India in Zimbabwe and India A in South Africa 2013

First topic message reminder :

There is yet some time for this series to take off, but just starting a thread well in advance. This certainly is not the most anticipated series this summer, neither is it a high profile series for that matter.
Yet there are a couple of things that make it an interesting one. Zimbabwe made a successful return to fullfledged return to international cricket in 2011, and have showed some good signes since, although the output hasn't been consistent. Unfortunately, this series does not include any test matches. But there are 5 ODIs, and the young Zimbabwe outfit would benefit from as much international exposure as possible. The other important thing is that it is India who are touring, meaning that Zc would get some much needed additional revenue.
The other thing is the Indian team itself. They have rested some senior players including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Seamers Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma are also rested. exciting youngster, J&K's offspinning all-rounder Parwez Rasool is given an opportunity. Haryana seamer Mohit Sharma has also found a place in the side. Cheteshwar Pujara is back in the ODI mix, and this time he should make his debut in all likelihood. Ajinkya Rahane is also back. Virat Kohli will be leading the side.
India squad: Virat Kohli (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra
Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parvez Rasool, Shami Ahmed, R Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma.

Zimbabwe bowled for 163. Shaun Williams scored 51 and Hamilton 32, but there was nothing much else. Amit Mishra led the Indian bowling, picking up 6-48.

The J&K CM has had a go at the BCCI for not playing Rasool today. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/omar-abdullah-lashes-out-at-bcci-for-not-fielding-parvez-rasool-in-odi-series/1150693/

msp83 wrote:The J&K CM has had a go at the BCCI for not playing Rasool today. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/omar-abdullah-lashes-out-at-bcci-for-not-fielding-parvez-rasool-in-odi-series/1150693/

i do believe that selections are done remotely by BCCI / selectors and also dhoni...sitting at a distance.
Faroq abdulla's angry retort will ensure.....Rasool ain't ignored in the A series

good to see Jadeja get a hit in the middle..

and boy Mishra has been phenomenol....amazing consistency and strike rate in IPL and follows it up here

Mishra has taken the most wickets in a 5 match ODI series, a new record of 18. Even against Zimbabwe, that has to count for something.

so when does the next tseries involving India start

A couple of months down the line I think. There are some atrociously long ODI series slated, think a 7 match series between India and Australia in India, and later in the year, they play another 7 ODIs against South Africa. About the latter, the schedule is not finalized as yet, the BCCI for a change, wants to cut down on the ODIS.

msp83 wrote:A couple of months down the line I think. There are some atrociously long ODI series slated, think a 7 match series between India and Australia in India, and later in the year, they play another 7 ODIs against South Africa. About the latter, the schedule is not finalized as yet, the BCCI for a change, wants to cut down on the ODIS.

well it would be good to have a few tests......give 2 against BD for example..they will be happy...and Tendulkar can be happily retired

3 Tests away to the Saffers are next for India, on the 26th December to the 19th January. #properchallenge

KP_fan wrote:

msp83 wrote:A couple of months down the line I think. There are some atrociously long ODI series slated, think a 7 match series between India and Australia in India, and later in the year, they play another 7 ODIs against South Africa. About the latter, the schedule is not finalized as yet, the BCCI for a change, wants to cut down on the ODIS.

well it would be good to have a few tests......give 2 against BD for example..they will be happy...and Tendulkar can be happily retired

Indeed. A couple of tests against Zimbabwe or Bangladesh would be better than a long stretched bilateral ODI series even against a better ranked side. A tri-nation tournament would be better than a 7 match bilateral ODI series. There shouldn't be anything more than 5 matches at most in a bilateral ODI series.

Jadeja rises to No.1 position as an ODI bowler and India consolidates it's positon as the No.1 team....widening the gap by one point.

Jadeja's rise has been phenomenol but not surprising.
From a batsman who could bowl part-time...he has turned into a very potent bowlers in all forms of game on all pitches who is a handy bat at No.7 and I believe his peak as a test match batsman especially is yet to come.

