India have announced the squad for the first two tests in Mumbai and Ahmadabad. The two major eye catching changes are the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Yuvraj's fairy tale comeback continues and remains an inspirational story. After his performance with both bat and ball, it was pretty clear that he was a favorite to be included, however going by his past records and questions over his fitness it still had to be seen if the selectors would pick him ahead of Suresh Raina.
Yuvraj Singh has had a long, long try at test cricket and has never managed to cement himself a place. However he remains one of India's best batsman and his crafty left-arm spin is a bonus. So does one go with him or not? He has runs under his belt and his form is good at the moment, but is this wholly based on that, or is it an emotional decision as the one rushing him into the T20 WC squad? And most of all, is Yuvraj's fitness up to test match level?
So many questions remain unanswered, but I think that if Yuvraj's fitness is good as he says it is, then this is a very good move. If not, all this can backfire and perhaps even play a point in ending Yuvi's test career. I'm a firm believer in his talent and think that he can very well succeed in test cricket. His last test match against England in Chennai where alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj batted on a difficult last day pitch to see India home to a memorable win, told that Yuvraj can indeed play test cricket. There was never a question about that. The question was always over his performance in the whites. He has played 37 tests, and still remains as a provisional member of the team, which doesn't look very good. Yuvraj did get his opportunities, plenty of them, but with the likes of Sachin, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman in the team, his place was always threatened. This promises a new start for him with 3 of those names having called it a day. Yuvraj nevertheless will feel pressure from the likes of Raina and Badrinath for the number 6 spot, but right now, for the next two matches, if his fitness is good, then it's his and Yuvraj can take comfort in that. This might or might not be Yuvraj's last chance for India. Perhaps if he fails, he might get a try against Australia in 2013, but nothing is certain but one fact, that time is quickly running out for Yuvraj to make an impact in test cricket. This is a great opportunity not only to repay the selectors' confidence in him, but also to perhaps now try to get into the Indian test team on a permanent basis.
Harbhajan Singh is also in, and it's good to see him. He's a match winner and though he has gone of the radar in the last couple of years, he remains one of India's best spinners. I'm not sure if Bhajji will get a chance to play. MSD might not want to play two off-spinners in Ashwin and Bhajji in place for Pragyan Ojha, while at the same time with Yuvraj's inclusion and his ability to bowl left-arm spin, might make a small case for Harbhajan. However, I don't see him in the first test, and maybe in the second test only if something goes drastically wrong with the spinners in Mumbai.
Harbhajan can still take heart from the selection since it means that the selectors still consider him as an important member for India and like Yuvraj Singh, it's a new beginning and anything can happen.
As much as I want to see India defeat England to avenge for the 4-0 loss in England last summer, I also am looking forward to see where this new beginning for the two Singhs leads them.
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| Yet another go for Yuvi in India Whites. |
So many questions remain unanswered, but I think that if Yuvraj's fitness is good as he says it is, then this is a very good move. If not, all this can backfire and perhaps even play a point in ending Yuvi's test career. I'm a firm believer in his talent and think that he can very well succeed in test cricket. His last test match against England in Chennai where alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj batted on a difficult last day pitch to see India home to a memorable win, told that Yuvraj can indeed play test cricket. There was never a question about that. The question was always over his performance in the whites. He has played 37 tests, and still remains as a provisional member of the team, which doesn't look very good. Yuvraj did get his opportunities, plenty of them, but with the likes of Sachin, Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman in the team, his place was always threatened. This promises a new start for him with 3 of those names having called it a day. Yuvraj nevertheless will feel pressure from the likes of Raina and Badrinath for the number 6 spot, but right now, for the next two matches, if his fitness is good, then it's his and Yuvraj can take comfort in that. This might or might not be Yuvraj's last chance for India. Perhaps if he fails, he might get a try against Australia in 2013, but nothing is certain but one fact, that time is quickly running out for Yuvraj to make an impact in test cricket. This is a great opportunity not only to repay the selectors' confidence in him, but also to perhaps now try to get into the Indian test team on a permanent basis.
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| Likely to sit out, yet this is promising for Harbhajan. |
Harbhajan can still take heart from the selection since it means that the selectors still consider him as an important member for India and like Yuvraj Singh, it's a new beginning and anything can happen.
As much as I want to see India defeat England to avenge for the 4-0 loss in England last summer, I also am looking forward to see where this new beginning for the two Singhs leads them.
1 Comments:
instead of m.vijay irfan pathan or manoj tiwary should have been given a chance else
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