Fast bowling needs immediate attention
There was little we could analyse on the game except :
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Ishant Sharma is not a limited overs bowler. No ODIs and no T20s.
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Harbhajan Singh should no longer be # 1 choice in ODIs. Who will replace him dont know but this lad no more.
Ashish Nehra is to stay.
Hunt for some new fresh bowlers. fast bowlers to be precise. Do not fall back on tried and failed ones like Munafa, Irfan or anybody like Dhawal Kulkarni who cant step up the gas beyond 125 kph.
What happened to the Royals fast bowler who was discovered by Shane Warne? Whatever his name was, is he cleared of the chucking ?
Why not now do a review of IPL fast bowling successes and give them a lot of chance in the upcoming 12 home ODIs in bid to find a good backup pair for Zaheer Khan and hopefully Ashish Nehra in 2011 WC ?
5 bowlers every time wont be a luxury to go with in the ODIs. WI is an easy option, but I would fancy return of a batting allrounder in the game rather than Ishant Sharma. Who ? No YP. Then who else ? 2 lame ducks. Dinesh Karthik for whom I say
“Naan oru thadava sonna nooru thadava sonna mathiri” that he is no longer a useful batsman or a keeper.
Or Abhishek Nayar ? Dont know. He played decent in the only 1 or 2 ODis he played in Windies.
Something needs to be done real quick about the fast bowling department. And yes no comeback for Sreesanth please.
Switch Hit 
Sam the 2 IPL successes were Nehra and RP š no other fast bowling success except maybe Sudeep Tyagi.
Abracadabra
September 29, 2009 at 12:12 am
Meanwhile India are out of another championship in the first round (almost). It was short pitched bowling the last time, fast bowling this time. Ok, one was T20 and the other is 50-50, but the basic problem is lack of skill. And faulty selection. I agree with you on Harbhajan. Yesterday the difference between Harbhajan and Mishra was apparent. Mishra got the ball to spin appreciably. I did not see a single ball from Harbhajan spin. Sorry, I did see one ball spin and bounce, a ball which surprised Harbhajan himself. So why persist with him as if he is the last hope for India? His bowling lacks bite, and has lacked bite for a long long time.
I think we should be a little embarassed with our no 1 tag at the moment. But as you say, the rankings are crap anyway.
Abracadabra
September 29, 2009 at 1:37 am
The Royals guy from IPL was Kamran Khan. The last i heard, he was working on his action with one of the royals' advisor. He was good but not that impressive during IPL and seems like he still hasnt started playing domestic cricket.
The problem is that there is a general lack on genuine fast bowlers in India. We need bowlers who can hit 150 consistently. Unfortunately, Ishant is the closest thing we have and dropping him won't solve the problem unless they find somebody faster/more accurate than him.
Anonymous
September 29, 2009 at 1:53 am
India is just pathetic. When are they ever going to produce some good fast bowlers? When was the last time India produced a bowler who can bowl over 140+k? It's amazing with a billion cricket crazy people they still can't find one good bowler? Even SL have 140+k bowlers.
India can never be called a good side until they start winning abroad. 6 losses in a row in SA!!! Pathetic!
Gill
September 29, 2009 at 2:58 am
Abra,
1st comment : I believe yes Nehra was the success story and I believe there must be few more. Unknown ones who would give their best when selected.
Sam
September 29, 2009 at 3:02 am
Agreed Anon. we need somebody who would be speedy and adaptive to conditions. not just bowl one length.
Ishant Sharma now needs to be given a message. And that could be a return ticket to the raji games.
Unfortunately the fast bowling reserves look slim!!
Sam
September 29, 2009 at 3:03 am
Agreed Anon. we need somebody who would be speedy and adaptive to conditions. not just bowl one length.
Ishant Sharma now needs to be given a message. And that could be a return ticket to the raji games.
Unfortunately the fast bowling reserves look slim!!
Sam
September 29, 2009 at 3:03 am
Gill, the Indians are # 1 in the world. Not only me say it but the ICC too.
u sound Sri Lankan to me š
Sam
September 29, 2009 at 3:04 am
No, I'm not Sri lankan. I'm honestly surprised at the lack of talent among the indians. surely there must be at least one indian who can bowl 140+. Are indians physically incapable of bowling fast or just plain lazy?
Really with a billion people who are cricket crazy it's astonishing they still can't win abroad at all. Their record is shocking in SA.
i remember the time that they went something like 17 years without winning a single test outside sub-continent (couldn't even win in zim lol).
I dont think much has changed at all. Cricket crazy yes but not very talented..
Gill
September 29, 2009 at 3:33 am
i dont agree gil.
Sam
September 30, 2009 at 2:33 am