Suresh Raina and Test match promotion

[daryl1985]

Fair play to him, hitting back at his critics. His knocks in the quarter and semi-finals of the WC were crucial. He is good at upping the run rate down the order, he is our best fielder (Jadeja is also very good) and he has bowled fairly well (think he is a limited bowler though). He seems to do well under pressure and i think he is quite tough mentally.

[Needforspeed]

There is no questioning his ODI credentials. Hope he overcomes his technical problems for Tests. The guy is a tenacious fighter and has a great temperament.

[achilles]

I'd like him, Irfan, Bhajji to stop talking and start acting on their flaws.

[Pagalpanti]

He's been an important part of our ODI success but needs to sort out his technical flaw before even being considered as an option for test matches. His technique got exposed in England where he couldn't even duck/defend against short ball.

[Karan114]

I don't think anyone has doubted his ODI/T20I credentials? He is a superb player in limited overs cricket and delivered when it mattered most, in the knock out phase of the World Cup. Sure his form has been a bit up and down recently but that can happen to anyone. Issue with him is flawed technique for Test cricket. His fear of the short ball is so severe that it completely restricts his front foot game (which is good, even against pace) and eventually shredded his confidence so much that he was rendered strokeless even against the spinners in that horrendous Oval Test performance (0 off 42 balls in the two innings). Kohli, Rahane, Pujara (when fit) and Rohit Sharma are all ahead of him in the Test pecking order for that reason.

[GautiMaan]

There is no denying his value in ODI's where he can get going from ball one.However the fact that he is talking about some of his own performances suggests that he is insecure of his place.

[Pagalpanti]

^Quite right. Looks like he has been digging statsguru for his defence :P

"Just check the records. Only MS and Yuvraj have won more matches than me in recent times batting at No 6 or 7."

[achilles]

^ That is a bit boastful. I have never read Michael Bevan laud himself. For that matter, I've not even heard Yuvi and MS talk about the amount of games they have won. The rise of Virat is making Raina unsettled and jealous, despite there being no need for him to be so.

[Dravid_TheWall]

What raina said is true, he has cemented his role in the odi team. I remember when he first came into the odi team, he was good at no3 or 4 before being pushed down. Now his game is completely different to when he batted higher up. He can do both roles but he is used to no6 and 7. Funny bit was when he said Dravid has retired, it has opened up a slot, Raina for Dravid doesn't sound right :giggle: He is a hardworker and hope he makes it in tests, one of the good guys!

[VRV Singh]

Sounds insecure. he will be alright though, he is a must for the ODI team. Can score from ball one, good fielder and a much better bowler than the Yuselesses and Rohits of the world. Would rather be spared the sadness of seeing him in Tests again.

[Number]

On flat tracks Raina and Dhoni give us serious advantage in ODIs. We can out-bat opposition. His quality of not getting under pressure is also admirable. :hatsoff: Though , I'd like Raina to improve his no. 5 game. He can't resist playing in the air at times , so that raises questions whether he is really useful before 35 overs. Good to see that he'll work on his game in Aus.

[adi B]

what a player on patta`s :hatsoff: if he wanna survive in the team for 2015 wc, he has to play well on seamer friendly wickets....he has to learn not to throw his wicket as well

[vvvslaxman]

what a player on patta`s :hatsoff: if he wanna survive in the team for 2015 wc, he has to play well on seamer friendly wickets....he has to learn not to throw his wicket as well

He has tremendous bat speed. HIs feet movement is great when ball is pitched up. Same feet movement is the culprit when he plays bouncers. If you look at most of his shots.. even good length balls or full tosses he planks his frontfoot first then goes after it. On slow pitches he is able to connect short balls with same technique. Not working on a pitch that offers lot of bounce. First thing he has to do learn is duck and weave properly. You don't have to score off bouncers all the time. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0pNP-M8N-Y]Suresh Raina 66(39) - India vs New Zealand 1st ODI at Napier 2009 - YouTube[/ame]

[rkt.india]

He's been an important part of our ODI success but needs to sort out his technical flaw before even being considered as an option for test matches. His technique got exposed in England where he couldn't even duck/defend against short ball.

He was troubled more by Swann rather than their fast bowlers there. He had 70 odd in Lords.

[Swing_n_Speed]

Raina even the fans respect you and know your true worth

[Old guy]

this guy if he learns how to just ignore short balls completely he will manage not evey one can play short balls well.. then u have to mentally prepare urself to leave them alone and when next ball is bowled move forward and play normally rest of his game is pretty good and can handle swing well compared to some other youngsters so if he tightens up his game he has a chance..

