Is there a bigger FTB/HTB than Cheteshwar Pujara?

[Mamoon]

Fail against quality fast bowling??

The guy has scored in Aus, SA, NZ and has a 100 on a greentop at Lords.

The flatness of the pitch is judged by Kohli's performance.

If he scores, its a road; if he doesn't score, it's a minefield, irrespective of the quality of opposition bowlers and other factors.

If a Pakistani young batsman scores 4 hundreds in 4 Tests in Australia as well as a 100 and a 90 in a Test in South Africa, he'd be already deemed better than Bradman. Kohli has already done more in Australia than great 'match-winners' like Inzamam as well as MoYo and Younis etc.

The sour grapes are simply annoying. It is no longer possible to have a constructive discussion over the likes of Kohli, Pujara, Rahane etc.

 

[WrexEverything]

This thread is extremely disingenous. Pujara so far has not performed well overseas... that much is true. Apart from a superb tour of SA, he's been disappointing on other tours. The only logical conclusion is that he's an extremely talented young batsman who's game has a few flaws at the moment which is being exploited in seaming conditions. I have no doubt he will improve as time goes on.

To make a blanket statement that he's the biggest FTB ever when the bloke has barely played 30 tests is really silly. What I love about Pujara is that he's obviously a very dedicated and hard working cricketer, and he's taken his recent failures as a stepping stone to improvement. His county stint in England will help him a great deal and instead of just sitting at home, he's gone out of his way to ensure he learns from his county experience.

 

[kennyd]

I saw a lot of Pujara when he was playing for Derbyshire. He looked very patchy but improved while being there. His best knock wasn't the 100 against Leicestershire but 90 odd he scored against Surrey while chasing a total around 230.

I think he needs a full county season. The reason Derbyshire didn't go in for him was that he wasn't allowed to play t20s.

 

[Abhilash93]

I saw a lot of Pujara when he was playing for Derbyshire. He looked very patchy but improved while being there. His best knock wasn't the 100 against Leicestershire but 90 odd he scored against Surrey while chasing a total around 230.

I think he needs a full county season. The reason Derbyshire didn't go in for him was that he wasn't allowed to play t20s.

Some people believe his dodgy knees are hurting him with regards to his foot not getting to the line of ball as quickly as it used to.

Did you notice anything of that sort?

 

[kennyd]

Some people believe his dodgy knees are hurting him with regards to his foot not getting to the line of ball as quickly as it used to.

Did you notice anything of that sort?

I didn't but I do think he needs a full season in County cricket. He can't continue to have a short stint here and short stint there. It just isn't beneficial.

 

[Abhilash93]

I didn't but I do think he needs a full season in County cricket. He can't continue to have a short stint here and short stint there. It just isn't beneficial.

Ok Thanks. Yes, I believe a full season of County cricket is the best way forward for him, regardless of how the future pans out for him.

 

[Saj]

Valuable experience for him at Yorkshire.

Not only the playing side of things but also working with an excellent coach like Jason Gillespie.

 

[xerox]

Fail against quality fast bowling??

The guy has scored in Aus, SA, NZ and has a 100 on a greentop at Lords.

Aus dished out flattest possible tracks for this series.

 

[Mamoon]

Aus dished out flattest possible tracks for this series.

Do you think our batsmen would have scored 4 hundreds in 4 Tests as well on the same 'flattest possible tracks'?

 

[sshakir411]

Are Ponting and Lara playing now?

And any young team touring SA NZ ENG AUS one after another is bound to struggle.

this guy will never answer the question lol...

 

[Orbis]

Do you think our batsmen would have scored 4 hundreds in 4 Tests as well on the same 'flattest possible tracks'?

Probably more hundreds considering how we battered Australia in UAE on tracks there weren't as flat (evident by the fact that Aus got out for low scores whereas on the flat Aussie tracks they were piling on 600+ runs at 4+RPO and declared every innings).

