Looks like the new broom will be sweeping out the Fab Four some time soon. Straight Point doesn't think much of Srikkanth's apparent plan to make the retirement process public:
i don't have problem with...that knowing their future plans they will
groom certain set of players which they deem fit as their reasonable
replacements...
i don't even have any problem with management
planning their farewell...befitting their stature and the services they
rendered...and i sincerely believe...without an iota of doubt
that......if we are treated as some force in world stage...most of that
credit should go to them...
but what you get in return...this media trial?
Who is the most under pressure. The Press Trust of India reporter thinks Ganguly might be the first to go:
Will Srikkanth and co-selectors Yashpal Sharma,
Narendra Hirwani, Surendra Bhave and Raja Venkat pull the rug on the
career of Ganguly is the big question ahead of one of the most
interesting selection panel meetings.
The
36-year-old Bengal stalwart, who staged a spectacular entry into Tests
with a debut ton at Lord's in 1996, made a storming return to the
five-day game in South Africa [Images] in late 2006 after losing his place earlier that year.
The
classy left-hander amassed over 1100 runs with 239, his career-best
score, against Pakistan in Bangalore in late 2007, at a fantastic
average of 61.44 last year which compares very favourably with his
career average of 41.74 in 109 Tests.
He
has been unable to maintain that high in the current year though he has
come up with important knocks like the 87 he made against the visiting
South Africans at Kanpur that helped India level the three-Test rubber
in April.
This, however, was followed by the left hander's poor run in Sri Lanka where his best score was 35 in six innings.
And Dileep Premachandran puts in a strong defense of Laxman:
Ganguly's time already appears to have run out, and it will be
interesting to see if either Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar stay on
past the tour of New Zealand next April. Laxman isn't even 34 yet, and
calls for his head are utter nonsense. Against his favourite opponents,
he may just prove why.
Here's an old post of mine defending the Fab Four as a whole. Finally, in some good news for Ganguly, a new type of reverse swing specifically for medium pace bowlers!