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This Class A Home Track Bully has already played 24 Tests - Guess who?

Varun

Varun

Senior Test Player
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
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^There you go. Three strikes and you're out.
 
I hope he scores runs against Pakistan but Australia lose, so that his average is not disturbed....
 
Usman Khawaja, specialist in Australia and he might play against South Africa after that knock.
 
Rohit Sharma hell yeah! I recall last time I checked he avgd 25 away from India.
 
It was poor of me to forget the Khawaja made his debut in the 2010/11 Ashes, smoking his second delivery to the fence off Tremlett.
 
Khawaja gets an unfair rap on here, he scored one of the best centuries I've ever seen in the pink ball test against South Africa last year. He is such a classic player as well in the mold of Gower, which gets him extra brownie points for moi. Yeah, the lad has issues against spin but Australia's haphazard selection policies have done him no favours.
 
Rohit Sharma is basically the anti-Rahane.

But come a test in hostile South Africa and guess who gets dropped and who gets picked?
 
Last Monetarist said:
Khawaja gets an unfair rap on here, he scored one of the best centuries I've ever seen in the pink ball test against South Africa last year. He is such a classic player as well in the mold of Gower, which gets him extra brownie points for moi. Yeah, the lad has issues against spin but Australia's haphazard selection policies have done him no favours.
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He averages 27 away, he is another HTB.
 
He didn't play bad today. Got a good bowl from rabada who set him up nicely. Had he played rash shot like other 3 did then criticism is right.
 
Mamoon said:
It was poor of me to forget the Khawaja made his debut in the 2010/11 Ashes, smoking his second delivery to the fence off Tremlett.
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Australian bats who are HTBs (basically everyone bar Smith) can at least score in South Africa. Rohit can't even knock together something useful in Lanka.
 
Well Sharma is playing at no.5 ,which is perfect place for him. It is more of a mental issue. I am not talking about this test, even test when ball was not seaming when he came to bat and he still failed.
Actually today he played much better, he did the hard work and then threw it like Pujara.
 
HTB is an over-simplification. Runs don’t come free at home.

Rohit has issues with lateral movement, but he is a high class batsman and if India give him consistent chances, he will eventually come good.

Khawaja on the other hand is pretty average. Awful against spin, decent against lateral movement and a very good timer of the ball.

However, he comes across as a very irritating individual.
 
Navdeep Srivastava said:
Well Sharma is playing at no.5 ,which is perfect place for him. It is more of a mental issue. I am not talking about this test, even test when ball was not seaming when he came to bat and he still failed.
Actually today he played much better, he did the hard work and then threw it like Pujara.
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I'm more dismayed at Rahane unfairly getting the chop because Rohit has to get a game.

These Yuvrajs, Rainas, Rohits should be and should have been stickered with an 'LoI only' tag so it doesn't hurt the bonafide test prospects from missing out on crucial tours such as this one.
 
Kohli ka laadla, Shastri ka dulaara, the one and only golden boy Talent Sharma himself.
 
Mamoon said:
HTB is an over-simplification. Runs don’t come free at home.
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Note I said Home Track Bully, not Flat Track Bully. Make of that what you will.

It still reflects poorly on you that you can only score in one country out of eight that you potentially play in, and that you are already 30 years of age and don't have the youngster tag to use as a copout.
 
Varun said:
I'm more dismayed at Rahane unfairly getting the chop because Rohit has to get a game.

These Yuvrajs, Rainas, Rohits should be and should have been stickered with an 'LoI only' tag so it doesn't hurt the bonafide test prospects from missing out on crucial tours such as this one.
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I think you guys are being unfairly harsh on Rohit. This was his first innings without any match practice earlier courtesy BCCI . But he played enough balls to get familiar with conditions.

I think he will have a good tour. All of Indian batsmen will derive confidence from Pandya - they needed an innings like that.
 
He is an okayish test batsmen which means he shouldn't be playing in a strong batting lineup like the one India has and definitely not if India plays with 5 premier batsmen.