 

[Mamoon]

^ True, our whole top order would have scored 8 hundreds each.

 

[Hitman]

Probably more hundreds considering how we battered Australia in UAE on tracks there weren't as flat (evident by the fact that Aus got out for low scores whereas on the flat Aussie tracks they were piling on 600+ runs at 4+RPO and declared every innings).

Kohli has already scored 4 centuries in his first tour to Australia. BTW, Inzamam has played 16 Test innings in Australia, where he averages 30.87 and has 1 century.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Kohli has already scored 4 centuries in his first tour to Australia. BTW, Inzamam has played 16 Test innings in Australia, where he averages 30.87 and has 1 century.

5 centuriez in 2 tours.

 

[Hitman]

5 centuriez in 2 tours.

Oh, sorry.

 

[xerox]

Do you think our batsmen would have scored 4 hundreds in 4 Tests as well on the same 'flattest possible tracks'?

Pakistani batsmen are not being discussed here.

 

[xerox]

Kohli has already scored 4 centuries in his first tour to Australia. BTW, Inzamam has played 16 Test innings in Australia, where he averages 30.87 and has 1 century.

Oh come on.. Did Inzamam play on the same flat tracks ?

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistani batsmen are not being discussed here.

I posed a simple question but you are not confident in answering it. Don't worry, will let it pass.

 

[Anchorman]

Oh come on.. Did Inzamam play on the same flat tracks ?

Inzamam has an average of 32.3 against Australia in Tests even at home.

 

[Orbis]

Kohli has already scored 4 centuries in his first tour to Australia. BTW, Inzamam has played 16 Test innings in Australia, where he averages 30.87 and has 1 century.

Inzamam faced McGrath, Warne, Brett Lee etc. on traditional Australian wickets that consisted of crazy bounce, swing and seam.

Not a mediocre attack of Johnson, Starc (poor in Tests), Lyon (who actually demolished India). You just have to compare how Australia were demolished in UAE with nightwatchman like Azhar Ali scoring 2 hundreds in the same test, and Misbah scoring fastest century ever.

You absolutely cannot compare previous batsmen to current ones because it has become ridiculous. With the number of double centuries scored, centuries in T20, 400+ scores, flat highways, small boundaries and big bats.

 

[xerox]

I posed a simple question but you are not confident in answering it. Don't worry, will let it pass.

Again, it is immaterial to the discussion hence I let it pass.

 

[Hitman]

Inzamam faced McGrath, Warne, Brett Lee etc. on traditional Australian wickets that consisted of crazy bounce, swing and seam.

Not a mediocre attack of Johnson, Starc (poor in Tests), Lyon (who actually demolished India). You just have to compare how Australia were demolished in UAE with nightwatchman like Azhar Ali scoring 2 hundreds in the same test, and Misbah scoring fastest century ever.

You absolutely cannot compare previous batsmen to current ones because it has become ridiculous. With the number of double centuries scored, centuries in T20, 400+ scores, flat highways, small boundaries and big bats.

Sachin and Lara faced the same attacks, yet they both averages 50+ against the Aussies, particularly away from home. Yet Inzamam averages 30 odd against them both home and away from home.

 

[ForeverIndian]

Inzamam faced McGrath, Warne, Brett Lee etc. on traditional Australian wickets that consisted of crazy bounce, swing and seam.

Not a mediocre attack of Johnson, Starc (poor in Tests), Lyon (who actually demolished India). You just have to compare how Australia were demolished in UAE with nightwatchman like Azhar Ali scoring 2 hundreds in the same test, and Misbah scoring fastest century ever.

You absolutely cannot compare previous batsmen to current ones because it has become ridiculous. With the number of double centuries scored, centuries in T20, 400+ scores, flat highways, small boundaries and big bats.

Inzi against Aus and Sa on the national highways of Pakistan - averages 32.33 and 33.12.

