Sehwag formally informs the BCCI of his desire to bat in the middle order

[saneindian]

Virender Sehwag has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he would like to bat in the middle order as against in the opening position from where he lost his place in the Indian team after the second Test against Australia at Hyderabad last March. A source informed SUNDAY MiD DAY on Saturday that Sehwag has intimated the Board about his preference, but the Sandeep Patil-led selection committee picked him in the India ‘A’ squad for the second and third four-day games against West Indies ‘A’ as an opening batsman. Cheteshwar Pujara will lead the side which also includes Gautam Gambhir, who is living up to his English county cricket commitments at Essex. Sehwag, who scored only 27 runs in his last two Tests – against Australia at home – is hoping for a place in the Test squad which takes on West Indies in a two-Test series this November. Sehwag’s decision to bat in the middle order appears to be a last ditch attempt at reviving his Test career since the selectors cannot overlook Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay who fared well at the top against the Australians. ... The middle order route will not be an easy one for the 104-Test man who will turn 35 next month. Indeed, there is a scramble for places in the middle order. Despite his failure in both innings of his debut Test, 25-year-old Ajinkya Rahane is talked about as a good middle order prospect. His Mumbai teammate Rohit Sharma’s claims cannot be overlooked as well. Ditto Suresh Raina, who was included in the Test squad for the fourth and final Test against Australia when Dhawan was ruled out. Sehwag’s middle order desire has the backing of Test player turned commentator and writer Sanjay Manjrekar, who wrote in ESPN Cricinfo recently: “It’s a desire that he (Sehwag) seems to have held forever as a Test batsman. I have held the view that for a natural middle-order batsman, he served India amazingly well as an opener when they desperately needed one, so how about granting him that wish before his career finishes?†In 2001, Sehwag scored a hundred on Test debut in the Bloemfontein Test against South Africa at No 6. Five Tests later, skipper Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright decided to give him the opening slot in the 2002 Test series in England and Sehwag responded with 84 at Lord’s. He scored his maiden hundred as opener in the next Test at Nottingham. As a Test opener, he has amassed 8207 runs in 99 Tests at 50.04. Some aggregate that!

http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2013/sep/150913-virender-sehwag-wants-to-play-in-the-middle-order.htm Is that the end of Sehwag the opener? How tough/easy it will for him to have a spot in the Test middle order? Will also be interesting to see if the selectors give him an opportunity to bat in the middle order. Will Dhoni/Fletcher be supportive of this desire of Viru? Had he been in form, the decision to move lower in the order would have been fine, but with struggling form, and having lost his place, its an uphill task for him . Also, if he does get picked, will it be a farewell test for Viru during the home tests vs WI?

[BeautifulGame]

Pujara Kohli Rahane Rohit Jadeja (In India) all deserve to bat in middle for India before him. And Sehwag MO or opening will be pointless considering his age.We should move on from him

[JaFanatic]

Opening or middle order he should prove his worth in domestics to get back into the national side. Age wise he can still make a comeback 34 should not be a problem

[India-KXIP fan]

India hasn't had a solid, consistent batsman at 6 for a while maybe Sehwag will be the one. Experienced player down the order while youngsters establish themselves up the order.

[G_B_]

I wont mind seeing Sehwag at 6. Seems like the perfect guy to play with the tail. Then again can viru do a rebuilding job? thats one area i never really rated Laxman. Gave too much of the strike to the tail. Ganguly was better in that regard

[Number]

No thanks.

[namasteji1]

First work on fitness and score at domestic level , then tell where to bat. Still acting as if he is irreplaceable and team is just waiting for him to get back. Get out of your dreamy world Viru.

[fineleg]

First work on fitness and score at domestic level ' date= then tell where to bat. Still acting as if he is irreplaceable and team is just waiting for him to get back. Get out of your dreamy world Viru.

+++++ +++++ +++++ He is talking as though anyone cares. First get fit, score runs. Until then, dont open your mouth.

[Pagalpanti]

You know things have not changed when he puts his desires above the team's requirement. We have a lot of prospects for middle order but clearly the opening spot is still vulnerable with Vijay being a total hack. Instead of getting fitter and working his way back as opener, he's probably eyeing that vacant no.6 spot. He's done.

[aditya4all]

I think he is compromised himself due to immense competition. He WAS the best opener at times..

[JaFanatic]

You know things have not changed when he puts his desires above the team's requirement. We have a lot of prospects for middle order but clearly the opening spot is still vulnerable with Vijay being a total hack. Instead of getting fitter and working his way back as opener, he's probably eyeing that vacant no.6 spot. He's done.

We should accept it gladly if a player himself admits he is not comfortable with a role and he wants to contribute with a different role its not like he's done a sin by expressing his desire

[moniker]

Can't understand why he's being criticized. He has every right to express his concerns, it's up to the selectors to decide whether to pick him as a middle order batsman or not.

[Soorma_Bhopali]

Can't understand why he's being criticized. He has every right to express his concerns' date=' it's up to the selectors to decide whether to pick him as a middle order batsman or not.[/quote'] +1

[Lord]

good move.with his reflexes gone he'll find it hard at the top but if he makes runs in FC,he can be considered in MO even for SA tour,specially after Tendu is gone,we'll need some experience

[diga]

Atleast Sehwag recognises the fact that he cant open with his slowed reflexes.. thats a start

[mastana]

You know things have not changed when he puts his desires above the team's requirement. We have a lot of prospects for middle order but clearly the opening spot is still vulnerable with Vijay being a total hack. Instead of getting fitter and working his way back as opener, he's probably eyeing that vacant no.6 spot. He's done.

So a guy who was a middle order batsman originally and happily shifted himself as an opener for team's sake is selfish now? Sehwag has done the right thing. I remember him saying that he wants to play as a middle order batsman long ago even when he was performing well as an opener.

[mastana]

And he shouldn't bat at number 6 he should bat at 4 after sachin decides to hang his boots. If you are expecting guys like raina and rohit to bat at 6 for india in test matches then best of luck.

[rkt.india]

I am sure he is going bat in MO in SA but all will be in vain. His last few innings had been so bizarre you dont have much hope of success even there for him. It is a start of a cycle. He will bat in MO and then if fails in SA, most probably, we will again will start talking about replacing him.

[rkt.india]

So a guy who was a middle order batsman originally and happily shifted himself as an opener for team's sake is selfish now? Sehwag has done the right thing. I remember him saying that he wants to play as a middle order batsman long ago even when he was performing well as an opener.

There was no place for him in MO with Dravid, SRT, Ganguly, and VVS taking 4 MO slots, so he had no option but to open to stay in the team which proved to be a master stroke in future. Even VVS tried to the same before when he had no place in MO, but he failed. They both wanted to make their permanent place in the XI and when you want to that you will go to any extent and bat whatever place is available in the lineup.

[Old guy]

Can't understand why he's being criticized. He has every right to express his concerns' date=' it's up to the selectors to decide whether to pick him as a middle order batsman or not.[/quote'] no he does not..all he has to do is score runs at domestic and a games and let selectors decide about picking him at best he can make him self unavailable for opener's role and then let selectors decide what to do..