But all the criticism in the world doesn't answer the big question - how exactly can the Indian side change for the better? The first, and most obvious, answer is that of the axe - drop the non performers, and let new blood enter. Taking a look at the current team makeup, and seeing who should stay, and who should hang up the colored kits..

One day cricket, it is said, is a youngster's game - hence why so many older players like Steve Waugh, Allan Donald and their like have been forced out in the recent past. Ganguly, at 32, is the oldest member in the batting lineup - and as captain, often ends up being held responsible for team successes or failures. However, his performance in recent times have been a touch worrying - in the last 20 games, Ganguly's averaged only 36.63 batting in the top four; either opening, or coming in at one or two down. What's more, for a man with a penchant for big scores (he has the second highest number of one day hundreds to his name), he's only made a handful of decent scores. Two knocks of 90 against England and Kenya, and a knock of 79 are the only major innings he's scored recently, particularly worrying considering his past reputation when it came to turning a start into a big score.

Instead, Ganguly now seems to have resigned himself to making a number of bright starts and then getting out - the numbers say it all... 45, 39, 21, 45, 56, 60, 39, 25, 24, 48. Add to those another dismal statistic - five single figure scores in 19 innings, and the signs don't look for Ganguly. Even if he has been one of India's most successful captains ever, it seems that age is catching up with him and his performances, at least in the one day game; and it might very well suit Ganguly to step down soon before an axe falls.

Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar's batting form appears to have diminished in recent times as he's gotten older - and both in tests and one dayers recently, he's looked a shade of his old self from 1998 or even 2003. However, his batting average of almost 42 in his last 20 games still dictates his utility to the side, even though his strike rate and conversion rates have decreased. Tendulkar's only struck a century and five fifties in that time period - but his vastly improved bowling average shows how his value to the team remains unchanged. From a career average of 45, Tendulkar's bowling average in recent times has improved to just a shade over 27, with an even more impressive strike rate of 28.4 balls per wicket. What's more, out of his last 13 games, he's only played one where he hasn't bowled - and in a couple, has bowled a full complement of 10 overs. Even if his batting may be slipping from the high standards he once set, his bowling's making sure he could be considered something of an all rounder in the one day game, and with his still-energetic fielding, he's far from over the hill - definitely someone who might well be in the one day side for a few more years to come.

Virender Sehwag

Of all the top order in recent times, Sehwag's had a shockingly dismal run, averaging just 22 in his last 20 games with just three half centuries, and 13 scores of 20 or below in 19 innings. More than an axe for Sehwag though, a move in the batting order could possibly benefit him and bring the best out of him. He's often stated that he would be happier in the middle order, and with a spread field, his ability to rotate the strike and take quick singles could be more than useful - not to mention his big hitting in later overs. What's more, with his overall ability and youth in consideration, Sehwag should definitely be in the long-term plans for the one day side, unless this trough of form continues for too long. While it no doubt would be harsh to axe him, considering the sort of impetus he often gives the Indian innings, it might be likely that he could be dropped briefly for a few games to let him know that his performances need to improve.

VVS Laxman

In his last 20 matches, VVS Laxman only has two hundreds - and a single fifty to back them up, showing his inconsistency in the one day game. His average of 32.61 in that period doesn't reflect accurately the number of failures he's had with 9 dismissals in 19 innings for 20 or less - and would be even lower if the hundred against Zimbabwe and the lone half century against Kenya were ignored. More than Laxman's scores, it's his fielding that's often robbing the team of runs - or gifting them to the opposition. Batsmen only need to hit the ball a few feet away from him for an easy single if he's inside the circle, and when Laxman is on the boundary, can often turn quick singles into relaxed twos with VVS's shoddy ground fielding. While his catching is often at a high standard, his ground fielding - a crucial factor in one dayers - is dismal, and just another reason as to why Laxman needs to be axed from the one day team as soon as possible.

Rahul Dravid

No statistics are needed here to point out that it's well past the time for Dravid to give up the glovework. As one of India's most valuable players in the test scene, Dravid's time as wicketkeeper is only affecting the length of time he can keep playing, taking an incredible strain on his knees and hands that shouldn't be demanded off a top order batsman with his value to the side. However, as a batsman, the question is whether Dravid can hold his place in the one day lineup - and it seems that he might struggle to do so. Despite a respectable average just under 40, Dravid's strike rate in one dayers remains dismal, still remaining under 70 and with players like Tendulkar or Kaif just as well equipped to play the anchor roles in a one day innings and being far more capable of attacking shots, it might be in the one day side's best interest for Dravid to hang up the pyjamas and stick to whites from hereon.

