Batting Experiments cost too dearly
India's batting has let it down yet again. A team which just a few months back thrashed Pakistan 4-1 on its own soil has gotten back to losing meekly. While our bowlers are performing better the batsmen seems to have lost touch. Sehwag, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Kaif, Dravid all failing together. It was nice to see Dinesh Mongia finally getting a nod and making the best out of it. He has been long ingnored by the selectors. But what happened to the others. What is Sehwag doing at No. 4. And what is Dravid trying to prove by opening the innings…. that he can bat at any spot in the team today ?? I think if Chappel has to experiment he should do it only with the No. 3 spot. Sehwag should always open with Tendulkar and Dravid , who has established himself as one of the finest middle order batsmen of his era, should come at no. 4. This will provide the much needed stability to an otherwise fragile situation. Mongia, Kaif , Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni and Pathan can form the No.3,5,6 and 7 spots depending on who is in the team and what the situation warrants at that time. Experimenting with sensitive opening spots and the crucial No. 4 is not wise 6 months before the World Cup. If it doesnt pay off it will not only erode the individuals confidance but also damage the team spirit. Would we then have enough time to restore it ??
1 Comment Add your own
1. altafr | September 27th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
I do agree that it is not wise to experiment with key slots in the batting order to disturb the batting combination, but also do believe in experimenting as and when the situation demands so. Australia (and other teams) changes their players too, but they are such a good side they always get away with their combinations. Its not easy to justify the change especially if the side loses the match. The ultimate cost of finding a better combination and new matchwinners is losing matches because of these changes. when you do these changes is a decision i suppose the coach takes along with the captain of the side. I believe that as long as we start performing with our full potential with the players we have we are a good side to reckon with. For me, the last DLF semifinal we lost simply was poor performance. A bad batting order was only a minor part of it.
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