[MCcricket]

There is no doubt about his talent or commitement, I have not seen any player have that wide of an arc, with the range of strokes he can play within his V which starts from squaer of the wicket on both sides rather then between mid on and mid off, hitting the ball with the full swing, and able to direct the deliveries to places where a normal batsmen woouldn't , very good on the front foot, good eye, fast hands.He needs to work on his back foot game and figure out a way to play short ballls, no doubt he can improve but still is needs alot of work to play test's.

[Ponka]

Raina you're awesome talent. Just dont become like one of your seniors and always play for your team and country.

[CoverDrive]

good thing is he has great temperament. He performs in big games like against Aus and Pak in World Cup. But he needs a lot of work to be considered a serious test prospect.

[SLICKR392]

I need proper shot selection: Suresh Raina At the start of a new season and before the ODI series against Sri Lanka Raina spoke to TOI about his journey at the international level, his batting, Team India's performance and other issues. Excerpts from the interview...

You will start your eighth season few days from now. How do you see your journey so far? It's been great. I got a break at the right time. I was doing well in the domestic circuit, and was given a chance in the national side. I had a decent first season. I have been a part of some amazing victories and also some disappointing losses. We won the World Cup, which is the ultimate dream for any cricketer, was part of the No. 1 Test team, won the IPL twice and the Champions League once with the Chennai Super Kings. Besides, it was great to have won some prestigious domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy and the Deodhar Trophy. The challenge for me is to keep going. You talked about amazing highs and disappointed lows. Test series losses against England and Australia were certainly one of those lows... Certainly. As a sportsman, you always play to win. Having said that, it's not possible to win every day. There will be days when you will do well and there will be days you won't. However, we have always given our hundred per cent. In the year before the previous one, we had a fantastic season. We drew the Test series against Sri Lanka. Then we went on to win our home Test series against Australia and New Zealand, drew against South Africa in their own backyard and then won the World Cup. The losses against England and Australia were surely disappointing. However, we have all moved on and are now focusing on how we can improve ourselves. Does your role as a floater affect your batting? You have always batted up the order for Uttar Pradesh... It's always good to bat at the top, where you get more opportunities, but sometimes crucial 30s and 40s can be very helpful for the team. Ultimately it is a team sport. Personal records don't matter much if your team ends up on the losing side. Batting in the middle order has always been difficult. You have to adapt different roles at different situations. If wickets fall early, you need to build up, while if you get a solid start, you need to push things up. Yuvraj (Singh) had once talked about the importance of a solid middle order and how crucial his role is along with myself and (MS) Dhoni. When I scored those crucial 30s against Australia and Pakistan in the World Cup, I experienced tremendous satisfaction. Sachin Bhai said 'you won the match for us.' Gary (Kirsten) said 'you won the World Cup for us with those two knocks.' Nothing could match those praises. I am ready to bat anywhere the team requires me to. There's a lot of talk about your technique, especially against pacers. What do you need to succeed at the highest level-technique or temperament? You need both. I know I didn't do well against England, but it was Graeme Swann who got me out on most occasions. Before that I scored against the West Indies in some seamer-friendly wickets. In fact, Rahul Bhai praised me during that series and said that I was batting very well. If I had problems against the seamers, I wouldn't have been successful in the One-dayers. It's just a mental thing. I don't need to cut down my strokes. I just need to be choosy and display proper shot selection. I have always backed my natural instincts and that's the way I have got success at the international level. You have been in the company of some world class left-handers like Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Stephen Fleming and Gary Kirsten. Which is the one thing they taught you? To always remain positive. I am fortunate to share the dressing room with these greats. Not to forget Yuvraj Singh. They have all been great and very humble. They are always ready to share their experiences. I feel I have grown up as a cricketer and as a person in their company. They all had a different style but they had one thing in common-confidence and self-belief. There's so much to learn from them. Now with Rahul Dravid having retired, you must be eyeing that slot in the Test side... Tests has always been an ultimate format for me. It's very difficult to fill the shoes of somebody like Rahul Bhai. He has set the bench mark for a generation to come. However, it's our responsibility to carry forward his legacy. I am focusing on a comeback into the Test side. I feel I can contribute a lot in the longer format too. For that, I know I have to score heavily in whatever opportunities I would get. That is the way I made it to the national squad, and I know I have to do it again. World cricket at a very interesting stage. Do you think the gap has reduced considerably among the top five-six teams now, from what it was two three years ago. From No. 1, India have slipped No. 5 in Tests within a year... Definitely. The top five six teams are very competitive with some talented players in their side. As far as India are concerned, our focus now is to play good competitive cricket. We have always been a good batting side. Now, we have some exciting pacers like Umesh (Yadav) and Varun (Aaron), who could bowl at 150. It does make a difference. If we play good cricket, the ranking will take care of itself.