The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : The swashbuckler prefers the middle-order

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

The swashbuckler prefers the middle-order

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, JUNE 15. On a hot day at Multan in March, Virender Sehwag slammed a six and traipsed past the 300 mark. His 309 is the highest individual score by an Indian batsman and it set the base for India's 2-1 Test series victory over Pakistan. More significantly he seemed to relish his opener's role in which he has scored 1617 runs at an average of 53.90.

However Sehwag begs to differ. And in his press conference at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday, Sehwag said, "I am still looking for a middle-order slot. Yes I am enjoying myself and I enjoy opening but basically I am a middle order batsman and I want to play in the middle-order."

When queried whether he had mentioned this to the team management, Sehwag said, "no, because the team combination is doing very well and I don't want to disturb it and that is why I am not telling anyone." swashbuckler

Sehwag, who marked his Test debut with a blistering hundred against the South Africans at Bloemfontein, also pointed out to the need for a defensive batsman as a counter to his attacking style at the top of the order. "In my opinion, one opener should be defensive. I need and may be even the Indian team too needs a defensive opener whose technique is correct and who can play 15 to 20 overs easily. If anybody who opens is a stroke player like me then nobody is sure if the opener will play for 20 overs or one over or a 100 overs. In my opinion India should open with one defensive batsman," Sehwag said.

On his partners so far, Sehwag said, "I think my combination is very good with Sanjay Bangar and Akash Chopra because they are very defensive and will play 15 to 20 overs easily and I can go out and play my shots."

Sehwag also reiterated that he is open to the idea of having Yuvraj Singh as an opening partner. "I haven't opened with him yet but we have played together from our under-19 days and also in One-Day Internationals and if we open together it will be nice," Sehwag said.

Sehwag however made it clear that he had no qualms about opening in one-dayers.

"I don't mind opening in one-dayers. I am happy to play wherever in one-dayers, either as opener or in the middle-order," he said.

Looking ahead, Sehwag said, "if we play as well as we did when Australia toured here last, then we should be able to beat them. But right now the focus is on the Asia Cup and the ICC Mini World Cup. It is cricket and anything can happen."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport