Ajinkya Rahane

a FC record of 33 matches, 3355 runs, ave 69.90, 11 100s, 15 50s and a great season in ranji so far (ave >100). if he keeps it up he could well be in the test side come 2011

I think he's still behind Vijay, Pujara, Rohit, and Kohli for a test middle order spot. His first class record is outstanding, though.

Henry wrote:I think he's still behind Vijay, Pujara, Rohit, and Kohli for a test middle order spot. His first class record is outstanding, though.

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I think I agree. Vijay is easily the next one to be inducted, and I think Pujara with his consistent performances is next, in tests. And they look test class. After that it's all a bit fuzzy, no clear cut name in the queue.

Indian test top six in 2 years, imo-

Gambhir
Sehwag
Vijay
Pujara
Yuvraj
Rohit/Kohli/Rahane/Pandey


That final batting spot is still up in the air, imo.

Phurt, Sachin and Laxman are going to be there in 2 years. If we are lucky, maybe even Dravid.

Two 38 year olds and one 37 year old in the top six? Unlikely.

Implying you wouldn't select them, given the chance.

Well if they're still playing well at that age, then of course I would select them. 2 of them (Tendulkar and Dravid) are all time greats, and Laxman is very very good. But history suggests that at least 2 of them wont be playing come 20011. Sachin has announced he plans to retire after the next world cup, no? And Laxman has dodgy knees and can barely run these days. Dravid has the technique and natural physical fitness to still be playing in 2011, but it's whether he has the mental desire to keep on going. Cricket seems to take more out of Dravid mentally than it does the other two.

srt is retiring from odis after wc2011, not tests

doremi wrote:I think I agree. Vijay is easily the next one to be inducted, and I think Pujara with his consistent performances is next, in tests. And they look test class. After that it's all a bit fuzzy, no clear cut name in the queue.

rahane has been more consistent than pujara. also he plays a lot more higher level FC matches thanks to his team than pujara

vijay is quite clearly next in line. i think yuvraj will be on shaky ground pretty soon, as soon as india tour outside the sub-con

I just hope Sachin quits the game whilst he's still on top.

Was watching old matches on ESPN a few days back, and really the Dravid then and now are very different, and so I think he'll not be playing too many more matches. Laxman hasn't changed much and if anything Tendulkar seems better (was watching the 03 tour of Aus).

And what TO said. He's 25% retired from ODIs anyways.

I dunno, Dravid looked pretty good against Sri Lanka recently. Was very aggressive.

Dravid of recent times has been fluent and consistant. Perhaps much closer to his earlier days in cricket. His real peak years happened between 1999 [The New Zealand series] to 2004 [Series we won against Pak away]. Jayasurya. Waugh Sr. would have played longer if selectors hadn't been breathing down his neck. Border played till 40 I reckon too! Nevertheless at the moment he still looks good enough to play another 2 - 3 years unless injury happens or he decided he has had enough.....