***Official*** Sri Lanka in India

[Pratters]

When Windies had Roberts, Holding, Garner, Croft and Marshall (besides others) guess what they did....

Why do you want Rahul to open and for how long ? Till time is right to drop one of the middle order batsmen ?

Ridiculous.

BTW, if Gambhir doesnt deserve a place in the side, sure drop him but bring in someone who is an opener and an opener is not someone who opens in one test match every 20 tests he plays

The whole purpose is to form a stronger team. If Windies played with 5 pace men and dropped a batsman their team wouldnt be stronger.

In the case of India - why did they go with Sehwag to open the batting? The so called openers who were doing well at domestic level werent succeeding at international level to the satisfaction of the selectors. We have had players like Gandhi, Rathore as openers.

How long would I want Dravid as an opener?

If Dravid succeeds as an opener a combination of Dravid and Sehwag followed by a strong middle order would mean a strong Indian side.

Opening is a specialist job - I share your thoughts. But it is not necessary that middle order batsmen cannot become openers. Instances - Shastri, Sehwag.

Take a look at Gambir's test average removing his performances versus Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Players like Langer, Hayden have been dropped to come back strong later in their careers. It shouldnt be the end of the world for Gambhir. He should be more determined if he is dropped and show character and come back strong if he has it in him.

Dravid opening in the third test can decide if he wants to give it a go long term to strengthen the team. If he thinks after the third test 'no' or he doesnt want to try it out (or if he has already decided so after the first inning of the second test - then Gambhir should be retained or a different opener be tried out.

Dravid is definitely adept at facing the new ball. Does he have the mental make up is the real question. He is a strong guy and if he can win this mental test it can mean a much stronger team India.

 

[shankar]

The difference between Dravid's situation and Sehwag's is that Dravid plays a crucial role at no.3 - one we simply can't afford to mess with.

 

[SJS]

Thats what you and I may think. What matters is what Rahul thinks.

When India had no Gambhir AND NO SEHWAG, and Dravid was not the super star middle order batsman he is today, he was still reluctant to open. I suspect he is today too.

If he opens with his heart in it, he will do well. If he opens with his ghosts batting alongside him he wont.

We have to decide whether we want a reluctant and therefore failing Dravid at the top or make one of the other middle order batsmen sit out.

I rest my case.

Thanks

 

[marc71178]

Dravid opening is a good option. He is adept at facing the new ball having done the same on mny ocassions when an opener has fallen early abroad. However the mental make up of a no. 3 and an opener are different and it is no secret that Dravid prefers the No. 3 spot much more.

I was interested as to why he opened the first innings, but then batted 5 in the second?

 

[Pratters]

Thats what you and I may think. What matters is what Rahul thinks.

When India had no Gambhir AND NO SEHWAG, and Dravid was not the super star middle order batsman he is today, he was still reluctant to open. I suspect he is today too.

If he opens with his heart in it, he will do well. If he opens with his ghosts batting alongside him he wont.

We have to decide whether we want a reluctant and therefore failing Dravid at the top or make one of the other middle order batsmen sit out.

I rest my case.

Thanks

Dravid has to decide and not 'we'.

If he believes he can do the job - only then would he take it up. And he would put his heart to it. Despite being reluctant keeping in one dayers - he turned out a success in his role when India did not have a good keeper who could bat for one dayers.

So it is not a given that Dravid would fail if he decided to open.

I would respect his view on the same either way.

 

[Pratters]

I was interested as to why he opened the first innings, but then batted 5 in the second?

Yes it surprised me as well that he batted at 5 in the second inning.

I am just guessing here but maybe they thought Pathan opening would mean not much lost if he gets out early. If he doesnt, the new balls is taken care of. The experimentation of Dravid opening could wait for some time.

But I seriously do not see Pathan as a solution opening in more helpful conditions for the fast bowlers. If Gambhir continues to perform poorly in tests (if he is given more chances right now) and the history of no specialist domestic opener succeeding for so many years, Dravid opening successfully could solved a major problem for India.

 

[SJS]

I was interested as to why he opened the first innings, but then batted 5 in the second?

I think he opened because there was a crisis and he wanted to do the "right" thing as captain which he saw as 'sacrificing' himself rather than 'burden one of the others with the pressure as the media has put it.. He has recieved lots of accolades for this.

Also by not dropping either Ganguly or Yuvraj which he would have had to if he had taken the other option of taking a specialist opener, he has silenced the media who were waiting to pounce (on Chappell really) the moment he did that.

But this kind of playing to the gallery and being forced to take decisions by external pressure is not going to work all the time and it does no credit to him as captain.

When, having opened in the first innings he found he was not comfortable he decided he isnt going to do it again.

For me who opens in the next match is not about Yuvraj or Ganguly but about Rahul Dravid as captain. I cant wait to see what he will do.

He should do what IS right and not what LOOKS right.

As far as i am concerned, if he is a good captain, he will either take a regular opening pair (Sehwag with Gambhir alongwith someone from outside the squad) OR open with someone in the squad and take him to Pakistan as the third opener (besides Sehwag and Gambhir)

If he decides to open with a stop gap arrangement, he will have to say (because thats what it means) that India has no openers besides Sehwag and Gambhir. What kind of a message does it send to the openers outside the squad ?

This is not a touring side. We are playing at home. We can pick an opener. In any event the team for the third test is still to be announced.

What do we want to tell to players like Wasim Jaffer ? Take up medium pace bowling since replacing Agarkar maybe easier.