Now what , Pakistan roads are bouncy as well ?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Sachin and Lara faced the same attacks, yet they both averages 50+ against the Aussies, particularly away from home. Yet Inzamam averages 30 odd against them both home and away from home.

Dont bother.

 

[Mamoon]

Again, it is immaterial to the discussion hence I let it pass.

Again, you are uncomfortable in answering.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

His dodgy knees are affecting his footwork and more importantly his confidence. Too useful a talent to be wasted.

 

[xerox]

Again, you are uncomfortable in answering.

I am not, I am just not answering it coz it's immaterial to this discussion, it wouldn't make Kohli an FTB or non-FTB if Pakistani batsmen performed or didn't perform.

 

[Orbis]

His dodgy knees are affecting his footwork and more importantly his confidence. Too useful a talent to be wasted.

I don't get how he gets such a bad knee from batting, he never bowls so other than being obese (which he isn't, he is only overweight), I think it's an excuse for lack of technique.

 

[Mamoon]

I don't get how he gets such a bad knee from batting, he never bowls so other than being obese (which he isn't, he is only overweight), I think it's an excuse for lack of technique.

More rubbish.

You can have knee problems naturally, even if you are not obese. Many people are born with bad knees.

 

[cricketjoshila]

More rubbish.

You can have knee problems naturally, even if you are not obese. Many people are born with bad knees.

He had ACL tear twice i believe.

 

[Mamoon]

He had ACL tear twice i believe.

ACL injuries can happen with minimal impact as well. Even if you stop suddenly while running or land awkwardly after a jump. You don't have to be a fast bowler or obese.

 

[Arsal_AK]

Aus dished out flattest possible tracks for this series.

SA, NZ, Eng?? Were those flat as well?? Lords was the most green pitch I had seen for quite a long period.

As for the Aus tracks, they have been like for a while now. The flatest I saw was Adeliade vs SA when Aus mase 400 in one day. Come to think of it the whole series was played on roads.

Amla got two tons, AB made two along with the most epic tuk tuk I have seen. Clarke got a double twice. And nobody brought up these excuses then. It was all about class and now its flat tracks??

If one of Pak bats had done what Kohli or Rahane did, we would already displaced Bradman and Tendulkar with him. Flats track would have become minefeilds then.

 

[Arsal_AK]

Probably more hundreds considering how we battered Australia in UAE on tracks there weren't as flat (evident by the fact that Aus got out for low scores whereas on the flat Aussie tracks they were piling on 600+ runs at 4+RPO and declared every innings).

)

I cant even.......

 

[WrexEverything]

Inzamam faced McGrath, Warne, Brett Lee etc. on traditional Australian wickets that consisted of crazy bounce, swing and seam.

Not a mediocre attack of Johnson, Starc (poor in Tests), Lyon (who actually demolished India). You just have to compare how Australia were demolished in UAE with nightwatchman like Azhar Ali scoring 2 hundreds in the same test, and Misbah scoring fastest century ever.

You absolutely cannot compare previous batsmen to current ones because it has become ridiculous. With the number of double centuries scored, centuries in T20, 400+ scores, flat highways, small boundaries and big bats.

Rubbish. This current Australian attack is exceptional too. Ryan Harris is arguably the second best bowler in the world behind Steyn. Johnson is outstanding at home. Anyone who saw the series will agree with me when I say that Hazelwood bowled superbly.

There's no way you can even attempt to put a blemish on Kohli's overseas record. One bad series in England apart, he's scored tons of runs in every condition imaginable.

 

[WrexEverything]

Do you think our batsmen would have scored 4 hundreds in 4 Tests as well on the same 'flattest possible tracks'?

Don't bother. According to some posters here, runs don't count unless they are scored on Sabina Park minefield from 1980s against McGrath, Donald, Steyn, Lillee on steroids under heavy cloud cover with morning showers making the pitch into wimbledon lawn.

 

[Slog]

Rubbish. This current Australian attack is exceptional too. Ryan Harris is arguably the second best bowler in the world behind Steyn. Johnson is outstanding at home. Anyone who saw the series will agree with me when I say that Hazelwood bowled superbly.

