*Official* Sri Lanka in India

[Cruxdude]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

What would be the point of that?

Well Sehwag has always expressed his desire to bat in the middle order. Once Dravid, Sachin or Laxman retire India might also prefer him coming a bit lower to strengthen the middle order.

Vijay has been pretty good and consistent in the domestic tournaments. Eventually he will be the guy opening with Gambhir is what I believe.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by Craig

If you are not going to enforce the follow on when you by more then 400, when are you going to do it?

Modern captaincy theory says never. Unfortunately.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by Cruxdude

Well Sehwag has always expressed his desire to bat in the middle order. Once Dravid, Sachin or Laxman retire India might also prefer him coming a bit lower to strengthen the middle order.

Vijay has been pretty good and consistent in the domestic tournaments. Eventually he will be the guy opening with Sehwag is what I believe.

Assume you meant Gambhir there?

[Cruxdude]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

Assume you meant Gambhir there?

Yeah, my bad...

[Black_Warrior]

I know Vijay is a talented player and once Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman are gone, they need someone to bolster the middle order but I would rather send Gambhir at 3 than Sehwag down the order simply because of the effect he can have on the opposing team. His wide array of strokes and blistering hitting can snatch the momentum away within the first session and break the opposing team's spirit.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

Modern captaincy theory says never. Unfortunately.

Australia and India just did it in the last 2 days.

[silentstriker]

First, I'd never move an opener that averages 50+. Those guys are rare as gold. And if you have two of them, I'd keep them both and the good starts would ease the pressure on an inexperinced middle order. Hypothetically though, I would without a doubt move Sehwag out of the two. Down to something like 5. Sehwag is unreal against spin. Scary good - not as good overall as Sachin but not too far behind and probably more destructive.

[Jono]

Keep the two Delhi boys together, they enjoy batting with each other.

[masterblaster]

Originally Posted by Black_Warrior

I know Vijay is a talented player and once Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman are gone, they need someone to bolster the middle order but I would rather send Gambhir at 3 than Sehwag down the order simply because of the effect he can have on the opposing team. His wide array of strokes and blistering hitting can snatch the momentum away within the first session and break the opposing team's spirit.

I'd agree with that. Sehwag is great to have as an opener because he really takes the momentum away form the opposition. The only thing I'd disagree with is putting Gambhir at 3. Gambhir and Sehwag form a great opening partnership and they know each other so well so why break them up?

Once Dravid retires, I'd actually put someone like Murali Vijay or Badrinath at the number 3 position. They are solid batsmen who can bat well if an opener goes early and they both bat very much like Dravid. I think it would be most logical to have either Vijay or Badrinath replace Dravid in the number 3 position and still have Gambhir and Sehwag opening the batting.

[Jono]

How have Vijay, Badrinath and Raina been comparatively at first class level over the last 3 years?

Anyone comparatively better than somebody else?

[Shri]

Originally Posted by Jono

How have Vijay, Badrinath and Raina been comparatively at first class level over the last 3 years?

Anyone comparatively better than somebody else?

There is also a guy called Abhinav Mukund who is as good as Vijay.

[honestbharani]

Originally Posted by metallics2006

There is also a guy called Abhinav Mukund who is as good as Vijay.

But technically I would prefer Vijay.


And Arun Karthik is coming through the ranks fast too. We at TN seem to produce openers dime a dozen..

[G.I.Joe]

Originally Posted by honestbharani

But technically I would prefer Vijay.


And Arun Karthik is coming through the ranks fast too. We at TN seem to produce openers dime a dozen..

The kickstart and template was undoubtedly provided by Mr Technique himself, Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

[honestbharani]

Originally Posted by G.I.Joe

The kickstart and template was undoubtedly provided by Mr Technique himself, Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

Apparently there was a guy, T.E.Sivaramakrishnan or Srinivas, forgot the name.. Gavaskar reckons he was more talented and a better bat than he was and he juz threw it way due to temperament issues.

[Uppercut]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

First, I'd never move an opener that averages 50+. Those guys are rare as gold. And if you have two of them, I'd keep them both and the good starts would ease the pressure on an inexperinced middle order. Hypothetically though, I would without a doubt move Sehwag out of the two. Down to something like 5. Sehwag is unreal against spin. Scary good - not as good overall as Sachin but not too far behind and probably more destructive.

Dunno, Sehwag invariably has the advantage of already having been batting for 10 or 15 overs before he ever faces any spinners. If you always start your innings against pace and face spin once you're well-set, it's inevitable that you'll look like a better player of spin than of pace.

Agree with you though, keep Sehwag-Gambhir together. Isn't it by far India's most successful opening partnership ever?