Test 3 : Who Will Make Way For Sachin, Yuvi/Kaif/Laxman or ??? Options

[p1j]

Select your player who will sit out to accomodate Sachin in the final eleven...

[princeali]

Hey unni ji and akhtar ji

I think Australia are still the favourites going into the third test. I don't know why they're dropping Kaif when he's one of their in-form batsmen compared to the others. He should come in for Yuvraj or Chopra. Yuvraj isn't suited to open, he'll be eaten alive by McGrath and Co. . It'll be interesting to see how Sachin performs. They're saying the Nagpur pitch is going to be batsman friendly but anything can happen as seen earlier in this series. I admire Australia's conditioning and determination. No Asian team comes close to them in both those departments. That is why currently they are by far the best team in world cricket. Hope India ties the series so the fourth one is do or die for both teams.

Agreed Pakistan is a young side but they still lack the discipline of most cricketing nations. Having not played test cricket for a while is just not an excuse because as Inzi said, they are professionals and they should be able to adapt to both forms of the game. I agree Moin should be replaced and he has been for the second test. Pakistan have to instill discipline within the team, only then will they be a threat. Having Woolmer as a coach is the right step. They are a talented bunch of players though. Azhar should be in the team as he's a talented allrounder but being ignored and wut about Saqlain ?. A world class off-spinner being ignored just because Malik is a better batsman, that's not fair as his record speaks for itself. Also, their opening pair is a big problem. Without a solid pair you cannot build a foundation. Ever since Anwar and Sohail, Pakistan have been lacking in this dept. Hameed is good but he needs a consistent partner and not one every match (Farhat, Butt, Umar etc lol).

Nice to see cricket fans here in this forum. It's fun to discuss the game with you two !!

Regards

Ali

[p1j]

Pakistan is a young side but they still lack the discipline of most cricketing nations. Having not played test cricket for a while is just not an excuse because as Inzi said, they are professionals and they should be able to adapt to both forms of the game. I agree Moin should be replaced and he has been for the second test. Pakistan have to instill discipline within the team, only then will they be a threat. Having Woolmer as a coach is the right step. They are a talented bunch of players though. Azhar should be in the team as he's a talented allrounder but being ignored and wut about Saqlain ?. A world class off-spinner being ignored just because Malik is a better batsman, that's not fair as his record speaks for itself. Also, their opening pair is a big problem. Without a solid pair you cannot build a foundation. Ever since Anwar and Sohail, Pakistan have been lacking in this dept. Hameed is good but he needs a consistent partner and not one every match (Farhat, Butt, Umar etc lol).

Nice to see cricket fans here in this forum. It's fun to discuss the game with you two !!

Regards

Ali

I think Pakistan has the best upcoming talent as far as the top 3 slots are concerned.. specially the likes of Yaser Hameed, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Salim Ilaahi, Saman Butt and not to forget Shahid Afridi (on his day he can conquer the world)... and then they have Shoib Malik, who is not as much talented but have been quite useful and succesful in recent times.. but I do believe Pakistan have to have a lethal spinner in the team (of the likes of Saqlain Mushtaq) and they are definately lacking in that department..

as for the lack of discipline is concerned, I think you need at least one player who doesn't play disciplined cricket as such players can turn any match on a specific day.. players like virendra sewag, shahid afridi, ricardo powell and dilhara fernando can destroy any team on their day...but what you need is a cool head on the other side.. the other player is very important.. be its a batsman or a bowler on the other side..

The problem with Pakistan in recent time was that their bowling department doesn't had a right combination. Sami and Akhtar, with both firing in aggression is not a good approach.. and the third and fourth combo (razaaq and malik) is a defensive pair... recetly moving sami/akhtar to the third bowler spot (with naved rana, dont they have a better opening bowler?) has given good results.. but they do lack a top quality spinner...

pavan