What has Powar done wrong?
Ramesh Powar is a glaring omission from the Indian world cup squad. His stats in his international career so far:
Year M-Wkts-Avg-Eco
2004 2-0-undefined-5.20
2006 14-19-27.15-4.50
2007 2-5-19.00-4.75
So, what has he done wrong?
Kumble has been selected for his experience and that, despite his not that impressive record of late, is understandable. However, there is little logic in selecting 5 fast bowlers. Selecting 3 spinners would have been the right way to go about it.
Even if we play 3 fast bowlers in the XI, why do we need more than 1 reserve fast bowler? Selecting two spinners in the XI on a slower Windies pitch cannot be ruled out. Given that, I would have selected a reserve spinner instead of two reserve fast bowlers.
Sreesanth, for all his promise, has been too expensive (economy rate of 5.75) and I would have gone for Powar instead.
Tags: Cricket World Cup 2007, Indian Cricket.
February 12th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Zaheer, Munaf and Irfan have injury concerns writ large across their backs. Ramesh Powar’s selection would have meant 4 pacers go to the West Indies, 2 of whom haven’t been in top form or fitness. This restricts the options greatly.
India will never go into a match with 3 spinners in the XI but a green top and the possibility of playing 4 pacers in the starting line-up is always there. The only factor of gain if Powar was selected; would have been the bolstered strength of the lower order batting, albeit on paper only!
February 13th, 2007 at 7:53 am
Fair point regarding the injury concerns Jason. However, India will not go into a match with three spinners but what if one of Harbhajan and Kumble are not in form during the world cup? Kumble has not been great in recent times, has he.. A reserve spinner would be crucial in the squad in such a scenario.
So I would have gone for a reserve spinner instead of two reserve pace men.
However, I can see that there can be people would prefer two reserve fast bowlers. Even given that, I do not see why Kumble has to be preferred over Powar..
February 14th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
India will go in with 4 pacers? Medium Pacers, you mean, I suppose. And that is expected to be a succesful strategy?W hen last was we won even a *single* match playing 4 pacers/medium pacers? Ofcourse, the WC final in 1983 with the militrary medium of Jimmy, Madan and Binny to go with Kapil and Sandhu - but that was in England. Really, we are going to play 4 pacers in a match?
What a stupid idea!
February 14th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
pratyush - the logic goes Powar has done well with the ball but has failed with the bat and in the field , ti seems. yeah, like Anil Kumble is this colossus with bat and a sprightly fielder.
India is making the same mistake England did with Ashley Giles and Geraint Jones and will pay the same price, And Greg Chappell will walk off with a cool profit and a potential best seller in which he will call all Indian players, administrators, policies, procedures as stupid and absolve himself of blame for this. And probably make a huge fortune that would take care of 2 generations of his family through all this. Egg will be clearly on Indian face.
February 17th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Raj: Kumble has been selected ahead of Powar because of the experience factor but Kumble hasn’t been impressive in his time before he was dropped or after he has made a come back compared to Powar..