India vs England 3rd Test Mumbai Preview: An Interesting Dilemma
The 3rd test match provides Rahul Dravid with the an interesting dilemma whether he should play with 4 bowlers or go for a kill with 5 frontline bowlers.
Scenario I
4 Bowlers: To me this is the most obvious choice. India has 2 very good spinners. Kumble has just completed his 500 wickets and Bhajji will be desperate to be back among wickets. Definitely Peeyush Chawla will be dropped. Munaf Patel is definitely in after his wonderful performance. Irfan Pathan will not be dropped since he slowly developing into an all rounder which India missed since Kapil Dev. That leaves India to select between Kaif and Laxman. The choice is tough but Unlucky Kaif seems to be obvious choice after his fighting knock in 1st Test at Nagpur.
Scenario II
5 Bowlers: India going out with 5 bowlers will be an interesting propostion. Interesting because Steve Harmison being injured England is not with the same bowling power and probably that might be the reason India no longer needs the 7th specialist batsman. Especially after some good batting performances from Kumble and Bhajji in the last tests India can go all out for Enland in this decisive test. With Dhoni and Pathan contributing India should not be overtly conservative. The entire reason for having a good allrounder in the team is to create a place for a 5th bowler. Well if India does go with the 5th bowler both Sreesanth and R P Singh have a fairly decent chance. I think although that Sreesanth has the upper hand.
Which of them will work for India is the question that only time can answer but will be appreciated only if India wins. This is Rahul Dravid's 100th test and he would not definitely want to lose the golden opportunity to win his 100th test and that too for being blamed for making a wrong decision.
Scenario I
4 Bowlers: To me this is the most obvious choice. India has 2 very good spinners. Kumble has just completed his 500 wickets and Bhajji will be desperate to be back among wickets. Definitely Peeyush Chawla will be dropped. Munaf Patel is definitely in after his wonderful performance. Irfan Pathan will not be dropped since he slowly developing into an all rounder which India missed since Kapil Dev. That leaves India to select between Kaif and Laxman. The choice is tough but Unlucky Kaif seems to be obvious choice after his fighting knock in 1st Test at Nagpur.
Scenario II
5 Bowlers: India going out with 5 bowlers will be an interesting propostion. Interesting because Steve Harmison being injured England is not with the same bowling power and probably that might be the reason India no longer needs the 7th specialist batsman. Especially after some good batting performances from Kumble and Bhajji in the last tests India can go all out for Enland in this decisive test. With Dhoni and Pathan contributing India should not be overtly conservative. The entire reason for having a good allrounder in the team is to create a place for a 5th bowler. Well if India does go with the 5th bowler both Sreesanth and R P Singh have a fairly decent chance. I think although that Sreesanth has the upper hand.
Which of them will work for India is the question that only time can answer but will be appreciated only if India wins. This is Rahul Dravid's 100th test and he would not definitely want to lose the golden opportunity to win his 100th test and that too for being blamed for making a wrong decision.
posted by Googlogger at 3/17/2006 04:38:00 PM
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