There's no way you can even attempt to put a blemish on Kohli's overseas record. One bad series in England apart, he's scored tons of runs in every condition imaginable.

to be fair he failed in Windies too

He had an awesome Australian test series which doesnt mean that question marks over him in tests stop

what it does mean that now you can say that maybe that series was one off

but to be considered successful at the end of his career he will need to rectify his record in England in the next tour

 

[WrexEverything]

to be fair he failed in Windies too

He had an awesome Australian test series which doesnt mean that question marks over him in tests stop

what it does mean that now you can say that maybe that series was one off

but to be considered successful at the end of his career he will need to rectify his record in England in the next tour

Who says the question marks stop? His career will and should be scrutinized.

My point is cherry picking stats for a batsman when he's barely toured every country once is utterly ridiculous. No batsman performs brilliantly on his first tour to every country. EVen by the end of most batsmen's careers, they have 1-2 countries where they average in the 30s. Tendulkar averaged 30s in SA before his final series, Lara averaged 30s in NZ, and SA after his first series, Sanga averages 30s in WI, Eng(before his final series) and SA

To apply this same criteria to Kohli when he's 4 years old as an international test cricketer is laughable. Let him tour 2-3 times, only then can we start calling him a failure in certain conditions.

 

[Buffet]

To apply this same criteria to Kohli when he's 4 years old as an international test cricketer is laughable. Let him tour 2-3 times, only then can we start calling him a failure in certain conditions.

Agree with this. If a batsman finishes his career with poor displays in some countries then they should be rightly called failure in those venues. Kohli is in his mid 20s right now. He is going to play more tours. He has performed very well against some top class bowlers when touring and at same time he has not done well in some venues. Hardly a failure in that sense.

His career is evolving and he is not yet a top test player like in shorter formats. He some times unnecessarily gets hyped up in PP but he has done enough to belong in test format as a good batsman.

 

[cricketjoshila]

to be fair he failed in Windies too

He had an awesome Australian test series which doesnt mean that question marks over him in tests stop

what it does mean that now you can say that maybe that series was one off

but to be considered successful at the end of his career he will need to rectify his record in England in the next tour

WI was way back in 2011 his debut test match.

Sanga avgs less than 40 in 3 countries and posters here believe he is an ATG.Kohli has scored runs in SA/AUS/NZ.Having a Bogey in one country isnt an issue.

 

[Mamoon]

Don't bother. According to some posters here, runs don't count unless they are scored on Sabina Park minefield from 1980s against McGrath, Donald, Steyn, Lillee on steroids under heavy cloud cover with morning showers making the pitch into wimbledon lawn.

and when we score on flat decks it's okay. After a couple of 500+ scores on UAE highways against Australia, few people called it the new golden era of Pakistan batting lol.

 

[Slog]

WI was way back in 2011 his debut test match.

Sanga avgs less than 40 in 3 countries and posters here believe he is an ATG.Kohli has scored runs in SA/AUS/NZ.Having a Bogey in one country isnt an issue.

it is.

Kohli is an elite player and should be judged by those standards

anyways my point is that its early in his career to say sth definitive either way. Jury is stll out to where he will end up

 

[WrexEverything]

it is.

Kohli is an elite player and should be judged by those standards

anyways my point is that its early in his career to say sth definitive either way. Jury is stll out to where he will end up

He should not be judged by those standards now

 

[RamLakhan]

Australian batsmen and bowlers (both) are absolute rubbish on dusty pitches. They just do not have enough patience to play on these pitches (Indian Batsmen & Trundler bowlers are 200 times better on Fast-Bouncy pitches. Even though it is rather easier for Australians to adjust to slow-turning pitches as compared to SC players adjusting to Faster pitches, it is so baffling to see these Aussie players struggle so much to adapt... That shows their skill levels & temperament actually!)