Rahane should have got two tests first up in these conditions where he was a beast back then and if he would have failed here then only they should have taken this big call of dropping him. It was very poor selection choice from Kohli and Shastri.

If they continue to make similar selection choices, this team which has potential to become India's all time best test team might have to satisfy with just being a potential.
 
Varun said:
Note I said Home Track Bully, not Flat Track Bully. Make of that what you will.

It still reflects poorly on you that you can only score in one country out of eight that you potentially play in, and that you are already 30 years of age and don't have the youngster tag to use as a copout.
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Not that he has performed like Pujara in India either. He has got lots of easy home runs .
 
Ab Fan said:
Not that he has performed like Pujara in India either. He has got lots of easy home runs .
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Yeah, basically pounded the hapless West Indies at home walking in at #5 under zero pressure. His test average of 42 totally flatters him.
 
Ab Fan said:
Not that he has performed like Pujara in India either. He has got lots of easy home runs .
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Well the place he bats mostly (at 6) if it's flat deck most runs are scored by top order and you feel it's easy run for him and in india i don't think any team troubled him when he was playing so it's not his fault as well. Surely he can't replace rahane in side but he can bat at 6 in overseas. Even though pandya's peformance in tests has been great i still can't surely trust him as an all rounder to do well. (So maybe give chance to rohit on green top and on flat decks play pandya or 5 bowlers)

Or Give Rohit full chance in africa if he fails drop him and look at young talent for no 6 or stick with pandya.
 
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Sam99 said:
Well the place he bats mostly (at 6) if it's flat deck most top order scores all run and you feel it's easy run for him and in india i don't think any team troubled him when he was playing so it's not his fault as well. Surely he can't replace rahane in side but he can bat at 6 in overseas. Even though pandya's peformance in tests has been great i still can't surely trust him as an all rounder to do well. (So maybe give chance to rohit on green top and on flat decks play pandya or 5 bowlers)
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I think today's performance by Pandya has been fantastic to say the least and this would mean he deserves a long rope now as 4th seamer and no.6 or no.7 batsmen.

Rohit can be brought back to the team after the overseas tours end and I will happily replace Rahane with him.
 
Ab Fan said:
I think today's performance by Pandya has been fantastic to say the least and this would mean he deserves a long rope now as 4th seamer and no.6 or no.7 batsmen.

Rohit can be brought back to the team after the overseas tours end and I will happily replace Rahane with him.
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I am okay with Rohit being dropped but about pandya do you think he will be good in next test matches and odi series? He had a good share of luck today as well.
 
So Rohit Sharma is called a FTB where as another player with similar stellar LOI record and also similar HTB stats is hailed as Mr.Cricket

Problem with Subcontinent fans pretty much
 
Sam99 said:
I am okay with Rohit being dropped but about pandya do you think he will be good in next test matches and odi series? He had a good share of luck today as well.
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He will be good in odis. In tests, he deserves a long rope. His counter aggressive batting would mean that Saha and Ashwin can continue to play attritional cricket which they are best at and keep one end held.

There is no way India should go with only four bowlers( 3 Pacers+1spinner). This 7-4 combination won't work overseas where they need to take 20 wickets and with today's performance, Pandya has solved this performance atleast for some more time.
 
blue_champion said:
So Rohit Sharma is called a FTB where as another player with similar stellar LOI record and also similar HTB stats is hailed as Mr.Cricket

Problem with Subcontinent fans pretty much
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Clarke and Hussey were heavily dissed by me personally right through their careers, but they are long since retired and this is not the day or thread for that.

Australian bats being FTBs and HTBs is consensus in any case.
 
blue_champion said:
So Rohit Sharma is called a FTB where as another player with similar stellar LOI record and also similar HTB stats is hailed as Mr.Cricket

Problem with Subcontinent fans pretty much
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Pretty absymal comparison. Sharmaji comparison is Usman Khwaja not those two.

You can compare someone like Pujara to Clarke and Hussey though.
 
