Yeah thing is he opens and its unlikely the selectors would throw him into test cricket like Hameed has been because England have actually failed to find a partner for Cook whereas we have Rahul and Vijay already. However he should get a chance if he keeps playing like he has been.

India have just re-called Parthiv Patel for the Mohali test as Saha has a thigh injury.

What a stupidly backwards move from the selectors. He has no future with the Indian team so why not give Rishab Pant a chance who is in sublime batting form at the moment? Or even give the gloves to KL Rahul and pick an extra batsman. Or Karun Nair who is handy with the gloves. Just no sense in that decision whatsoever.

It's just a decision to surely get you through one test, whilst Saha recovers.

Doesn't need to be someone who has a log future wth the side, just someone capabale of filling in for a game.

What's his credentials? And is Saha definitely out?

Even if it is just for a test, they should have picked someone for the future so at least they have a taste of test cricket.

Parthiv Patel has played 30 innings with a high score of..wait for it..69. Average below 30 and pretty shoddy keeping.

Parthiv Patel was a true legend that was able to stand up and fight against a great Australian bowling line-up in the mid 2000s.

I can't wait to see him back where he truly belongs.

And yeh, Saha is definitely out of the Mohali test.

I think Parthiv's heroics and guts that he displayed in those two series vs Australia completely changed the mindset of Indian batsmen in difficult conditions.

Some would say that their top order were a soft touch in difficult conditions as they hadn't won a series outside the subcontinent for around 2 decades at the time, but that soon changed after Parthiv's stubborn resistance. It's no surprise that after these heroic acts, India started to win outside the subcontinent and ended up being number 1 test side in the world.

Some people credit Ganguly, Dhoni, Dravid or Tendulkar, but I would say Parthiv also had a great influence.

I don't think its a bad decision.

Patel comes with experience and has been around the block. I'd love to see a youngster come in, but not for this crucial test. If we were 2-0 up then maybe.

Maybe in a test series against a lesser opponent, but blooding in a youngster against the likes of Anderson could dent his confidence.

Patel is a relatively average player lets be honest - however I believe selectors have gone for him because they want to add a left handed batsman to the side plus his performances in Ranji this year have been quite good. Other options were Naman Ojha who is not fully fit however, Dinesh Karthik whose glovework is questionable and then young Pant but maybe too early for him. Saha has been pretty poor with the bat in thr first two tests so it's not too bad of a replacement.

comment by Kav H (U19426)

posted 1 hour, 5 minutes ago

Patel is a relatively average player lets be honest
======================================

Now you're just being a hater.

Parthiv showed all sorts of courage against the likes of McGrath, Wanre, Gillespie, Lee etc.

His small stint in Test Cricket changed the whole mindset of Indian cricket before he was very harshly treated by the selectors.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=510;team=6;type=series

Stop it JT

JT seems to know lot more about Mr. Patel than us..

On a serious note, we respect your opinion pal. You bring lot of amazing info for sure..

Y'all forgot about my Butler playing in the next match?

Not fair that all the attention is on Mr. Patel!

Thanks for your kind words fact taker.

Buttler is a good player and I think he may be a slightly better option than Duckett for England at this particular time.

But let's be real here, Buttler is a mere mortal next to Patel who played away from home in England, Australia, NZ, Pak and SL. I think you'll agree it was a very tough introduction to test cricket, but he kept fighting.

JT

LOL!!

JT ur cool poster my friend. We need more posters like you buddy.

Gambhir is cool because he plays for Kalkuta Knight Riders just saying

The Mohali pitch looks dry and a bit cracked already - another win the toss and bat first pitch? We get kohli early we are in the game

Buttler in Duckett out....good shout

5 down already....fack sakes

Buttler in now....so he needs to prove he's worth selecting

Johnny B..nice 50

3 dropped catches again for India including Patel dropping a caught behind for Bairstow. That may prove highly costly.