Irfan Pathan

[waqar akram]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indi...yer/31791.html
mohammad nissar who later moved to pakistan after paartitiion had a bowling avergae of 28 in tests and might have been the fastest indian bowler ever. luckily for india he played all his cricket before partition otherwise the creation of pakistan might have deprived india of another genuine fast bowler.

[alexjohn_tcr]

Irfan pathan is crap.He doesnt have any future in INTL cricket.

[Zaz]

Originally Posted by Savak He has lost his swing. His swing was his greatest plus point. I think he has slowed down a touch as well. He doesnt even take his bowling seriously anymore. He treats himself as a defensive bowler now whose job is to bowl a couple of tight overs as opposed to a wicket taking option. He reminded me so much of Wasim Akram in 2003-2005, that late swing, the ability to move the ball both ways at decent speeds of 85 mph. He never worked on improving his game, probably that extra focus on his batting didnt help his cause either.

I think ur spot on!! Hes lost his boomerang swing and lost pace. His line and length is not so accurate too

I mean you can get away with losing one of the 3 aspects ive mentioned but you need at least two to be quality, you cany forgoe all 3 which hes done

[IronMan2009]

I don't think Dhoni prefers him.

[spectator]

Originally Posted by switchblade Is he suffering from a reverse Afridi syndrome ?

[mithun_minhas]

I would pick Irfan in the team over Munaf Patel. Both are trundlers and get smashed by top class batsmen. Munaf is a slightly better bowler though.
IMO, Irfan is a far better bowler with the new ball. He gets the ball to swing albeit slowly. He can pick some early wickets.

When it comes to batting, Irfan can play a blinder and can accelerate the scoring at anytime. He would make Indian batting even stronger.

Munaf is also a terrible fielder. Irfan is very athletic and will never drop a catch or let the ball slide between his legs

I think it was a mistake to not pick Irfan. I always wonder if he was treated unfairly by BCCI. Even if his bowling has dropped off, he deserves a place as an allrounder in the team.

Bottom line is - Irfan is a match winner. Munaf is a so-so bowler who is terrible in batting as well as fielding.

[jusarrived]

atm Munaf is much better bowler than Irfan & do we really need more batting ?

I would ahve picked him in the sqaud though , but hes injured .

[nsaviguru]

It is way too early too panic. I still think this team is more then capable of winning this world cup, I would only replace Chawla with Ashwin and we should be good thereafter.

I personally don't mind a few more tough/competitive matches before the quarterfinals, these sort of games only benefits the team. More importantly they will play with a lot urgency from start to finish and not take anything for granted which is a must in the knock out stage.

[Eagle_Eye]

Munaf is a much better bet... he seams the ball and generally bowls on nagging length with some bounce due to his height.

Pathan is just far too easy to hit.

[Watsupdoc]

No they are missing Parveen Kumar. He's probably the best indian new bowl bowler.

[FusedBulb]

No. All India need is to replace Chawla with Ashwin and their bowling attack will be in better shape. Ashwin may not be a big wicket taker but he is good in containing runs and is surely hard to slog.

[md_tariq]

with the current available batsmen and bowlers in the India squad, I would not put Irfan in the eleven unless Irfan's bowling has improved drastically since he played last. Also if Yousuf is not available due to injury then I can have irfan in the eleven instead of raina replacing yousuf. Overall I would have him in the squad replacing chawla.

[Eagle_Eye]

Chawla is pretty decent.... just wrong choice of balls to right handed sloggers at crucial times!! Why bowl the googly and make it easy for them to hit you with the spin on the leg side. Dhoni should have gone up to him and told him to let them try to hit against the spin.

[ZenBowman]

Chawla is a good legspin bowler and needs to be backed. The only problem was that he was brought on too late, and it is hard for a spinner to control runs in the last few overs. In the middle overs he can be very useful.

The problem is fundamentally that we do not have a strike bowler. Look at the devastation caused by someone like Kemar Roach, we need someone like that. Fast and straight.

