Tests: Does Raina have it in him to be successful in SA?

[zen]

It is good to see Raina start out with a bang in tests. A century on debut followed by a match winning stand is a supeb start. He also seems to play in Viv Richard's style, i.e. starts off with a bang and then if he survives (or gets a chance) then settles down to play a superb game. The first few overs that he plays is crucial for both Ind and the opposition as it could mean either Raina playing a good knock or getting out early. So far so good, but how will our man stand up in seamers friendly conditions or against good pace attacks. Looking at how he struggles against the short balls, will his position in tests be in jeopardy in SA? Or has the man learned his lessons and confident enough to take what's thrown at him. The couple of tests against Australia should be a good test for him, if he gets to be in the team. If he seems to struggle then for his own sake (to make him go back to nets), it might not be a bad idea to get in either Pujara or Kohli against NZ to see if they have it in them to play the short pitched stuff well. This is a question to the fans, do you guys think he will be able to take on SA bowlers in SA successfully based on his current technique? I hope Raina reads this :grin:

[Lord]

I dont think so,but I'd be more than happy to be proven wrong

[Clarke]

A hard fought fifty or two will go a long way towards some confidence building, way more than any IPL hundred. Needless to say, a test hundred will be fantastic.

[zen]

Option 3: "Haha, rett another of your poll!" has the most votes so far. :embaressed_smile:

[Ram]

Raina needs to look no further than guys like Steve Waugh and Saurav Ganguly to know that all you need to succeed in test cricket is a heart that’s the size of a washing machine, not some sculpted technique that’s designed to fit ICC coaching manual specifications. Raina’s a fighter who will put a price tag on his wicket, no matter how fast the pitch is and how hostile the bowling is. He may not look gracious in those conditions; he may even fail in his first few attempts. But give him a few matches and he will ultimately come through. The one thing Raina has going for him in test matches is that he does not have the pressing need to score. So there’s no real reason for him to bring out that pull shot that has been the source of his downfall in so many ODIs/T20s. Surviving the short-ball may be hard, but it is not impossible. But scoring off it, is an entirely different ball game.

[Serani]

Hell no, you saw that video of him practicing against the bowling machine! The guy just sucks against the short ball even when he knows its coming.

[The Outsider]

First tours to South Africa for subcontinent batsmen are never easy. Granted that Raina is more experienced than your usual subcontinent batsman on his first tour to South Africa, it will be unrealistic to have too many expectations from him on the tour. A couple of 50s playing a good supporting hand to the main batsmen, an average in the 30s and he would have done a par job for the tour as far as I am concerned.

[achilles]

2 of the world's fastest and most hostile bowlers bowling at over 90MPH and bouncing him out is how it would turn out. We might just see a repeat of Lee KOing Shiv Chanderpaul with a bouncer. Serani is right. The video of the practice is shocking and doesn't justify the sycophant approach towards an individual who has a major chink in his armour and trying to build him up as the next best thing and even goto the extent of suggesting him as a future India captain is a bit far-stretched. Its unfair to Raina, who is growing beyond himself. It would be ideal to pick Che Pujara over Raina but we don't see that happening. Hope he can prove everyone wrong.

[Sachinism]

I dont think so' date='but I'd be more than happy to be proven wrong[/quote'] This. Got great ability but still hasn't shown great technique against the short ball. He managed not to get out vs SL but SA pitches will be totally different and if he's playing the short ball the way he was in SL, he won't last long in the middle. Having said that, are we to expect quick, bouncy wickets? or is it patta's like we have in most places nowadays P.S. Regarding the vid, it was taken around a year ago, so he may have tightened up his technique since then, but not too sure

[Lord]

This. Got great ability but still hasn't shown great technique against the short ball. He managed not to get out vs SL but SA pitches will be totally different and if he's playing the short ball the way he was in SL, he won't last long in the middle. Having said that, are we to expect quick, bouncy wickets? or is it patta's like we have in most places nowadays P.S. Regarding the vid, it was taken around a year ago, so he may have tightened up his technique since then, but not too sure

the pitches will be bouncy for sure.they'll surely use thier home advantage

[kabira]

What was Dada's average in SA??

