Your Openers for Final Test

[fineleg]

For the Ind team, it may be a gamble that Dhoni may consider. For MVK - it is prob tougher - if he fails miserably, then the scar may affect his composure and current form in domestics. Anyway, just a thought. If the guy can handle baptism by fire, then all the more power to him.

[bharat297]

I think its more of a risk to play an out of form Dravid as opener or worse pick a non-specialist opener (Badrinath) to open. Although given that its a flat pitch ... it may be ok ... however even still ... I think specialist openers are the way to go.

[King]

Gambhir's absence a big blow, Vijay to open: Dhoni Agencies Posted: Nov 05, 2008 at 1302 hrs IST Print EmailTo Editor Nagpur, November 5: : The Indian team is all set to cap Tamil Nadu youngster M Vijay after he was rushed in as a late replacement for in-form opener Gautam Gambhir who has been banned by the ICC from playing the series-deciding fourth and final Test against Australia starting in Nagpur on Thursday. "I came to know that Gambhir won't play for sure this morning. We are going in with M Vijay right now and open with him tomorrow," said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had taken over the reins of the Test team following the retirement of Anil Kumble after the drawn third Test in New Delhi. Dhoni said that the absence of Gambhir, India's leading run-getter in the series with a double hundred and a hundred, will be definitely felt by the side but it has to get on with the situation at hand. "It's a blow as he (Gambhir) is a man in form and a good start really matters. We can capitalize and get to a big score. It's unfortunate (ban on Gambhir) but M Vijay is there. It does not matter whether he makes his debut in this match or ten matches later as the pressure of playing international cricket will be the same," he said. Asked about the choice of the 24-year-old Tamil Nadu youngster, who came here midway from a Ranji Trophy tie against Maharashtra at Nashik after scoring a double hundred, Dhoni insisted he cannot comment on selection matters. "I cannot comment on selection matters. I have seen him playing in Challenger Series. He's done well in domestic cricket (more than 600 runs each in first two seasons). For now he will open but there can be change of plans," he said. Struggling Rahul Dravid missed the training session on Wednesday because of 'flu' but Dhoni said the former captain would be fit to play on Thursday. Dhoni said there was no extra pressure on the team ahead of the series-deciding tie with India leading 1-0. "We have done well throughout the series and it's important we stick to the basics and do the same things as we have done so far. This match is important but there's no added pressure. We need to play to our potential," the wicket-keeper batsman said. He said that reverse swing obtained by his medium pace duo of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma during the earlier part of the series, has been a crucial factor in his side doing well in the series thus far. "Reverse swing is crucial when the new ball does not do much for the fast bowlers to come back and make an impact in the game. It has been important right through the series. We have maintained the ball well and have done it (reversing) consistently. In Delhi it did not happen much because there was some grass on the wicket and in the outfield," he said. On the pitch at the newly built Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Jamtha, the home team captain said he expected it to be a typical Indian wicket. "It's a normal Indian wicket with no grass on it. There won't be much help for the fast bowlers but there's a good chance the ball will reverse. Hopefully it will also break up," he said. Dhoni said that different bowling combinations in the spin department that the Indian team had been forced to employ in the series due to the injury to Kumble did make some difference. "Some difference will be there. But we have planned well for this match also," he said.

[bharat297]

Im hoping Dhoni's captaincy will bring the best out of this youngster.

[Dirty_South]

yup,MSD confirms that M Vijay is gonna open ! Best of Luck Vijay :wtg:

[Guest HariSampath]

Gambhir's absence a big blow, Vijay to open : Dhoni NAGPUR: The Indian team is all set to cap Tamil Nadu youngster M Vijay after he was rushed in as a late replacement for in-form opener Gautam Gambhir who has been banned by the ICC from playing the series-deciding fourth and final Test against Australia starting here on Thursday. "I came to know that Gambhir won't play for sure this morning. We are going in with M Vijay right now and open with him on Thursday," said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had taken over the reins of the Test team following the retirement of Anil Kumble after the drawn third Test in New Delhi. Dhoni said that the absence of Gambhir, India's leading run-getter in the series with a double hundred and a hundred, will be definitely felt by the side but it has to get on with the situation at hand. "It's a blow as he (Gambhir) is a man in form and a good start really matters. We can capitalize and get to a big score. It's unfortunate (ban on Gambhir) but M Vijay is there. It does not matter whether he makes his debut in this match or ten matches later as the pressure of playing international cricket will be the same," he said. Asked about the choice of the 24-year-old Tamil Nadu youngster, who came here midway from a Ranji Trophy tie against Maharashtra at Nashik after scoring a double hundred, Dhoni insisted he cannot comment on selection matters. "I cannot comment on selection matters. I have seen him playing in Challenger Series. He's done well in domestic cricket (more than 600 runs each in first two seasons). For now he will open but there can be change of plans," he said. Struggling Rahul Dravid missed the training session on Wednesday because of 'flu' but Dhoni said the former captain would be fit to play on Thursday. Dhoni said there was no extra pressure on the team ahead of the series-deciding tie with India leading 1-0. "We have done well throughout the series and it's important we stick to the basics and do the same things as we have done so far. This match is important but there's no added pressure. We need to play to our potential," the wicket-keeper batsman said. He said that reverse swing obtained by his medium pace duo of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma during the earlier part of the series, has been a crucial factor in his side doing well in the series thus far. "Reverse swing is crucial when the new ball does not do much for the fast bowlers to come back and make an impact in the game. It has been important right through the series. We have maintained the ball well and have done it (reversing) consistently. In Delhi it did not happen much because there was some grass on the wicket and in the outfield," he said. On the pitch at the newly built Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Jamtha, the home team captain said he expected it to be a typical Indian wicket. "It's a normal Indian wicket with no grass on it. There won't be much help for the fast bowlers but there's a good chance the ball will reverse. Hopefully it will also break up," he said. Dhoni said that different bowling combinations in the spin department that the Indian team had been forced to employ in the series due to the injury to Kumble did make some difference. "Some difference will be there. But we have planned well for this match also," he said.

[Guest HariSampath]

So, Murali Vijay to open for sure, at the moment.But as Dhoni has said there could be change of plans, and also I think Dravid has been asked to have a *Flu* ...just in case....:D

[Dirty_South]

hahaha...Dravid down with FLU.....

[Guest HariSampath]

hahaha...Dravid down with FLU.....

Dravid is down with *flu*, but Dr Dhoni says he may be fit by tomorrow morning :giggle: lol....its amazing how the team management and selectors come up with such transparent gambits, just to cover up any selection decision , its so easy for these Flu thingys to extend...maybe they will if Dravid doesnt sign the VRS plan by tomorrow morning :--D

[diegovegaz]

if ganguly is ok with opening, he should definately go ahead with it it would be a perfect oppurtunity for him to score runs, he'll have plenty of time, no pressure as well and badrinath can strengthen the middle order else, ganguly retains his no. 6 spot, and badri can open badri, though not an opener, will have to grab this oppurtunity, if he really is a team man, which i am sure he is