[mithun_minhas]

Chawla blew the game for India. All he had to do was bowl flatter and quicker and give singles and 2's. But he tried to be smart and get wickets instead of containing the batsmen.

Munaf bowling length balls in death overs is deplorable. He got rightfully smacked for a six by Shehzad.

India should have comfortably won the game after Zaheer's efforts. But it all went invain.

Its sad that no other bowler can bowl yorkers well except Zak..

All you people might say that india was lucky to draw the game, I always thought that all India needed was the wicket of Straus and a collapse will be on cards. And it happened the same way.. Lack of support for Zak in bowling cost India the game..

I know its only one game and India can very much turn the tide. But the psychological impact on Indian team about not being able to defend a huge target might comeback to haunt them against teams like South Africa..

[pun500]

ashwins good for the time being....

ideally we should have picked irfan n played him in place of yusuf at 7

reasons : he is not the worst batter at 7 , can slog if reqd (though not as good as yusuf) lends brilliant balance to the team by allowing us to play ashwin/chawla

this would have been my 11

sachin
sehwag
gambhir
kohli
yuvi
dhoni
irfan
bhajji
ashwin/chawla
munaf
zak

this gives fab balance to the side and also allows us to pick a wicket taking spinner

bowlers would be

irfan - 5-7 overs
zak- 10
bhajji-10
ashwin - 7-10
munaf - 7-10
yuvi - 4-5
sehwag/ sachin - 2-3

we can easily manage 50 overs for not much

[the Great Khan]

i would drop pathan and add another bowler..you dont need that many batsmen..id add ashwin instead pf pathan..on these pitches if the top five india have got cant do a job then number 7 isnt anyway!! get ashwin and chawla in the middle overs to dry up the run rate and then use munaf and zaheer , bhajji at the death..

[pun500]

yusuf would defo be in squad though

[md_tariq]

Originally Posted by mithun_minhas Chawla blew the game for India. All he had to do was bowl flatter and quicker and give singles and 2's. But he tried to be smart and get wickets instead of containing the batsmen. Munaf bowling length balls in death overs is deplorable. He got rightfully smacked for a six by Shehzad. India should have comfortably won the game after Zaheer's efforts. But it all went invain. Its sad that no other bowler can bowl yorkers well except Zak.. All you people might say that india was lucky to draw the game, I always thought that all India needed was the wicket of Straus and a collapse will be on cards. And it happened the same way.. Lack of support for Zak in bowling cost India the game.. I know its only one game and India can very much turn the tide. But the psychological impact on Indian team about not being able to defend a huge target might comeback to haunt them against teams like South Africa..

I thot it was the best result for India as tie did not make the situation as bad as it would have, had they lost the game yesterday. They could still top the group without the help from other teams if they beat SA and beat other teams comfortably. But this tie would have given the much needed kick in their backside. they were very complacent during the end of their batting and first 30 overs of their bowling. This tie would have shaken up a bit and they would not do the same mistake if they had to meet lesser teams like NZ or SL in the quarter finals.

[nsaviguru]

Originally Posted by ZenBowman Chawla is a good legspin bowler and needs to be backed. The only problem was that he was brought on too late, and it is hard for a spinner to control runs in the last few overs. In the middle overs he can be very useful. The problem is fundamentally that we do not have a strike bowler. Look at the devastation caused by someone like Kemar Roach, we need someone like that. Fast and straight.

Chawla is young and he has a lot of time to develop and I am sure he will be an integral part of this Indian team in the near future. But right now there is now way we can rely on him IN KNOCK OUT GAME to bowl 10 consistent overs. There is a time and place for everything and this is not the time nor the place for Chawla to refine his skill at biggest stage in cricket.

[ZenBowman]

Originally Posted by nsaviguru Chawla is young and he has a lot of time to develop and I am sure he will be an integral part of this Indian team in the near future. But right now there is now way we can rely on him IN KNOCK OUT GAME to bowl 10 consistent overs. There is a time and place for everything and this is not the time nor the place for Chawla to refine his skill at biggest stage in cricket.

This may have been a valid post had we had a half-decent replacement. But we do not.