One innings [MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION]. Amazing!

Please make one more thread about how Kohli doesn't belong in international cricket because he knicked one off to a ball that was an 8th stump line.

All it takes is one frickin innings to make a judgement after all.
 
Varun said:
Clarke and Hussey were heavily dissed by me personally right through their careers, but they are long since retired and this is not the day or thread for that.

Australian bats being FTBs and HTBs is consensus in any case.
Click to expand...

99% of any international batsmen are HTB’s unless it is a bizarre case like Rahane who is much better overseas than at home.

Rahane struggles against almost a minnow level Srilankan team at home and how does one expect he will hit his stride immediately against this scary South African lineup?

Yeah Rohit’s time might be ticking but it is not like he is an outrageous selection in the squad.

Also Rohit is no longer a FTB...sure give him a flat track and records will tumble but he has played some very good knocks in recent times in ODIs even in testing conditions.

Not sure what the point of demeaning him is...if you can’t expect a player with the kind of records he is breaking in any format to Come good than don’t know what the benchmark should be.
 
Cricfan4eva said:
One innings [MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION]. Amazing!

Please make one more thread about how Kohli doesn't belong in international cricket because he knicked one off to a ball that was an 8th stump line.

All it takes is one frickin innings to make a judgement after all.
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One innings!? The guy has played 15 away tests all over the place - Australia, South Africa, Lanka, West Indies, England, you name it.

His average at the end of it all? 25 and dropping like a stone.

You're welcome.
 
Varun said:
One innings!? The guy has played 15 away tests all over the place - Australia, South Africa, Lanka, West Indies, England, you name it.

His average at the end of it all? 25 and dropping like a stone.

You're welcome.
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Virat has stats but surely he is not best in testing condition. Rahane and vijay are alot better performance. Kohli milks runs in easy condition mostly.
 
Sam99 said:
Virat has stats but surely he is not best in testing condition. Rahane and vijay are alot better performance. Kohli milks runs in easy condition mostly.
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Well Kohli is not in the firing line at the moment. Not for his batting anyway. For being chums with Sharmaji and picking him over Rahane? Hell yes.
 
Varun said:
One innings!? The guy has played 15 away tests all over the place - Australia, South Africa, Lanka, West Indies, England, you name it.

His average at the end of it all? 25 and dropping like a stone.

You're welcome.
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And when was the last away test he played?
 
Sam99 said:
Virat has stats but surely he is not best in testing condition. Rahane and vijay are alot better performance. Kohli milks runs in easy condition mostly.
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Umm yeah, I can see Root piling on tons after tons in easy conditions.

Or the pitches in this Ashes series are spicy and green tops?
 
Varun said:
Note I said Home Track Bully, not Flat Track Bully. Make of that what you will.

It still reflects poorly on you that you can only score in one country out of eight that you potentially play in, and that you are already 30 years of age and don't have the youngster tag to use as a copout.
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I know what you said, and that is why I call it an over-simplification.

FTBs do exist, but I don’t think there is any such thing as a HTB. You get different conditions at home, not all grounds and pitches are the same.

HTB is too broad a term to be applicable. In Rohit’s case, for example, I believe he is going to score heavily in a place like the UAE. Now, if he does score there, is he still a HTB? What is he in that case? Possibly a FTB.
 
Cricfan4eva said:
And when was the last away test he played?
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What has that got to do with anything? We've stacked up our calendar with series after series against Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia and West Indies at home so obviously it's a long time ago. Why, what has changed since Rohit's last overseas test? Something I've missed?

Edit: For the record - it was vs Sri Lanka in 2015. Unlike the rest, he couldn't even fill his boots over there. Averages 33. POOR.
 
Varun said:
What has that got to do with anything? We've stacked up our calendar with series after series against Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia and West Indies at home so obviously it's a long time ago. Why, what has changed since Rohit's last overseas test? Something I've missed?

Edit: For the record - it was vs Sri Lanka in 2015. Unlike the rest, he couldn't even fill his boots over there. Averages 33. POOR.
Click to expand...

