The Hindu : Sport : Dravid should continue in the middle-order

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Saturday, Nov 18, 2006
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Dravid should continue in the middle-order

S. Dinakar

Injured Virender Sehwag out of the first ODI

Johannesburg: The Indians need to pick themselves up. Bruised and embarrassed by South Africa `A' at Benoni, India faces a stiffer test against the host in the first ODI at the Wanderers, the Bull Ring, on Sunday.

The Indians will be without the injured Virender Sehwag for a contest that could set the tone for the five-match series. The opener's ring finger is not expected to heal before the second game in Durban on November 22.

Things have, so far, gone wrong for Team India on this campaign. The Indian cricketers boarded the flight to South Africa without the team blazer. And Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan arrived late for the traditional team photograph.

Coach Greg Chappell suffered a bout of food poisoning and then came the injury to Sehwag. The Indians are without the match-winning player Yuvraj Singh on this tour.

Already searching for form and momentum, the Indian batsmen will have to cope with the extra bounce of the pitches here and the additional speed of the South African pacemen.

It came as no surprise that the quick and dangerous Dale Steyn hustled and destroyed the Indian line-up at Benoni. It came as no surprise too that skipper Rahul Dravid, with his sound back-foot play, produced an innings of substance. He should continue in the middle-order.

Given that this is the first half of the summer — the World Cup 2003 in which the Indian batting sparkled was staged in the second half of the season here — the ball will surely dart and fly around.

Much hinges on Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who seeks form. The situation India finds itself in should get the maestro's competitive juices flowing.

The Indians will have to get behind the line, be judicious in their stroke-selection, and collect runs with firm pushes and jabs rather than extravagant front-footed drives. The dynamics of one-day cricket change in these conditions; innings have to be constructed rather than blasted away.

Jaffer may open

With Sehwag out of the first game, Wasim Jaffer is likely to open with Sachin Tendulkar. Jaffer was not among the runs at Benoni but has the temperament and the technique to succeed in these conditions.

The cloud cover in Johannesburg — there were spells of rain here on Friday — should further encourage the pacemen.

India requires solidity and starts. A middle-order of stroke-makers should not be exposed early.

Under the circumstances, Dinesh Karthik, who has a compact technique and whose batting skills are vastly underrated, presents the Indians with an interesting option. The wicket-keeper batsman could find a place as a specialist batsman.

The lack of runs from Suresh Raina continues to worry. His ability has never been in question. But the young man has to cut out the frills and tighten his technique.

M. S. Dhoni can deliver the big blows. But on a seaming pitch, the think tank might not be willing to risk him up the order.

The match situation could well determine where Dhoni surfaces in the order.

Problem area

While much has been made of the Power Play overs, several ODIs have been won and lost in the middle overs — the heart of an innings. The pacing of the Indian innings, both in the DLF series in Malaysia and the ICC Champions Trophy, was awry.

The side lost the plot in the middle overs, where clever placements — singles and hard running between the wickets — often affect the rhythm of the bowlers and leave the fielders rattled. It also keeps the run-rate ticking.

The Indian batting has been working in fits and starts. The innings has to be built, consolidated and finished.

India also lacks `finishers' in bowling, bowlers who can contain and strike in the end overs. The inexperience of Munaf Patel and S. Sreesanth showed against South Africa `A'. This is another stage where matches are often decided.

There is no easy way out for the Indians. They need to adapt and apply.

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