Rediff India Abroad
 Rediff India Abroad Home  |  All the sections

Search:



The Web

India Abroad




Newsletters
Sign up today!

Mobile Downloads
Text 67333
Article Tools
Email this article
Top emailed links
Print this article
Contact the editors
Discuss this article
Home > Cricket > India's tour of South Africa 2006 > PTI > Report


Opening spot up for grabs: Vengsarkar

December 19, 2006 20:33 IST

A new opening pair could be fielded in the second Test against South Africa with chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar stating on Tuesday that the opening slot is up there for grabs.

The Indian openers, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag, have consistently failed to put up a good partnership be it in the one-dayers or the warm-up game or the first Test in Johannesburg.

And Vengsarkar, here to give his views on team selection, admitted opening is an area of concern.

"I think the opening slots are there for grabs. I think there are some players who are vying for the slot," he said.

The Indian touring squad has a specialist opener in Gautam Gambhir whose form in domestic cricket has been quite good.

The Indians have gone into Test matches since January 2005 with as many as seven different combinations.

Gambhir and Sehwag have featured in seven matches as openers and put on 703 runs at an average of 63.91.

Sehwag and Jaffer have opened in eight Tests, scoring 525 runs at an average of 37.50.

Vengsarkar was all praise for the team's historic win in the first Test against South Africa on Monday.

"I think it was an outstanding performance by the boys, they played really well. Our job is to pick the best team and that is what I did," he told NDTV.

On Sourav Ganguly, he said: "definitely he deserved the chance as a batsman but again I would like him to take wickets also. He played really well."

 


India's tour of South Africa 2006: The Complete Coverage

Would you like to join the Cricket and Cricket Lovers Discussion Group and discuss your cricket views with other cricket freaks? Click here. Have fun!

© Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.


Share your comments


 What do you think about the story?




Read what others have to say:


Number of User Comments: 7




Sub: Indian opening pair

I think ,Sewag & Irfian will be ideal combination . If Irfan click , he can regain his confidence in his bowling department also . ...


Posted by S.K.Halwai





Sub: Opening Slot

Ganguly & Gambhir is best option. Onedayers & Test as well, but WHO can explain to MR. SHARAD POWER, he is the mad fan of ...


Posted by yagneshwar dixit





Sub: Opening Spot

Colonel, you are bang on spot!It is the opening partnership which must be worrying everybody.I feel that Gautam Gambhir is a good opener and can ...


Posted by Hemant





Sub: Bring Robin Utappa for the opening spot.

Wasim Jaffer though failed continuously for the last 4 or 5 matches, should be given further opportunity not only by using Sehwag's yard-stick, but more ...


Posted by DLN. Sastry





Sub: wasn't vengsarkar

supposed to talk to his team coach and captain as opposed to using the media...surprised and shocked.


Posted by senthils




Disclaimer


Advertisement