Possible combinations if India play five bowlers

Below is the link posted on January 6 when this blog had suggested Sehwag, Pathan and Karthik in the team, while hoping that five bowlers would play at Perth.

http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2008/01/team-for-perth-shoudl-have-sehwag.html

Since India opted for a four-bowler attack and decided not to replace Jaffer, Harbhajan and Yuvraj paved the way for Sehwag and Irfan.

Now there are two possible combinations before Adelaide, and again, five bowlers including Harbhajan are recommended. India must be prepared to compromise a little on batting to ensure that Australia are unable to bat themselves out of trouble.

However, if India play with five bowlers and retain Dhoni, one fears that either Dhoni or Dravid will have to open again

V Sehwag (Opener)
Dhoni/Dravid (Opener)
V Laxman
S Tendulkar
S Ganguly
Dhoni/Dravid
Irfan Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Kumble
RP Singh
Ishant Sharma

But if India want conventional openers and opt for five bowlers, the combination should have

V Sehwag (Opener)
Dinesh Karthik or Jaffer (Opener)
V Laxman
S Tendulkar
S Ganguly
R Dravid
Irfan Pathan
Harbhajan Singh
Anil Kumble
RP Singh
Ishant Sharma

Now it will be difficult to omit Dhoni after such a splendid show with the bat at Perth, but India might need two spinners at Adelaide. Even at Perth, one can imagine the scary scenario without Sehwag getting his spinning deliveries to work, and getting the scalps of Gilchrist and Lee.

However, if India play with just four bowlers, the choice left will only be whether to retain Jaffer or bring in Dinesh Karthik.

Despite repeated failures, the only thing that could save Jaffer now is that having played six innings on this tour, he may be having a fair idea of what to expect at Adelaide. Probably, that will help him succeed.

The timing could not have been worse!

Today the Indian selectors dropped Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly from the ODI squad.

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/jan/20team.htm

The timing of team selection could not have been more inopportune. Could not the 'wise men' have waited for the Adelaide encounter to be over.

What is the point in demoralising two of the most important team members before such a critical test.

No wonder, Mohinder Amarnath had once used such strong words against them.

Everything done today is beyond logic. It might well affect India's chances in Adelaide.

I STILL DO NOT HAVE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE WIN...

...SO I WON'T EVEN MAKE AN ATTEMPT.
THE ONLY REQUEST TODAY IS TO READ THE LINK BELOW IN RED.
http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2008/01/prey-turns-predator.html

After Bucknor, Benson's experience...

...The two umpires have a huge task of ensuring that the credibility of the game does not take a beating.

Prey Turns Predator

Sania Mirza’s match will be the first one at Rod Laver Arena at 7.30 PM Melbourne Time (5.30 PM Perth time and 2 PM Indian Standard Time). The trend at Perth should be clear by that time!

As of now, the chance is that the 31st seed has more chance of winning against Venus Williams, than Australia has of preventing India from reducing their lead to 1-2 in the series!

Probably, even the die-hard cricket fans in India might get so much bored of the Indian domination, that they will keep surfing the channels to watch Sania in action.

It is ironical indeed that the Indian team, expected to be mauled by the rampaging Australians before the series began, is actually having the better of exchanges.

I can still recall the words of Pat Symcox on NDTV before the series began, when he had said that it was important for India to take the game into the fifth day to win. Experts on various others channels were also of the same view that India must stay in the test for long, to win it.

It is ironical that now, with 348 runs still needed, Australia might need to take the game into the fifth day to win! Though, realistically, a win for either team should come today. Considering that the Australians score at 3.5 to four runs per over irrespective of the situation, and after the 1st day dominated by batsmen, as many as 26 wickets have tumbled in next two days.

As Sunil Gavaskar had said, India must guard against complacency. The batsmen who have not scored runs, now must score them on the field. That is the point number one for India to succeed.

The second is that they must always pitch the ball up. They will get hit, but their swinging deliveries will bother the Australians more than the short-pitched stuff. Though the one that got Gilchrist in the 1st innings was a beauty, and a great surprise tactics by RP after he was hit for three consecutive fours!

It also won’t be a bad idea to try part-time bowlers in between, to unsettle the set batsmen. Michael Clarke was the second most economical Australian yesterday, while Andrew Symonds chipped in with two at critical junctures. Australia could well have been chasing 450 plus, with a tiring frontline attack, had these two not been bowling.

Even if a partnership is worth over 100 runs, India must not get ultra-defensive. One wicket on this track yields at least one to two more. Australia will need at least two very good partnerships of over 100 to win this game. And it is the fourth innings!