I am no fan of Rohit's selection over Rahane, nor was I in favour when he replaced Pujara.

But I am not dismissing Rohit after a huge sample of 1 innings based on stats he accrued on his first tour to those countries.
 
Varun said:
Well Kohli is not in the firing line at the moment. Not for his batting anyway. For being chums with Sharmaji and picking him over Rahane? Hell yes.
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While it may seem to be the wrong decision to drop Rahane for Rohit, there is one thing you are forgetting. Rahane would never have been dropped if it was not for his really poor performance in the SL series over multiple matches which led people to assess that he is out of form.
 
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Ab Fan said:
Pretty absymal comparison. Sharmaji comparison is Usman Khwaja not those two.

You can compare someone like Pujara to Clarke and Hussey though.
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Usman Khwaja really? I guess Khwaja is one of the most sought after player in 2 out of 3 formats of the game then
 
He is the FTB of highest level and well no need to mention he is also HTB his stats shows that too.I want to him to play all 3 tests and all other overseas tests.Love watching him fail. Hate him the most.
 
blue_champion said:
Usman Khwaja really? I guess Khwaja is one of the most sought after player in 2 out of 3 formats of the game then
Click to expand...

This thread ia about tests only. No point bringing other formats.

In tests, he is at same level as Khwaja.
 
Rahane was dropped for Rohit makes no sense in any universe esp when everyone knows how Rahane actually plays swing and seam better than Rohit.
 
JaDed said:
Rahane was dropped for Rohit makes no sense in any universe esp when everyone knows how Rahane actually plays swing and seam better than Rohit.
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It makes sense in the universe where Rahane isn't a holy cow and Rohit isn't an outcaste.

Their average has literally a difference of less than two though Rahane has been backed to the hilt and Rohit has never gotten any consistent run.

Rohit is in unbelievable form and in a great place. Rahane can't touch the ball or score a run against mediocre attacks when his teammates are scoring for fun. Absolutely nothing suggests he will suddenly score in hostile conditions.
 
CricketAnalyst said:
It makes sense in the universe where Rahane isn't a holy cow and Rohit isn't an outcaste.

Their average has literally a difference of less than two though Rahane has been backed to the hilt and Rohit has never gotten any consistent run.

Rohit is in unbelievable form and in a great place. Rahane can't touch the ball or score a run against mediocre attacks when his teammates are scoring for fun. Absolutely nothing suggests he will suddenly score in hostile conditions.
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What? Two formats shouldn't be combined, in your logic Pujara shouldn't be selected at all,test cricket is diff from ODI,Rohit's only performance of note in challenging tournaments is CT 2013
 
Mamoon said:
HTB is an over-simplification. Runs don’t come free at home.

Rohit has issues with lateral movement, but he is a high class batsman and if India give him consistent chances, he will eventually come good.

Khawaja on the other hand is pretty average. Awful against spin, decent against lateral movement and a very good timer of the ball.

However, he comes across as a very irritating individual.
Click to expand...

Khawaja is a far better test player than rohit against pace no question about it
 
Mamoon said:
HTB is an over-simplification. Runs don’t come free at home.

Rohit has issues with lateral movement, but he is a high class batsman and if India give him consistent chances, he will eventually come good.

Khawaja on the other hand is pretty average. Awful against spin, decent against lateral movement and a very good timer of the ball.

However, he comes across as a very irritating individual.
Click to expand...

Sharma is a limited overs player, not a test batsmen. He doesn't have the defensive technique to survive on pitches which are fast, bouncy or have lateral movement.

Khawaja is a much better test player, not even close.
 
KingKhanWC said:
Sharma is a limited overs player, not a test batsmen. He doesn't have the defensive technique to survive on pitches which are fast, bouncy or have lateral movement.

