the vision of CA and ECB selectors too regarding their players. I couldn’t find it anywhere on their sites or articles. You must be knowing it, no?

Now that Yuvraj, Jaffer, Chawla, Ojha, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have received the Chandan-tick of approval after doing well in the game against a full-strength Australia, should they be drafted into the Indian team for the 2nd Test? Who will they replace?

– Mohan

The vision is apparent in the way the youngsters are identified. Along with identifying, they are making sure that get to be tested by international teams through the shorter formats in which they are representing India and in the A teams where they are representing the country as the second string India, playing the FC matches.

The probable best candidates will be picked from those which is ” apparent”. You saw how Uthappa was discarded as the long term prospect. You also must have seen as to how Kaif is still in the scheme of things as far as tests are concerned.

The plan gets muddled when one selection panel is changed altogether just before a new test series is to start. But I’m sure even Vengsarkar would have fallen back on Ganguly because the prospects of replacements didn’t give enough confidence.

Then there is slight problem of quota system as well, in which Srikkanth had to pick one player from his zone and he preferred Badri the fringe player to Rohit the fronge player.

Small problems like these come to Australia as well as White had come as an understudy to Warne but was never thought for tests. Now he is chosen once again and will be discarded once again as Australia will never consider him as their premier spinner. So what is their vision for the spinners?

As for India, they have identified Chawla, Ojha and Mishra as Kumble’s replacement. Whoever is in the best of forms will get a chance. This is ‘apparent’.