Even after all this, if the Australians win, Indians must join in the celebrations as that will be a tribute to their never-say-die spirit, and never ending search for excellence.

As Australia begin their reply...

They better start with the knowledge that only two sessions out of the eight (Till tea on Day three) have produced an average of 40+ per wicket. And that happened on the first two days, when the pitch is usually at its very best.

The first session of the match had India making 74 for two – an average of 37 per wicket.

The second session was the best of the match so far, the only wicketless session, when Dravid and Tendulkar added over 100 runs.

The third session saw the addition of another 120 runs to India’s kitty, but the visitors also lost four top batsmen. The average per wicket for this session turned out to be 30.

The fourth session, the morning session of day two, spelt mayhem for both the teams. India lost four tailenders while Australia lost three top order batsmen for the addition of just 55 runs. So the average was a measly 7.9 per wicket.

The fifth session saw Australia losing just two wickets, while adding 126 more runs. So the average was a healthy 63, but driven by a dropped catch of Symonds.

The final session of the day two saw Australia folding up for 212 and India making 52 for one. So 116 runs were added for six wickets, an average of 19.3.

Seventh Session, the morning session of day three: India added 106 runs, but lost four wickets. An average of 26.5

The eighth session saw India going little slow. 87 runs for three wickets came at the average of 29.

So Australia have a very tough job. Made tougher by the fact that Indians seem to have learnt how to bowl at them.

Sehwag's terrible miss on day of Irfan's hits

(in Jest!)

No. We are not talking about Sehwag’s inability today to take advantage of the life given by Hussey.

Instead, here we are talking about Sehwag’s failure to respond to Brett Lee, when, after hitting Irfan on shoulder, the Aussie paceman was trying to enter into a chat with him once again about the pace of Perth.

The swashbuckling opener, who never lets go an opportunity to hit a loose ball, should have responded to this loose talk by requesting Lee to be friend with him as well. It would have been ideal had he said, “You seem to be very friendly with our bowlers. Why aren't you trying to be friends with me now? I'm a bowler, as well (Even though part-time).'

Remember Symonds words to Harbhajan, after he had touched Lee.

"You seem to be very friendly with our bowlers. Aren't you trying to be friends with me now? I'm a bowler, as well’’, that is how Tendulkar had recalled the conversation, while adding that it was just one of those things.

Do not get despondent, we still lead by a whopping 276 runs!!!

India lead the series by eight to seven

If we take the first two days of each test, and dissect it session by session, that should be the result in favour of India.

Day one at Melbourne

The first session belonged to Australia. 111 for none was something everybody expected of the pair of Phil Jaques and Matthew Hayden, and they did exactly that. Tearing apart the Indian bowling attack with ease.

India hit back in the second session, bagging three wickets for 102 runs. However, the honours were shared in that session as despite Indian inroads, the Australians were still at 213 for three.

The third session undoubtedly belonged to India. They snared six more wickets for 124 runs. Australia were poised to get just about 350, at least 150 less than they would have expected to be their 1st innings score.

Day two at Melbourne

After reducing Australia to 343, the Indian reply was too feeble and too slow. The honours in this session clearly belonged to Australia. Thirty-one for two was not exactly the kind of start India will looking at. All thanks to Dravid’s inability, as opener, to find runs.

The Second session again belonged to Australia. A highly inadequate 122 for five at lunch meant India were well and truly on the back foot.

The third session had, predictably, India getting bowled out for 196, giving Australia a massive 1st innings lead of 147.

So after the first two days of Melbourne test, India had won just one session compared to four by Australia, and it found reflection in a thumping Australian win.

Day one at Sydney

The First session had Australia leaving for lunch at 95 for two, with both the openers dismissed cheaply. The honours were even as it was Australia who had opted to bat first. They could have been India’s had Ponting been given out by Benson.

However, there was a big role reversal in the second session. India were all over Australia, at one stage reducing them to 134 for six. A score of 214 for six at tea was some kind of recovery thanks again to men in white coats, but the honours undoubtedly belonged to India.

However, by losing just one wicket between tea and close, and ending the day at 376 for seven, Australia had wriggled out of the hole, snatching back the initiative.

Day Two at Sydney

The first session on the day two again belonged to Australia as they piled up massive 463 runs.

Even as it looked all over, thanks to a brilliant 73 by Laxman between lunch and Tea, India were back in the game at 101 for one. A score of 216 for three at close meant, India, despite losing the wickets of Dravid and Laxman, looked set for a reasonable score to challenge Australia.