[nsaviguru]

Originally Posted by ZenBowman This may have been a valid post had we had a half-decent replacement. But we do not.

Ashwin is more then a capable replacement. You will see the balance in the team once he is included.

[Express Pace]

They're missing Ishant Sharma.

[nsaviguru]

Originally Posted by the Great Khan i would drop pathan and add another bowler..you dont need that many batsmen..id add ashwin instead pf pathan..on these pitches if the top five india have got cant do a job then number 7 isnt anyway!! get ashwin and chawla in the middle overs to dry up the run rate and then use munaf and zaheer , bhajji at the death..

When we are batting first I think you have valid point, but if we are chasing Pathan can single-handedly bring us back or win a knock out game for us. It is a tough call on one hand it could work on the other it could backfire. I am just glad I am not making the decision.

[QuarterBack]

At OP, no but they def are missing PK...

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by Express Pace They're missing Ishant Sharma.

Missing Praveen and Nehra
Not Ishant , he's too expensive for ODI

[JibranAnsari]

As I remember he was a pretty good bowler who could swing both ways and a handy batsman. Why is he not considered for selection.? Is he unfit or anything else? Mods please correct the title.

[pun500]

because he is a v poor bowler these days and was sidelined due to injury for almosta year

[Poison]

Have you seen him in the IPL nowadays? Absolutely rubbish now, more use as a batsman than a bowler.

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by Poison Have you seen him in the IPL nowadays? Absolutely rubbish now, more use as a batsman than a bowler.

that is sad, he was a good swing bowler.

[kingusama92]

His bowling is just not what it used to be.

He has lost that zip, an issue that plagues every Indian pacer it seems.

In his earlier years, I thought he was quite the find for India. He was able to get the ball to move around at decent pace regardless of the conditions.

Now, he's just an average batsman who can bowl at medium pace.

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by kingusama92 His bowling is just not what it used to be. He has lost that zip, an issue that plagues every Indian pacer it seems. In his earlier years, I thought he was quite the find for India. He was able to get the ball to move around at decent pace regardless of the conditions. Now, he's just an average batsman who can bowl at medium pace.

His pace was never high 120- 130 i Think. He must have lost the swing and seam he used to get.

[Usman]

No Jibran, the guy most definately has lost pace. He wasn't fast to begin with but now he's just mega slow. Some commentator even introduced him as slow left arm over spinner. He's rubbish.

[JibranAnsari]

these three deliveries were top notch

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by Usman No Jibran, the guy most definately has lost pace. He wasn't fast to begin with but now he's just mega slow. Some commentator even introduced him as slow left arm over spinner. He's rubbish.

yah probably but he never was fast. He was always a medium pacer. A medium pacer without swing is useless.

[lipton]

Whole Pakistan team were his bunny.

[AlizeeFan]

He changed his action. I don't know who suggested him. But with that change he lost his pace and ability to swing the ball. I guess if he didn't try to experiment with his bowling and continued with his original way then he might not have lost it.

It started to happen few years ago and now he is rubbish.

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by lipton Whole Pakistan team were his bunny.

yaah his test bowling average is only 49 against pakistan ;)

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by AlizeeFan He changed his action. I don't know who suggested him. But with that change he lost his pace and ability to swing the ball. I guess if he didn't try to experiment with his bowling and continued with his original way then he might not have lost it. It started to happen few years ago and now he is rubbish.

he still bowls 125 126 kph. I think change in action took away his ability to swing.

[onlycricket]

Originally Posted by JibranAnsari As I remember he was a pretty good bowler who could swing both ways and a handy batsman. Why is he not considered for selection.? Is he unfit or anything else? Mods please correct the title.

he is no different than any other Indian pace bower...BCCI must do something to promote spin/fast bowlings in India...

[Down2Earth]

he's finished as a cricketer

[dani2k]

India can't afford to have both PK and IP in the same team. Both are similar type of bowlers with similar speeds. And IP as rightly pointed out is nowhere the bowler which he was earlier. But worth a try in T20s at #7 in seaming conditions.

