Have we given up on Raina-the test batsman

[maniac]

Yup....time to give up on him...but not a bad desicion to give him a one last chance in this series though...Have no hopes against the much superior bowling attacks of Eng and Aus

[putrevus]

Raina should be nowhere near Indian team, he was selected in this series only because he was left handed and good fielder.He again proved how useless his batting is in test matches.Yuvraj Singh would be upgrade to him in test matches and that says a lot about him.

[Lord]

if we r only selecting coz hes a leftie,it'd be much better that we select Rahane as opener n bat Gambhir in MO.that'd help him as well.great player of spin n the ball wont move much,thus less chance of pokes,it'd be ODI like situation for him where he still excels

[putrevus]

if we r only selecting coz hes a leftie' date='it'd be much better that we select Rahane as opener n bat Gambhir in MO.that'd help him as well.great player of spin n the ball wont move much,thus less chance of pokes,it'd be ODI like situation for him where he still excels[/quote'] That is the way I would go against England make Gambhir no 6 and let Rahane open.We would be giving a chance to Rahane and also taking pressure off Gambhir. They can always make Gambhir open again but they cannot let this Raina near the test team.

[rkt.india]

That is the way I would go against England make Gambhir no 6 and let Rahane open.We would be giving a chance to Rahane and also taking pressure off Gambhir. They can always make Gambhir open again but they cannot let this Raina near the test team.

Swann will eat Gambhir raw in middle order. If they dont play Monty, why we need a left hander. Swann thrives against lefties, struggles against sight handers.

[SLICKR392]

Swann will eat Gambhir raw in middle order. If they dont play Monty' date=' why we need a left hander. Swann thrives against lefties, struggles against sight handers.[/quote'] I wouldn't be surprised if he owns a leftie like Yuvi or a Raina in the middle order, but Gauti ? He made him look easy in the ODI series last year. No way Swann will trouble Gauti. He is the best player of spin we have got in the lineup.

[Lord]

Swann will eat Gambhir raw in middle order. If they dont play Monty' date=' why we need a left hander. Swann thrives against lefties, struggles against sight handers.[/quote'] lol Gambhir is a great player of off spin,handled Swann well in ODI series last year in India.I wont be worried about Swann bowling to him. I'm pretty sure they'll play one out of Monty or Samit

[Lord]

I wouldn't be surprised if he owns a leftie like Yuvi or a Raina in the middle order, but Gauti ? He made him look easy in the ODI series last year. No way Swann will trouble Gauti. He is the best player of spin we have got in the lineup.

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[rkt.india]

lol Gambhir is a great player of off spin,handled Swann well in ODI series last year in India.I wont be worried about Swann bowling to him. I'm pretty sure they'll play one out of Monty or Samit

This is test, not ODI. Even Raina handles spinners well in tests. I know Gambhir wont last long against Swann in middle order. Swann has made his career dismissing left handers. Samit is not much to worry about but Monty is a good bowler against right handers.

[rkt.india]

I wouldn't be surprised if he owns a leftie like Yuvi or a Raina in the middle order, but Gauti ? He made him look easy in the ODI series last year. No way Swann will trouble Gauti. He is the best player of spin we have got in the lineup.

That was ODI series, where you dont have close-in fielders. This will be test series. Swann's bowling which has natural variations creates doubts in the mind of left handers and they are mostly bowled or LBW.

[putrevus]

Swann will eat Gambhir raw in middle order. If they dont play Monty' date=' why we need a left hander. Swann thrives against lefties, struggles against sight handers.[/quote'] You must be kidding Swann eating Gambhir, He is one of best players of spin bowling , I don't think Gambhir would be losing sleep over facing Swann anytime anywhere.He might get out to spin bowlers but it is not due lack of skill.

[rkt.india]

You must be kidding Swann eating Gambhir' date=' He is one of best players of spin bowling , I don't think Gambhir would be losing sleep over facing Swann anytime anywhere.He might get out to spin bowlers but it is not due lack of skill.[/quote'] He is one of the best player of spin in ODIs, not it tests. There is no left handed batsman who has not been troubled by Swann in test matches because of his natural variation which they cannot read because they are natural which creates doubts. Raina was the victim of that and even Raina used to be one of the best batsmen of spin before that.

[SLICKR392]

This is test' date=' not ODI. Even Raina handles spinners well in tests. I know Gambhir wont last long against Swann in middle order. Swann has made his career dismissing left handers. Samit is not much to worry about but Monty is a good bowler against right handers.[/quote'] Who did Raina handle well? Patel, Randiv? I still don't agree with Gauti being troubled by a spinner. Especially when you don't need to attack in Test cricket. He was cutting away the balls that spun in and Swann was getting frustrated and started flighting like a wuss . His technique is more suited to play against a spinner than a quickie.

[Lord]

This is test' date=' not ODI. Even Raina handles spinners well in tests. I know Gambhir wont last long against Swann in middle order. Swann has made his career dismissing left handers. Samit is not much to worry about but Monty is a good bowler against right handers.[/quote'] Gambhir owned even Murali wen they came in 2009.Swann has made his career dismissing MEDIOCRE lefties.Gambhir is not one.

[Old guy]

nah gambhir of 2009 should handle swann just fine but now days i dont know :cantstop: who is to say his technique is tight against spinners now ? and raina never had gr8 defense against any type of bowler but he is pretty good while attacking imo

[SLICKR392]

He is one of the best player of spin in ODIs' date=' not it tests. [b']There is no left handed batsman who has not been troubled by Swann in test matches because of his natural variation which they cannot read because they are natural which creates doubts. Raina was the victim of that and even Raina used to be one of the best batsmen of spin before that.

How many times did trouble Smith in the recent series or Chanderpaul where he did beat him once or twice but din't look much of a threat.

[rkt.india]

Gambhir owned even Murali wen they came in 2009.Swann has made his career dismissing MEDIOCRE lefties.Gambhir is not one.

Swann is different to Murli. Murli had the variations which one could read from hands. Swann is different because of natural variations which create doubts.

[rkt.india]

How many times did trouble Smith in the recent series or Chanderpaul where he did beat him once or twice but din't look much of a threat.

It was in England where ball does not turn. Test series will be in India.

[SLICKR392]

Swann is different to Murli. Murli had the variations which one could read from hands. Swann is different because of natural variations which create doubts.

Variations as in speed or length & line?

[rkt.india]

Who did Raina handle well? Patel' date=' Randiv? I still don't agree with Gauti being troubled by a spinner. [b']Especially when you don't need to attack in Test cricket. He was cutting away the balls that spun in and Swann was getting frustrated and started flighting like a wuss . His technique is more suited to play against a spinner than a quickie.

You forgot ODI series 2008 where Mendis was making merry and Raina was the one who played him best, even Murli. He had 100 in his debut series against Murli. The bold part is what creates problem against Swann to lefties, the defense. He will breach the defense of most lefties once he batsmen go into defense mode because most batsmen dont read the turn or no turn and they become LBW and bowled candidates which he thrives on.