NZ A is touring India and following is the sqaud...good to see A tours and some very exciting tlent will be on display, including some unknown names






Maharashtra's Vijay Zol has been prolific in India's Under-19 matches ©
Players/Officials: Vijay Zol | Jiwanjot Singh | Unmukt Chand | Manprit Juneja | Robin Uthappa | Sachin Baby

Series/Tournaments: New Zealand A tour of India and Sri Lanka

Teams: India



Vijay Zol, the 18-year-old Maharashtra batsman, has been named in the India A squad for the long-format matches against the touring New Zealand A team. Zol, who has not played a first-class match thus far, has been prolific at the Under-19 level, scoring consecutive centuries against Sri Lanka in the recent youth-Test series.


The team for the two unofficial Tests - one three-day and one four-day match - will be led by Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar and includes a number of young players; Punjab batsman Jiwanjot Singh, Delhi's Unmukt Chand, Gujarat's Manprit Juneja and Madhya Pradesh spinner Jalaj Saxena among others.


The squad for the three unofficial ODIs also includes consistent performers from the domestic scene. The side, led by Chand, the former Under-19 captain, also includes Robin Uthappa, who last played an ODI for India in 2008.


All the matches of the series are scheduled to be played in Visakhapatnam and the tour kicks off with the three-day match starting August 31.


India A Test squad: Abhishek Nayar (capt), Jiwanjot Singh, Unmukt Chand, Vijay Zol, Manprit Juneja, V. Jagdish, C.M. Gautham (wk), Dhawal Kulkarni, Imtiaz Ahmed, Aniket Choudhary, Shrikant Wagh, Jalaj Saxena, Rakesh Dhruv, Sarabjeet Ladda.


India A ODI squad: Unmukt Chand (capt), Robin Uthappa, Aditya Tare (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Mandeep Singh, Ashok Menaria, Sanju Vishwanadh, Sachin Baby, Dhawal Kulkarni, Basant Mohanty, Sandeep Sharma, Shrikant Wagh, Rahul Sharma, Jalaj Saxena

Don't think I particularly like the way the BCCI is using the A team games. I think they have to identify a set of players and stick with them for long like England do. There is one A side touring South Africa, and most of the players should be close to national selection if not already had the experience of the same. Thought they should have stuck with the same squad or included a couple of others. The likes of Sanju Samson, who could be India material in a few years down the line, should be given time at the domestic level. Even at the U-19 level, it doesn't seem they have identified a clear role for him, he plays half the gams as wicketkeeper batsman, the other half as specialist batsman. It is important they identify clearer roles for players at the grounding level and build on from there.

msp83 wrote:Don't think I particularly like the way the BCCI is using the A team games. I think they have to identify a set of players and stick with them for long like England do. There is one A side touring South Africa, and most of the players should be close to national selection if not already had the experience of the same. Thought they should have stuck with the same squad or included a couple of others. The likes of Sanju Samson, who could be India material in a few years down the line, should be given time at the domestic level. Even at the U-19 level, it doesn't seem they have identified a clear role for him, he plays half the gams as wicketkeeper batsman, the other half as specialist batsman. It is important they identify clearer roles for players at the grounding level and build on from there.

India talent pool is much wide than England...and I can see that selectors are casting the net wide...and have an India-B also along with India-A

KP_fan wrote:

msp83 wrote:Don't think I particularly like the way the BCCI is using the A team games. I think they have to identify a set of players and stick with them for long like England do. There is one A side touring South Africa, and most of the players should be close to national selection if not already had the experience of the same. Thought they should have stuck with the same squad or included a couple of others. The likes of Sanju Samson, who could be India material in a few years down the line, should be given time at the domestic level. Even at the U-19 level, it doesn't seem they have identified a clear role for him, he plays half the gams as wicketkeeper batsman, the other half as specialist batsman. It is important they identify clearer roles for players at the grounding level and build on from there.

India talent pool is much wide than England...and I can see that selectors are casting the net wide...and have an India-B also along with India-A

I would bloody hope so too with your billion + people, and the whole "cricket is our religion" thing!

would bloody hope so too with your billion + people, and the whole "cricket is our religion" thing!

but not in proportion to the population.
because half of the country lives in extremly poor conditons

Glenn "$1m man" Maxwell has absolutely ruined the Indian A attack today.

A quite unreal 145* off 79 balls.

Most remarkable, Maxwell put on 146 runs with Josh Hazlewood(21*) in 13.4 overs.

Gerry SA wrote:Glenn "$1m man" Maxwell has absolutely ruined the Indian A attack today.