So judging Pakistani Team based on their show against Australia in UAE is pathetic & laughable! If Kohli's 4 hundreds against Australia in Australia under new captaincy pressure is useless, then how will Younis Khan's heroics against Australia (who doesn't have any spinners in their ranks to exploit the conditions and whose seamers no nothing about reverse swing) suddenly becomes commendable?

 

[Orbis]

Is T20s the reason?

I am looking at his latest set of scores, in T20s at Maharashtra (which I believe is the same highway that him and Jadeja scored triple centuries), he has scored as follows:

28(28) : http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/match/776049.html

24(27): http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/match/776067.html

23(19): http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/match/776099.html

These are poor scores considering the fact they are T20s, on the flattest wicket in India (I presume), against sub-standard bowlers.

T20 may be the reason that Pujara is starting to fail. He is hard worker, we all know that, but I think he has tried to train too hard for T20 cricket and it has affected his test game seriously.

T20 can really damage techniques, and in the short stints in IPL and ODI it was clear Pujara was completely out of his depth. I think judging from his past experiences, he too wants to be part of LOI which is where most of the glittering fame lies.

 

[Statsman]

I am looking at his latest set of scores, in T20s at Maharashtra (which I believe is the same highway that him and Jadeja scored triple centuries), he has scored as follows:

28(28) : http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/match/776049.html

24(27): http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/match/776067.html

23(19): http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/match/776099.html

These are poor scores considering the fact they are T20s, on the flattest wicket in India (I presume), against sub-standard bowlers.

T20 may be the reason that Pujara is starting to fail. He is hard worker, we all know that, but I think he has tried to train too hard for T20 cricket and it has affected his test game seriously.

T20 can really damage techniques, and in the short stints in IPL and ODI it was clear Pujara was completely out of his depth. I think judging from his past experiences, he too wants to be part of LOI which is where most of the glittering fame lies.

On the contrary he is going too much into a shell in tests these days and not playing his shots at all. People were hoping that he will be a 1 up from Dravid, coz he had the same determination and persistence but unlike Dravid was still a free flowing batsman. He isn't playing his shots these days.

 

[Chrish]

sa, nz, eng?? Were those flat as well?? Lords was the most green pitch i had seen for quite a long period.

as for the aus tracks, they have been like for a while now. The flatest i saw was adeliade vs sa when aus mase 400 in one day. Come to think of it the whole series was played on roads.

Amla got two tons, ab made two along with the most epic tuk tuk i have seen. Clarke got a double twice. And nobody brought up these excuses then. It was all about class and now its flat tracks??

if one of pak bats had done what kohli or rahane did, we would already displaced bradman and tendulkar with him. Flats track would have become minefeilds then.

potw

 

[WrexEverything]

SA, NZ, Eng?? Were those flat as well?? Lords was the most green pitch I had seen for quite a long period.

As for the Aus tracks, they have been like for a while now. The flatest I saw was Adeliade vs SA when Aus mase 400 in one day. Come to think of it the whole series was played on roads.

Amla got two tons, AB made two along with the most epic tuk tuk I have seen. Clarke got a double twice. And nobody brought up these excuses then. It was all about class and now its flat tracks??

If one of Pak bats had done what Kohli or Rahane did, we would already displaced Bradman and Tendulkar with him. Flats track would have become minefeilds then.

Exactly. The Aussie tracks have mostly been excellent batting tracks since 2001. Strangely, people only call them flat when India scores runs on them.

 

[Swanny]

Exactly. The Aussie tracks have mostly been excellent batting tracks since 2001. Strangely, people only call them flat when India scores runs on them.

I think other subcon people compare our batsmen with their own. This is a fallacy on their part.

Imo india along with sa & aus to an extent post 95 have produced the best all round batsmen who have adjusted well to all parts of the world better than most other teams.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

His scored for Yorkshire so far:

0, 57, and 23.

