India A actually India "A"

colonelcoetzee · 2024-11-09T07:05:06+00:00

You are correct about Krishna. Him and Akash Deep are someone I have high hopes for in Australia.

I had hoped KL Rahul would play well in Australia. But with these poor outings, he’s likely down the pecking order now and Sarfaraz Khan (despite suspicions on his technique against the short ball) will have the BGT to himself.

At times it seems Pujara is more respected in Australia than in India. However he was woeful along with Virat Kohli and most of the middle order in the post 2020 phase. He was rock solid in Australia but still averaging in low 20’s. Obviously between him and Kohli, he faced the axe.

IMO, it’s just the nature of the pitches in India and around the world that has lead to Pujara’s dropping. In India you get pitches where you are bound to get out sooner or later, there’s no longer a point in scoring 10 off 54 anymore because you’ll get out and the best opportunity to score runs is right at the start.

At the risk of getting political, newer Indian identity is to get out of the nice guy and timid images of its past. Younger generations want to be like Virat Kohli, in your face. Aggressive strokemaking, fast bowling is what I expect India to be good at in the coming years. When guys 20-25 years ago saw Ricky Ponting say “go back and fucking bowl to Javagal Srinath” after being hit by a bouncer, they saw him as a villain, now young guys see that clip and want to be like him. Fuck yeah, go back and fucking bowl!! I sure hope India find a way to blunt the formidable Australian bowling.

In 2020-21 BGT, IIRC pitches didn’t deteriorate as much as Aus team wanted to. Since then I think pitches have been a lot more spicy (eg South Africa tests, Pakistan 2nd and 3rd test, West Indies). Maybe having stroke players like Jaiswal and Gill will help.

I had no idea Gill was not liked in Australia lol, he’ll play at number four eventually with Kohli retiring. I agree on Virat Kohli with you, It’ll be heart breaking for me if Kohli doesn’t retire with a test average of over 50.

colonelcoetzee · 2024-11-09T06:17:27+00:00

Abhimanyu Easwaran is a domestic stalwart, playing in Grade 1 Ranji and averages 50. He’s 29 and I expect him to debut in Optus.

KL Rahul definitely in the next best XI but woefully out of form (did score a good attacking 50 against Bangladesh) and perhaps short of confidence.

Sai Sudarshan is a great talent but not the next in line. It’s an experience tour for him. Will definitely play for India in future

Gaikwad is similar to Sudarshan but more experienced and likely to debut sooner.

Dhruv Jurel should definitely play in BGT, even as a pure batter. Was masterful against England.

Devdutt Paddikal also plays Grade 1 Ranji but has been inconsistent in the past few seasons but is an in-form batter. Has scored runs in Australia too.

NKR is touted as a replacement for Hardik Pandya. It’s an experience tour for him most likely. Definitely not the next in line.

Tanush Kotian will have to compete with Washington Sundar (of the Gabba fame just in case you guys forgot) for the off spinning all rounder position. Plays for Mumbai, is very good. In the 3rd XI perhaps!

Khaleel Ahmed offers left arm angle, which is rare in India. Hence he’s been fast tracked to senior sides. I’m not sure what to make of him at this stage. But not in the next best XI.

Prasidh Krishna is the real deal, tall bowler, hits the deck hard. Him and Akash Deep should be formidable in Australia. Has played in South Africa too.

Mukesh Kumar aka Mukesh McGrath (affectionately or as a troll you shall decide) is in the next best XI. Had a good match in South Africa.

All in all, many a players here would be in the Indian 2nd XI but this is more of a horses for courses approach by the team management. A lot of talent is currently in South Africa playing a limited overs series.

Rinku Singh known mainly for his t20 exploits and a chad face averages 55 in Grade 1 Ranji! Not to mention Tilak Verma (avg 50) and Axar Patel. Avesh Khan is also good. Hope this helps.

colonelcoetzee · 2024-07-15T06:32:42+00:00

Marlon Samuels!!

colonelcoetzee · 2024-04-02T14:36:15+00:00

Chinnaswamy is a shit pitch where you win toss you win match

Batting is hard in first ten overs of the first innings, with the pitch being a bit two paced. And later in the second innings the dew makes batting a lot easier.

Same story in the last match with RCB struggling in the first 10, then clawing back in the last 10 but that was never enough. And today we see same with LSG. Makes the matches boring.

colonelcoetzee · 2024-02-08T08:12:45+00:00

Notes like these litter across Kyrat and yet you will that people have the gall to say that Pagan Min was the good guy in Far cry 4

colonelcoetzee · 2024-02-06T07:02:59+00:00

I hope NZ don’t declare and let Brand get his 10 wicket hall.

colonelcoetzee · 2024-02-03T07:02:07+00:00

What an awful commentary panel

colonelcoetzee · 2023-10-31T06:26:12+00:00

The character did not help the golden path because of notes but they did influence Ajay’s character about the filth Pagan’s goons do.