If he succeeds then we probably can try him in ODIs at #7 abroad.

[Fireworks11]

There was so much promise when he burst on to the scene, he's in the wilderness for a while now.

[AlizeeFan]

Originally Posted by JibranAnsari he still bowls 125 126 kph. I think change in action took away his ability to swing.

Bowler's ability to swing the ball depends a lot on the grip, wrist position, seam position etc. Every bowler learns it his own way and grows up with it. They practice in same way for 5-10 years and when they get into international cricket they are used to bowling in their style. If bowler takes risk of altering anything then there is very little chance that you can do the same again in 1-2 years even if he switches from unconventional way to conventional way.

[LethalSami]

so Irfan has became slower???

exactly how much slower can u go from 120's????

[ninjafirstslip]

him and his brother are both extremely over rated. But he cant be any worse than sharma or sreesanth

[Badsha]

Class bowler.


Still believe he is under-rated.


Can swing the ball miles.

[Itachi]

He was a great promising bowler in his debut. Wasim used to praise him a lot....

But he experimented too much, lost the originality. Now he isn't even the shadow of what he was.... Ishant sharma went through the same process but thank god he realised it lately. There is no fast bowling idol in india from past.... I think that's creates a problem.

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by Itachi He was a great promising bowler in his debut. Wasim used to praise him a lot.... But he experimented too much, lost the originality. Now he isn't even the shadow of what he was.... Ishant sharma went through the same process but thank god he realised it lately. There is no fast bowling idol in india from past.... I think that's creates a problem.

Its all in the mind. A fast bowler does not drop his pace to become only line length bowler. He becomes line length bowler with pace.

[saad1024]

Because Mishra is doing fine as a spinner...

[saeedhk]

Before he used to be a 1 gud bowler but now he is not that gud.

[cricketindiafan]

He is on a comeback trail again. Was out injured for 8-9 months and made his comeback during IPL. Was scheduled to play in the FLt20 in England but could not get the BCCI NOC in time. Started the IPl badly, but during the later stages of the tournament, bowled with a lot of proomise. That deadly swing was seemingly coming back, looked in good rhythm.

Has been working on his bowling at the NCA post IPL. He is a good domestic season away from being back in the team. At 26, there is still a lot of cricket left in him.

[ShaunMarshRules]

Originally Posted by JibranAnsari he still bowls 125 126 kph. I think change in action took away his ability to swing.

If you look at the link - irfan pathan's first test wicket, when he was about 19-20 years old. 134 kms an hour, which is fast for a youngster who can swing the ball. Within a few years it went down to 125-126, and then he lost swing. Sad , really.

[ninjafirstslip]

Originally Posted by cricketindiafan He is on a comeback trail again. Was out injured for 8-9 months and made his comeback during IPL. Was scheduled to play in the FLt20 in England but could not get the BCCI NOC in time. Started the IPl badly, but during the later stages of the tournament, bowled with a lot of proomise. That deadly swing was seemingly coming back, looked in good rhythm. Has been working on his bowling at the NCA post IPL. He is a good domestic season away from being back in the team. At 26, there is still a lot of cricket left in him.

he was promising new ball bowler not deadly wicket taker.

He is light

[jawad1]

Originally Posted by ninjafirstslip he was promising new ball bowler not deadly wicket taker. He is light

That is what I tought.

[ninjafirstslip]

^ emphasis the light....good delivery though

[Justcrazy]

Irfan is over the hill now. I do not see him making a comeback. As it is India is playing 4 bowlers these days in ODI, you want to play your best four. Though He could be termed as a batting allrounder .

[Lara400]

All the dancing and what not has taken the pace out of the legs. Makes no difference the pace would have gone anyways after a few years thats a given for an Indian phasssht bowler.

[Blitz]

Like someone said earlier, they already have 2 Wasim Akrams in Zaheer and Praveen.


Raising that number to 3 would be so unfair!


Got to give other teams a chance eh?