He was intitially known as a player who, once he got a start, would go on and make a big score. However in recent times he spends an hour or so at the crease then throws it away.

Btw, where did [MENTION=138908]Orbis[/MENTION] go?

 

[giri26]

His scored for Yorkshire so far:

0, 57, and 23.

He was intitially known as a player who, once he got a start, would go on and make a big score. However in recent times he spends an hour or so at the crease then throws it away.

Btw, where did [MENTION=138908]Orbis[/MENTION] go?

This is exactly what I am concerned about with Pujara. He starts well, blunts the new ball batting for an hour and then throws it away. He did that throughout the English tour and also in few games in Australia.

 

[Neferpitou]

Pujara is India's 2nd best test player after Rahane. Just going through a bad patch. It's not like he's getting ducks left and right. He's getting some decent starts, just not converting atm.

 

[Hawkeye]

Damn..

I miss [MENTION=138908]Orbis[/MENTION]

 

[giri26]

Pujara is India's 2nd best test player after Rahane. Just going through a bad patch. It's not like he's getting ducks left and right. He's getting some decent starts, just not converting atm.

I wouldn't call him the second best player in our team. We had 4 overseas (24 innings, quite a large sample that) tours in the last year and a half and he was comfortably behind Rahane, Vijay and Kohli. His only good series was SA and that too because on one hundred in the first test. He struggled and is still continuing to struggle. You cannot go through a bad patch for 2 years and hope to hold on to your spot based on talent. It is Rohit Sharma all over again.

 

[Neferpitou]

I wouldn't call him the second best player in our team. We had 4 overseas (24 innings, quite a large sample that) tours in the last year and a half and he was comfortably behind Rahane, Vijay and Kohli. His only good series was SA and that too because on one hundred in the first test. He struggled and is still continuing to struggle. You cannot go through a bad patch for 2 years and hope to hold on to your spot based on talent. It is Rohit Sharma all over again.

He's not struggling in overseas conditions. Just failing to convert starts. It's only a matter of time. India need to keep riding him, he'll come through.

 

[giri26]

He's not struggling in overseas conditions. Just failing to convert starts. It's only a matter of time. India need to keep riding him, he'll come through.

When you have a batting line up like ours at the moment (very inexperienced), we cannot have passengers like him in the team. If Pujara is going to get you good 20's and get out we don't have the bandwidth to have such a player at the moment. Rohit and Pujara don't merit a spot in the lineup after their performances over the last couple of years overseas. We don't have the cushion of Sachin, Dravid and Laxman in the middle order to help a player to get back to form. We need players who can be consistent for us if we are hoping to win overseas. 20's and 30's don't win you test matches. If Pujara can score big runs for Yorkshire, then he should make a comeback, if he does not then he needs to go back to domestic cricket and work on his temperament.

 

[Neferpitou]

When you have a batting line up like ours at the moment (very inexperienced), we cannot have passengers like him in the team. If Pujara is going to get you good 20's and get out we don't have the bandwidth to have such a player at the moment. Rohit and Pujara don't merit a spot in the lineup after their performances over the last couple of years overseas. We don't have the cushion of Sachin, Dravid and Laxman in the middle order to help a player to get back to form. We need players who can be consistent for us if we are hoping to win overseas. 20's and 30's don't win you test matches. If Pujara can score big runs for Yorkshire, then he should make a comeback, if he does not then he needs to go back to domestic cricket and work on his temperament.

You're underestimating your batting lineup. Vijay, Rahane, Kohli are gun players. Pujara will join them. Dhawan is decent. Rahul very technically correct but limited ability. You need one of those.

Rohit isn't a test player and never will be. Should be dropped.

 

[Sidilicious]

You're underestimating your batting lineup. Vijay, Rahane, Kohli are gun players. Pujara will join them. Dhawan is decent. Rahul very technically correct but limited ability. You need one of those.

Rohit isn't a test player and never will be. Should be dropped.

