sounds good that Ganguly and Tendulkar are opening, but we can also try some experiment combos. Veru and Sachin was a good one. Dravid has not opened in years, but he would be awesome at the crease; sure he's slow at first, but if the other man is there with him, they'll stabilize the innings into a huge first-wicket partnership. Yuvraj looks good with veru. they are my best combo, followed with Ganguly, Sachin, Dravid, Kaif, and so on. you should have a person who is an anchor (example: Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Kaif) and you should have a person who likes to score freely, whatever the case (example: Veru, Sachin, Ganguly, Yuvraj, Dinesh Mongia)
Look MR.Sriram, Your theory look like this!The stick should not be broken and the snake should die already.How can it possible. The main reason for this problem these day, Indian team have emerged with full strength batsmen. Let the order they play as it is now they play for world cup and for other series so far. There is nothing much change is required as far as my opinion is concerned. Now answers for your questions! Saurav is a captain.He must play his batting at any circumstances as he is supposed to do. Sewhag,Sachin openers,Laxman,Dravid,Ganguly,Yuvaraj Kaif,Rohan or Badani or a Ajit agarkar[Depending on situation]or Patel[as keeper, since Dravid said no more to weeket keeping],Balaji,Pathan,Bajji or kumble
Either Ajit or Rohan or Badani have to sacrify for a senior to come up their position for actual 11. Ganguly not proved to be good at number 5,see there is nothing to debate much on this. Since his batting form is like that since world cup 2002.His administration is good.But He is unable to concentrate at crease for long time in a situation where we lose few quick wickets.Either we will have to depend on Dravid, Kaif or Yuvaraj. good luck: Batting lineup.
Thanku for the article, it has been well written.Buti think we must persist with sachin and viru,coz sachin can stand 4 a long time at the crease and viru can blast the ball all round the park during thefielding restrictions.Wth dravid and others 2 follow, the middle order lends a lot of solidity, so i dont think we need 2 change our batting order foratleasthe next 1-2years. Rohan
hai i cannot agree on this because sewag is like Gilshrist .The bowlers are always under pressure when trying to bowl to him. He is given the licence to hit .so it affects the bowlers psycology.Sewag can use the first 15 overs better than sachin and saurav.More over sewag cannot hit in the final ten over as he does in the opening . sewag will be a failure .if they try him in any other down .
Tendulkar and Shevag shoul open the innings. In my opinion Gagulay should come at NO 5 in ODIs. The following is the better batting line up for india in ODIs.
GANGULY CANNOT FACE FAST BOWLING.... He came opening at a time when fast bowlers were just happy bowling regular one day bowling - pitch at short of a good length at and around off stump. Now everyone knows Ganguly cannot play short pitched balls. Yes - he is a good bat against spin and it is a treat to watch him dance down the track and hoist spinners over mid-wicket. But against fast bowlers these days, he presents a sorry picture.
But again, I like the idea of him opening because it would be better for him to come opening and realize he can't face fast bowling anymore, than just whine after every game saying he has scored all his runs as an opener. It doesnt matter where he scored his runs 10 years back... Today he has failed for too long and I am surprised he has a spot in the team, leave alone being the opener.
I totally disagree with the statement about Sehwag "he is capable of knocking the ball around if playing in the middle overs", he has never been sucessful in doing that.
Srinivas, now that you have opened the topic regarding where each batsman fits well in the team let's analyze Sachin has scored 30+ centuries and about 10,000 runs as an opener. So he's undoubtedly #1. Sourav has also scored many centuries in ODIs as opener, amongst those he scored 1 century in SAF in 14 games, 1 in Aus in 18 games, None against Pak, Eng, WI, or NZL in away games. All these teams are packed with seamers. Sourav was successful opener back home so he's not the best option at #2, regarding #3 or 4 he has failed miserably there. Sehwag at #2 was the only one Score 100 in NZL(2003). He scored 100 in Aus came very close to a 100 in Pak and Eng. Laxman only fits at #3 Dravid has succeded tremendously at #4 and #5 Yuvraj is a true owner at #6 spot as he can shift gears at a fast pace. Kaif is good at # 7 only when asking rate is under 6. When batting first and asked to slog in last 10 overs he fails, instead looks good at #4 (remember WC 2003 Vs Pak and then Vs NZL) Thus My betting line up.... 1. Sachin 2. Sehawg 3. Laxman 4. Kaif 5. Dravid 6. Yuvraj 7. Parthiv Patel/Rohan Gavaskar/Ramesh Powar 8. Irfan 9. Balaji 10. Harbhajan 11. Nehra/Zaheer
I believe that every match or atleast every series should have a customized line up, depending on various situations like conditions, pitch etc, current form of the batsmen etc rather than having an inflexible fixed line-up. One day is a 50 over game and every batsman should learn to adjust to a situation (See how Dravid learnt). I dont see any reason why a Tendulkar or a Ganguly cannot bat at No.3 or No. 4. These are experienced players, who have done some hard hitting/slogging and have also played slowly (depending upon the situation) in their careers.
RE:Opening
by ashwyn on Jun 30, 2004 09:36 AM
You are right!! Sourav is in really bad form and cant really make an impact whether he opens or bats at number 3 or 4. Where as Shewag is a key player and Is in good form and does make a big impact on the team's final score...It would be less pressure for Sourav if he doesnt open as he is an excellent captain and to continue in his good work.........
