Today Cricket Fixtures

6th ODI: India v Australia at Nagpur 1 pm local

1st ODI: Pakistan v South Africa at Sharjah  4 pm local

Read More

India are trialling Suresh Raina at No 4 as back-up for Yuvraj Singh ahead of the 2015 World Cup

 

As he dissected India's performance after their heavy defeat to Australia in the first ODI, MS Dhoni also revealed an important development: India are trying to develop Suresh Raina as a No 4 batsman with an eye on the 2015 World Cup. This was why Raina had been sent in ahead of long-time No 4 Yuvraj Singh in Pune, and he would bat there for a while, according to his captain.

"As of now what we want is for Suresh to bat at No 4 for a considerable period of time," Dhoni said. "It's only Yuvraj Singh who we have got and if he is in good form and we go till the World Cup without anything happening, then he will bat there. But if he doesn't, all of a sudden we can't say we do not have a No 4 batsman.

"All the other slots, we have players and we even have replacements. But apart from Yuvraj, I don't see anybody who has batted 50 ODIs at No 4. That can be a concern and we will have to rectify that from this point. No point going too late and then saying we don't have time to do anything."

Dhoni's rationale in wanting a back-up for a crucial batting position is understandable, especially given Yuvraj's recent history. Yes, he's made his second comeback since recovering from cancer but it is still unclear how his form will hold up as the World Cup approaches. He is obviously the first-choice No 4 but there is every reason to have a contingency plan in place.

So for the second time in his eight-year international career, Raina will get another sustained run up the order. The first opportunity had come in 2008, when over 13 successive innings in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, he produced one century and four fifties at an average of nearly 40.

As his career has progressed, Raina's desire to gain a promotion in the line-up has increased. He's seen Virat Kohli come in and establish himself at No 3 with a string of hundreds. Raina knows that for all the death-over slogging, it is the centuries that catch attention and bring lasting recognition. Last year, Raina pointed out that he'd "scored only three (ODI) hundreds", as he staked his claim for elevation again.

While Raina's desire cannot be faulted, mere elevation in the batting order will not result in more hundreds. They will have to be earned by taking on the responsibility of building an innings, something Raina hasn't exactly shown the inclination for when he has been given the chance. Captaincy should ideally translate into more cautious batting, as in Dhoni's case, but when Raina led India in Zimbabwe in 2010 and in the West Indies in 2011, he refused to change his aggressive approach.

India had sent second-string sides for both tours, and Raina mostly came in with plenty of overs to go after a top-order wobble. In nine innings over those tours, he averaged 23.57, including two not-outs in chases that were almost over by the time he walked in. Three times he failed going for his favourite slog-sweep when the situation demanded restraint.

In Pune, Raina looked to launch James Faulkner over midwicket, after gaining a hard-earned start against Mitchell Johnson's pace, and fell for 39. It was not the ideal response from a No 4 batsman at that point in a tough chase. Raina, however, is used to going for similar strokes to similar deliveries. Aggression comes naturally to him. Also, an overwhelming majority of his career has been spent at No 5 or below. Often, he doesn't have the luxury of getting himself in so these shots are instinctive.

It is not to say Yuvraj would have never gone for the same shot at that moment. But at No 4, a batsman must temper the urge to turn a 10-run over into a 16-run over with an eye on the big picture. Yuvraj has done that successfully for more than a decade. He can hit six sixes in an over in a Twenty20, but he also makes sure he lasts long enough to get the big scores that win ODI games. That necessitates controlling the urge to deposit one more over midwicket. It needs one to duck under a few short balls early on rather than try to work them for singles, one of Raina's preferred ways of handling the bouncer barrage he usually faces. Dhoni knows Raina will need some time to unlearn and adjust.

"We will have to give him some kind of experience at No 4," Dhoni said. "He's batted too long at No 6. That is why sometimes you see these instinctive shots, when the batsman sees and goes after them. It is very important that he uses these opportunities well. Then we'll have two batsmen who have a fair amount of exposure at No 4."

Raina has the chance to increase his centuries from "only three." Will he able to adapt and rein himself in? India will have a clearer picture of his ability by the end of the Australia series

Read More

Australia Set target 306 runs against Indai in Pune

 

Australia captain George Bailey built on a century opening stand even as wickets fell around him, and his lower order finished strongly to set India a target of 305. Given the slow and slightly uneven pitch, it appears to be a difficult chase, unless the ball comes on much better in the evening.

The visitors had an excellent start in the T20 as well, but lost too many wickets and failed to take advantage at the death. They seemed to follow the same pattern today, threatening to waste a 110-run first-wicket partnership between Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes by losing regular wickets. Bailey, however, held the innings together with a smart, busy knock, but became the seventh man to fall with the score on 264 in the 47th over. Just when it seemed Australia had lost all their steam, the lower order looted 38 off India's seamers in the last three overs to push their side over the 300-mark. Ishant Sharma suffered the most, going for 56 in seven overs, while Vinay Kumar went for 68 in nine.

Overwhelmingly favouring the on side, Bailey was always on the lookout for singles and twos and also quick to pull, sweep and cut, especially against the spinners. He arrived when Australia had slipped from 110 for 0 to 113 for 2, but didn't waste any time to get going. Australia could have easily got tied up by the spinners had they hesitated, but Bailey looked purposeful as soon as he arrived.

Glenn Maxwell played another quick cameo after a hard-hitting 27 in the T20, but having already hit Vinay for a couple of sixes in the 38th over, mishit one to cover. Fortunately for Australia, Bailey shepherded them past 250 before exiting.

Before their captain, Finch and Hughes took their time to get in and then accelerated to leave India looking flat. Finch, after his 89 in Rajkot, was looking in control with another powerful half-century before he mishit Yuvraj Singh to long-off.

India's seamers bowled a tight line initially, and Australia weren't able to attack, resulting in a start of 13 for 0 in six overs. They started to make up from the seventh over. Finch, playing on his IPL home ground, had got some measure of the pitch by now and lofted, drove and pulled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for three boundaries. Australia began getting more and more width, and prospered. Finch played the cut intelligently given the lack of pace, preferring placement over power and often punishing Ishant Sharma either side of point. Hughes crunched several fours through the covers. He was also put down on 32 at point by Virat Kohli as he drove at Ishant.

Like in the T20, Dhoni turned to part-timer Kohli. Finch took him for a four and a six to reach his fifty. Australia were galloping now but the breakthrough came for India immediately after the first drinks break. Having nudged Ravindra Jadeja through vacant leg slip for a couple the previous ball, Hughes repeated the shot next delivery, only to find conventional slip had moved down the on side to hold onto a sharp chance.

Shane Watson strode in and tried to impose himself early, but mishit his fourth delivery straight to long-on. It was Yuvraj's first ball, and also his first ODI wicket since the 2011 World Cup. He would likely be called upon with the bat as well if India are to get anywhere near 305

Read More