Mohammad Kaif

Kaif's average of 31 in this calendar year, when tied to the number of runs he's scored so far (406, in 19 matches) shows just how abysmally he's been used. Only once has he been given the chance to bat right near the top of the order, and almost in every other innings, he's been stuck at either 6 or 7. With a superb ability to place the ball and steal singles, Kaif should be given far more time in the top or middle order, rather than batting only in the final overs of most games where he's often required to take risks and throw his wicket away. Statistics in Kaif's case don't show anything other than the fact that he should not be batting down the order - and replacing Ganguly or Laxman at 3 or 4 would make far more sense than only having the last few overs to score his runs. Nevertheless, with his whippet-like work in the field to back up his batting, Kaif's one player who should definitely not be booted from the one day side at any cost in the near future.

Yuvraj Singh

Much like Kaif, Yuvraj has kept batting down the order recently - and aside from the odd explosive knock here and there, he's recently not been producing the goods too regularly. However, Yuvraj's fielding has consistently aided India save more than just a few runs here and there in the infield, and in a manner similar to Kaif, Yuvraj might also benefit from being allowed to bat further up the order. With the current middle order, a recent characteristic of India's method of batting through the middle overs has been a noticeable lack of urgency for quick ones and twos - and promoting batsmen like Kaif and Yuvraj - who should be able to play longer innings than they normally get the chance to - would definitely help India in that regard. Either way, one thing's for certain - with Yuvraj's match winning potential as a batsman, and his livewire presence in the field, he should be another near-automatic selection for the one day side.

Harbhajan Singh

Ever since returning to one day cricket, Harbhajan's added another dimension to the Indian bowling lineup. In England, on unhelpful pitches, he tormented the English batsmen repeatedly with superb loop and variation, and has repeatedly shown amazing control with an ability to choke runs and attack at the same time. His fielding, while not spectacular, is far from poor - and with age on his side, Bhajji's definitely another certainty for the bowling lineup in the one day game

Anil Kumble

In a manner similar to his state-mate Dravid, Kumble seems to be a lot more dangerous in the test match game, rather than the hit-and-smash format of one day cricket. In recent times particularly, when he's not even been an automatic selection, Kumble's often bled runs or been unable to pick up wickets with defensive fields, and as a bowler, has had his effectiveness reduced drastically over time. Recent averages from his last 15 ODIs say it all - a strike rate of over 72 ball per wicket, and an average of just under 60 runs per wicket. Another one who should join Dravid and lock the pyjamas in a closet for good.

Irfan Pathan

Probably the most impressive of all of India's recent up and comers, Pathan at his best is lethal with the new ball, swinging it prodigiously in both directions and troubling some of the top batsmen. Few will forget his repeated workings-over of Yousuf Youhana in Pakistan, and he's already brought up comparisons to some of the top swing bowlers with his ability to take wickets with the new ball. If his bowling isn't enough, Pathan's already started being labelled as India's next all rounder, with an ability to hit the ball long and hard, and has shown an impressive ability in the field to boot. Having just crossed 20 years of age, he's one of the most junior members in the side, and also one of the most talented - definitely a clear pick for the Men in Blue for the next few years.

Ashish Nehra

Can't bat, can't field... and the bowling? Nothing too impressive. With the exception of a couple of impressive bagfuls against Zimbabwe, and his famous 6/23 against England under lights, Nehra hasn't done much with the white ball. Despite a few other memorable moments (the last over in Karachi, and an impressive 4-for against Sri Lanka in the World Cup), Nehra's been generally unimpressive, picking up no more than a wicket per match on average in recent times, at a fairly pedestrian economy rate of just under 5. However, his inability to hold a bat or field make up for it - and are enough reason as to why he should join Laxman on the scrap heap.

Zaheer Khan

Khan's yorker in one day cricket is one of the main reasons as to why he's in the side - and despite an economy rate that's been going up in recent times, his strike rate of around 30 balls per wicket and reputation as one of the main wickettakers in Indian cricket are what continue to keep him in the side. However, in his last 20 matches, the statistics aren't flattering - an economy rate over 5.5, and 5 occasions where he's conceded over 60 runs in a game. If he can bring his control back to the levels he had when he first debuted, he'd be a certain pick for the side - yet, right now, it's very possible that if one or two of the other Indian quicks perform, Khan might again be forced into the sidelines.

Ajit Agarkar

The nearly-man of Indian cricket - Agarkar seems to be the typical "hit or miss" player more often than not. In pyjamas, he's had 6 occasions in his last 20 games where he's conceded runs at over 6 runs per over, yet has an economy rate hovering around 5.2 in that time span, and an impressive strike rate of 31 - showing just how valuable a wickettaker he can be for India. However, his batting in the same time period has show just how useful he can be at times, averaging over 20 - and having two knocks of 53 and 47 to his name. The only factor preventing him from becoming another automatic selection is his inconsistency - as he's often as likely to get hit for 60 runs in his ten overs as he is to pick up 2-3 wickets in a vital burst.

To be continued - Part III will focus on some of the up and comers waiting on the sidelines, who might very well be the new face of Indian cricket several years from now

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