Indian Test Opener

[IqbalJaved]

Who do you think the opening batsman to partner Sehwag should be with a view to the tests against England the subsequent tours to WI and SOuth Africa.

Gambhir (delhi), Jaffer (Mumbai) and Jadhav (Maharashtra) have been selected in the Board X1 match against England, so the opener is almost certainly going to be one of those.

I think Gambhir will be exposed by better attacks at test level - just my impression from having seen him play. Jaffer had some technical deficiencies against the swinging ball in England in 2002 but people say he's a much improved player.
Never seen Dheeraj Jadhav play but I've heard good things about both his technique and temperament.

 

[Xuhaib]

Stick with Ghambir he could be the perfect foil for Veeru.

 

[alternative]

i say the same, selectors will go for experience and gambhir has shown that he can live up to the standard with viru... so selectors would favour him..

 

[Jono]

Sehwag should just go out there and bat by himself from both ends.

 

[danish]

Sehwag should just go out there and bat by himself from both ends.

Yeah, why not? Send Sehwag out with a tailender and make sure he (Sehwag) keeps the strike!

 

[Jono]

Sehwag could just hit 5 sixes off the first 5 balls than get a single.

In all seriousness I'd like to see Gambhir there. At the same time, Ganguly looked pretty good against Pakistan. Tough decision. I reckon Gambhir should open in the first test and Ganguly sits out, but if Gambhir fails in both innings either bring in Jaffer or Ganguly.

 

[Dasa]

I'd like to stick with Gambhir, but he seems to have a few too many weaknesses to have success in the long-term IMO. He plays around his front pad far too much and plays too many shots at times. However, the 2nd problem is just temperamental.

 

[silentstriker]

For some reason, I've never had any faith in Gambhir.

I firmly believe in giving in-form batsmen a chance, and Jaffer fits that description.

I hope India go with Sehwag/Jaffer.

 

[masterblaster]

Stick with Gambhir in my opinion. I agree with Dasa and his evaluation of Gambhir, but it's nothing serious that he can't sort out. Along with Jadhav, he seems the best bet of the openers.

 

[alternative]

ganguly sounds good, him being my favourite player, i don't really care which position he bats.. as long as he is in the team.. afterall the innings he played at karachi was by no means a bad knock.. it was very well played under pressure.. and fortunately yuvraj kicked on with missed opportunites from pakistan..

 

[aussie]

i remember in the last under-19 WC, their was this bloke Dhawan who seemed like a good prospect dont know how he has been going in indian domestic cricket since then, but i reckon he & Sehwag could be a good pair..

 

[The Baconator]

i remember in the last under-19 WC, their was this bloke Dhawan who seemed like a good prospect dont know how he has been going in indian domestic cricket since then, but i reckon he & Sehwag could be a good pair..

This guy?

 

[aussie]

yeah him

 

[adharcric]

i remember in the last under-19 WC, their was this bloke Dhawan who seemed like a good prospect dont know how he has been going in indian domestic cricket since then, but i reckon he & Sehwag could be a good pair..

Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa are the two talented young openers. They're more suited for the one-day game at this stage though, and Jadhav, Gambhir and Jaffer have accomplished a lot more in first-class cricket so far. You might see those two competing for the reserve one-day opener spot currently held by Gambhir though. I think they're both only 20 years old so they've got plenty of time.

As for the test opener, I like Gautam Gambhir a lot but he has some technical flaws and has been fluttering away starts for a while now. Jaffer is the man in form and I get the impression Jadhav is on the defensive side. Ganguly did look good against Pakistan and I'd like to see him open because Yuvraj is clearly better than him and Dravid/Sachin/Laxman are the clear 3-4-5 ... but can Ganguly handle the fire of Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones with the new ball?

 

[irfan]

Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa are the two talented young openers. They're more suited for the one-day game at this stage though, and Jadhav, Gambhir and Jaffer have accomplished a lot more in first-class cricket so far. You might see those two competing for the reserve one-day opener spot currently held by Gambhir though. I think they're both only 20 years old so they've got plenty of time.

As for the test opener, I like Gautam Gambhir a lot but he has some technical flaws and has been fluttering away starts for a while now. Jaffer is the man in form and I get the impression Jadhav is on the defensive side. Ganguly did look good against Pakistan and I'd like to see him open because Yuvraj is clearly better than him and Dravid/Sachin/Laxman are the clear 3-4-5 ... but can Ganguly handle the fire of Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones with the new ball?[/QUOTE]

A big fat NO.

But instead of picking the three inexperienced openers at Test Match Level to face the formidable English pace attack, why not ask Laxman to open. I have floated this idea before, and I know he maybe reluctant to go back to the position he wasnt very successful at but I think he is quite adept at handling the extra bounce and speed generated by Harmy,freddie and jones. He has all the technical and temperemental issues sorted out unlike a certain .......... Gambhir and it allows the captain to bat at 3. India has mainly used openers as pawns in a chess match but I think Laxman will be more than just protection for the middle order but an ideal foil for them to work around. It could be the real tonic for him to rejevunate his career and start realising his potential.

So i propose with Yuvi out
1. VVS Laxman
2. V Sehwag
3. R Dravid
4 S Tendulkar
5 S Ganguly - ONLY cos Yuvraj is out and Kaif hasnt really looked the part at Test Level
6 M Dhoni
7 I Pathan
8 VRV/Munaf/Sreesanth - only pick VRV or Munaf if either bowls more impressively than Sreesanth in the Boards XI Match
9 H Singh
10 A Kumble
11 RP Singh

 

[silentstriker]

1. VVS Laxman
2. V Sehwag
3. R Dravid
4 S Tendulkar
5 S Ganguly - ONLY cos Yuvraj is out and Kaif hasnt really looked the part at Test Level
6 M Dhoni
7 I Pathan
8 VRV/Munaf/Sreesanth - only pick VRV or Munaf if either bowls more impressively than Sreesanth in the Boards XI Match
9 H Singh
10 A Kumble
11 RP Singh

NOT ANOTHER MAKE-SHIFT OPENER! PLEASE! I BEG YOU...STOP WITH THE MIDDLE ORDER BATSMEN OPENING!!!


Seriously, because the English pace attack is so good, we absolutely need an opener who can see off the new ball. This series isn't the time to try a middle order batsman up there. If we face a weaker pace attack, then maybe we can think about trying other players, but not with England.

 

[deeps]

VVS is not a makeshift opener..he began his international career as an opener.

 

[Pratters]

1. VVS Laxman
2. V Sehwag
3. R Dravid
4 S Tendulkar
...

When VVS was convinced to open early in his career, he struggled. Then he was dropped and decided to stick to middle order batting. There is virtually no chance that VVS will open.