Chances running out for Raina
24 Jan 2014 6:00 AM IST
India’s hopes had diminished when Virat Kohli got out in the 30th over of the innings but presence of Dhoni and Raina at the crease was still a cause for concern to the Kiwis. And surprisingly, it was an out-of-sorts Raina who was the chief aggressor in that partnership. He scored 35 runs off 22 balls, with only six fours.
It was a scene enacted out of many similar run-chases the two batsmen have pursued for their IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings. For a short time, Indian hopes were up again, only to be dashed when Raina holed out. The frustration on Dhoni’s face told quite a tale.
‘Raina is someone who plays aggressive cricket but it is important to have control over your mind as to what are the areas you want to hit. If it is not there to be hit, what are the other options you have got?,’ said Dhoni, talking about Raina’s batting.
‘It is not like you want to try and hit something and even if is not there to be hit, you still go for a big shot.’ There was nothing extra-ordinary about Raina’s innings, except that it was his second highest score since the 2013-14 season started for the Men in Blue with the seven-match ODI series at home against Australia.
He has had a poor run these three months against West Indies and South Africa thereafter - 39, DNB, 17, DNB, 16, 28, 0, 23, 34, 14, 36, DNB, and now in New Zealand 18 and 35.
On Wednesday evening at Seddon Park, however, coming in at number six, Raina was faced with a do-or-die situation. He did not have time to settle down and think about countering the short stuff aimed at him, in order to preserve his wicket.
The need of the hour was scoring runs and he looked to do so, hitting some aggressive pull-shots and earning three of his six boundaries in such fashion. Not having to worry about playing for time, he almost looked a different batsman, at least in comparison to the last twelve months.
‘That (picking bad deliveries to hit) was something he did particularly well in this innings. Hopefully he will gather plenty of confidence after this innings and carry on longer in this manner,’ said the Indian skipper.
Could this signal a prolonged outing for Raina at number six, then? ‘We have to a see a few things. We cannot change opinions and strategies after one game. It was a certain kind of situation that demanded of him this particular innings. It was good,’ said Dhoni, as always keeping his cards close to the chest.
During the home season, the Indian top-order was in red-hot form, chasing down 300-plus totals all by themselves and as such many opportunities were not presented to Raina.
But when the chance did come, he didn’t make it count. For example, he was promoted to bat at number four versus the Aussies, in order to prepare him for a possible central role in the batting order during the 2015 World Cup.
In the very first match at Pune batting at that position, he got a start - 39 runs - and then threw it away, playing a needless shot to get a boundary and ended up getting caught.
Ex-players slam erratic Ishant
NEW DELHI: India captain MS Dhoni may have given a long rope to an erratic Ishant Sharma but his indifferent performances on Thursday came in for sharp criticism from former players who said it was high time the lanky paceman was dropped as he has ‘stopped learning’.
Former players said Ishant has now played more than 50 Tests and such a poor display from him could no longer be accepted as it was affecting the team’s performance. Former India seamer Madan Lal and fast bowling coach TA Sekar said there are ‘plenty of mistakes’ that need to be rectified if the Delhi speedster wants to regain form of 2007-08. ‘I don’t know whether it is about pressure of performing, but Ishant has stopped learning. He is not a kid anymore. He has played over 50 Tests and should have become the main strike bowler now, leading India’s pace attack’, said Madan Lal.
‘I think it’s high time that Indian team management tries out Ishwar Pandey. You have to pick bowlers, who would win games for you. Look at Mohammed Shami. When he runs in, you feel that he is going to get wickets for you. I don’t get that feeling when I see Ishant bowling,’ he said. In one-dayers, Ishant has got 102 wickets from 72 ODIs with an economy rate of close to six (5.72) and not a single five-wicket haul. In fact, he has got four wickets only four times.
‘There are two many mistakes in his bowling. His turnover time while delivering the ball is wrong. He doesn’t have his wrists and fingers right behind the seam as it should be,’ said Sekar.
It was a scene enacted out of many similar run-chases the two batsmen have pursued for their IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings. For a short time, Indian hopes were up again, only to be dashed when Raina holed out. The frustration on Dhoni’s face told quite a tale.
‘Raina is someone who plays aggressive cricket but it is important to have control over your mind as to what are the areas you want to hit. If it is not there to be hit, what are the other options you have got?,’ said Dhoni, talking about Raina’s batting.
‘It is not like you want to try and hit something and even if is not there to be hit, you still go for a big shot.’ There was nothing extra-ordinary about Raina’s innings, except that it was his second highest score since the 2013-14 season started for the Men in Blue with the seven-match ODI series at home against Australia.
He has had a poor run these three months against West Indies and South Africa thereafter - 39, DNB, 17, DNB, 16, 28, 0, 23, 34, 14, 36, DNB, and now in New Zealand 18 and 35.
On Wednesday evening at Seddon Park, however, coming in at number six, Raina was faced with a do-or-die situation. He did not have time to settle down and think about countering the short stuff aimed at him, in order to preserve his wicket.
The need of the hour was scoring runs and he looked to do so, hitting some aggressive pull-shots and earning three of his six boundaries in such fashion. Not having to worry about playing for time, he almost looked a different batsman, at least in comparison to the last twelve months.
‘That (picking bad deliveries to hit) was something he did particularly well in this innings. Hopefully he will gather plenty of confidence after this innings and carry on longer in this manner,’ said the Indian skipper.
Could this signal a prolonged outing for Raina at number six, then? ‘We have to a see a few things. We cannot change opinions and strategies after one game. It was a certain kind of situation that demanded of him this particular innings. It was good,’ said Dhoni, as always keeping his cards close to the chest.
During the home season, the Indian top-order was in red-hot form, chasing down 300-plus totals all by themselves and as such many opportunities were not presented to Raina.
But when the chance did come, he didn’t make it count. For example, he was promoted to bat at number four versus the Aussies, in order to prepare him for a possible central role in the batting order during the 2015 World Cup.
In the very first match at Pune batting at that position, he got a start - 39 runs - and then threw it away, playing a needless shot to get a boundary and ended up getting caught.
Ex-players slam erratic Ishant
NEW DELHI: India captain MS Dhoni may have given a long rope to an erratic Ishant Sharma but his indifferent performances on Thursday came in for sharp criticism from former players who said it was high time the lanky paceman was dropped as he has ‘stopped learning’.
Former players said Ishant has now played more than 50 Tests and such a poor display from him could no longer be accepted as it was affecting the team’s performance. Former India seamer Madan Lal and fast bowling coach TA Sekar said there are ‘plenty of mistakes’ that need to be rectified if the Delhi speedster wants to regain form of 2007-08. ‘I don’t know whether it is about pressure of performing, but Ishant has stopped learning. He is not a kid anymore. He has played over 50 Tests and should have become the main strike bowler now, leading India’s pace attack’, said Madan Lal.
‘I think it’s high time that Indian team management tries out Ishwar Pandey. You have to pick bowlers, who would win games for you. Look at Mohammed Shami. When he runs in, you feel that he is going to get wickets for you. I don’t get that feeling when I see Ishant bowling,’ he said. In one-dayers, Ishant has got 102 wickets from 72 ODIs with an economy rate of close to six (5.72) and not a single five-wicket haul. In fact, he has got four wickets only four times.
‘There are two many mistakes in his bowling. His turnover time while delivering the ball is wrong. He doesn’t have his wrists and fingers right behind the seam as it should be,’ said Sekar.
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