Here are Raina speak:
I wanted to make sure we rotated the strike, and that we hit the loose ball for four," said Raina, who scored a commanding 87. "When you bat at number three it gives you time to build an innings. When you bat at number seven for India, it's very difficult to score a 50 or a century
Great he scored a match winning super stroked 87 for his home team. Great his one innings got Chennai a win good enough to go semis for now.
But he just spoke garbage.
He bats at 7 for India ? Since when ? The no 7 spot belongs to great allrounder Ravinder Saheb JadduKha who has made the spot his own.
At 7 its not necessary to score a 50 or 100 always. Quick cameos depending on situation (240 odd in 45 overs) or stabilising 50s or 100s are need (100 for 5 in 20 overs) are prescribed.
I do not remember an occasion in last 3 years (since 2008 when he made a comeback post Chappell era) Raina Saheb has batted at 7 for India. And except useless JadduKha many no 7 players have hit big runs for India -- Dravid at times, Kaif, Uthappa and Pathan have been successful for India at that position.
Coming in 43rd or 44th over many players have hit quick fire 50s to change the complexion of the game altogether while chasing or setting a target.
Raina is just giving an excuse to prove his failure with bat for India. Here is the reason:
Raina plays for CSK in IPL (and hence for CLT20) and gets money from India Cements owner Nambiarayan Srini. No wonder he is topmost Indian run getter in IPL 3 editions thus far.
A look at his ODI stats in the 3 years say the picture :
He has played 58 innings and made 1832 runs at 40 runs per game with 3 hundreds and 12 fiftees. Great record. Last time he played at 7 for India was in 2008. In 2009-2010 period he has mostly batted at 5 or 6 for India. Increase the spot by 1 in matches when Tendulkar does not play.
Deflated figures without consistency. Good in one tourney, average in other.
And contrast those figures with the IPL. Awesome records in all 3 seasons. 600, 400 and 500 runs. Amazing strike rates, innovations, big hits, short balls negotiated and what not.
When playing for India constantly getting out to short balls, ugly hits over square leg leading to dismissals. Why ?
Is he fixing the games or chosing the games to play well ? Play well in more money games like IPL or CLT20? Be an average batsman in games for India ? What if BCCI matches ODI match fee as money he gets for IPL game? Will then he play consistently ?
Ditto for Dabri and Vijay. ZVijay today made 68 at amazing strike rate of 130. He had great IPL. But contrast that to India matches.
ODIs : 4 games 71 runs and 17.75. Against Zimbabwe, the weakest of ODI playing teams (forget associate teams) he was scratchy and made 10 off 40 balls.
Tests : 6 games for 259 runs. Highest of 87 vs SL last year. Just 2 50s. Why ? Is he content with 30s and 40s for India? Does his talent go hiding when playing for India and it comes out in open for CSK and Tamil Nadu?
This guys have to sort out their priorities right, else they would / should be kicked out of the national team for there is no dearth of deserving batsmen. Why is it that all evils today emanate from Tamil Nadu in Indian cricket? Selection issues? Quota selections? Rigged auctions? No state has had more fringe players than Tamil Nadu in last few years, yet none of those Tamil Nadu players have been able to fix their spots. Is TNCA and CSK so insecure that it has to fire a coach for not playing a bowler in A tour ?
| filtered | 2008-2010 | 67 | 58 | 12 | 1832 | 116* | 39.82 | 1897 | 96.57 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 148 | 51 |
0 Perspectives:
Post a Comment