I am not sure about that. I do feel, he will be the one scoring those difficult 60s and 70s with the tail

 

[fringe playa]

I am not sure about that. I do feel, he will be the one scoring those difficult 60s and 70s with the tail

I dont think so.Apart from that MCG hundred against Aus, none of his knocks inspire confidence.He will be the of test cricket and not VVS.Hence should not be played.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Another start from Pujara before he gets out for 33.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-championship-div1-2015/engine/match/804179.html

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Batted for an hour and a half today before getting out for 18. The trend continues.

 

[giri26]

Nothing seems to have changed with Pujara. Batting for a long time and getting out.

 

[brute]

I think he just needs to get monkey off his back. He is just not converting his starts to hundreds for which he is known for in domestic circuit. Anybody who saw his innings at Lords cant label him as FTB/HTB. He came in early and the ball was still new, faced more than 100 deliveried, although scored only 20 odd. But you need technique to face so many deliveries on such a green track. When Dravid was asked, what was wrong with Pujara, he said he wouldn't change a thing in his batting. He didn't score in Aus too but I am hopeful that is a short phase.

 

[Scrolln]

He is unable to play overseas.

Pujara has been a massive disappointment for me personally. Currently holds the record of being the greatest HTB from the SC.

 

[Slog]

His fall is very unfortunate and atm it seems that the county disaster is doing more harm than good as its going to further muddle his mind.

Its a shame. I really liked the guy and enjoy watching him bat. Very methodical in his approach. Just a great guy

Hope he can get back to his best. He's too good for cricket to miss out on him in test cricket.

 

[brute]

Has been a disappointment for me too. I thought he would be our best batsmen overseas. But I haven't given up on him yet. Vijay who was our best batsmen last year didn't have a good start too. He lost his way in the middle but has come back strong. I hope it is the same case with Pujara and you can say deciding to play county cricket is a good start

 

[Slog]

He is unable to play overseas.

Pujara has been a massive disappointment for me personally. Currently holds the record of being the greatest HTB from the SC.

Well statistically he is the greatest HTB. Dude averages 75 in India so no one can really argue against that

But I think that has more to do with him being just so badly out of form (and mayybe it might be terminal too it seems).

He was great in the 2013 tour to SA but has been doing poorly since the end of that tour of South Africa. And since then he has been poor all round (apart from a 50 here and there) And crucially he has not even played a match at home in this period so you cannot flat out say that he is a HTB. Its kinda interesting too that almost all his home test matches are back to back and all his away test matches are back to back. So it maybe a case that he is just in wretched form all round rather just be a HTB and that the period of poor form has coincided with India's away tours. Its kinda unbelievable that he hasnt played a home test since Nov 2013.

Theres a good chance even if he had played at home in this period that he wouldnt have done well.

An eg is a comparison between Kohli and Pujara in England

Both came up to be well short of expectations and in particular Kohli. But while with Kohli it was clearly a technical issue with a problem against the moving ball which he just could not cope, Pujara's wickets were more spread out in terms of how they happened (caught behind, caught in outfield, lbw, bowleds to both pacers and spinners). So unlike Kohli where he had a clear technical deficiency it seems Pujara was all over the place. (And mind you he was getting starts unlike Kohli). So you cannot say he has a weakness against the moving ball or cannot play bounce which is why he is a HTB. The ways he got out in both Eng and Aus (tours I watched a fair bit but ppl can talk abt his NZ tour disaster too) were not due to one or 2 specific types of weaknesses like they were for Kohli in Eng.

So theres either 2 things:

1) he is in a rut and really out of form for an extended period
2) he was never as good as he made it seem and the home test matches just happened to be in a period where he was in great form.

So my point is that India's next series at home (and whether Pujara plays in it) will be a clear test of whether he is HTB or not. If he ends up managing a healthy average in that then you can safely say that he is a HTB. But atm Id say he is just either out of form or not as good as you would think from his 2012 and 2013 years

 

[brute]

1) he is in a rut and really out of form for an extended period
2) he was never as good as he made it seem and the home test matches just happened to be in a period where he was in great form.

