Test opening - Chopra has to be sensible
With all the talk about Chopra opening or Yuveraj, I sometimes get confused. Ok, so Chopra proved in the times he played for the national side that he can hold his own in international cricket. Ok, so he didn't hit the centuries but he blunted the new ball and IMO, did better than expected. The point against this would be - but what was the expectation? Can't deny it but Chopra surprised everyone simply coz he lasted and people didn't expect him to.
Now that he has crept into the team, expectations will definitely be higher. He can no longer get by with those 30s and 40s he has done so far. He has to aim higher or the hunt for an opener to partner Sehwag will go on. Now the onus is on Chopra to get those big ones ... he and the team management can talk endlessly about "Chopra's job is to stick around there and blunt the new ball attack" but he would also do well to remember Sanjay Bangar who also stuck around, supposedly at the team management's orders, scored minimum of runs and was replaced by Chopra himself. If "sticking around" was the parameter, Bangar didn't do a bad job; in fact the test victory England an year or so ago can be attributed in part to Bangar's holding the fort act as opener. Still he is out today ... and let that be a lesson for Chopra.
What are the team management's orders are relevant as long as the same team management exists and even if it exists, whether the same plans exist for the next series and the one after that. If tomorrow, either the captain changes or the selectors change, the new chaps will look more closely into the player's record rather than evaluate the player's team spirit. So, obey the team management, definitely ... but keep a defense by scoring big once in a while. In the end, for all the attacks one might blunt, a batsman with an average of 35 - 40 will always edge out a batsman with an average of 20.
Ganguly's wish to open with Yuveraj in test matches itself shows that Chopra hasn't totally impressed the team management. Hey, if he had, then why does team management (and Ganguly is the most important part of that) talk of replacing him? Whether Yuveraj will succeed or not is another matter but it shows that for the team management, the search hasn't ended.
Grow a brain, Chopra.
Cheers
The Chuckster
Now that he has crept into the team, expectations will definitely be higher. He can no longer get by with those 30s and 40s he has done so far. He has to aim higher or the hunt for an opener to partner Sehwag will go on. Now the onus is on Chopra to get those big ones ... he and the team management can talk endlessly about "Chopra's job is to stick around there and blunt the new ball attack" but he would also do well to remember Sanjay Bangar who also stuck around, supposedly at the team management's orders, scored minimum of runs and was replaced by Chopra himself. If "sticking around" was the parameter, Bangar didn't do a bad job; in fact the test victory England an year or so ago can be attributed in part to Bangar's holding the fort act as opener. Still he is out today ... and let that be a lesson for Chopra.
What are the team management's orders are relevant as long as the same team management exists and even if it exists, whether the same plans exist for the next series and the one after that. If tomorrow, either the captain changes or the selectors change, the new chaps will look more closely into the player's record rather than evaluate the player's team spirit. So, obey the team management, definitely ... but keep a defense by scoring big once in a while. In the end, for all the attacks one might blunt, a batsman with an average of 35 - 40 will always edge out a batsman with an average of 20.
Ganguly's wish to open with Yuveraj in test matches itself shows that Chopra hasn't totally impressed the team management. Hey, if he had, then why does team management (and Ganguly is the most important part of that) talk of replacing him? Whether Yuveraj will succeed or not is another matter but it shows that for the team management, the search hasn't ended.
Grow a brain, Chopra.
Cheers
The Chuckster
posted by The Chuckster @ 3:54 AM
4 Comments:
At Friday, September 24, 2004 5:30:00 AM,
Anonymous said…
With his tail between the legs, Ganguly will now sheepishly go and plead Chopra to open the innings assuming we not longer have selectors in command...his brght boy Yovi will be a nice 12th man to have, on current showng, that is !
RaviKhot
At Friday, September 24, 2004 10:17:00 AM,
aregon23 said…
I say drop both Yuvraj and Sehwag into the sea. Neither of them have been in form and I would like to see them scoring 30-40 runs in consequtive innings.
Sehwag promises more than he delivers. And the problem is everytime you have made up your mind to chuck him out of the team he scores and fast. Completely untrustworthy. Give me a solid batsman any day whom I can count on for staying power and grind the bowlers to dust. The concept of the game is to win, the means (grinding or blasting) is never considered other than in one or two innings in which the batsman did a fabulous job ala Sachin.
At Friday, September 24, 2004 2:10:00 PM,
anantha said…
Nice piece. but what prompted this tirade, particularly the last advice to Chopra?
At Saturday, September 25, 2004 9:34:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
I fail to understand the argument that NOW Gangs will go plead Chopra or Chopra in last few months have proven to be better player than Yuvi. As far as i know he is still struck btn those 30's and 40's whether opposition is a club side in England or Kenya. Irani is another example of it. Yes Yuvi failed in last 4-5 ODI's but we are not talking about ODI's here. He was getting out most of time trying to force pace too quickly in the inning. Chopra i think will play now since SRT may not. But dont be surprise if Yuvi does better than him in first test and Chopra find himself out of team in second test. They may even make Parthiv open again if situation demand.
VickyG
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