Superb 50 by Yuvraj

[Bumper]

Shwetabh, do you seriously believe there is a better batsman (waiting) than Yuvraj at the moment, for subcontinental conditions ? Yuvraj's prime weaknesses are shot selection & spin. Barring Lanka, no team can boast of a competent spinner that can trouble Yuvi & his shot selection is kinda neutralised by placid tracks in the subcontinent. Yuvi averages 43 in India & 57 in Pakistan. These numbers are very much Gangulyesque. I'd take him every time we play in the subcontinent.

[The Outsider]

Shwetabh, do you seriously believe there is a better batsman (waiting) than Yuvraj at the moment, for subcontinental conditions ? Yuvraj's prime weaknesses are shot selection & spin. Barring Lanka, no team can boast of a competent spinner that can trouble Yuvi & his shot selection is kinda neutralised by placid tracks in the subcontinent. Yuvi averages 43 in India & 57 in Pakistan. These numbers are very much Gangulyesque. I'd take him every time we play in the subcontinent.

What is this obsession with finding subcontinental specialists? We should be looking at someone who can bat everywhere. What are you going to tell Yuvraj outside the subcontinent - that he is not good enough? What are you going to tell his replacement outside the subcontinent - we are going to play Yuvraj in the subcontinent but leave you on NZ greentops? Regardless of his weaknesses, the temperament that he displayed yesterday has given me hope. But being cautiously optimistic about him after his failed test career on the basis of one innings is not a bad call, given the fact Azhar Mehmood has scored a hundred on a blistering Durban turf against Donald, Pollock etc. Yuvraj's performance against Mendis was shocking. He barely lasted 10 deliveries against him in 5 ODIs coupled with the 20 runs he scored in Australia. Given that background if I am sceptical about his technique - I don't see how that is holding a grudge against him even in the face of yesterday's innings for which I have given him full praise.

[punjabi_khota]

What is this obsession with finding subcontinental specialists? We should be looking at someone who can bat everywhere. What are you going to tell Yuvraj outside the subcontinent - that he is not good enough? What are you going to tell his replacement outside the subcontinent - we are going to play Yuvraj in the subcontinent but leave you on NZ greentops? Regardless of his weaknesses, the temperament that he displayed yesterday has given me hope. But being cautiously optimistic about him after his failed test career on the basis of one innings is not a bad call, given the fact Azhar Mehmood has scored a hundred on a blistering Durban turf against Donald, Pollock etc. Yuvraj's performance against Mendis was shocking. He barely lasted 10 deliveries against him in 5 ODIs coupled with the 20 runs he scored in Australia. Given that background if I am sceptical about his technique - I don't see how that is holding a grudge against him even in the face of yesterday's innings for which I have given him full praise.

I agree with you for most part. I don't it is wise to have subcontinental specialists. I think Yuvi should be given a run at home and abroad. I believe he has what it takes to tackle pace, and his failure in Aus should not be the sole judge of his ability to play quality pace. His success against Pakistan against their AAG attack in very difficult conditions in Pakistan point to his ability to play quality pace bowling on helpful tracks. He is tacky against spin for sure, but this innings will prolly help him a lot in that aspect.

[Mr. Wicket]

What is this obsession with finding subcontinental specialists? We should be looking at someone who can bat everywhere. What are you going to tell Yuvraj outside the subcontinent - that he is not good enough? What are you going to tell his replacement outside the subcontinent - we are going to play Yuvraj in the subcontinent but leave you on NZ greentops?

Agreed. You can't just pick a guy for home games and someone else abroad. But this has been one of the most impressive knocks I've seen from Yuvraj - more mature and circumspect than his hundreds against Pakistan, and more appropriate for such a situation. Full credit to him. If he can keep producing these performances, especially abroad, I'll happily eat my words.

[Sachinism]

It was a brilliant knock from Yuvraj today, but he still needs to prove himself He's produced these amazing innings before and everyone was all excited but he didn't deliver for a while after that one knock. So lets hope he can consistently produce some top class innings

[The Outsider]

Agreed. You can't just pick a guy for home games and someone else abroad. But this has been one of the most impressive knocks I've seen from Yuvraj - more mature and circumspect than his hundreds against Pakistan, and more appropriate for such a situation. Full credit to him. If he can keep producing these performances, especially abroad, I'll happily eat my words.