[Gunner_Mania]

2 It would be ideal to pick Che Pujara over Raina but we don't see that happening. Hope he can prove everyone wrong.

What has Chetesewar Pujara done more than Raina that would make it ideal to pick him over Raina? I don't know what his capabilities are against the short ball but is that the yardstick?

[achilles]

What has Chetesewar Pujara done more than Raina that would make it ideal to pick him over Raina? I don't know what his capabilities are against the short ball but is that the yardstick?

He's a better batsman, having a way superior technique than Raina and is also very capable of playing the shorter trajectory, from what I have read about him in his coaches' reports.

[Gunner_Mania]

He's a better batsman' date=' having a way superior technique than Raina and is also very capable of playing the shorter trajectory, from what I have read about him in his coaches' reports.[/quote'] At this moment in time he has not done anything to prove he merits a place over Raina. What is the point in developing a player over 50 ODIs to the extent of handing him captaincy duties etc and then just dump him because some kid's coach somewhere wrote he has a superior technique. I would back Raina to get more opportunities than what Yuvraj got to prove his mettle and if he still fails then sure discard him for somebody else.

[The Dark Horse]

He may not have the best technique but he has the right attitude among the youngsters-i back him to do well.

[achilles]

At this moment in time he has not done anything to prove he merits a place over Raina. What is the point in developing a player over 50 ODIs to the extent of handing him captaincy duties etc and then just dump him because some kid's coach somewhere wrote he has a superior technique. I would back Raina to get more opportunities than what Yuvraj got to prove his mettle and if he still fails then sure discard him for somebody else.

How fair is it to Che Pujara to not get an Indian cap while a player who plays for the Indian skip's IPL team gets a chance to play tests and even captain the national team, despite being half the player Pujara is? What was the point of tokenism in dropping Raina in 2007 and then welcoming him with open arms after one good IPL? I would pick Badrinath over Raina. Just what wrong have Badri and Che done? Do they escape their chances just because they aren't matey with the selector or because the skip isn't their friend? Its not just the coaches who say that Che is a great batsman. You've yourself said it too. Check out his thread that you have posted in. It is not Che's fault that he hasn't got the chance to prove himself. The blame rests with the selectors and the captain to continue who back half-baked players over proven performers in the competitive longer formats of the game. I would be happy if Suresh does well. But I would pick Badri and Che over him ANY DAY.

[Gunner_Mania]

How fair is it to Che Pujara to not get an Indian cap while a player who plays for the Indian skip's IPL team gets a chance to play tests and even captain the national team, despite being half the player Pujara is? What was the point of tokenism in dropping Raina in 2007 and then welcoming him with open arms after one good IPL? I would pick Badrinath over Raina. Just what wrong have Badri and Che done? Do they escape their chances just because they aren't matey with the selector or because the skip isn't their friend? Its not just the coaches who say that Che is a great batsman. You've yourself said it too. Check out his thread that you have posted in. It is not Che's fault that he hasn't got the chance to prove himself. The blame rests with the selectors and the captain to continue who back half-baked players over proven performers in the competitive longer formats of the game. I would be happy if Suresh does well. But I would pick Badri and Che over him ANY DAY.

So if in the next IPL auction CSK buy Cheteswar Pujara, I take it you will stop saying that Pujara deserves a spot in the Indian team because he plays for CSK?

[Karan114]

I don't think so, no - SA pitches are tough enough even for our experienced, world class batsmen (Sachin averages 39 and Dravid 33) leave alone a youngster with a huge flaw against the short ball. But would be happy to be proven completely wrong.

[vvvslaxman]

I think he did okay in the 2nd IPL which was held in SA. It all depends on the pitches they play. THey roll out two kinds of pitches. One is absolute dead track the other one is juicy track. It depends on what you get. During the last series India got a similar pitch to Indian pitch. Karthik and Jaffer put on 163 for the first wicket. They even took the first innings lead. But for some strange reasons India played ultra defensively and lost the plot and the Test. A golden opportunity to win a test series was wasted.

[Gunner_Mania]

and he is likely to get some exposure with the CL now