| Series | Countries | Live Scores | Fixtures | Results | News |
Features
|
Photos | Video & Audio | Blogs | Statistics | Archive | Games | Mobile | ||||||||||||||||||||
India v Australia / News
|
Australia in India 2012-13
Sehwag dropped for remaining Tests
ESPNcricinfo staff
March 7, 2013
|
Rahul Dravid: India must decide on openers for South Africa
|
|
|
Related Links
News : India need Sehwag in South Africa - Laxman
Harsha Bhogle : Is there some magic left in Sehwag yet? Features : Selectors take the tough calls Features : Indian selectors get their timing right Players/Officials:
Virender Sehwag
Series/Tournaments:
Australia tour of India
Teams:
India
|
|
Virender Sehwag has been dropped from India's Test side for the first time since he made an emphatic comeback to the long format with a century in Adelaide in 2007-08. That, incidentally, remains his last century outside Asia. No replacement has been named for Sehwag for the remaining two Tests of the series against Australia, which makes Shikhar Dhawan a favourite to open in the Mohali Test starting on March 14.
The two remaining Tests of the current series, which India lead 2-0, are the last ones they are scheduled to play before they go on four continuous overseas tours beginning with South Africa later this year.
In his first reaction, Sehwag - who had been dropped from the ODI side for the series against England in January - tweeted: "Will continue to work hard for my place in the team. I trust my game and am confident that, 'I'll be back.' Best wishes to the team."
Since his comeback, Sehwag's performance outside Asia might have been questionable, but he kept his place in the side with typically dazzling match-winning knocks on the lower and slower tracks. Outside Asia, since Adelaide, Sehwag has scored just 523 runs in 12 Tests, at an average of 22.73 with a highest of 67. In Asia, though, over the same period he has amassed 3622 runs at 57.49, at a game-changing strike rate of 94.1.
However, over the last two years, the big innings began to dry up even in Asia. After his 173 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in November 2010, he had to wait more than two years for another Test century. In November 2012, Sehwag earned another lease of life with a typical century against England again in Ahmedabad but, between then and being dropped, he has had scores of 25, 30, 9, 23, 49, 0, 2, 19 and 6.
This is a big fall for India's most prolific opening combination in Tests: Gautam Gambhir was dropped before the start of the Australia after three years without a Test century. Now India are possibly looking at a raw opening combination going into South Africa.
Not even naming a replacement opener is a big statement made by selectors who don't seem to have other options available but have still gone ahead and omitted him. Dhawan, his Delhi team-mate, is now a front-runner for Mohali, but Ajinkya Rahane can't be ruled out either. Sandeep Patil, the chairman of selectors, did say before the start of the England series that Rahane was picked as a middle-order batsman, but the Indian team management has been flexible and doesn't always stick to statements made in the press.
India squad: MS Dhoni (capt. & wk), M Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, Cheteshwar Pujara.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
| ||||||
| Comments have now been closed for this article |
||||||
TopE-mail
Feedback
Print
ESPNcricinfo staff
Tour Results
Sponsored Links
ICICI Bank M2I. Register Now and Get A Gift Offer.
Safe & simple online money transfer. Apply Now!
Buy Wisden 2013 & get a FREE Playfair
Available now at Cricshop
It is highly unlikely that Sehwag can come back as an opener. So I feel he should bat for Delhi or whichever team he plays for in whichever format to No 4 or 6, He can be a match-winner there too because he bowls good off spin. I remember he was very good with his spin bowling in West Indies under Rahul Dravid. He came into the Indian squad, as a bowler occupying the No 6 spot in the Bangalore ODI. i believe we could see a new Sehwag if he is not made to open the innings. Once he plays lower down in the domestic games, he will get more used to the spectacles that he is sporting these days.If Sachin feels like retiring after the current series if some media reports are to be believed, I feel both Sehwag and Gambhir should play in the middle order.The youngsters could then evolve under proven customers in the middle order.Not everyone has the reflexes or technique to open the innings which calls for a different kind of skill. A good defence of either foot and the ability to leave a ball.
