Indian cricket has never been able to get a good solid opening pair(atleast in test matches). This issue was again in the discussions during this Indo-Pak series. Dravid opened with Sehwag in the test matches and did really well in the first two test matches both of which ended in draws. In the decider, opening pair didnot do well and India lost the game.
Everyone keeps saying that Dravid is too precious to be risked as an opener. He should be saved for the later part or the middle order. Same people say that many times Dravid was as good as an opener because he would come in early in the match to bat because the opening pair didnot last long. So if that is the case then what is wrong if Dravid opens for India in Test matches. Its a different thing if he doesnot want to open.
I fail to understand why is it that we cannot have same openers for ODIs and test matches. If Tendulkar can open in ODIs then why not in test matches. Tendulkar and Dravid are the best batsmen in the Indian squad at the present moment and I just do not see the logic of protecting them from facing the new ball. In fact in my opinion they are the best equipped players to face the new ball. If at all we want to have different players as openers in ODIs and test cricket then we have to get some good players like the australians and groom them well.
Everytime this issue comes up we hear talks about specialist openers. Our selectors come up with "specialists" like Shiv Sundar Das, Deep Dasgupta , Akash Chopra, Sanjay Bangar to name a few, who are nowhere to be seen now in the India team. It seems ridiculous that we call players, directly out of ranji matches as specialist openers for international test matches who cannot even last couple of years.
I hope sanity prevails and we get some real good and solid players who can open for the Indian team and can last atleast for few years.
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