[ninjafirstslip]

Originally Posted by Blitz Like someone said earlier, they already have 2 Wasim Akrams in Zaheer and Praveen. Raising that number to 3 would be so unfair! Got to give other teams a chance eh?

just look how they totally trashed the english on seaming wickets too unfair

[0tt0man]

I remember witnessing his bowling when the India U-19 team visited Pakistan. They literally demolished our team and Irfan Pathan was at the fore front with some terrific bowling.
It was no surprise for me when he debuted for India a couple of years later.

Like the others said, lack of pace and experimentation ruined him. By the end he was playing more as a pinch hitter in the Indian team.

[Bullet Drive]

Originally Posted by dani2k India can't afford to have both PK and IP in the same team. Both are similar type of bowlers with similar speeds. And IP as rightly pointed out is nowhere the bowler which he was earlier. But worth a try in T20s at #7 in seaming conditions. If he succeeds then we probably can try him in ODIs at #7 abroad.

A T20 with seaming conditions :facepalm

[Bullet Drive]

He is like James Franklin now. A good comparisson.

[Sledger]

Because Ojha is the first choice left arm spinner now.

[sa88]

Originally Posted by Itachi He was a great promising bowler in his debut. Wasim used to praise him a lot.... But he experimented too much, lost the originality. Now he isn't even the shadow of what he was.... Ishant sharma went through the same process but thank god he realised it lately. There is no fast bowling idol in india from past.... I think that's creates a problem.

Blame Chappell - he tried to turn Irfan into an all-rounder. Now he's neither here nor there.

Shame as he had talent. I remember his bowling in the Karachi Test match.

[srh]

the moment he start dating the girlfriend (who is his wife now?) his bowling start deteriorating. May be she put him on veggie only diet?

[freelance_cricketer]

Right now he doesn't look good but when he was kicked out he wasn't that bad actually. Seriously mistreated, misguided fellow that.

[Feroz Rawther]

Wish a properly managed Irfan was there along with a fully fit Zaheer and PK in England

[Express Pace]

Pathan needs to hit the weights with the rest of the Indian bowling line up, added strength may give them an extra yard of pace. They are either anorexic looking or chubby.

[farsiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Itachi He was a great promising bowler in his debut. Wasim used to praise him a lot.... But he experimented too much, lost the originality. Now he isn't even the shadow of what he was.... Ishant sharma went through the same process but thank god he realised it lately. There is no fast bowling idol in india from past.... I think that's creates a problem.

You are more than welcome to borrow one of ours...

[Wasim_Waqar]

I think his arm became lower and with that went the orthodox swing. Lower arm bowling is only good for reverse swing.

[Sledger]

That's just a myth. A lot of slingy armed bowlers like Malinga or Akhtar are capable of generating big outswing with the new ball.

[Wasim_Waqar]

I was referencing more towards tests and the red ball.

With the white ball, slingy guys are dangerous with the new ball.

Waqar was better with the new ball when he had a higher arm action with the newer ball (5th test 1992) as opposed to the old ball, when he lowered his arm.

Then again, I've seen Shoaib get outswing with the new ball in tests in 2005 with a slightly lower arm.

[Sledger]

True, the white ball swings more, but I think that's the same with everyone.





A lower arm probably gives a bit of assistance with reverse swing (but I don't think it's a hard and fast rule because a lot of orthodox bowlers like Gul and Wasim mastered the art too).

[Cricfan4eva]

IPL is not the place to judge but during the latter part he was getting some amazing swing like he used to before.

http://youtu.be/cTM6U_dkp98?t=21s

[Gotham Cronie]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...d.php?t=120488

[Third Umpire]

Irfan Pathan 2000s = Sunil Joshi 1990s.

[CORNERED-TIGER]

simple reason he is not one of dhoni favs.

but more then that its his own fault, he is at the age where bowlers get more pace he is going other way around.

lazy cricketer should have done better.

he has brain but not pace
on the other hand in pakistan had sami who had pace but no brain

[Tera Gawaandi]

Chief Selector Srikanth holds grudge against Pathan brothers.

[Looney]

he is a TTF