Spotlight
Venugopal Rao and Ajit Agarkar
In Venugopal Rao, India may have found the middle order batsmen it has been looking for. Technically sound, he seems to be equally adept playing spin and pace. While it may still be early days in his fledgling career, today he showed what he is capable of.
Rao read Murali perfectly. He seems to have a sharp eye and he is picking up Murali's variation off his hand rather than off the pitch. This allows him greater flexibility when it comes to shot selection. He also has a quick set of legs, which will be an asset on the field. While Laxman will still waltz into the test team, he may have played his last ODI. While his batting brilliance covers up most of his athletic ineptness, it has often found him out in the ODI's where he can only patrol the slip region. With Rao in the team, India may not have to worry about that handicap.
The only problem that Rao seems to have is at the start of the innings, especially when he is playing the quicks. he tries too often to guide the ball to the third man region and this may very well lead to his dismissal; either as a caught behind or a chop onto the stumps. He needs to realize that this is a percentage shot and it would be much better playing through the line which will open up large swathes of green on the off side.
I can only hope that the team management doesn't try him as a opener in hopes of drafting in another batsmen into the team. Opening is a specialist job and Gambhir has done well with what opportunities he has been presented.
On Agarkar, it bodes well for Indian cricket that he is being tried for more than just a game. Agarkar is much more than a utility player. If Chappel and Co. guides him properly; he may finally live up to the reputation of an all-rounder. Agarkar, unlike Nehra and Zaheer, is again much more athletic in the field. He has already shown many how much of an asset he is on the field by effecting run-outs from the outfield. Agarkar is, and always was, an opening bowler. When at his best, he can get the ball to swing like a boomerang. He has been doing that in this series and the fifer he took today would have done his confidence a world of good.
This Indian lot looks a lot fitter, meaner and hungrier than any of the other Indian sides. Whatever Chappel and Co. have been doing with the team, they should continue with it. If only the BCCI would hire Gloster on a long term basis...
In Venugopal Rao, India may have found the middle order batsmen it has been looking for. Technically sound, he seems to be equally adept playing spin and pace. While it may still be early days in his fledgling career, today he showed what he is capable of.
Rao read Murali perfectly. He seems to have a sharp eye and he is picking up Murali's variation off his hand rather than off the pitch. This allows him greater flexibility when it comes to shot selection. He also has a quick set of legs, which will be an asset on the field. While Laxman will still waltz into the test team, he may have played his last ODI. While his batting brilliance covers up most of his athletic ineptness, it has often found him out in the ODI's where he can only patrol the slip region. With Rao in the team, India may not have to worry about that handicap.
The only problem that Rao seems to have is at the start of the innings, especially when he is playing the quicks. he tries too often to guide the ball to the third man region and this may very well lead to his dismissal; either as a caught behind or a chop onto the stumps. He needs to realize that this is a percentage shot and it would be much better playing through the line which will open up large swathes of green on the off side.
I can only hope that the team management doesn't try him as a opener in hopes of drafting in another batsmen into the team. Opening is a specialist job and Gambhir has done well with what opportunities he has been presented.
On Agarkar, it bodes well for Indian cricket that he is being tried for more than just a game. Agarkar is much more than a utility player. If Chappel and Co. guides him properly; he may finally live up to the reputation of an all-rounder. Agarkar, unlike Nehra and Zaheer, is again much more athletic in the field. He has already shown many how much of an asset he is on the field by effecting run-outs from the outfield. Agarkar is, and always was, an opening bowler. When at his best, he can get the ball to swing like a boomerang. He has been doing that in this series and the fifer he took today would have done his confidence a world of good.
This Indian lot looks a lot fitter, meaner and hungrier than any of the other Indian sides. Whatever Chappel and Co. have been doing with the team, they should continue with it. If only the BCCI would hire Gloster on a long term basis...
posted by Rohit @ 6:57 AM
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