So, the Indian performance was much better on the 1st two days at Sydney, as they won three sessions compared to two by Australia. It could have found reflection in the eventual result as well, but for umpiring errors.

Day one at Perth

The 1st session on Day one belonged to India as, on a pitch as scary as Perth (at least before the match started), they had piled up a good 74 runs by lunch, while losing only two wickets.

The second session saw Tendulkar and Dravid consolidating the gains. Not a single wicket was lost while 103 more runs were added. That was some kind of rarity for a visiting team at Perth.

The final session had Australia pegging India back with four wickets, including the crucial ones of Dravid and Laxman towards the end. The Final session honours should be considered as gone to Australia.

Day two at Perth

It was India’s best day on the tour, when they translated promise into performance. The 1st and the 3rd sessions belonged to India on a day, which saw them bowling out Australia for just 212.

However, the second session, with that tremendous fight back by Gilchrist and Symonds, can be considered shared as India did threaten greatly by picking up Ponting and Clarke very early in the session.

So the first two days of Perth had Australia dominating just one session compared to four by India. The exact reversal of what happened at Melbourne.

In nutshell, if we take the 18 sessions held so far on the first two days, India, as we assess, are leading by 8 to 7. However, they did manage to squander some of the advantage on the remaining days. So how they perform today will be crucial. The groundwork has been done. Its time to make it count.

Other links for Day Two
India have Australia by the scruff of the neck
The best ever quote on Kumble
A sullen, forlorn Bhajji, whose bunny was stolen a...
How were you dismissed Dad!
As they go into day two, Points India must not los...

India have Australia by the scruff of the neck

And they can thank the inspired selection of Sehwag and Irfan for it.

But for the initial thrust provided by Sehwag in both the innings, and two critical breakthroughs given by Irfan in first few overs, probably Australia would have been holding the initiative at Perth.

In fact, that was anticipated at the time of writing this post during the warm up match at Canberra.

http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2008/01/if-india-have-to-get-in-sehwag-this-is.html

Irfan and Sehwag were also the integral part of the team suggested in this blog even before Canberra match, though the ideal thing would have been to have five bowlers and six batsmen.

http://atulsondhi.blogspot.com/2008/01/time-to-talk-cricket-and-opening.html

Still, it is India who have Australia by the scruff of the neck. You do not get too many opportunities of Taming the Kangaroos. So India must get them fast, by totaling in excess of 400. That should be an impossible fourth innings target on this pitch.

Links to Day two posts of Perth (Four)

-- A sullen, forlorn Bhajji, whose bunny was stolen a...
-- How were you dismissed Dad!
-- As they go into day two, Points India must not los...
-- The best ever quote on Kumble

The best ever quote on Kumble

If there has to be a best ever quote on Kumble, it has to be from Maninder Singh. This is what he had to say on the Irani Trophy game, following which Kumble got a place in the Indian side instead of him. At that time, Kumble had achieved 500 wickets.

Thanks God he got 13 wickets because we got such a great cricketer. When I sit and think of it now, I feel happy that I wasn’t picked and he was. I would thank selectors for it because they did a great job. They had a great eye and we got somebody for the future. I mean more than 500 wickets in Tests! I would not have reached anywhere near it. So well done selectors for picking him after that game.

A sullen, forlorn Bhajji, whose bunny was stolen away!

In the morning session, when India were fighting a grim battle for substantial score, Sachin was seen trying to infuse some humour into off the field proceedings. He had Harbhajan for company. However, Bhajji looked sullen, and in reflective mode. And why not.

If he does get banned by the ICC for few tests, this omission will not count! Was that bothering him? Could well be.

Or was the heartbreak of being omitted from the Indian squad on a pitch, where bounce would have suited him, dominating his thought process. After all, Steve Waugh too felt the same way, as he wrote. ‘’Spinners can profit here, but ones who rely on bounce, such as Harbhajan Singh, are normally a better bet than your skidding types such as Brad Hogg. India's selectors obviously disagree because they axed Harbhajan, whom I felt may have bowled well.’’

Or was it the fact that his bunny (on ground)-turned nemesis-(following complaints to the ICC), was in danger of being let off the hook in the absence of his terminator.

Fortunately for India, Ponting was found wanting today even when turbunator was not there. But no amount of celebrations from Ishant Sharma can match the matchless acrobatics of Bhajji at Sydney, when he had claimed Ponting for the eighth time.

