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[cd0070]

I for the life of me can't figure out how he's not in all 3 formats of the game for India?? I mean he's the only good all rounder we have.. Him not bowling well is just BS.. Cause it's not like we have bowlers who are doing well.. Zaheer and Irafan have to be in every format when healthy..

[cd0070]

Albert, why are so you high on life?? All of your post are so negative..

[Eddo_003]

because he probably knows sweet f all about cricket and has nothing better to do with his time

[nickroe92]

IP is a very good bowler and should get into the india side constantly, but they have got a great pool of players to pick from

[Jeet]

Irfan Pathan has suffered from the media hype that most Indian players receive.

He started off with good pace, around 145kph, and an inswinger Wasim Akram would've been proud off.

India then seemed to think Irfan could be the new Kapil Dev and persisting with sending him in at 3 in ODI's. He did have success with the bat, but he lost his pace and the inswinger that was main weapon.

Recently, his bowling been awful, The economy rate is up near 7 and his batting has also fallen away. No ODI half century in almost 3 years.

He needs to rediscover the pace and inswing to prove he's still an asset to Indian cricket.

Another problem for Irfan is the re-emergence of Ashish Nehra, because when fit and on form, Zaheer and Ishant walk straight into the team. Leaving Irfan competing with Nehra, Munaf etc battling for the final seamers slot.

[yvk3103]

I think the problem is with the selectors (if not always with the health). They seem trigger happy to fire anyone who has had a bad day or series. These selectors are buffons.

They sacked the bowling and fielding coached a day after India lost to Aus in the first day saying that Prasad and Robin were not good enough. It is public knowledge and the players also acknowledge (and so doe Kiersten) that both the bowling and fielding improved after Prasad and Robin we appointed. One bad series and the 2 years of work they have put into the team is overlooked. Ironically the team manager was not sacked. He should have been to one to go first if the team was not doing well. What the F is the manager their to do...was the players laundry and get paid in 6 digits for that!!

Zaheer and Irfan are very good just need a bit more of support and less of politics.

How many innings did Jayasuriya and Dilshan go with our making a contribution to their sides. Look at them since and they are real match winners.

If the selectors are as fragile in their thinking as the public, then we would be seeing 11 new players in every series.

I think Irafan should use this time to play for some good county and domestic cricket in India to make a statement. Same as VVS, hes been awesome for the Lancs this season in the pro 40 and T20 (and the Indian selectors do not consider him good enough for a 50 over game!!!)

[yvk3103]

just to add.

going by performance. Ishant Sharma should have been washing clothes at home given the way he has been bowling for such a long time. The guy cannot bat or bowl....

Irfan can at least do something with the bat if the bowl and on his day with both.

[Jeet]

Yash, as I mentioned Pathan's economy is over 7. Ishant may expensive but all ways gets wickets.

The sacking of the bowling coach was justified, in my opinion, Ishant has gone from world beater to a confused young man since Prasad messed with his confidence. Saying rubbish like Ishant is only a Test bowler.

[Marcussjd9]

Irfan Pathan's bowling has gone to pot over the last few years or so, allthough from reports I've heard he's a much improved batsman. Still nowhere near good enough to be considered to play for India though.

I agree with Yash's point about Sharma, he's a pretty darn good Test match bowler but isn't the answer for India in ODIs. Can't understand for the live of me why Mishra hasn't been playing.

[cd0070]

Ah come on Jeet... You can't seriously even mention A. Nehra and Irfan in the same sentence and be serious..

Nehra's emergence?? He's still a mediocre bowler and a horrible horrible fielder/batsman...
If at worse you can say Irfan is a mediocre bowler, an athletic fielder, and a good batsman..

So how does being equal in 1 aspect of the game and being clearly much better in the other 2 be even close??  

If I was selector I wouldn't play any other spinners besides Bhajji and even that on just spinner friendly pitch.. The reason for that we have so many part time bowlers.. Yuvi, Shewag, Sachin, Raina, Sharma, Yusfu etc... So play just 3 bowlers Ishant/P. Kumar (I would say P. Kumar lately), Zaheer and Bhajji and that leaves you 20 overs to be filled with bowlers such as Irfan and all the other part time bowlers I mentioned..

Is it really that complicated?? I mean with that decent bowling attack, imagine our batting line up... Ahh I'm getting all happy and excited about a line up that would be amazing but will never happen due to Indian cricket politics..

[Marcussjd9]

I disagree. India should play 2 spinners and 2 seamers then all the part timers you listed should make up the final 10. That is for home ODIs.

[cd0070]

Oh and Irfan's Career Econ is only higher than 7 in T20.. The 7+Econ rate mentioned is only in the last 2 matches..

Irfan's last one-day appearances for India were in the series in Sri Lanka, where he took four wickets but leaked 7.06 runs an over in two matches. What has also hurt his chances of making the national side is that his batting has fallen away in ODIs - he hasn't scored a half-century in nearly three years.

http://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/420018.html

[Jeet]

I disagree. India should play 2 spinners and 2 seamers then all the part timers you listed should make up the final 10. That is for home ODIs.

Marcussjd9 - I don't see your obsession with India playing two spinners. Harbhajan is the only spinner India should play Then he is backed up by Jadeja, who is a very good slow left armer spinner. Coupled with the fact he is a genuine all rounder, he averages 37 in first class cricket with the bat.

[Jeet]

Oh and Irfan's Career Econ is only higher than 7 in T20.. The 7+Econ rate mentioned is only in the last 2 matches..

Irfan's last one-day appearances for India were in the series in Sri Lanka, where he took four wickets but leaked 7.06 runs an over in two matches. What has also hurt his chances of making the national side is that his batting has fallen away in ODIs - he hasn't scored a half-century in nearly three years.

http://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/420018.html

Since 2008, Pathan has gone for over a run a ball 8 times!!! 3 or 4 times could be termed reasonable if he was still taking plenty of wickets. But 8 times if pathetic.

[cd0070]

I see what your saying he goes for runs, but if you were to look at a player and say hey this guy can win me a match who would you pick? Irfan or Nehra.. Irfan has alot more match winning capabilities..

If you were to add all the extra runs Nehra gives up in fielding and add that to his econ.. it would be a different story.. plus what can he do with the bat??

My only issue is that Irfan gets selected for 1 tour and if he does badly hes benched and than only gets put in for the rubbish matches once the series is already decided.. Plus if a player doesn't know if hes gona be in the next match or not does mess with their head.. I would say if the selectors or the captain would tell him hey we have faith in you go out do your best and no matter what the outcome we will stick with you for 1 full year or something.. I don't think you could do this for every player but, for some1 who has showing his brilliance with the bat and ball consistently in the past he deserves that chance..