In recent days it is seen that every one is worried about the opening pair of Indian Team. Akash Chopra is dropped for his poor performance. Taking the performance into account, few more players should also be shown the door. There is definitely a problem with the opening slot but it can not be solved by experimenting with different batsmen all the time. In my opinion, to accompany Sehwag, Shiv Sunder Das of Orissa is the fittest as he has good technique and lot of patience and more importantly can rotate the strike better to give the attacking Sehwag enough balls to go after the bowlers.
As long as the BCCI's criteria to select players is based on the ratio/share of provinces/regions, the team may not get any good opening pair. We talk of unity and one country but in reality we need to have share based on the provinces/regions irrespective whether that particular region/province has the talent or not. We need to look beyond the reservation quota in sports if we want to make a mark in the internatinal arena.
You are right. When Chopra failed once, he has been immediately replaced. He and Sehwag were pairing well in number of matches before. Some are lucky enough to stick on as in the case of Lakshman. What he has done to establish his place after the Australlian tour? He is only a flower which blooms in Australlia. Besides his fielding and running between the wicket is a pity to watch. Yuvaraj is a poor prospect for tests as he has not having the patience to stay on. Zaheer Khan is a failure in the recent past. His jumping action makes all the trouble for him to loose control over the ball.
I would like to agree with you on the selection of openers and the neglect of better players. Yuvraj is no Test player. he is good for ODIs. He is certainly not an opener. Kaif is definitely better qualified than him both for his commitment and good fielding. Parthiv is another player who is only in the team because of Saurav. We have lost tests in Australia and in Pakistan because of him apart from his real shoddy display in the Chennai Test. Why is only Chopra dropped because of his recent failures when the above players have failed consistently and yet persisted with ? Is there any discrimination against Madras players that Ramesh, Sriram, Kaarthik are all given a step motherly treatment? Has this got to do with the fact that there is no selector from Madras while Delhi and Baroda have slectors?
Will any one throw light on why only those featuring in ADs continue to be favoured. Do these sponsors have some say in the selection? Why should Sachin have been included in the team for the first two tests when everyone including himself and the dotors knew he was unfit? Pressure from TVS?
I've always thought that Ramesh was the best opener that India got since Sidhu. (Sehwag has been inexplicably successful, but I'm talking about specialists here). But there seems to be something fishy here, the way he's kept out even though we don't have a partner for Sehwag.
Almost every critic is saying something on the same lines."Selectors not willing to ruffle feathers" is it? Dont be coy. Tell it as it is! Or are you also afraid of ruffling feathers? Do you think the selectors/captain don't understand what you say? They are not stupid. Then why is the right thing not being attempted? Please don't tease. Come out in the open and say what you have to say!