At least one of the Cameras today should have been targeted towards the pavilion, showing how Bhajji reacted once Ponting was dismissed. Probably, he would have cast aside all his disappointment, breaking into a jig – another matchless one!

How were you dismissed Dad!

What if his son asks Chris Rogers this question, instead of inquiring, ‘Dad, what your first runs in test cricket were, and how you scored them?

Probably, Rogers will shake his head in disgust, and lament: Leg Before Wicket, and given out wrongly.

And the answer about the first runs would have been a cracking four to the covers, one of the best shots for an opener to help settle his nerves.

How in a matter of three deliveries the whole world of Rogers may have changed upside down. First he shows his class, then he leaves a good one, and then he leaves to India’s delight!

As Gavaskar said, people remember their first runs, be it in Test Cricket, State Cricket, or Club level cricket. But one can bet they will also be remembering their first dismissals, especially if they have been done in by the marginal ones.

But an unfortunate decision for Rogers was also a perfect case of divine justice. Had the benefit of doubt gone to Tendulkar and Dhoni, India would have been looking at at least 100 runs more than the eventual total. Still, they have Australia on the mat as of now, and that augurs good for the test.

As they go into day two, Points India must not lose sight of...

-- Play your strokes. Fifty more runs could put Australia in a real spot of bother. Yes, the advantage was lost a little with four wickets in the post-tea session, especially with the departure of Dravid and Laxman towards the end. But then, most Indians would have found the 1st day score-line approaching 300, more than acceptable when India won the toss and elected to bat.

-- Ganguly and Kumble could be bigger threats than the other three pacers. The bounce and pace could help them as much as it should assist RP, Irfan and Ishant. India will need optimal utilization of their resources, and Ganguly did prove his worth as a bowler by effecting crucial blows in the series against Pakistan. Take lessons from Ponting’s book in this respect. He has used Symonds and Clarke so effectively in this series. Sehwag’s off spin can also be tried from time to time.

-- After Sydney, most Indians had mentally prepared themselves for a 0-4 score line. So after such a resilient 1st day display, things can only become better for them. Even if they have to go down, they must go down with all guns blazing. Especially when it is a win-win situation for them.

-- The battle for the driver’s seat is still on. As of now, India have runs on the board, and even if last four perish adding just 15-20 more runs, Australia will need anything above 400 to put pressure on India. They will be batting last after all, and could miss Hayden badly. Dravid today said that he would always prefer to bat on a seaming track on the first day, than face an up-and-down pitch later on. Australia may have similar preferences, and apprehensions. They too are humans after all.

Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai!!!

''Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai, vahi hota hai jo manzoore kunda hota ha''
Basically, this couplet in urdu means that even if people speak ill of you and wish for bad things to happen to you, only that will happen which the God has in store for you (Otherwise, the whole world would have parished by now!)

Indeed, it was High Tea at Perth for India, when their fans were enjoying Lunch Time in India!

India were 177 for 2 at Lunch. Probably 20-30 more than what people expected to be the team’ss total at this stage. More significantly, they had lost eight wickets less. And at Perth! If someone had just read the score without naming the team, over 90 per cent (not in know of who had won the toss) would have thought that the Australia were simply batting too well!

Openers gave India a 50 plus stand, with Sehwag riding his luck. But then one always knew that Sehwag will give chances. He plays to dominate, and it can have some adverse side effects too.

Sehwag was trying to hit out at every delivery initially in his eagerness to score, and was missing quite a few too. But by the end of his small but significant essay, he had done the job. Thanks to his presence, India had got their best start of the series, which Tendulkar and Dravid made full use of.

And how the threat was tamed. Tait’s bowling was in tatters, 43 runs coming of his nine overs till tea. Indian batsmen were aggressive, not evasive. The biggest threat eliminated even before it began.

Whatever happens now, a score of 300+ will provide some real challenge to Australia. The match will surely not end in three days, unless the Australians are on the losing side!

WHAT I DID followed by WHAT NOT TO EXPECT FROM PERTH TEST

What I did on the 6th which I do not hope to repeat on 18th, 19th or 20th

1) Switched off my TV set in disgust as soon as Ishant Sharma was convinced that he was out (Could not bear to see the Australians wildly celebrating a tainted win)

2) Sulked in despair throughout the day as the reality sunk in that a golden opportunity to keep the series at 1-0 was lost

3) In spite of being a cricket writer whose livelihood depends on writing and AV work, hoped for Board to take a strong view on the continuance of the tour after Harbhajan was ‘banned’.