Ditto! His composure was remarkable during the knock and on the basis of it he should be given a good 6-8 tests at home and abroad to establish himself.

[Bumper]

What is this obsession with finding subcontinental specialists? We should be looking at someone who can bat everywhere. What are you going to tell Yuvraj outside the subcontinent - that he is not good enough? What are you going to tell his replacement outside the subcontinent - we are going to play Yuvraj in the subcontinent but leave you on NZ greentops? Regardless of his weaknesses, the temperament that he displayed yesterday has given me hope. But being cautiously optimistic about him after his failed test career on the basis of one innings is not a bad call, given the fact Azhar Mehmood has scored a hundred on a blistering Durban turf against Donald, Pollock etc. Yuvraj's performance against Mendis was shocking. He barely lasted 10 deliveries against him in 5 ODIs coupled with the 20 runs he scored in Australia. Given that background if I am sceptical about his technique - I don't see how that is holding a grudge against him even in the face of yesterday's innings for which I have given him full praise.

Whats wrong with horses for courses ? Its time to think outside the box. We dont play two spinners abroad do we ? We promptly dump a thrid pacer & go with 2 spinners when we play at home. What does that do for the continuity of the dropped bowler ? In the subcontinent, Yuvraj is a potential match winner. His two 100s vs Pakistan, 90s, 50s vs Lanka, 169 vs Pakistan at Bangalore, his 83 at Chennai are few too many to be flukes. As for Mendis, which Indian middle order batsman (leave alone the newbees) can claim mastery over him ? In the subcontinent, Yuvraj could be a useful part time bowler and a potential match winning batsman. There is just too much value in him (in these conditions) to ignore.

[Bumper]

Ditto! His composure was remarkable during the knock and on the basis of it he should be given a good 6-8 tests at home and abroad to establish himself.

His temperament used to be an issue early in his ODI career. After 2005, Yuvraj was an entirely different player interms of temperament.. His numerous match winning ODI knocks are testimony to his temperament. He couldnt translate all that to success in tests, simply because of his poor shot selection and his inability to play spin. I'd think Yuvraj has improved a bit in both departments, however his shot selection is still very questionable. But I think he can get away with it on flat tracks. And when he comes off, he can quickly turn a game on its head.

[Predator_05]

This is why Yuvraj should be a PERMANENT FIXTURE in the Test team [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igFZDiW7Fl0]YouTube - Yuvraj Singh Cricket Style Icon[/ame]

[fineleg]

What is this obsession with finding subcontinental specialists? We should be looking at someone who can bat everywhere. What are you going to tell Yuvraj outside the subcontinent - that he is not good enough? What are you going to tell his replacement outside the subcontinent - we are going to play Yuvraj in the subcontinent but leave you on NZ greentops? Regardless of his weaknesses, the temperament that he displayed yesterday has given me hope. But being cautiously optimistic about him after his failed test career on the basis of one innings is not a bad call, given the fact Azhar Mehmood has scored a hundred on a blistering Durban turf against Donald, Pollock etc. Yuvraj's performance against Mendis was shocking. He barely lasted 10 deliveries against him in 5 ODIs coupled with the 20 runs he scored in Australia. Given that background if I am sceptical about his technique - I don't see how that is holding a grudge against him even in the face of yesterday's innings for which I have given him full praise.

Agreed. You can't just pick a guy for home games and someone else abroad. But this has been one of the most impressive knocks I've seen from Yuvraj - more mature and circumspect than his hundreds against Pakistan, and more appropriate for such a situation. Full credit to him. If he can keep producing these performances, especially abroad, I'll happily eat my words.

Yes, I have said this before as well. We cannot have "subcontinent specialist" batsman and then take someone else for "away specialist" batsman. This is a good knock by Yuvi at Chennai - give him the NZ series or whatever next one or two Away series and then if he grabs it, good for him. He has now earned the NZ series tour. The goal is to find a replacement for Ganguly - a replacement who can play subcontinent and Away too. Yuvi's fielding is a plus point for him, if he gets his batting in Tests right.

[King Tendulkar]

It should also be remebered yuvi is only just 27. He has scope for loads of improvement, even though he is already class. The fact he played spin so well was a big thing for him.