Melbourne Test - Where will Rahul Dravid bat?
| Friday, December 21, 2007 |
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Rahul Dravid opened the batting for India in the game against Victoria. The Indian team management is clearly toying with the idea of rethinking the batting order to accommodate Yuvraj Singh after his tremendous century at Bangalore. Given the composition of the Indian squad, they have a number of options available to them, assuming that they will play 4 specialist bowlers.
They could retain the opening pair of Dinesh Karthik and Wasim Jaffer. This would allow them to play 5 more specialist batsmen, assuming that Dinesh Karthik keeps wicket. The line up would then read Karthik, Jaffer, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman, Yuvraj. This will mean that Mahendra Dhoni misses out. Alternatively, they could drop Dinesh Karthik, and ask Rahul Dravid to open the batting. This disrupts the rest of the batting order, but gives India the opportunity to play Dhoni at number 7. Further, it gives India the opportunity to play either VVS Laxman or the in form Sourav Ganguly at number 3.
The first choice would be the conservative, safe option. It is tried and tested, and has worked well in South Africa and England. The second option would involve greater risk, and also possibly greater reward. The real question for India is where they want the wicket keeper to bat - Dinesh Karthik opening the batting, or Mahendra Dhoni at number 7. The Dinesh Karthik option would give them a deeper batting line up, but a weaker opening pair, while the Mahendra Dhoni will give a stronger opening pair, but a batting line up which is less deep. The first option would be considered "defensive" or "defeatist" and further fuel a growing perception amongst watchers the Kumble's India are a conservative cricket team. The second option, where Dravid opens the batting, would be viewed as more aggressive and also fuel the legend of Dravid the "team-man". It will be interesting to see what choices Kumble will make.
The wicket, which at this point is the great unknown may influence Kumble's decision more than anything else. If Kumble and Harbhajan Singh both play, then India may well go with Rahul Dravid. Wickets on which Kumble and Harbhajan prove to be effective are likely to offer less help to fast bowling, there by making Dhoni more effective in the late order. If the wicket allows India to play 3 pace bowlers, then Dinesh Karthik may well play, as India will be well served with a deeper batting order. Dinesh Karthik in any case, has shown a peculiar tendency to favor overseas conditions when opening the batting. Hence, a fast bowler friendly wicket may engender a deeper line up, while a drier wicket will probably see India playing Dhoni.
There is of course the Sehwag option, which would be a big risk, given Sehwag's lack of form and given the fact that he didn't play against Victoria. That the tour match was rained off has not helped India. I would be very surprised if Sehwag played at the MCG.
The question at the end of the day will be dictated by the wicket. Dravid at number 3 would be the best possible option in my view. Most importantly it would be a vote of confidence in him. Sourav Ganguly though, is a man with a sense of occasion, and i wouldn't be surprised at all if he bats at number 3 in his 100th Test match and makes a century in front of a full house at the MCG!
That would be some story....
They could retain the opening pair of Dinesh Karthik and Wasim Jaffer. This would allow them to play 5 more specialist batsmen, assuming that Dinesh Karthik keeps wicket. The line up would then read Karthik, Jaffer, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman, Yuvraj. This will mean that Mahendra Dhoni misses out. Alternatively, they could drop Dinesh Karthik, and ask Rahul Dravid to open the batting. This disrupts the rest of the batting order, but gives India the opportunity to play Dhoni at number 7. Further, it gives India the opportunity to play either VVS Laxman or the in form Sourav Ganguly at number 3.
The first choice would be the conservative, safe option. It is tried and tested, and has worked well in South Africa and England. The second option would involve greater risk, and also possibly greater reward. The real question for India is where they want the wicket keeper to bat - Dinesh Karthik opening the batting, or Mahendra Dhoni at number 7. The Dinesh Karthik option would give them a deeper batting line up, but a weaker opening pair, while the Mahendra Dhoni will give a stronger opening pair, but a batting line up which is less deep. The first option would be considered "defensive" or "defeatist" and further fuel a growing perception amongst watchers the Kumble's India are a conservative cricket team. The second option, where Dravid opens the batting, would be viewed as more aggressive and also fuel the legend of Dravid the "team-man". It will be interesting to see what choices Kumble will make.
The wicket, which at this point is the great unknown may influence Kumble's decision more than anything else. If Kumble and Harbhajan Singh both play, then India may well go with Rahul Dravid. Wickets on which Kumble and Harbhajan prove to be effective are likely to offer less help to fast bowling, there by making Dhoni more effective in the late order. If the wicket allows India to play 3 pace bowlers, then Dinesh Karthik may well play, as India will be well served with a deeper batting order. Dinesh Karthik in any case, has shown a peculiar tendency to favor overseas conditions when opening the batting. Hence, a fast bowler friendly wicket may engender a deeper line up, while a drier wicket will probably see India playing Dhoni.
There is of course the Sehwag option, which would be a big risk, given Sehwag's lack of form and given the fact that he didn't play against Victoria. That the tour match was rained off has not helped India. I would be very surprised if Sehwag played at the MCG.
The question at the end of the day will be dictated by the wicket. Dravid at number 3 would be the best possible option in my view. Most importantly it would be a vote of confidence in him. Sourav Ganguly though, is a man with a sense of occasion, and i wouldn't be surprised at all if he bats at number 3 in his 100th Test match and makes a century in front of a full house at the MCG!
That would be some story....
Labels: Anil Kumble, Australia, Dinesh Karthik, India, Mahendra Dhoni, MCG, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh
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Comments on "Melbourne Test - Where will Rahul Dravid bat?"
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Sam said ... (December 24, 2007 9:35 AM) :
post a commentWhy this obsession for Dinesh karthik ? is he going to survive the pace of Lee or Tait ? And if he can open the innings, then why not Sehwag ? DK hasnt been in best of form in all forms of game and only reason he played 6 innings against Pak were his 3 50s in England.
And any day out of DK and VS, the latter is expected to take the game away from the oppositon in a blink of an eye.
Meanwhile if both dont play then Dravid has to open with WJ with Yuvraj at 6....
And why would Dhoni who s scored 4 50s in his last 5 Tests including a match saving and 2 match winning 50s, would be dropped again for DK who s got nothing to display proudly on his platter ? DK s presence in the team stumps me.