4) Temporarily stopped admiring Australians for their tough play as they equaled their record.

5) Allowed rough decisions in the match to dominate my life for a few days. I will be watching at least 100 more Tests involving India in next ten years, so one test should not matter that much.

Meanwhile, Kumble has won the toss and elected to bat. Below is a story on what not to expect from Perth Test, written yesterday night.

What not to expect from Perth's encounter

1) Do not expect Sehwag to click for sure. This missile nicknamed Tendulkar of Nazafgarh, can fail as well. He is in because just one very good innings from him has the potential to give India the kind of dream start they are looking for, and get back into the series. Too much expectations will put pressure on him, which could only be counter productive. He is just one of the eleven players in the team.

2) Do not expect India to win, and take the series ‘alive’ to Adelaide. Though be prepared to get surprised if the Indian bowlers just bowl good line and length and let the pace and bounce of the pitch do the rest. Tit for Tait will not be the right policy.

3) Do not expect Dravid to open again. Either Karthik or Jaffer will partner Sehwag. Having Dravid open in the first test was a big mistake, and it was his sheer class which saved the day for him at Sydney. Regular opening combo will also put some order into the batting order

4) Do not expect India to play five bowlers. But it will be good if they are bold enough to go with five bowlers – three pacers and two spinners. To be adventurous is the best policy against the Aussie, as you need more firepower to dismiss Australia twice, and cheaply.

5) Do not expect too much bad blood. Harmonious race relations will be the order of the day. Even losers will be seen smiling, just to ensure that the things do not spiral out of control. Perth should be the perfect photo opportunity for the Cricketing Doves.
But do expect millions of Indians to be rooting for team India tomorrow, hoping for every one of them to be a perfect hit.

Kumble, and the essence of Indian spirit

Indians are apologetic (Even if they do not need to)
Are always forgiving (just to uphold the spirit of the game)
Compassionate without fail (Even if they feel somebody does not deserve it)
So read on.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23052495-2722,00.html

They have come to watch my batting,not your umpiring

It is always nice to see Tom Alter. His presence is so soothing in any programme, on any issue. Alter was certainly a welcome inclusion in the episode of Cricket Controversies aired on NDTV on Sunday night.

Few interesting things that came out of the programme for general public, in the episode titled Is cricket still a gentlemen’s game, were:

-- It was never really a gentleman’s game. When given out, WG Grace once reprimanded an umpire, saying ''they (people) have come to watch my batting, not your umpiring!’’. So how can we blame today's players.

-- Instances of sledging and ungentlemanly behaviour also increase the TRP of Live programmes, Recorded Programmes, Web and Newspaper readership.

-- They help take the focus away from real issues. And the real issue today is that India is 0-2 down and in real danger of losing it badly (Though the initial ammunition here was provided by the umpires and the Australians, leaving the Indians with no option but to retaliate)

-- Even in sports like Chess and Tennis, where the intensity level is very high compared to relaxed time for some cricket players (Especially those in the close-in cordon between two deliveries/overs), instances of bad behaviour are rampant. (I rememeber reading that during the World Championship matches between Karpov and Korchnoi, there were allegations of attempts to hypnotise players (by some spectators sitting in the front row).

Blog's conclusion: In Cricket, ugly behaviour and sledging will continue because no one wants to lose. Even though Cricketing Doves like Alter may remember Sidhu more for his sixes (in the 1987 World Cup), than for his altercation with Aamir Sohail!
Meanwhile, here is a link from my another blog. Spiritualsolace.blogspot.com, on ''Is happiness just a state of mind.''
http://spiritualsolace.blogspot.com/2007/12/is-happiness-just-state-of-mind.html

'If India have to get in Sehwag, this is the time'

Seeing a rampaging Sehwag in action, that was the opinion of Ian Chappell. Sehwag was on 46 then and, just to vindicate the past master, reached his fifty in a most authentic way with a cracking four. His half-century coming off just 37 deliveries.

Contrast this with Karthik’s sedate knock at this stage, when he had barely reached double figures. But as part of the opening combination, he played his role to perfection, also laying a strong claim for the opener’s slot. The choice right now looks to be between Sehwag-Jaffer or Sehwag-Karthik Combo.

Ideally, considering the way he has performed against the real Australian attack in the first two tests, Jaffer may not be the best choice for Perth, and a fresh approach with new pair of openers could be the need of the hour.

Interestingly, when asked during the second day’s play about Sehwag, Chappell had said that despite Sehwag’s 24 to Jaffer’s 92 in the 1st innings, if he had to choose between the two, he would still love to go in with Sehwag.

