Raina - not good at Short pitch bowling - probably need backup for Raina for South Africa tour

[fineleg]

We will have Raina in squad for SA Tests. Raina is a fantastic batsman :thumbs_up: No doubt about that. In a year or two, he may develop into an excellent long term Test prospect. But he needs sometime and we will support him through that. Deserving player he is Suresh Raina. But still.... But we need a good backup (maybe Yuvi, but is there any other good backup???)) Hilfenhaus snorted Raina out for a duck on Day-5 Indian pitch Additional to Yuvi and Raina, one more batsman in the squad who can play Fast, Fiery bowling by Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Pujara too new. Maybe Virat Kohli, but is Kohli good in playing raw fiery pace? Any other good middle order bat available?

[kabira]

LOL, he gets out once and knives are out. Yes he has the weakness against short delivery. But who doesnt really? Its not easy to play well directed short pitch delivery. Even Sehwag got out to short delivery.

[Roshanrocks]

wait... relax... he just needs to learn to leave the short balls ..

[fineleg]

Even for this series: BTW - if Laxman is going to be out for Test-2, who will replace him in squad of 15? Yuvi or Kohli? No nohit sharma Pujara may play, but Dhoni may want an experienced player.

[Laaloo]

[fineleg]

Knives are NOT out. Dont mistake me. I am saying he will be in squad, and he should be supported and nurtured. This is NOT knife is out. I just want one additional backup who can play fast, chinmusic which Steyn and Morkel will dish out. Take an additional batsman (maybe 16th or 17th player) in squad to SA.

[Sachinism]

As much as I like Raina, have to agree with finey, he is not ready. SA pitches will be faster and bouncier for the test series and he will be caught out

[fineleg]

As much as I like Raina' date=' have to agree with finey, he is not ready. SA pitches will be faster and bouncier for the test series and he will be caught out[/quote'] I'll still possibly play him in the 11 for Test-1 in SA. But if it is absolutely mincemeat in that Test, then we need alternatives for remainder of series since we cannot keep flying people into SA at last minute. I am just wondering who are the good mid-order bats who have international experience? (Pujara may fly to SA, but he will be so new) Yuvi? Kohli? Rohit Sharma???? Yep it is only in Dec/Jan. But just a thought, KThxbai :winky:

[ZodiaC]

Finey too much wrist slitting is not good for ya health u knw

[diegovegaz]

no need to panic raina is not tall, he should just try to leave those deliveries alone coz whenever he defences a short ball, he is flying in the air

[Fontaine]

It's far too early to give up on him. He's played very well so far. Let him play in South Africa and see how he does which is a challenge for ANY batsmen, not just Raina.

[fineleg]

It's far too early to give up on him. He's played very well so far. Let him play in South Africa and see how he does which is a challenge for ANY batsmen, not just Raina.

Yes, we should let him play, I agree. Just looking for a backup if we need midway during the tour. In this series, Pujara is the backup, so looking for a more experienced backup. Just wondering out aloud the options.

[ZodiaC]

I'd give a full run for Raina against SA. You can't all of a sudden ask Pujara to debut on SA pitches. So raina it is.

[spectre]

Its not like we have another set of Sachin or Dravid with us, nor we have Ponting or Watson tbh, none of the reserves are great players of good short pitched stuff. Rohit is equally poor against short pitch stuff, whatever i have seen Not sure about Kohli, he is poor against anything out of the off stump, too many caught behind or slips KKD is one good player, but he has equally other weak areas Pujara is unknown commodity against quality pace give Raina the time, he is a good learner and he will overcome this.He has his strong areas like scoring quickly , very strong against spin and excellent temperament.

[Fontaine]

Raina has already played in the IPL in South Africa, Champion's League so he has plenty of experience in the conditions there. What's the point in questioning a young growing player before the series has even started? He's done the most of the chances he's been given.

[fineleg]

Champions League 2020 in Yellow pyjama will hardly be anything to go by when compared to hardnosed Test cricket in South Africa in whites. But I agree, thats not Raina's fault. He has done with what chances he got. Let him play the Tests in SA, I was only wondering if mid-tour we need a backup if we find the 6th or 7th batsman as being crucial there. Anyway we'll see how it pans out.

[cowboysfan]

how hard is to correct this technique error? how hard is to leave short balls outside the off alone?. raina will play in sa but it will make or break his test career.

[vvvslaxman]

Raina is a fighter. He has the grit to overcome all those deficiencies. Yuvraj had far too many weaknesses than Raina. He was vulnerable when the ball was slanted across, he was weak against slower ones, he was against spin, he was not comfortable against short ones too. Who else we have 1) Karthik (has the technique to survive on those pitches as he proved both in SA and England. But he is not temperamentally ready yet to make the starts count. 2) Vijay (he should either open or not play at all. Let us not spoil his career by making him play all over) 3) Kohli , Pujara, Rohit (Untested) or as a bold move Have Irfan Pathan as No.7 batsman. Remember when everyone else failed in SA in a first class game he made 111 not out and 40 not out. http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/98/98945.html But that is not going to happen. So out of all the choice Raina is the best choice. He is just a livewire. He brings lot of energy.

[ViruRulez]

Raina is needed... he saved loads of runs in fielding too .. UV is nowhere near Raina in tests as of now and also sucks while facing short balls .. we dont have replacement still .. give Raina some time.. Pujara should be a backup and I agree though but first choice should always be Raina

[Anakin]

Someone's not too happy :((