(In Tests): Some of Raina's scoring shots as well as mode of dismissal reminds one of Sourav Ganguly

[fineleg]

In Test matches- Some of Raina's scoring shots as well as mode of dismissal reminds one of Sourav Ganguly Not just because they are south paws, but somehow there seems to be some resemblance - both in the way Raina attacks and in the way he gets out to the bowling. I am talking mainly in Test matches. Anyone else feel that there is this resemblance? Ofcourse No Resemblance in fielding :haha:

[vamos_rafa]

You can say so... but I don't think Ganguly's weakness was opened up so early in Test matches. Maybe because he debuted in both Tests and ODIs simultaneously.

[Sid]

Only thing that resembles is how Raina plays or should I say bully spinners,just like dada used to do

[fineleg]

Ofcourse, it is only a resemblance, there are quite a few differences in their batting. Raina is more a power hitter than Ganguly, and Ganguly's drives that pierce the offside cordon were a beauty to watch. And Ganguly is a supreme timer of the ball compared to Raina.

[vamos_rafa]

I think Dada was the more graceful of the 2. Infact he can be touted as one of the most graceful batters,on the off side,of all time.

[vvvslaxman]

Dada had better defense if i may say so. He had better placement through the off side.

[pensionplan]

Niether one of them will be considered a great Test batsman though Raina has a full career ahead of him to resurrect himself.

[Andy]

Niether one of them will be considered a great Test batsman though Raina has a full career ahead of him to resurrect himself.

But But Gangulys Defence was Better and he was looking absolute Solid against all sorts of Bowling since 2006 Nov. He looked a different Force since his comeback and i remember the series against SA in 2008 where most of oyr Batters Struggled in the Absence of SRT and Ganguly looked the only player who was comfortable against Stein and Co.

[fineleg]

But But Gangulys Defence was Better and he was looking absolute Solid against all sorts of Bowling since 2006 Nov. He looked a different Force since his comeback and i remember the series against SA in 2008 where most of oyr Batters Struggled in the Absence of SRT and Ganguly looked the only player who was comfortable against Stein and Co.

Yes, Ganguly was an improved batsman (or at least he knew how to cover for his technical weakness) towards the end of his career.

[Andy]

Yes' date=' Ganguly was an improved batsman (or at least he knew how to cover for his technical weakness) towards the end of his career.[/quote'] What i have watched of him he Improved as a test batsman sorting out his technical Problems but detoriated as an ODI batsman. Though he was scoring the runs his strike Rate was pretty low and his knocks were hardly winning us matches unlike in the past. He was just the Opposite in Tests.

[vvvslaxman]

Yuvraj was supposed to replace Gangu. But he often got squared up even by innocuous deliveries. On that score Raina is better if not as good as Ganguly. Between Yuvi and Raina , Raina is closer to Ganguly.

[Ram]

Its actually a very good comparison.. Saurav had some issued with short-pitched bowling as well, but later on he managed to work his way around it. If anything, he looked more accomplished than most of our batsmen after his comeback to the team in late 2006. He was one of the few Indian batsmen who came out relatively bruise free from the Saffie tour in late 2006. He was easily one of the leading batsmen of the 2007 of the England tour (though he didn’t top the run charts), easily negotiated the Pakistani pacers in India that year. He was even the top scorer in the 2nd innings of the Melbourne hammering we got in Australia and scored a 100 in his last test against Australia in India. It took Ganguly nearly 10 years to figure out ways to work around his short-comings when handling short-pitched bowling. Maybe he can work with Raina to make sure it doesn’t take as long for him as well.

[ZodiaC]

It took Ganguly nearly 10 years to figure out ways to work around his short-comings when handling short-pitched bowling. Maybe he can work with Raina to make sure it doesn’t take as long for him as well.

I don't think so, Ganguly initially was a better player of short balls unlike Raina, but somehow since he became the captain he lost it and became more vulnerable to short bowling. Like say in his innings against SA in 2001, he handled short stuff pretty well IMO.

[vvvslaxman]

Ganguly was oozing with class on his debut. I watched both of his centuries live. But i heard he was not spending too much time in the nets when he went through a slump. If he had put in the hardwork which he put for his comeback little earlier his career would have been better.

[gaurav92]

Raina loves to slog on the Leg side, while dada loved to pierce the off side field.Both play spinners extremely well.Dada was better than Raina in terms of playing Fast Bowling.The technique is far more convincing.Raina gets into a awkward position whenever the ball is dug short at him.So resemblance yes, but just a little bit.

[Sid]

I don't think so' date=' Ganguly initially was a better player of short balls unlike Raina, but somehow since he became the captain he lost it and became more vulnerable to short bowling. Like say in his innings against SA in 2001, he handled short stuff pretty well IMO.[/quote'] Only time Ganguly looked good against short bowling was when he made made his comeback in SA ,His innings in Joburg is one of his best test innings for me

[ZodiaC]

Only time Ganguly looked good against short bowling was when he made made his comeback in SA ' date='His innings in Joburg is one of his best test innings for me[/quote'] Agree, but I'm just saying he isn't as bad a player of short ball. Obviously he's weak against short stuff, but handled it reasonably well early in his career. Was certainly better than what Raina is right now.

[Sid]

Agree' date=' but I'm just saying he isn't as bad a player of short ball. Obviously he's weak against short stuff, but handled it reasonably well early in his career. Was certainly better than what Raina is right now.[/quote'] No doubt he was better than Raina in facing short stuff

[bangladeshifan]

Ganguly was a great fighter.....still remember 03 WC i was crazy for india those days. Lets see what raina can do......its too early to compare him with someone like ganguly....way to go.

[rkt.india]

Ganguly started his Test career at the age of 24 and according to stats Rains is 23 right now