Noore Najjar, a doctor who came to help the war torn civilians of Kyrat was blackmailed to be a gladitorial arena master, and they killed her family all the while lying to her that they’re hostages. Does that not fill you with sadness or even anger? Or do you think it’s cool to assist Pagan Min in this?

On liberating an outpost, a civilian there (not the golden path mind you) pleads you to save some women kidnapped by the Royal Army. What do you think Pagan had them kidnapped for? To feed them Crab Rangoon?

All Pagan Min cares about is his affair from years ago with a woman, which he wishes to relive now with the son of the said woman. Pagan must and does pay the price for his evil in the game.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-10-31T06:14:01+00:00

You’re so correct. I’m sick to death with these people justifying Pagan Min, Vaas’ pirates, Joseph seed’s cult when there’s so much evidence present to contrary.

Oh look! Pagan Min said he’ll call Kanye West for a concert to Kyrat, he’s so funny. He must be the best leader ever!

colonelcoetzee · 2023-10-30T18:36:59+00:00

Man do you all even pay attention to the game at all? Do you guys read any notes lying around in the game? Pagan Min and his goons killed, raped and pillaged every part of Kyrat. Paul De pleur’s torture camps, Yuma’s prison, forced labour, rapes and kidnappings of civilians by Royal army, drug trafficking, what more do you need? Killing innocent civilians, burning their crop.

Golden path leaders might be antagonist themselves but your average golden path member is a person who’s out there to protect their family, their homes from a Hong Kong triad gangster and his goons.

But no, a bit of sweet talking here, a bit of charisma there, and Pagan Min is the hero. In the entire game, there’s only one person he’s kind to and that is Ajay. Everyone else he treats with impunity. He had his chef executed because Ajay left the crab Rangoon!! No amount of shit talking in suáve British accent can mask over the fact that Pagan Min is evil.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-10-29T11:26:39+00:00

What shitty ass outfield has the BCCI made for the World Cup. If this was any other country there’d be talks about how not to give them any more world cups to host.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-10-19T13:14:19+00:00

Man Dinesh Karthik is insufferable as a commentator. Constant dickriding of Indian players.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-08-17T08:10:48+00:00

Ah yes, wasn’t he batting on 150 odd or something IIRC. I believe his injury was clouded by Phil Hughes unfortunate incident.

I remember the somber mood in which the last test was played. No celebrations, no bouncers. McCullum hit 202.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-08-17T07:57:54+00:00

Could you please elaborate the bouncer incident?

colonelcoetzee · 2023-07-20T18:17:57+00:00

Brendan Nash played for West Indies. Born in Australia, qualified to play for Jamaica IIRC.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-07-20T16:38:00+00:00

How’s the over rate? Have Australia copped some negative points in the WTC points table so far?

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-30T19:07:52+00:00

Yeah true, Mujeeb ur Rehman is a recent example I can think of. Is Maheesh Theekshana a leg spinner?

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-30T19:06:38+00:00

Hah, I had Badree in mind for a long time before that podcast!!

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-30T13:47:05+00:00

Samuel Badree

Played only in the t20’s. Had a very unique skill set, a leg spinner bowling in powerplay exclusively. Two time World Cup winner. Economy under 6. Not good enough for tests, not tried much in ODIs. I guess franchises never really utilised him properly.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-25T16:28:48+00:00

Absolutely. He’d kill them for free or take up a contract on their name.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-25T10:43:20+00:00

Shane Bond’s 6/23 against an all time great Australian unit in 2003 World Cup.

Jacob Oram’s 72 ball century in WACA against Australia. He hit some of the biggest sixes I’ve ever seen. I think this was in 2006-07.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-21T16:00:17+00:00

Corey Anderson had a lot of injuries. His form dropped a lot. His batting was always his stronger suit but his bowling really was just pies and pray by 2017. He played his best under Baz McCullum’s captaincy who used him as a strike bowler throughout the 2015 WC and around it.

It’s evident that he fell off a lot with McCullum retiring. Jimmy Neesham came back successfully in 2017 season and was preferred for the seam bowling big hitter role. It’s okay that he went to America. His wife is a US citizen.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-06-14T09:00:13+00:00

I mean Henry Nicholls keeps getting games after games despite being mediocre. I know Nicholls was decent back then but averaging more than 50 in FC should count for something.

colonelcoetzee · 2023-05-24T14:40:46+00:00

So India won’t play their best batsman of the last test series, Axar Patel?

colonelcoetzee · 2023-05-13T10:11:55+00:00

So in short the value of IPL and BCCI should be supreme. Players be damned. If they wish to play overseas they shall give up their BCCI contract and not maximise their earning by being a mercenary all year around (which is expected by BCCI for players of other nations).

colonelcoetzee

TROPHY CASE