JaiMurugan
Cricket Spectator
Ok, it's well known that Indian batsmen struggle against swing and seam but that's something I think needs to be addressed at a grassroots level and on a more long trem basis.
But what's more pressing is the fact that the current players in the Indian batting lineup have shown little resolve or positive intent when their backs have been pressed to a
wall or the opposition in a period of play gains the upper hand.
Consider this:
1) Last day at Bangalore 2005 - India batted thru the first session fairly comfortably but when Sehwag was dismissed, the rest of the players when into their shell, played for time and in the process got humbled.
2) Karachi 2006 - Again a complete shambles and no-one was able to grit it out when the going got tough. No-one had the gumption to play an innings like Kamran Akmal produced.
3) Mumbai 2006 - England had the upper hand going into the final day but for India to capitulate the way they did (they were bolwed out in a ridiculously low number of overs) was disgraceful.
4) Cape Town 2007 - The icing on the cake. India were what 2-90 in their 2nd dig with a 40 run lead from the first innings and got bowled out for 160 odd.
Its pitiful that Dinesh Karthik was able to score so freely in the 2nd innings and none of the major batsmen were able to do so especially against Paul Harris. Guys like Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid have given Warne grief and yet Harris was too good for them !
Head should roll after this.......
Its patently obvious that the likes of Tendulkar, Sehwag, Laxman and Ganguly have been dining out for too long on past reputations
Tendulkar has to retire after the WC imho - for his sake and India's. I hate to say this but it is painful to watch Tendulkar bat these days.
Ditto Ganguly - I respect Ganguly as one of the better captains India had but he turns 35 in July and I think his time is up.
Sehwag needs to be dropped to show that he doesn't have a right to a position in the team.
Laxman needs to be put on notice that he needs to perform with a greater level of consistency.
India don't have a great deal of middle order options but my test batting lineup for Bangladesh/England would be something like:
Jaffer
Gambhir/Uthappa
Dravid
Laxman
Badrinath
Kaif
Dhoni/DK
Kaif especially needs a proper run of a few uninterrupted tests to see what he's capable of. I can't believe India dumped him when he averages 63 over his last 5 tests and actually made runs under pressure against a strong Aussie aattack in 2004/2005 and probably saved India from defeat against England at Nagpur in 2006.
The fact he can make runs in tough situations is a big plus point for him
Thoughts ?
But what's more pressing is the fact that the current players in the Indian batting lineup have shown little resolve or positive intent when their backs have been pressed to a
wall or the opposition in a period of play gains the upper hand.
Consider this:
1) Last day at Bangalore 2005 - India batted thru the first session fairly comfortably but when Sehwag was dismissed, the rest of the players when into their shell, played for time and in the process got humbled.
2) Karachi 2006 - Again a complete shambles and no-one was able to grit it out when the going got tough. No-one had the gumption to play an innings like Kamran Akmal produced.
3) Mumbai 2006 - England had the upper hand going into the final day but for India to capitulate the way they did (they were bolwed out in a ridiculously low number of overs) was disgraceful.
4) Cape Town 2007 - The icing on the cake. India were what 2-90 in their 2nd dig with a 40 run lead from the first innings and got bowled out for 160 odd.
Its pitiful that Dinesh Karthik was able to score so freely in the 2nd innings and none of the major batsmen were able to do so especially against Paul Harris. Guys like Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid have given Warne grief and yet Harris was too good for them !
Head should roll after this.......
Its patently obvious that the likes of Tendulkar, Sehwag, Laxman and Ganguly have been dining out for too long on past reputations
Tendulkar has to retire after the WC imho - for his sake and India's. I hate to say this but it is painful to watch Tendulkar bat these days.
Ditto Ganguly - I respect Ganguly as one of the better captains India had but he turns 35 in July and I think his time is up.
Sehwag needs to be dropped to show that he doesn't have a right to a position in the team.
Laxman needs to be put on notice that he needs to perform with a greater level of consistency.
India don't have a great deal of middle order options but my test batting lineup for Bangladesh/England would be something like:
Jaffer
Gambhir/Uthappa
Dravid
Laxman
Badrinath
Kaif
Dhoni/DK
Kaif especially needs a proper run of a few uninterrupted tests to see what he's capable of. I can't believe India dumped him when he averages 63 over his last 5 tests and actually made runs under pressure against a strong Aussie aattack in 2004/2005 and probably saved India from defeat against England at Nagpur in 2006.
The fact he can make runs in tough situations is a big plus point for him
Thoughts ?
