India begin Project Raina

[SLICKR392]

Dhoni i dont think is an issue. He has been a steller performer for India when we have played ODIs in Aus. I think the aussie pitches suit his style of play. Even Rohit or kohli i am not worried about. Raina, Jadeja etc i am worried about.

Why aren't you worried about Rohit? His knocks in CT? Even Raina was decent during the England series few years back. Rohit was as rubbish as Raina in Australia.

[cowboysfan]

A no 4 who still plays the short ball like a jumping jack rabbit,i see no cause of concern here.

[G_B_]

dont get me wrong. Rohit should have been axed a long time ago. Made to earn his way back. If you go through my post history, i was always for tiwary replacing him. However, when it comes to Australia as i mentioned Rohit has two solid knocks. Demonstrating he can bat there. I think he is overcoming his temperament issues. Raina's highest score remains 40. He has no 50 there.

[Crookbond]

Lol...no. As soon as Raina comes to bat' date=' opposition target him with Short balls because his weakness is pretty evident. GG, [b']Ganguly. and Sehwag didnt had those problems

That' because nawaab didn't have to play with the bouncer rules today - doesn't mean he didn't have problems. Ganguly's (and to a certain extent even Sehwag's) problem with the short ball have been very well documented.

[Number]

Are we seriously comparing Raina's short ball problems with players who had overseas test hundreds in places like SA, Aus, England. With that said, I won't drop him from ODI side. At home against England recently he did well in testing conditions. Only problem is it should not be a plot to get him in the test team because of his Rhiti sports quota.

[Austin 3:!6]

That' because nawaab didn't have to play with the bouncer rules today - doesn't mean he didn't have problems. Ganguly's (and to a certain extent even Sehwag's) problem with the short ball have been very well documented.

On the same token Raina is playing in an era where fast bowling is mediocre and yet he is struggling. Ganguly played in an era of Akram, Mcgrath, Akthar, Lee, Bond etc.

[diga]

On the same token Raina is playing in an era where fast bowling is mediocre and yet he is struggling. Ganguly played in an era of Akram' date=' Mcgrath, Akthar, Lee, Bond etc.[/quote'] Err.. there are 2 new balls from either end for Raina & Ganguly had to contend with only one.Ganguly's s/r is lower too.

[coffee_rules]

Or is Dhoni stemming the rise of Yuvraj, who can threaten his captaincy for the 2015 WC

[King Tendulkar]

^ Kohli is main threat to captaincy

[Austin 3:!6]

Err.. there are 2 new balls from either end for Raina & Ganguly had to contend with only one.Ganguly's s/r is lower too.

Errr...facing Akram, Mcgrath, Akthar is more difficult than facing pie chuckers of today with 2 new balls. Also Raina bats at no. 5. So how does he exactly face new ball? :hmmm:

[Jersey #10]

Dhoni himself should be the backup #4. He did a good job when he was a newish captain and took up the additional responsibility. That's a pile of garbage. A good finisher in ODIs is worth a lot and there's nothing wrong in continuing him over there. Without him as a finisher, the world cup would have been a lost cause.

With Yuvraj back in the side, and a huge hole in the middle order this makes for an ideal ocassion to give Raina his fair chance. Yuvraj and Dhoni can make for an awesome finishing pair as we all know. This is a good move. There is no point in having three finishers in the side.

[Jersey #10]

^ Kohli is main threat to captaincy

Something tells me that Kohli won't be the next captain. It could be Bhuvaneshwar Kumar or even Dhawan. I would love to have a bowler captain if that helps our bowling line up gain some confidence/empowerment.

[Crookbond]

On the same token Raina is playing in an era where fast bowling is mediocre and yet he is struggling. Ganguly played in an era of Akram' date=' Mcgrath, Akthar, Lee, Bond etc.[/quote'] Mere dost - you said Ganguly had no problems with the short ball; I said that is simply not true because he did. Now, Raina et al may have a problem but I never disagreed on that part.

[Lord]

Raina at 4 specially in Oz is never going to work.If they want to develop a backup,they should look at guys like Rayudu,Rahane and have them batting at 4 in dead rubbers or other less pressure games.Even if that isnt possible,I think Dhoni himself can make the adjustment as he did in WC final (different conditions I know but still) making that experiment at the start when Yuvi is there looking fit doesnt make sense imo Also we miss out on Raina's finishing skills

[Austin 3:!6]

Raina at 4 specially in Oz is never going to work.If they want to develop a backup,they should look at guys like Rayudu,Rahane and have them batting at 4 in dead rubbers or other less pressure games.Even if that isnt possible,I think Dhoni himself can make the adjustment as he did in WC final (different conditions I know but still) making that experiment at the start when Yuvi is there looking fit doesnt make sense imo Also we miss out on Raina's finishing skills

Dhoni should be perfect no. 4 Not sure why he dont trust himself :headshake:

[Forever Indian]

Dhoni should be perfect no. 4 Not sure why he dont trust himself :headshake:

Think Dhoni at no. 4 in ODIs will wear him down. He already has back pain now and then, so it's better he comes to bat only with 20 or so overs to bat. In T20's no. 4 will be perfect for him and he already bats at no. 4 on many occasions.

[saneindian]

Dhoni has to bat at 4 now. With Yuvraj back in the side and Raina also having played 150+ ODIs now, there's enough experience in that middle order. No need to try and change things which have been working so far.

[Forever Indian]

Raina is surely required in the ODI set-up so no harm in trying him at no. 4. We tried Dinesh Karthik at no. 4 for heaven sake, so no harm in trying Raina. Whether it will work or not is another matter.

[Clarke]

With Yuvraj back in the side' date=' and a huge hole in the middle order this makes for an ideal ocassion to give Raina his fair chance. Yuvraj and Dhoni can make for an awesome finishing pair as we all know. This is a good move. There is no point in having three finishers in the side.[/quote'] What hole ? Kohli=>Yuvraj=>Dhoni=>Raina has a hole ? Why do these fair chances come before team priorities ? Seems to come from idol worship in cricket as well. Yuvraj & Dhoni will not fire every damn game, it was Raina's finishing that saved us against Aus & Pak in the quarters as well as semis of the world cup.

[Jersey #10]

What hole ? Kohli=>Yuvraj=>Dhoni=>Raina has a hole ? Why do these fair chances come before team priorities ? Seems to come from idol worship in cricket as well. Yuvraj & Dhoni will not fire every damn game, it was Raina's finishing that saved us against Aus & Pak in the quarters as well as semis of the world cup.

But if Raina gets runs at #4, it will make Yuvi and Dhoni's job that much easier. He has played 175 games already. There is a good chance this move will do wonders.