Celebrating this landmark moment, we have picked up our ‘Dream Indian Test team’ by selecting the best eleven cricketers who donned the whites for Team India in the longer format and contributed immensely to the success of the team over its course of history.
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Speaking to the media in Kanpur, India’s coach Anil Kumble confirmed Ishant’s absence and clarified that India have not asked for a replacement.
Fast-bowler Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the clash as he is recovering from mosquito-borne related illness chikungunya, which means that either Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Umesh Yadav will play in his place. “A lot of the guys are practicing during training and we will talk about it with the team”.
Set 277, India were bowled out for 109. “It’s a power-packed one, you got Shikhar (Dhawan) putting his hand up after losing his opportunity”, Lee told IANS on the sidelines of a panel discussion on the India-New Zealand series also featuring former India greats Kapil Dev and V.V.S. Laxman. The first match, India’s 500th Test, will begin here on Thursday.
New Zealand do have Mitchell Santner, the left-arm spinner who stunned the Indian batsmen on Indian soil in ICC T20 World Cup 2016 earlier this year. “All the teams have quality spinners and you don’t want to leave a window for the opposition teams to capitalise”, Kohli said in a press conference.
Playing all three spinners alongside two seamers could limit New Zealand’s batting options, but it remains a viable option since the tourists will be without the injured duo of strike bowler Tim Southee and allrounder James Neesham. So, obviously, when they come to play in a Test match, irrespective of the conditions, seam or spin… At 30 September 2 test of 3 matches test series will start and last match of the series will start at 8 October. It’s the same for the home team as well. “You playing so much cricket and it is all about adapting to the challenges that come you way”, the 45-year-old said. But one good thing we have had is we are coming off a Test series, and we have a long Test season at home. Kumble said it was a great milestone, asserting that the Indians will try their best to win the Test in order to make it a memorable occassion. This is the 11 series between the nations in India with just two of the previous tours resulted in sharing honours (the others of course went in the host’s favour) – the last drawn series being played 13 autumns back. The Nagpur pitch didn’t see any water in the lead-up to the Test, this one is getting watered. While Virat Kohli has completed one full year of being the Indian captain in Test cricket, it can be said that his counterpart Kane Williamson is too young into leadership role after taking charge full-time. It was in the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium, with Hadlee’s bowling playing a big role in John Wright’s team leveling the series.
If the net session on Tuesday is anything to go by, it looks as if the team selection think-tank still haven’t quite made up their minds.
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India had opted for a similar kind of strategy against England in the 2012-13 home series against England which had backfired miserably after English spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar led England to a famous series win in India.
