India must take a call on Sehwag's spot - Dravid

[G_B_]

India's selectors and management must decide whether they want Virender Sehwag to open in Tests in South Africa at the end of the year, and if not, they must give someone else the opportunity to find his feet in familiar conditions, Rahul Dravid has said. The Indian selectors are due to pick the squad for the last two Tests against Australia on Thursday, but ESPNcricinfo understands no changes are expected. A chink in India's commanding victories in the first two Tests in Chennai and Hyderabad was their opening partnership, which produced 11, 16 and 17. While M Vijay found form in Hyderabad with 167, Sehwag aggregated 27 in three innings. He had made only 253 runs in seven innings during the home series against England last year, 117 of those coming in one innings in Ahmedabad. He also failed to score a half-century in two home Tests against New Zealand. On India's last overseas assignment, in Australia, Sehwag made 198 runs in eight innings. After the two remaining matches against Australia, India have no more Tests scheduled before their trip to South Africa at the end of the year. "I think the selectors and management need to decide whether they are going to open with Viru (Virender) in South Africa," Dravid told ESPNcricinfo. "I mean Viru playing well, Viru at his best, is a great asset to any side, but the reality is that he hasn't been performing particularly well, and he hasn't really done well on overseas trips over the last two or three years. If they feel confident about opening with Sehwag in South Africa, then I think it makes sense to continue with Sehwag and give him the opportunity to get that confidence." Dravid said there was also the option of moving Sehwag to the middle order, and if that was the case, then India should blood the replacement opener in home conditions before taking him to face the new ball in South Africa. The reserve opener in the squad for the first two Tests against Australia was Delhi batsman Shikhar Dhawan. "If they are going to look ahead, I think there could be a realistic possibility of Sehwag coming into the middle order," Dravid said. "You know if opportunities open up at some stage, maybe Sachin is going to move on, then I think Viru is the man with the experience to be able to come in and bat in the middle order. He has said in the past that he would like to, and that could be an option. If that is the route India is going to take then I think it makes sense to try out another youngster, or try out another opener, and give him the opportunity to play at least a couple of Test matches in more familiar conditions, before going to South Africa. I think it will be unfair on any young opener to be asked to go to South Africa straightaway, and play against the likes of Steyn, Philander and Morkel."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/623728.html?google_editors_picks=true

[vvvslaxman]

Dravid has been very vocal these days on future of players. Is there a chance he could become a selector in the future?

[G_B_]

hmm maybe comes with the territory of being a commentator? maybe he is asked questions about matters by the media and gives his frank answers. Seems to back bhajji based on his writings in cricinfo.

[cowboysfan]

I agree with dravid but we need two new openers for SA,not just one.

[namasteji1]

Sehwag's pot??? :P

[Old guy]

Dravid has been very vocal these days on future of players. Is there a chance he could become a selector in the future?

He is the only sane one Gavaskar was talking abt dhoni captaining toll 2019 :((

[Number]

Dravid said this. :yikes:

[G_B_]

the thing is I dont feel dhawan is going to make any impact in SA. Prefer Mukund to him

[yoda]

Good point about Sehwag. We do need a 2nd opener and better to give that person a few matches at home before throwing him at Steyn and co. in SA. Selectors have pushed themselves into a corner here.

[Yoda-esque]

Good on Dravid for calling it as he sees it..

[Ultimate_Game]

Sehwag is done as an opener. Players like Sehwag or Viv Richards rely on reflexes and hand-eye co-ordination way more than others, and their downfall is pretty steep. No point in having Sehwag in the middle order either as we already have younger batsmen like Rahane, Rohit, Tiwary etc. on the sidelines waiting for their chance.

[NareshK]

Its not going to matter who is going to open in SA. None of our openers have technique to deal with the conditions in SA against Steyn, Morkel and Philander. Gambhir did decently well in last tour but looking at the way he played in England and Australia, he will be a walking wicket this time. Same with Sehwag. Better to pick some other young openers, so they will at least get some experience.

[Ultimate_Game]

^^^ IMO 2 from the following can be tried as openers in SA... Rahane, Jiwanjot Singh, Dhawan, Jaffer and maybe Vijay if he shows the kind of patience he showed in his last innings.

[Old guy]

^^^ IMO 2 from the following can be tried as openers in SA... Rahane, Jiwanjot Singh, Dhawan, Jaffer and maybe Vijay if he shows the kind of patience he showed in his last innings.

rahane is not an opener...

[Ultimate_Game]

rahane is not an opener...

Neither was Sehwag but if there are no good choices that is an option that could be explored. If none of the regular openers put up their hands by the time SA series arrives, let Rahane have a go. At least it would be better than him riding the bench forever.

[Old guy]

Neither was Sehwag but if there are no good choices that is an option that could be explored. If none of the regular openers put up their hands by the time SA series arrives' date=' let Rahane have a go. At least it would be better than him riding the bench forever.[/quote'] rahane does not wants to open thats the difference he gave clear signs refusing to open for mumbai against rest of india side also what happened with sehwag is exception it does not happens normally.. most guys who are used to middle order just cant open even dravid did not liked opening

[Ultimate_Game]

rahane does not wants to open thats the difference he gave clear signs refusing to open for mumbai against rest of india side also what happened with sehwag is exception it does not happens normally.. most guys who are used to middle order just cant open even dravid did not liked opening

Didn't know that. If that's the case, take him off the list as an opener. Go with other options like Dhawan, Jiwanjot, Jaffer etc.

[Lord]

rahane does not wants to open thats the difference he gave clear signs refusing to open for mumbai against rest of india side also what happened with sehwag is exception it does not happens normally.. most guys who are used to middle order just cant open even dravid did not liked opening

Langer was a no.3 at the start too IIRC about Mumbai side,how do you know whether he was even asked to open or not?most likely he wasnt.

[Old guy]

Langer was a no.3 at the start too IIRC about Mumbai side,how do you know whether he was even asked to open or not?most likely he wasnt.

i think there regular opener was not avalible and they choose very mediocre player and rahane had perfect chance to open also like i said some players succeeded but most dont like it.. u cannot force nay one to open

[Old guy]

Didn't know that. If that's the case' date=' take him off the list as an opener. Go with other options like Dhawan, Jiwanjot, Jaffer etc.[/quote'] but he is not in list of openers to begin with.. he is in squad to come in middle order