A quite unreal 145* off 79 balls.

Most remarkable, Maxwell put on 146 runs with Josh Hazlewood(21*) in 13.4 overs.

and Aus-A got to 298 INSPITE of that smashing Million dollar baby's inning.

and India has a near international strength side and are going well in chase....but the RR is getting out of hand now.

if Raina's stays 10 more overs.....he will see us throuhg

It appears India-A pulled off a defeat from the jaws of victory not able to get 23 runs in last 4 overs with 6 wickets in hand.
Raina blitz an 85 odd.....dedicated to ShankyCricket

Having gone to South Africa, the C word seems to have the Indians as well. Disappointed that they didn't play Rasool again. Good to see Rayudu making runs. Rohit and Raina also among the runs. Think they should players who are likely to play the tests later this yar more. The likes of Murali Vijay may not become a regular in the India ODI side, but as the test opener, as much playing experience he would gain could benefit him and India later.

Ind-A get 309 vs. SA-A
Pujara fails...everyone else fires.

let's see if they cab defend this big total today

India defend successfully......as SA crash from a very healthy position of 8 wkts in hand and 30 runs neesed.

Rasool and nadeem went at 8 an over but took 2 wkts each

Runs for Dhawan, Rohit, Raina, Rayudu....... Wickets for Nadeem and Rasool....... And a handy win for India A. Pujara just not finding his range as yet.

And interestingly, Pujara using Dhawan's bowling a bit more, than what we have seen so far at the highest level. Even at domestic level, he's not much of a parttime bowler as such.

this is a tougher series thatn the games against Zim I think

Quite like the idea of 2 different "A" teams actually, msp. The ones close to a Test berth are auditioning in South Africa while the home "A" games are being used to develop the next set of cricketers i.e. the younger lot. Makes perfect sense to me. Not that I totally agree with the squad, mind you. Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma should've been in the 3 day/4 day squad ahead of Choudhary and Wagh and maybe
Mukund ahead of one of Chand or Zol. The rest is fine, I think.

Shanky, I can see the point that KPF and you are making regarding a 2nd A side. But I don't think the A sides playing against NZ were selected with any real serious thought. Besides, at least for the 3/4 day games, players closer to national selection should have been given a go. The likes of Zol might be carrying India's batting in a few years from now as the lad is a world of promise, but he hasn't had any real first class cricket at the domestic level to work his game out for himself. On the other hand, I don't think the likes of VA Jagadeesh has any real chance of getting selected to the national side. But most of the players selected are performers at either age group level, or the last domestic season. Perhaps acknowledging that might be the point of the series.

Onto this series, Rohit has continued his fine form. Its a bit ironic that I've criticised him on this thread considering that I've always stuck up for him against criticism from Msp but I do think his poor strike rate and lack of conversion may cost us at times on flat tracks. But with Pujara not really taking his chances so far, I guess its only fair that Rohit retains his ODI opening slot. Hopefully, he'll improve on his S/R and conversion rate as he no doubt has the shots in his book and has played long innings in FC Cricket including a triple hundred. He's doing decently ATM but still nowhere near his optimum talent or potential and if he comes anywhere close to fulfilling his natural ability, Indian cricket will be a helluva lot more richer.

Good to see Raina proving me wrong so far and he's done enough to retain his spot but I'd wait for the actual ODI series vs SA in Nov before I'm totally convinced.

Rayudu performing well too, which is great to see. Should get the No.4 slot ahead of Karthik.

msp83 wrote:Shanky, I can see the point that KPF and you are making regarding a 2nd A side. But I don't think the A sides playing against NZ were selected with any real serious thought. Besides, at least for the 3/4 day games, players closer to national selection should have been given a go. The likes of Zol might be carrying India's batting in a few years from now as the lad is a world of promise, but he hasn't had any real first class cricket at the domestic level to work his game out for himself. On the other hand, I don't think the likes of VA Jagadeesh has any real chance of getting selected to the national side. But most of the players selected are performers at either age group level, or the last domestic season. Perhaps acknowledging that might be the point of the series.