So my point is that India's next series at home (and whether Pujara plays in it) will be a clear test of whether he is HTB or not. If he ends up managing a healthy average in that then you can safely say that he is a HTB. But atm Id say he is jst either our of form or not as good as you would think from his 2012 and 2013 years

People are more worried because they think he will turn out to be next Manjrekar rather than next Dravid with whom he was compared while he was still in domestic circuit.

He has scored big hundred in Ranji trophy and when he made his test debut against Aus at home, he was sent ahead of Dravid and Tendulkar at no 3 and scored match winning 70*. Dravid was out of form at that time and his retirement was just a matter of time. Pujara hasn't been able to fill big shoes of Rahul Dravid, one of the reasons why people are more disappointed with his batting overseas.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

94 and counting for Pujara.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-championship-div1-2015/engine/match/804191.html

 

[giri26]

Finally Pujara gets close to a 100. I hope this is the turnaround which we were looking for. He has made a start count after ages in FC's.

 

[Hawkeye]

How does he compare to Mohammad Hafeez, who was crown holder of the best FTB?

Has Pujara overtaken him?

 

[Statsman]

106 off 166 so far. Looks like a fluent knock.

 

[giri26]

How does he compare to Mohammad Hafeez, who was crown holder of the best FTB?

Has Pujara overtaken him?

Pujara never struggles like Hafeez overseas. He has issues with concentration. Technique is never an issue with Pujara. He had issues batting for a long time and throwing his wicket away.

 

[Statsman]

The batsmen are upping the ante...66 in the last 10 overs...yorks might declare anytime soon...already lead is 400+

 

[Hawkeye]

Pujara never struggles like Hafeez overseas. He has issues with concentration. Technique is never an issue with Pujara. He had issues batting for a long time and throwing his wicket away.

Does Pujara struggle against the moving ball? Does his usual mode of dismissal include caught behind?

 

[Statsman]

Does Pujara struggle against the moving ball? Does his usual mode of dismissal include caught behind?

It's a mix really, he got out to Meoin and Lyon a lot as well.

 

[giri26]

Does Pujara struggle against the moving ball? Does his usual mode of dismissal include caught behind?

Pujara does not struggle against moving ball. His problem in England was that he batting for long periods of time and then played a poor stroke to lose his wicket. It was really frustrating because he batted for an hour or so in most of the innings and got to 20 or so and then got out. He was not like come in and nick the first few deliveries and getting out sort of player. That is the reason he frustrated Indian fans more than Kohli who never lasted long enough to make anything count.

 

[Hawkeye]

It's a mix really, he got out to Meoin and Lyon a lot as well.

Pujara does not struggle against moving ball. His problem in England was that he batting for long periods of time and then played a poor stroke to lose his wicket. It was really frustrating because he batted for an hour or so in most of the innings and got to 20 or so and then got out. He was not like come in and nick the first few deliveries and getting out sort of player. That is the reason he frustrated Indian fans more than Kohli who never lasted long enough to make anything count.

Thanks.

If India is still sticking with him, they sure know how to take care of their promising talent.

 

[giri26]

Thanks.

If India is still sticking with him, they sure know how to take care of their promising talent.

He was not picked in the IPL auction and it was blessing in disguise for him. He is playing for Yorkshire and after few starts has finally scored a big hundred. Hopefully he has got rid of getting out in 20's-30's phase. Thanks to all the IPL teams for not picking him.

 

[WrexEverything]

Pujara's just scored 133 (182) vs Hampshire in the second innings. Granted, it was after the lead was already 150+, but it's still important for him. Hope it does his confidence some good.

 

[fringe playa]

Good news for Indian Fans.Hope he continues to play big innings like this and not 20s-30s after facing 100 balls.

Is that a clue in that innings as to how he should bat from now on ??? That was a very aggressive innings it seems.