Trouble is the "some new all-rounders" are all "round" in international cricket. See the long list of "star batsmen" tried already : Raina, Ottappam, Rohan Gavaskar, Jaffer, Kaif.. none of them developed into match-winners, though I would rate Kaif as nearly as good as a star bowler on the field because he saves so many runs and gets so many run-outs. But we DON'T have batsmen with the winner's discipline at the top level.
Now for the "all-rounders". I am of the firm belief that an all-rounder is a star strike bowler who learns to bat by sheer determination. Look at all the great ones: Peter Pollock, Ian Botham, Ray Illingwood, Horlicks Baby Flintoff, and of course, the greatest - Kapil Dev.
India's record is dismal in that department, EXCEPT for Irfan Pathan. I don't understand what happened there - how does a deadly fast bowler suddenly lose length, line and batting ability, all at once? Did he fall in love or what? Or take up Rooh Afza etc?
Sreesanth shows batting talent - he should also be given the chance to develop his batting.
Also, I think Dravid's imagination and audacity in trying intelligent bowling changes, stinks. The man is as imaginative as a rock. Otherwise, Tendulkar and Dada should be bowling in the 5th over onwards, to shock the batsmen with slow swing and accurate bowling.
My whole problem with Agarkar is his total lack of discipline. An occasional wide, maybe, because of over-swing, but NO-BALLs? Come on, for someone who lives to bowl, it is hard to imagine how he cannot still have the rhythm and run-up accurate and repeatable to the millimeter.
144 kmph is not an issue any more at the top of an international match. All the bowling machines do that (even I have faced balls at that speed). Without accuracy, its all just sixers and fours. Remember Chukhtar to Sehwag, first over, World Cup in South Africa 2004? Jayasurya won't be any kinder to Agarkar.
They need to drop Agarkar and bring in Pathan, and drop Patel and bring in Sreesanth. And drop Oothappam and bring in Kartik. Hope they show some brains tomorrow.
When Dhoni came out instead of Dravid against Bermuda, that was the first sign of intelligence I've seen exhibited by the Chappell-Dravid junta in a loooong time - I don't give them credit for bringing Dada back, because that was done under pressure.
BTW, the Sri Lankans showed very clearly that 191 would have been eminently out of reach of BD if the bowling had been accurate. As it is, when they won against India there were only 9 balls remaining. India should have won that match, if Agarkar had not been asleep in the first few overs.
Now for the "all-rounders". I am of the firm belief that an all-rounder is a star strike bowler who learns to bat by sheer determination. Look at all the great ones: Peter Pollock, Ian Botham, Ray Illingwood, Horlicks Baby Flintoff, and of course, the greatest - Kapil Dev.
India's record is dismal in that department, EXCEPT for Irfan Pathan. I don't understand what happened there - how does a deadly fast bowler suddenly lose length, line and batting ability, all at once? Did he fall in love or what? Or take up Rooh Afza etc?
Sreesanth shows batting talent - he should also be given the chance to develop his batting.
Also, I think Dravid's imagination and audacity in trying intelligent bowling changes, stinks. The man is as imaginative as a rock. Otherwise, Tendulkar and Dada should be bowling in the 5th over onwards, to shock the batsmen with slow swing and accurate bowling.
My whole problem with Agarkar is his total lack of discipline. An occasional wide, maybe, because of over-swing, but NO-BALLs? Come on, for someone who lives to bowl, it is hard to imagine how he cannot still have the rhythm and run-up accurate and repeatable to the millimeter.
144 kmph is not an issue any more at the top of an international match. All the bowling machines do that (even I have faced balls at that speed). Without accuracy, its all just sixers and fours. Remember Chukhtar to Sehwag, first over, World Cup in South Africa 2004? Jayasurya won't be any kinder to Agarkar.
They need to drop Agarkar and bring in Pathan, and drop Patel and bring in Sreesanth. And drop Oothappam and bring in Kartik. Hope they show some brains tomorrow.
When Dhoni came out instead of Dravid against Bermuda, that was the first sign of intelligence I've seen exhibited by the Chappell-Dravid junta in a loooong time - I don't give them credit for bringing Dada back, because that was done under pressure.
BTW, the Sri Lankans showed very clearly that 191 would have been eminently out of reach of BD if the bowling had been accurate. As it is, when they won against India there were only 9 balls remaining. India should have won that match, if Agarkar had not been asleep in the first few overs.