Arm Ball

1) Manoj Tiwary — the 1st real youngster post 2007 age to make the mark but injuries got him and barring the yorker game in Gabba in CB series 2008, this lad didnt get much chances to prove his talent. This season he should be back in contention given the injury of Raina and ahem ahem uselessness of Rohit Sharma

2) CP : Much said about him on Indian blogs in 2008. before injury got him ahead of IPL, he was in terrific form and he should get chance to prove his worth in ODIs and as a fringe player in Tests.

And those who support Badrinath to be in contention for the place in ODIs or Tests should go look for his score cards in Emerging player tournaments. He is the boss there and doesnt have to deal with the wicked presence of MS up there. Scoreline of 4, 3, 13 in 3 games as skipper obviously wont help his cause and then vocal cords or noise or support of Kris wont help him get even 3 or 4 voices in his favor.

Cmon Dabri, prove it you have got the substance and the mettle. As of now I m grinning cos I know you are useless. Your performances down under are going to turn off ur remaining supporters too.

Nayar is another just for a tour selection. He is one guy who chokes at big stage like Raina. IPL proved it.

Ashish Nehra is rightly back.

The core players should have been rested. And it would have been apt that the IPL successful stars should have been sent with Badrinath as non-playing captain. The flared egos would have been softened.

If Vengsarkar was chief selector even now, Dhaval Kulkarni wud have been into the team. The same lame duck bowler in IPL who bowls max 126 kmph fastest and is amazingly highest wicket taker in the Ranjis.

Thats why the likes of Jaffer got the chance when they were ordinary or for that matter Badrinath continues to be in Grade B when he hasnt even played a single decent knock at highest level. How come he is in the central contracts list and no PUJARA ?

Rajput is shamelessly backing Dhaval Kulkarni on a show on Neo Cricket. Mumbai mumbai bhai bhai.

Kohli rocks. As usual, he is next Dravid or # 3 for me.

Sharma shows some signs of promise which he showed in initial part of his career and was touted as next Tendulkar. Hope he shows consistency in few games to come n should crawl back to the TEst reserves replacing overhyped good for nothing Badrinath.

Credible show against the possible Test XI in Bangalore and this should give a huge boost to the India as the bowling attack of opposition team has been milked for 371 runs with 251 runs being added for last 2 wkts.

Great show guys. Crezjha for 123 runs and M Clarke for 45 runs with no wkts given speaks the depletion australia suffers in spin department. Plus McGain is injured. Not good omen for Aussies.

Suresh Raina out for 0.

Badri out for 1

Rohit Sharma out for 15.

This is the match scorelines for Test youth hopefuls vs Australia A where the home side were blown away by Shaun Tait first and then Luke Ronchi with a superb 100. The same team which lost to NZ by 129 runs yesterday, blew India A team which had as many as 8 players with international experience.

Badrinath has been spoken of in high esteem by many players and bloggers. He got a chance to prove himself in SL ODIs, failed. He spoke about how bad he was being treated by selectors and promptly was drafted in the team as Sachin’s replacement for ODIs. And now when he got a chance to prove a worthy contender for aussie test series with “seniors in decline”, the chap failed. Does that sound as class ? Or a talent ? Cmon dude, you got a chance to lead, you failed. You lead India A in Emerging player tourney down under, you failed. You still feel good enuf to be in the contention for a Test slot ? Performance. Where ‘s that with the bat ? We need runs under your belt sir, not vocal chord decibel strength.

Raina was very good in Asia Cup against BD and UAE, but failed to Tait — the bowler who is on a return from the break and doesnt figure in Test XV of Aussies. Uthappa is on a way out to exile for long term. Rohit Sharma, who is being viewed as next Sachin or next Richards (some ex-player said) failed once again.

If this players we expect to replace the likes of Tendulkar, Ganguly or Dravid, then I am sorry to say we are next West Indies in making. This players can be found in Page 3 parties, TV ads, commercials, shaking a leg or 2 in a dance show, but would hardly be found performing where they are actually meant to. And when they get blown by second string Australian team, think of what Lee, Clarke and Johnson would do to this guys. Do we want to loose the series 0-4 inside 3 days ?

Once more the debate is out there for everybody to participate in. There are scores from seniors who have one odd failure in Lanka and the youngsters who were blown away on a flat wicket on a subcontinent track. We got to decide do we need likes of Rainas, Sharmas or Badris ?

Or the likes of Virat Kohli who has been getting better and better in the game against Sui gas in Nisar trophy. 52 in the first innings when nobody else crossed double figures and 81* right now wiping out the lead Sui gas had before. If there is one contender for Test team, then here it is. Virat Kohli. Sheer genius.

Think about it.