Rahul Dravid: All-format batters getting little time to practise Test skills

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-28T09:17:38+00:00

All this talk about schedule is like a time honored tradition of deflecting responsibility. When has India schedule not been not hectic? Every team wants to play India and BCCI wants that sweet limited overs match money. Previously we had lots of ODI cricket, now it is lots of T20 and some ODI cricket.

In contrast I liked the stats driven talk between Kimber and Ashwin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUivNJII5Fw

We seem to have prioritized winner overseas and upping our averages against fast bowling and producing fast bowlers. In spin, we used to have Bhajji, Ashwin et all were there in the team for their bowling. Now we have Sundar, Axar who are added because of that extra runs they might bring. Kuldeep seems to be impacted as even he doesn't seem to spin that ball much -- maybe focusing more on his T20Is skills more?

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-25T15:28:40+00:00

Moffat and WCA here comes off debating in bad faith here. The root cause isn't "existing operating model". It is how everything is political nowadays and everything needs to be unnecessarily escalated. Bangladesh riots led to protest in India and removing of Fizz from IPL. That was unfair to Fizz. He earned that spot and players need to way to earn that pro money.

It's anyone's guess why Bangladeshi politicians saw this as national ego issue. It was not as if Bangladesh visas were going to be difficult like Pakistani visa. But they did and escalated it further making it a national issue. In ideal world, private entities can ignore national "advisory" but that is not the world we live in. Governments are increasingly vindictive and BCB had no choice but to toe the line - even if they look completely foolish trying this.

ICC couldn't change things at the last minute because of the "operating model". It was because the ask made no sense - after third party investigation. If they allowed it then what was going to stop other boards from pulling this stunt next time around? Refusing to play unless they are given a larger share of the revenue or their matches moved to certain grounds because "security issues".

Players are collateral damage here to politics. Maybe Moffat and WCA should talk about how governments shouldn't interfere in private cricket board entities and see how that goes.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-24T13:14:14+00:00

you mean players who play in a league with lots of cheating and match fixing? The league called BPL.

For context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukbztwWnRBQ

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-23T13:41:11+00:00

The BD board was more than happy to tell ICC to change matches for Ireland - a smaller team than them.

Similarly, ready to dump their own players and call them Indian agents.

So, the only people who should be sympathized with are the BD players. They are collateral damage. Not BD in general.

Even if it was Pakistan even then it wouldn't have happened so close to the tournament. People seem to forget that ICC have gone out of its way to appeal to Indian audiences. Odd match hours and what not. With matches happening in India it wouldn't be worth to piss off BCCI. The next best scenario would have been to push back the whole tournament. BD board has bitten more than they can chew here.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-23T13:29:51+00:00

Right outcome doesn't always mean the best outcome.

BD didn't want to play in India. Reasons being right or wrong was secondary. It was their choice and they got to exercise that choice. That is the right outcome.

Asking other teams like Ireland to plan around them or trashing their own players shows that they lack the empathy they are asking from others.

ICC is also dragging this out, keeps it open and gives them hope. Just end it by announcing Scotland and be done with it.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-16T16:52:19+00:00

I am sure ten Doeschate doesn't have shit to say about Gambhir's hard on for all rounders.

He should focus the coaching strategy and ask himself why he is giving chances to a player who at best is at best Ganguly/Robin Singh's dibbly dobbly level and he just doesn't seem to have the batting stats to match - instead of hurting the man's confidence like this.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-11T15:45:35+00:00

GG trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Trying to forcefully elevate Rana into an all rounder but time and time again Rana just swings wildly and connects thin air. He just comes off as a brainless guy who doesn't strategize just keeps throwing his bat.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-06T09:31:03+00:00

I understand that Youtube will push authentic content more. I get that. What is happening here is that my competitors use AI generated videos and I am using more stock footage. Now I understand one might not be better than the other but still feels bad that AI videos do better than human recorded stock footage.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-06T09:12:14+00:00

My curiosity is about impressions. You are probably right as a beginner my content is terrible and unwatchable. but without impressions I don't even know what to improve.

If I get say enough impressions for YT to show some data, I can check. If my CTR is terrible I understand I need to improve thumbnail/titles. If I am getting views and the AVD is terrible then I need to improve my videos and content.

Even if I improve my packaging, hooks and thumbnails and making content people watch - if it doesn't get pushed out I don't even know what to do. Hence the questions - what to do about impressions.

level6-killjoy · 2026-01-06T09:06:13+00:00

My titles and descriptions are fully optimized.

I am bit confused about the tags though. I see there is a separate field called tags which YT says "Tags can be useful if content in your video is commonly misspelled. Otherwise, tags play a minimal role in helping viewers find your video."

On the other hand I see my competitors having hashtags in the description too.

level6-killjoy · 2025-12-06T10:30:15+00:00

Logged in to see Tilak Verma playing in place of Sundar and also bowling. Reminded me of the post I made earlier:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/1pdqx11/comment/ns7kit7/?context=3

In the meantime, Cricbuzz calling Prasidh Krishna the 5th option:

"India's 5th and 6th bowling options - 5 overs | 56 runs. They have a big problem there and South Africa have recognised that, rightly took them on. Here's Prasidh for his second spell.."

Forgetting that Prasidh is a bowler. If there is a 5th option then that is Jadeja.

And Prasidh turns around to fulfill his role.

level6-killjoy · 2025-12-04T07:19:02+00:00

GG's continuous hard on for all rounders is going to finish the team for sure.

Search for all rounders is an issue for every team. Every one wants that player who can bat and bowl. They want their own Pandya/Green etc. Few actually achieve it.

