Suresh Raina and Test match promotion

[maniac]

Probable 1st XI: 1 Gambo 2 Sehwag 3 SRT 4 Dravid 5 VVS 6 Pujara 7 MS 8 Ishant 9 PK 10 Aaron 11 Ashwin / Harbhajan But that leaves with no part time spinner - discounting Sehwag for his iffy shoulder. So Yuvi could get a look in ahead of Pujara Rahane & Kohli as batting reserves Yadav, Munaf and Ojha in bowling Reserve WK? Where does Raina fit in????

I am a strict advocate of dropping Raina from the test squad but the reason for selecting Yuvi=reason for selecting Raina... Even though Yuvi is way ahead of Raina as a bowler but they pretty much are on the same level when it comes to tests. Keep in mind before the Eng series Raina did decently in WI

[Manny_Pacquiao]

if raina and yuvraj get picked for another test, i am going to cry. this is why you need a new selection committee. people that are willing to look at other players and not urinate on india's proud tradition of fine test batsmanship by recycling these proven failures.

[maniac]

if raina and yuvraj get picked for another test, i am going to cry. this is why you need a new selection committee. people that are willing to look at other players and not urinate on india's proud tradition of fine test batsmanship by recycling these proven failures.

+1

[BeautifulGame]

Anyone know when is the squad for west Indies tests are announced?

[VRV Singh]

I am fearing the cycle when he scores big in the Windies Tests and it books his ticket to Aus.

[MCcricket]

Raina has a chink in his armour as far as test batting is concerned, yes he is very gifted bat too, no one expects him to be a brilliant hooker or puller like Ponting.He needs to figure out what will work for him in test's , decision making and avoiding short balls , or finding a shot which he can safely get 1 or 2 runs,he has the talent and works hard. He is not a good test bat at present , but he can be one, Saurav Ganguly figured out a way to not play the short ball and make runs abroad, play his own version of pull or hook , ramp shot.The bigger problem is in the mind once that is resolved he can work his gameplan.

[maniac]

I am surprised no one mentioned Mukund...Definetely he deserves more chances as well

[maniac]

I am fearing the cycle when he scores big in the Windies Tests and it books his ticket to Aus.

It might be a good test for Raina in a way if he finds a place in the team in the WI series...Fidel Edwards has one mean bouncer and Rampaul can be a handful too Not saying they are great bowlers but Raina might sneak in one final chance in the WI series....if he is dropped for that series than it is curtains for him for a while unless we have a situation in Aus like we had in England where players were getting injured left right and centre

[achilles]

No. He should stick to formats he is good at. How many of us want a situation similar to South Africa where he is dropped with 1 test to go and the team in disarray? Go for Rohit, Yuvraj, Che.

[King Tendulkar]

no

[vamos_rafa]

It's time we groom Pujara or Rahane or Kohli for the #6 spot. Unless we have 2-3 options, we would never be able to fill the huge voids once the remaining big 3 retire. It's high time we fill up the long vacant #6 spot.

[ganeshran]

No. He is also been playing a lot of cricket for the last 6-7 months. He and Kohli need some rest too

[saneindian]

Absolutely not. Rahane, Kohli or Rohit deserve to play ahead of him. He needs to play more first class cricket. Starting with the ranji matches from 3rd Nov, he should be able to play the first 3 rounds and the last 2 rounds (missing the 2 rounds of matches due to WI ODIs) thats a total of 5 matches and hopefully more in the knock out rounds before he goes for the Aus ODI series. He still has age on his side and the only way he will improve his batting technique is by playing more first class games.

[achilles]

No. He is also been playing a lot of cricket for the last 6-7 months. He and Kohli need some rest too

Thats the only reason why he shouldn't be playing? Not being sarcastic, I'm quite keen to know.

[gakgupta]

he is not made for test cricket....if you push him his ODI form would be gone

[Blue Panther]

Doesn't matter, dhoni is gonna pick him for sure.

[hiha]

i kinda feel kohli,yuvraj nd raina r best option for no 6th batting position in aus...........with due respect 2 rohit nd pujara, i dont feel they have d technique or batting style nd stance 2 play in these pitches ..........raina did very well in wi in tests... i feel raina can still do well in aus coz d bounce is not rapid or sudden as in england+ england had swann who continously troubled raina apart from d short pitch balls.....in aus raina just has 2 be vary of d bouncers nd d wide balls which he tends 2 poke every time

[vamos_rafa]

i kinda feel kohli' date=yuvraj nd raina r best option for no 6th batting position in aus...........with due respect 2 rohit nd pujara, i dont feel they have d technique or batting style nd stance 2 play in these pitches ..........raina did very well in wi in tests... i feel raina can still do well in aus coz d bounce is not rapid or sudden as in england+ england had swann who continously troubled raina apart from d short pitch balls.....in aus raina just has 2 be vary of d bouncers nd d wide balls which he tends 2 poke every time

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[Sooda]

^ Indeed. No Raina for sure. I hope Pujara is fit and has scored some Ranji runs by then. Him and Rohit should be in the squad. Id quite like to see Sehwag at 5 and Laxman at 6, Mukund opening.

[ganeshran]

Pujara is our best bet. If he isnt fit, then try out Sharma. Kohli and Raina can wait till they sort out the technical issues. Also they are an important part of the ODI side and play almost non stop cricket