This is because the Nawab of Nazafgarh has the potential to make the Australians ‘nervous'. He can change the complexion of the game in no time, said Chappell.

At the time of writing this post, Sehwag had completed his hundred, with the next fifty coming in 36 balls – one less than his first. The partnership, at the time of his century, was 145 runs and still going strong.

But even if Sehwag had not made a hundred, he would still have been an automatic choice for Perth simply for the way he played today. He did appear at his very best.

Whether Sehwag will succeed there or not, that is another matter. But for now, he looks to be the one who will surely open at Perth.

India had to chose between dishonour and war

No student of history one can ever forget Churchill’s immortal statement on the policy of appeasement in a speech to the House of Commons, where he bluntly told man of peace Neville Chamberlain that, "You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, and you will have war."

Now, there are strong allegations that BCCI's money power forced the removal of Bucknor and suspension of the ban on Harbhajan.

IT IS TRUE. If Indian board was poor, and Indian team not wanted for commercial reasons in all parts of the world, this would certainly not have happened.

But then this financial clout was just used for benign purposes -- to set a wrong, right. Right.

Sydney test was a big fraud, and that rankles even today, despite all the excellent performances and some nerve wrecking drama seen between January 2 and 6. The end result was grossly unfair, as unfair as England losing to the hand of god in the 1986 football World Cup, where all Englishmen would have felt so cheated, and would love to have that match replayed even today.

But neither that result could be erased (against Argentina), not this one can be. But the ones who perpetuated this fraud on the playing and the viewing public did need to be reprimanded.

Instead, attempt was made to reprimand and ban someone whose heroics with both bat and ball, generated so much of interest. And that too against all tenets of natural justice.

So what is wrong if India used its threat of tour withdrawal and financial clout in the cricketing world to make the ICC see reason. Probably, people would have been justified in criticising BCCI had the evidence of wrongdoing were not so glaringly evident on TV Screens. The cheating was so blatant, that it became nauseating.

The very fact that the Australian media and public rallied behind the Indian team showed that the money power was never abused. It was only used to correct a wrong.

In fact, after losing a tennis match yesterday to some poor umpiring, Australian Lleyton Hewitt exclaimed that he was feeling like Indian cricketers.

Those who love cricket but never watch tennis, must know that Hewitt is a national icon in Australia!

Time to Talk Cricket, and the opening combination

Now that the Indians have the opposition on the mat when it comes to cricketing morality, it is high time to keep them down on cricketing field as well.

The tie for Canberra holds utmost importance to decide on the opening combination, and the bowling combination. Middle order – with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid (primarly number three to six bat) and VVS Laxman remains intact.

Trying out Sehwag-Karthik Combo, and if it is successful, will help India push Dravid back into the middle order for the Perth Test (With Laxman likely to remain the batsman at one-down).

As of now, Yuvraj and Jaffer look out of the 3rd test and Dhoni may just have saved his place with some gritty resistance in the final session. But he could still find himself out if India opt for Karthik as opener with Sehwag, and a five-bowler attack.

Ideally, India need to play five bowlers – three pacers and two spinners – because one can win only by bowling out Australia. One can’t just restrict them and hope that wickets will fall. Only by taking wickets, that one subdues them.

The pacers on trial, if they all are played at Canberra, will be Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan and VRV Singh. Two of these three are likely to be part of the three-pronged attack led by RP Singh, who along with one of the two key spinners needs to be rested for the Canberra tie.

India also needs to make good use of Ganguly as pacer at Canberra. Did not he chip in with critical wickets against Pakistan, and had Ponting 'nicking' at Sydney? One often feels that he does not get as much bowling as his talent deserves.

Now, if Sehwag-Karthik Combination is selected, and performs well at Canberra, the Blog’s team for Perth will be.

Virender Sehwag
Dinesh Karthik (Keeper)
VVS Laxman
Sachin Tendulkar
Sourav Ganguly
Rahul Dravid
Anil Kumble
Harbhajan Singh
RP Singh
Irfan Pathan
VRV or Ishant

Wisdom prevails as Spirit of Cricket Wins -- ICC removes Bucknor from Test Series and suspends decision on Harbhajan's ban

Below is link to our story few hours earlier on ways to save the tour.
http://cricketclicks.blogspot.com/2008/01/ways-to-save-tour.html

Three ways to Save the Tour

http://cricketclicks.blogspot.com/2008/01/ways-to-save-tour.html