Blogs Indian Selectors Say ‘Sehwag replaces Dravid for first two one-dayers’
October 27th, 2007 by prashantThat’s a shame. I have been writing some really ‘bad’ stuff about Dravid over the last month or so, but replacing him with Sehwag is the worst insult for him, especially when Dravid has always backed Sehwag against all odds.
Dilip Vengsarkar says that Dravid would be back but he needs to prove his fitness and form by playing for his state. Hmm. So if that was the reason for ‘resting’ Dravid then what was the logic to replace him with Viru? Has Sehwag proven his form and fitness?
Now please don’t tell me about his T20 performance (that too, every now and then). I am talking about ODIs. I guess the only reason I can think of behind selecting Sehwag and resting Dravid is to decide whether Sehwag would tour Australia. Dravid is sure to go there, for both Tests and ODIs. No question about that. But Sehwag is getting a chance against Pakistan to stake his claim.
Of course the most interesting is at what position would Sehwag bat? Sachin and Ganguly have been giving us good starts so Viru would have to bat somewhere other than opening slots. That in my mind will be a big problem.
Needless to say, but I have been proven wrong a million times before but I can not simply imagine Sehwag playing and succeeding in the middle order.
October 28th, 2007 at 12:23 am
If they feel that Sehwag can be of any use, it would be in the opening slot, where he can make use of the powerplays to a large extent. So, the option would be to make Sachin and Sehwag open the innings and put Sourav somewhere in the middle order. Sourav, when compared to Sehwag, plays the spinners well and he can hit sixes which is also a big plus. But then, Sourav is not a good runner between the wickets and he cannot keep the scoreboard ticking during the middle overs, which is very important. But then, if Sehwag bats down the order, he would be of no impact as he doesn’t have the temperament to steal singles and pace out his innings. So, either ways, it is going to be a gamble.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:37 am
The selectors have erred in selecting Sehwag. I don’t see a problem in dropping Dravid. He hasn’t performed for some time now, an average of 8.88 over ten innings is not acceptable by any standards. If the criteria of selection was the performance in the recent challenger trophy, then Raina would have been the better choice. He scored 92 and 64 in two matches, more than what Sehwag has scored. We all know that Sehwag hasn’t scored too many runs in T20 format. And if selectors were thinking ahead, then also Raina should have been the first choice. He has better technique to deal with Pace attack of Pakistan and Australia. Now that Sehwag has got a chance he needs to make most of it and prove us wrong. Otherwise the “end” is round the corner.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:40 am
I was just watching the Challenger Trophy final between India-Blue and India-Red. Note a few things. I am sure I am not the most unbiased person in the world, but saw Sehwag run after a fine sweep to stop the ball just inside the boundary and then Huffing and Puffing for some time. So much for fitness.
Now regarding the form, he slashed a ball on the up and was dropped promptly at point. I am sure that would not have happened in an international match. To make things worse, he was almost caught run-out while coming back for the second run. The “funny” or “sad” part about that was that the ball was hit to third man and Sehwag was “casually” coming to the non-striking end to complete the second run. Remember something?
In one of the ODIs against SL, Sehwag was run out while “walking” across for a single after hitting the ball to third man and not even bothering to make it to the non-striking end. Sangakara had the presense of mind to collect the ball from third man and throw it to non-striking end to get Sehwag run-out. There can not be a more pathetic way to get out.
I seriously doubt Sehwag’s committment and cricketing brains.