Ganguly replaces Nehra in PWI!!! - Page 2

Okay, I think PWI made a good decision. So far, their batting has been floundering, and they've been wasting both overseas batting slots on openers. Dada w/ their team gives them the opportunity to strengthen their opening - have him open w/ Graeme Smith, push Ryder down to #3, followed by Uthappa and Yuvraj.

I'm glad they gave him the contract for just one year instead of 3, so now he has to demonstrate his ability this season. If he can't, nobody can complain if PWI doesn't renew him next year. I however disagree w/ them making him the vice captain - as seen w/ KKR, he doesn't make good selections and goes by reputation. He should just be a player in the team, while the vice captain should be either Uthappa or one of the overseas players.

He starts tomorrow in PWI vs MI, so he can start off against SRT. Of course, now Pune have to win all their remaining matches, so if they lose even one, all their remaining matches are just going to be spoilers. Bad leadership by Yuvraj.

Anyway, here is how the team should look:

Graeme Smith
Sourav Ganguly
Jesse Ryder
Robin Uthappa (w)
Yuvraj Singh
Monish Mishra
Nathan McCullum
Murali Kartik
Rahul Sharma
Alfonso Thomas
Shrikant Wagh

If Tim Paine is included instead of Smith, have him in the middle order, and have Manish Pandey open w/ Dada, dropping someone else. Otherwise, as far as the foreign players go, might be worth trying out Fergusson for McCullum, since the latter's bowling is not a threat to anybody. Paine's inclusion doesn't strengthen the batting, but just relieves Uthappa from having to keep wickets. It's really a toss-up b/w Nathan McCullum, Mitch Marsh and Jerome Taylor.

Ah I dunnooo!! I don't think PW needed a batsmen tbh. But it'll be interesting to see if their fortunes do turn around. Playing against MI will be the greatest test as they are arguably the best team in this IPL.

i'm so happy that he's playing.When he went unsold TWICE it really was depressing.its a waste of talent if he doesnt play !!

Originally posted by: Parachute.

Ah I dunnooo!! I don't think PW needed a batsmen tbh. But it'll be interesting to see if their fortunes do turn around. Playing against MI will be the greatest test as they are arguably the best team in this IPL.

They have a total of 30 players, and yet stuck to the same losing combinations. I however don't fault Yuvi or Uthappa for batting lower down - the team does need late order big hitters, and Nathan McCullum is not in the league of even a Vettori, let alone a Pollard or Albie. Problem they had was being let down badly by their top order batsmen throughout the tournament.

First of all, of their 4 overseas players, 2 of them are in the opening slot, increasing the risk, even though Ryder has been pushed down to #3 in ODIs and #5 in tests. Last night, I just didn't see the logic of Ryder opening instead of Smith. If Smith is not firing (and honestly, he hasn't for the longest time in any format of cricket), have domestic openers like Manish Pandey & Monish Mishra (having 3 late order sloggers like Yuvi, Robbie and MM makes little sense) and strengthen the middle order w/ Fergusson, Nathan McCullum, and for the other 2 slots, have 2 bowlers - Mitch Marsh, and another from Thomas/Taylor/Parnell.

Of course, now since Dada is in and Pune is out of the top 4, they can experiment w/ all their players b4 going into next season. Here's what I'd try out

Sourav Ganguly
Manish Pandey
Callum Ferguson
Robin Uthappa
Yuvraj Singh
Monish Mishra
Nathan McCullum
Murali Kartik
Mitch Marsh
Rahul Sharma
Alfonso Thomas

If Ryder or Paine play, they should play in the #3 slot, since neither of them have been successful openers. Sourav & Pandey maintain a LHB-RHB opening combination, followed by Fergusson to make the most of the middle order, followed by Robbie/Yuvi/MM. The last 3 can swap positions as needed depending on the fall of wickets. This team has 6 bowlers as a result of McCullum (next year, if Angelo Matthews is available, he could vie for that slot w/ McCullum) If a pitch is too helpful to the pace bowlers but unhelpful to spinners, they could have Parnell or Taylor replace McCullum.