*Official* - Road to India in South Africa - 2010-11

[Black_Warrior]

^ Thats why I dont call him a FTB

But some people do and they do have half a decent argument because his record in South Africa and England are not great. Well this is his opportunity to correct South Africa.

 

[Shri]

And drop?

That's likely to backfire. And I'm yet to be convinced by Vijay, tbh.

Drop Raina obv.

 

[Shri]

Oh that was 10 years ago..
Sehwag is the best opener in the world at the moment and you want him to bat at 5? India have never won in SA, they need their openers to click, they need a positive start to take the thunder away from Steyn and Morkel and the best chance is if Gambhir and Sehwag, who have been doing it for a couple of years now click together. I would not want to tamper with that unless somebody gets injured.
What I might do is have Vijay at 3, and Dravid at 5 and Laxman at 6.

He even said in one of his recent interviews that he would love to bat in the middle order again. He would be lethal if he comes into bat against bowlers when the ball doesn't swing.

 

[ramkumar_gr]

If I could pick the final XI I would play Vijay as an opener and bat Sehwag at 5. He already has a 100 in SA from that position.

You definitely are not a Sehwag fan. First you suggested he will give you chances ( read catches) at the start. I don't think he does, if you think he gives catches to fielders, then any damn batsman including Sachin does that.

Second you suggest Sehwag to go at No.5. Never heard of anything so logic defying. Why would you want an all time great opener bat at no.5?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Would really be quite interesting to see how game situations affect Sehwag. Obviously it will be a minimal amount, but it's another factor to think about, when the opposition has taken a couple of quick wickets; something that he doesn't have to worry about in general.

Still think he'd do very well, but I don't see the need to drop down Sehwag for Vijay, especially if Raina is perceived to be the main issue.

 

[Xuhaib]

I still feel Dravid will be the key, most of India's recent overseas success can be attributed to Dravid.

 

[M0rphin3]

Drop Raina obv.

Big gamble, imo. I'd gladly take Pujara instead of Raina. Not just because of that single innings, he's been doing quite well in the A tours IIRC. Quite strong in the backfoot too.

Don't think anyone would mess with the batting order by sending probably the best opener in the world down the orderr tbh

 

[Xuhaib]

I would be surprised if Raina averages 20 for the series one of the worst players of short ball I have ever seen.

 

[Shri]

Big gamble, imo. I'd gladly take Pujara instead of Raina. Not just because of that single innings, he's been doing quite well in the A tours IIRC. Quite strong in the backfoot too.

Don't think anyone would mess with the batting order by sending probably the best opener in the world down the orderr tbh

Lets see who has the last laugh when the series is over.

Fully except Sehwag to fail horribly. His saving grace should be the relatively weak in swingers of Steyn compared to his out swingers. Sehwag dropping down to 5 is NOT a ridiculous move, he started his career there even in FC cricket. Has experience batting at 5 and won't struggle.

 

[Blaze 18]

Why fix what isn't broke ? Batting Virender Sehwag at five may be an option worth considering if he fails in the first test, but let us at least wait till that happens. Personally, I expect him to play one freak innings and fail in the rest.

 

[Chehtha]

Apart from Sehwag the real thing that can turn the tide in favour of the indians is an in form dravid. Has been India's best batsman overseas....so lets see

 

[smash84]

Oh that was 10 years ago..
Sehwag is the best opener in the world at the moment and you want him to bat at 5? India have never won in SA, they need their openers to click, they need a positive start to take the thunder away from Steyn and Morkel and the best chance is if Gambhir and Sehwag, who have been doing it for a couple of years now click together. I would not want to tamper with that unless somebody gets injured.
What I might do is have Vijay at 3, and Dravid at 5 and Laxman at 6.

Gambhir???? He seems to be the walking wicket for the last year. Possibly the weakest link in this Indian side bar Raina (and at least Raina might score on roads. Gambhir doesn't seem like he would even do that). How about trying somebody instead of Gambhir???

Lets see who has the last laugh when the series is over.

Fully except Sehwag to fail horribly. His saving grace should be the relatively weak in swingers of Steyn compared to his out swingers. Sehwag dropping down to 5 is NOT a ridiculous move, he started his career there even in FC cricket. Has experience batting at 5 and won't struggle.

I also get a feeling that Sehwag won't be doing much damage in this series. I am sure SA are working on a plan for him.

 

[Jono]

I still feel Dravid will be the key, most of India's recent overseas success can be attributed to Dravid.

Not England 2007 and NZ 2009. And not Perth 2008 either.

Love Dravid, but he's not been the reason for our overseas success in the last 3 years.

 

[Furball]

Would really be quite interesting to see how game situations affect Sehwag. Obviously it will be a minimal amount, but it's another factor to think about, when the opposition has taken a couple of quick wickets; something that he doesn't have to worry about in general.

Still think he'd do very well, but I don't see the need to drop down Sehwag for Vijay, especially if Raina is perceived to be the main issue.

I reckon opening suits Sehwag's mentality perfectly, dropping him to the middle order would be a stupid move.

 

[vcs]

Not England 2007 and NZ 2009. And not Perth 2008 either.

Love Dravid, but he's not been the reason for our overseas success in the last 3 years.

Top-scored in Perth.

 

[Jono]

Indeed he did, in the first dig. My mistake.

 

[vcs]

Laxman played yet another important 2nd innings knock in that game. As he did when we won in Jo'Burg in 2006. That man has played so many important 2nd innings knocks, it's uncanny.

 

[Jono]

You got that right.

All I remembered from Perth was Sachin's first dig and Laxman's second dig (as well as Pathan's bowling and Ishant's spell, but I mean batting only).

For the life of me I couldn't remember Dravid getting 93. He was in such poor form that series, makes that knock even better. Such a gun. Love him.

 

[M0rphin3]

Lets see who has the last laugh when the series is over.

Fully except Sehwag to fail horribly. His saving grace should be the relatively weak in swingers of Steyn compared to his out swingers. Sehwag dropping down to 5 is NOT a ridiculous move, he started his career there even in FC cricket. Has experience batting at 5 and won't struggle.

The point's not whether he'd do good or not in that position. The point is, why fix it if it aint broke? Obviously he's gonna do better than Murali Vijay against the new ball. Also the kind of starts he provide really eases the pressure of the middle order.

 

[M0rphin3]

IMO, Laxy's the key here, not dravid. Expect him to play some superb knocks under pressure.