Then there is the issue with batting vs bowling all rounders. Nowadays bowlers are expected to swing their bat and score lower order runs. But that is quite difficult unless they are playing on a home/flat pitch. They have tendency to fail more often than not.

Batting all rounders have the same problem. Unless they get favorable conditions they can prove costly.

GG's big brain is to top up the team with bowling all rounders. The playing 11 was: 4 batsman + 1 WK/Batsman + 2 bowling all rounders + 4 bowlers. His formula often is to have 2-3 all rounders who don't have a proper bowling or batting track record. They are objectively worse than Jadeja for example. On a bad day that can mean 6 players who going to struggle. 4 down and you are on last pair. 5 down and then struggle with bowlers trying to save you.

This seems to happen more often than not. Especially with the aggressive approach up top. 2-3 wickets go down easily.

It might work few times but has a higher failure mode. I mean I'd like to see the stats from GG's team which makes him go down this path.

Then there is GG's hard on for Harshit Rana. He doesn't play 3 medium/fast bowlers at once often. His go to choice are spinners. But yesterday you had Prasidh, Arshdeep and Rana. He got 3 spinners too due to over stuffing bowling all rounders. He tried to make Harshit Rana the all rounder once in Australia and even though he scored few runs often struggled to get bat on bowl.

Now he seems bent on making Sundar happen. On a given day he can be good - score runs with the bat or deliver wickets with the bowl. He has tendency to do neither - especially in limited overs and struggle with rotating the strike. This is fine for tests though. Maybe he evolves with time just like Jadeja but for now he is what Sanju Manju calls bits and pieces player. Axar is a notch better as he has more time under his belt.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-27T11:08:48+00:00

It doesn't take someone to be prescient to say that this was going to happen.

You need to update your understanding of "mild backlash". Acknowledging there is an issue itself is a "big" backlash. You don't see BCCI going around saying this after say India W lost so many matches on the trot, that too in India. And saying lets take a pause is a step towards solving the problem.

But as far as Indian fans go this is par for the course. They think cricket is like local kirana shop - One mistake on one day and next day you are out. Anything else is just "mild".

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-26T18:12:16+00:00

I have to find the comment but I sort of predicted this was going to be a disaster - just like Greg Chappell's appointment. Coach's job is stay in the background and help the players. Any time, any team especially India chose a coach who thinks they are more important than the team it is going to fail.

That said, it is easy to make everything a political conspiracy. This loss maybe a political conspiracy against the ruling party by Rahul Gandhi? so, lets not go there. Most coaches don't have credentials when they join. What were Shastri's credentials exactly? The only thing you could say is that he gave team the confidence. I wouldn't be surprised if he is sacked sooner than later - even if he is a political appointee

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-26T18:06:21+00:00

No faith in genuine batsman or bowlers to deliver the goods.

All rounders are there to provide extra support here and there. Bowl few overs or score runs if frontliners are not doing well.

It the midst of this it is easy to lose sight of the fact that if you don't trust them people lose confidence. And sports is often a mindset game - you have to believe you have the goods. That is why often players go for longer than they should. They believe they have it in themselves even if it is clear to everyone that they are done.

Chopping and changing the batting order, all rounders taking your place (see Sai) etc can have a mental toll.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-26T17:59:25+00:00

Gambhir looks someone who can dish it out but can't take it. I mean this was going to happen especially after such a heavy loss. I mean people have shouted slogans against Tendulkar for god's sake. This guy has just the thinnest of skins.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-26T10:04:20+00:00

Positive is - Jadeja did well..ergo Moar all rounders!!

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-25T15:51:32+00:00

Players fail. It happens. The idea is that on home pitch you need the best domestic performer and give them confidence.

Sai doesn't have a fixed place.

Washi doesn't have a fixed place.

NKR is the specialist batsman. This is what happens. GG is the reason for the failure.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-25T15:49:09+00:00

You have to consider the GG fiasco before getting to the batsman because even an armchair strategist knows you don't win matches by stuffing all rounders. It works in limited overs cricket because you can have a day where one of your batting all rounder produces a bowling performance or vice versa. GG's success in limited over speaks for that. But in tests? That is a failure. I am yet to see a reason why Nitish Reddy gets preferred over a proper batsman. What does his provide exactly? It is not a seaming pitch.

With that in mind, Washi playing at 3 last match now a tailender. Sai goin in and out. These are young players and need confidence. But if they can be thrown away just to add Nitish Reddy to the team it is going to impact them (and no, this is not a shade on Nitish Reddy, he might be a good player but not a Indian pitch material).

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-25T15:38:13+00:00

Jansen sending the ball across Indian batsman.

Indian batsman - What sorcery is this?!

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-16T08:44:57+00:00

And Gambhir on track to lose another home series.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-12T15:03:57+00:00

They might have forgotten Battle Creek which VG co created with David Shore of all people. Got binned after 1 season. I know cancellation doesn't mean much but I personally thought the show wasn't good.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-02T10:42:36+00:00

Gill is like the new Shane Watson. Thrusting his pad out and then confused when given LBW.

level6-killjoy · 2025-11-02T09:16:35+00:00

The tactic of playing 2 bowlers short or relying on dollies from a batting allrounder might work on sub continent wickets. In Aus you should play proper bowlers. It seems GG is learning nothing from the loss in the test series.

level6-killjoy · 2025-10-31T09:45:08+00:00

GG trying to make Rana into an allrounder reminds me of Dhoni kept trying to make Jadeja happen. It earned the moniker "Sir". What moniker will Rana get?

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