Khawaja is a much better test player, not even close.
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Yeah but Khawaja is of Pakistani origin while Sharma is Indian. You don't need to objectively look at the batsman as a player and analyse his stats to come to a conclusion that Sharma is obviously by far the better batsman :)
 
Dropping Rahane was one of the worst decisions by Virat Kohli. This is on par with Karn Sharma's selection in the Adelaide test. When the pitch has something in it Rahane is India's best batsman, can't see the logic of him being dropped for a player who filled his boots against a hapless SL attack on Indian pitches.
 
KingKhanWC said:
Sharma is a limited overs player, not a test batsmen. He doesn't have the defensive technique to survive on pitches which are fast, bouncy or have lateral movement.

Khawaja is a much better test player, not even close.
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Both Sharma and Khawaja are good enough to have successful Test careers. Khawaja is an average batsman overall, but his strengths are not exposed in Australia. He is prolific at home and will continue to be. Not every batsman has to score everywhere, only elite batsmen do.

Similarly, Rohit is more than capable of doing very well in places like India, WI, SL, UAE, Bangladesh etc. He is also a good player of the short ball and should do well in Australia in the future. England, South Africa and New Zealand will be challenging for him due to his weakness against lateral movement, but then again, he is one of the most talented batsmen of his generation and can perhaps work on his weaknesses.

Neither of them will be tier 1 Test players though, but they have their utility.
 
Sharma has a weakness against incoming balls. But I have soft spot for him. Rahane is undoubtedly better bat than him in seaming conditions but he is badly out of form. More shocking is selecting the Jatt Paaji over Rahul.
 
Goes for an airy-fairy shot, gets dropped.

Next over fishes at a ball wide outside off stump. Bowled.

But hey, talent. Potential. For a guy who debuted in 2007.

Sheesh.
 
Varun said:
Goes for an airy-fairy shot, gets dropped.

Next over fishes at a ball wide outside off stump. Bowled.

But hey, talent. Potential. For a guy who debuted in 2007.

Sheesh.
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Well technically, he wasn't dropped cos Maharaj never even got a finger to the ball.:ashwin
 
Haz95 said:
Yeah but Khawaja is of Pakistani origin while Sharma is Indian. You don't need to objectively look at the batsman as a player and analyse his stats to come to a conclusion that Sharma is obviously by far the better batsman :)
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The logic holds true vice versa as well.
 
So happy to watch him failing again and again! Arrogant full of himself guy!! Want him to play in all 3 matches and see him humiliated even more!!
 
Virat Lost the game even before he stepped on the field like I said on Day 1. India were luck with Bumrah as I was surprised with his success but Rohit and Dhawan aren't the kind of players you want on these type of wickets. Sometimes recent form is not the way to decide on whom you want in the team. Virat made a blunder like he did in Adelaide. Not sure if India will be able to bounce back after this. KL Rahul and Rahane need to return in the X1.
 
Not a test-class player. His weakness against the moving ball aside, he simply does not have the defensive game for test cricket. Maxwell, Morgan and Umar Akmal are in the same category.
 
He isn't capable enough to fare in these conditions. He batted way beyond his capability in the first inning of first test yet could only score 11.
 
Bilal7 said:
Not a test-class player. His weakness against the moving ball aside, he simply does not have the defensive game for test cricket. Maxwell, Morgan and Umar Akmal are in the same category.
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Lol at making it seem as if they are on similar level.

Morgan and Rohit are in one league. Below them is Maxwell. Akmal jr is several rings below all of them
 
If the ball moves a little , theres some pace or bounce this guy is a walking wicket. His balance, footwork, positioning is very poor.

He will make the odd 50 but will never be a consistent score in test cricket esp away against good bowling attacks.
 
Pujara is the biggest HTB out there, but for some reason OP will only have a go at R Sharma.
 
CanadianG00se said:
Pujara is the biggest HTB out there, but for some reason OP will only have a go at R Sharma.
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One averages 36 away from home which is poor. The other averages 24 away from home which is horrendous.

Plus, I suppose it doesn't help that Talent was picked in place of Rahane. He is getting a lot of hate due to that.
 
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