No harm in giving Zol a run in the A team though, is there? Its not as if there are any standout openers in domestic cricket apart from Jaffer (who's too old and has no chance of ever being picked for India again) and Jiwanjot (who is already in the squad). So there's no harm in giving an obviously talented opener a run in the A side given that we're short on quality in that department in the domestic circuit. Having said that, I won't have picked both Zol and Chand. Abhinav Mukund, despite a poor fc season last year deserves a spot I think and he could've been picked ahead of one of the youngsters. But there's no harm in trying young talent.

Agree you about Jagadeesh. Maybe Mandeep could've been picked ahead of him instead?

And as I said, Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma should be there in the seam dept.

I don't see any other problems with the squad?
The ones, who are close to a Test place are auditioning for it in South Africa. What exactly are we going to learn about them by playing them vs NZ A at home? Why not use this series to learn more about the younger lot and develop a greater strength in depth?

India fails to get 285 chasing 310.....these have been very high scoring games with close finishes....absolute placid pitches it seems these are.

Maxwell smashes the Indian bolwing apart again today.....confirming that whoever paid him a million dollar was a good judge of talent

Glenn Maxwell's been in rare touch during the trip of South Africa.

Looks like it could be Australia vs India in the final.

Maxwell must fancy his chances of pummelling that attack again!

India 110-1 in 16 overs...going at 7RPO......anything less than 310 does not seem like a safe score on these "patta" pitches

Dhawan on fire..it's raining FOURs and SIXESs in Pretoria now....and there is a serious risk of Dhwan hitting a double hundred today

*Shikhar Dhawan(lhb)

200 132 24 4 151.51 striker

Dhawan get to 200 with more than 10 overs to go....god knows where he will finish todays...India-A defnitely looking good to get to 400

Dhawan is simply unbelievable!

I thought Dhawan might've been found out in the CT in England, but he was fantastic.

I thought the young South African bowlers would've exposed him, but he is an amazing all round player.

Steyn vs Dhawan will be great viewing later on the year.

Highveld Winter pitches are ridiculously placid, but this has been dominance at its finest

kingraf wrote:Highveld Winter pitches are ridiculously placid, but this has been dominance at its finest

Very true, but I've never seen an Indian play like this on South African shores

Dhawan goes for an amazing 248 off only 150 balls! 30 x 4 and 7 x 6.

Anything Maxwell can do, Dhawan can do better!

Dhawan surprised me with his domicance in CT....a very reassuring feeling.

the number of fours aand SIXES he smacked over extra cover in this knock are amazing.

and he is no spring chicken....has matured hsi temperament and tighetened his leave outside off.

what allows him to prosper overseas also......are his very string horizontal bat....pulls and cuts...that normally Indian batsmen are not good at

India fail to get 450
Only 433.....Pujara scored a pale hundred 109 * (97) balls below par scoring rate

SA-A going boom boom also, but India is chipping away with wkts and the asking rate is getting upto 10RPO at the half way mark.

which is not that alarming given that they started with a near ask of 9 RPO

If I was only to look at the score-cards I would think these games are being played in Rajkot  

SA may still surprise India...they are keeping uto the RR of 10 for the last 8 odd overs

What kind of atrocious road of a pitch this is? All the matches in this series for that matter. Ridiculous!!.

RRR has gone upto 11 and with 6 wkts in hand still acheivable I would say

So the final will be Australia A vs India A

Maxwell vs Dhawan

Could be a mouthwatering showdown.

Ive been posting for weeks that I averaged 115 this winter. Ive been playing on a few of the pitches that have been played on. Might as well be chucking a beach ball on a Highveld winter pitch

well India wanted to send an A team with a lot of senior palyers to accilimitize to SA conditions.

SA is giving India anything but acclimitization......the pitches are worse than the flattest strip in India that is in Rajkot.

Not good for the game such strips...where SA scored 394 runs in a one day 50 over game and yet lost by 40 runs:shock: 

KP_fan wrote:well India wanted to send an A team with a lot of senior palyers to accilimitize to SA conditions.

SA is giving India anything but acclimitization......the pitches are worse than the flattest strip in India that is in Rajkot.

Not good for the game such strips...where SA scored 394 runs in a one day 50 over game and yet lost by 40 runs:shock: 

Get off your high horse

It's winter in South Africa, they can't produce green seamers at this time of the year.

I agree, Gerry. Cant possibly complain about the pitches, when you are sending your team out in the freaking winter.