 

[SJS]

Dravid has to decide and not 'we'.

Thats news

 

[Pratters]

Thats news

We can only suggest what we think could make the team stronger.

 

[SJS]

We can only suggest what we think could make the team stronger.

You are incorrigible Pratyush.

What are you arguing about.

1) I AGREE Rahul has all it takes to make an opener.
2) So where 'WE" are to suggest you know what I would suggest.
BUT
3) I think to open or not is HIS call since he is now the captain.
SO
4) what he may or may not do as captain was all that the rest of my posts covered.

Now tell me

Were you just agreeing with 1) above. If so shall we stop this juvenile excercise please

If not,

Were you addressing what you think Rahul will do? If yes, then say so. and let me have a cogent argument what makes you think Rahul will do wahtever you think he WILL do.

Thanks

 

[Pratters]

You are incorrigible Pratyush.

What are you arguing about.

1) I AGREE Rahul has all it takes to make an opener.
2) So where 'WE" are to suggest you know what I would suggest.
BUT
3) I think to open or not is HIS call since he is now the captain.
SO
4) what he may or may not do as captain was all that the rest of my posts covered.

Now tell me

Were you just agreeing with 1) above. If so shall we stop this juvenile excercise please

We have to decide whether we want a reluctant and therefore failing Dravid at the top or make one of the other middle order batsmen sit out.

I was only adressing that statement when I said 'we' dont have to decide - Dravid has to decide.

I quoted it quite clearly at the time.

Regarding sending a message to other openers in the country that they are not good enough - the purpose of making a team is to make it stronger. If it can be done by a succesful opening pair of Dravid (if he decides to open and succeeds) and Sehwag - bad luck to the other openers in the country.

And I agree we should stop this exercise and do better things early in the morning. Have a nice day.

 

[SJS]

I was only adressing that statement when I said 'we' dont have to decide - Dravid has to decide.

Addressing one statement at a time and then another one in the next post and so on and going about in circles and thereby losing the entire context and making the other person feel a bit dizzy is just the kind of thing Richard specialised in.

He was also very nice and polite but I thought that was all you had in common with him.

Go on get the next big order for the day.

Ciao.

 

[Pratters]

Addressing one statement at a time and then another one in the next post and so on and going about in circles and thereby losing the entire context and making the other person feel a bit dizzy is just the kind of thing Richard specialised in.

He was also very nice and polite but I thought that was all you had in common with him.

Go on get the next big order for the day.

Ciao.

Oh SJS I wasnt really going about in circles and kept my point pretty simple as far as I am concerned. I am bored of this talk though as I am sure you are too.

Any way I do hope I get a big order today. I dont know how you knew that was what I was aiming for in the morning!

 

[Anil]

our batting allrounder has not bowled a single over...maybe his "all-round" abilities are batting & fielding...

 

[viktor]

I don't think the squad for the third test should change. In the XI though, I think, Sehwag should replace Yuvraj. Gambhir deserves another chance, so it is between Yvuraj and Ganguly. While Yuvraj played a very good innings, Ganguly didn't really do anything wrong. If all this controversy over Ganguly hadn't happened, he would have been retained, simply by virtue of seniority and having a better record. I believe the same should happen even now.

 

[SJS]

I don't think the squad for the third test should change. In the XI though, I think, Sehwag should replace Yuvraj. Gambhir deserves another chance, so it is between Yvuraj and Ganguly. While Yuvraj played a very good innings, Ganguly didn't really do anything wrong. If all this controversy over Ganguly hadn't happened, he would have been retained, simply by virtue of seniority and having a better record. I believe the same should happen even now.

You are probably right. It is touch and go.

Yuvraj hasnt done his chances any harm by his second innings show but one could say that not scoring in the first innings when runs appeared (at least appeared) to be more difficult to come by could be a 'minor' (very minor I concede) point against him. In the second innings everyone seemed to be scoring runs. Pathan and Dhoni put Yuvraj's second innings performance a bit more in perspective, I suppose.

Yuvraj could count himself unlucky but its tough to be in the same team which has people like Sachin, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly to compete with. He should be happy and proud of what he has done and bide his time.

Ganguly on the other hand scored in the first too and he was under abnormal pressure.

Touch and go but Ganguly should tip the scale I suppose. I would love Yuvraj to play but I think you are right.

My worry, however, is that Gambhir might fail again. I hope not though

 

[irfan]

whats the news on vrv singh? is he still injured - is he a good fast pace prospect for india in the long term.Is he Fast and accurate or fast and sparys it everywhere like tait cos we desperately need a strike bowler

 

[Googenheim]

Yes it surprised me as well that he batted at 5 in the second inning.

I am just guessing here but maybe they thought Pathan opening would mean not much lost if he gets out early. If he doesnt, the new balls is taken care of. The experimentation of Dravid opening could wait for some time.

But I seriously do not see Pathan as a solution opening in more helpful conditions for the fast bowlers. If Gambhir continues to perform poorly in tests (if he is given more chances right now) and the history of no specialist domestic opener succeeding for so many years, Dravid opening successfully could solved a major problem for India.

As compared to the millions out there who think thats a good idea ? Duh!

 

[SJS]

As compared to the millions out there who think thats a good idea ? Duh!

You think having a million selectors might make for better team selection ?

Kidding

 

[Googenheim]

You think having a million selectors might make for better team selection ?

Kidding

Lol! But seriously, its a bad idea even though the majority wouldnt be as off the hook as presumed .