Viru's problem is not a loss of form, but his tactical flaws are now overwheming his earlier superb eyesight and hand-eye coordination since his slip fielding also has become poor. It can also be a case of eyesight or body not responding to mental commands. Sehwag has to change his approach; coming good in one out of 6 innings puts a huge strain on other players, esp when the team is in transition. Earlier there were the Dravids, Laxmans and a much younger Sachin to take up the slack. To expect such performance right now from Kohli or Pujara is premature. Possibly neither Vijay nor Dhawan will last long enough. It is also a shame not to drop Ishant and Harbhajan, and try out other bowlers.
On a different note, Sehwag need not be dropped at all from the squad which is grabbing headlines now. What point in dropping him from the squad unless he is showing some bad attitude and having negative influence on the team? He could have well been in the 15 and try it out in nets. Being in 15 could have been allowed just to keep the opponents guessing. If things doesn't improve in two tests in nets, they could have pushed Viru out for SA tour.
Lets make an assumption that Sehwag has the drive to go thru the drills and wants to play cricket at the international level and the selectors provide him the confidence that he is still in the scheme of the team selection....I would suggest that he use the time from now till the SA tour commences - to sharpen his reflexes (skills is not an issue, I feel).. by playing competitive cricket in SA, else in England (may not be the best of preparation but still worth to play in seaming and swinging conditions). Couple of centuries and he will be back in business... But then it is upto Sehwag and the board to figure out!
Even though this statement has been beaten to death, however I would tend to agree.... "We know what Sehwag can do and if he can get us starts then....... " time will say!
Agree with @ Cpt.Meanster - India could still win the last 2 tests against Australia WITHOUT Sehwag. We don't need him in the team any more. His glory days are over. The team comes FIRST for me. Sadly, many of my fellow Indian fans are BLIND in worshipping of their idols. It's time to get rid of TENDULKAR, ISHANT and BHAJJI.
Posted by Azweer on (March 9, 2013, 14:48 GMT)why not Bhuvneshwar Kumar open the batting?? that might sound weird and shocking to many .. but experimenting doesn't gonna cost much.. he looks a confident youngster with no pressure on him. he has been given the least of bowling spells in this series.he has some batting talent, but obviously not as an opener. but just to boost his batting skills and getting some confidence facing the new ball against fearsome aussies.. then y not!! its a good idea??
Posted bySehwag is dropped! I think it is good for Sehwag too. I know he will emerge as a better and careful cricketer. Probably Dhoni should had experimented demoting him down to No. 4 or 5. The experiment, God knows, could have been successful. Well I think now Viru should practice in domestic cricket and most important become careful and should be aware of his off-stump. That's what I could say as a 14 year boy. Sunny
Posted by UsamKhawaja on (March 8, 2013, 19:59 GMT)Time for jiwanjot singh, give him a chance for remaining 2 test matches expose him to international arena. I am sure he will contribute more than sehwag, incase if he fails he can learn from his mistakes and may apply them in next season to imporve more
Posted byWhat has happened to Indian Cricket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dont these cricketers deserve better treatment to the way out???? Do you think Sacking is the right way to end up someone's career.
There have been some ups and downs in each and every cricketer's careers, even the greats of Rahul Dravid had it.
India had the service of all time GREATS in test cricket!!!!!! The likes of Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly, Zaheer, some of the new names to be added in the list, Gambhir, Sehwag!!!!
How many of these players had received the honours and respect when their careers ended ABRUPTLY!!!!!!!! when they could themselves call it a day, even someone among these does not know they have ended their career.
How many matches these crickets have won for India. Every country had the service of such GREATS which they are proud of, but at least they have shown justice by giving them Honours!!!!!!! To quote an example, Australia is one country where cricketers retire even before we expect, but everyone give
Posted byWhats the big deal if he is dropped??? India has more capable openers,, if he cant take his position seriously,,,, he will suffer,,,