VG = Very Good
By Gaurang
August 12 2008
The one positive for India from the recent Sri Lanka-India Tests was the excellent form of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the batting line up. The two combined to give India a one-two combination at the top that was sufficient to knock back Sri Lanka in at least one match, despite the poor form of the middle order.
How effective have the Delhi Boys been? Of all the Indian opening pairs that have scored more than a thousand runs together, they have the best average per opening partnership of 57 runs. This is about 4 runs per partnership better than the storied pair of Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan who averaged about 53 runs per partnership, and more importantly, this is over 20 runs per partnership better than the 37 runs per association that Sehwag had managed with Wasim Jaffer.
The fact that Gambhir and Sehwag both are excellent runners between the wicket, yet are quite adept at finding the boundary, while also upsetting the fielding side with their lefty-righty combination, bodes well for this partnership to provide India with a steady presence at the top for a long time to come.
The irony is that just when India has found a stable and successful opening partnership, their middle order is imploding, through a combination of poor form and age finally catching up with a magnificent quartet of batsmen. This is reminiscent of the success of Kapil Dev and Karsan Ghavri with the new ball, at the same time that the Indian spin quartet was fading.
The repetition of this pattern, says something about the way Indian cricket works. Players who are “Stars” do not normally leave voluntarily and are not replaced till they perform so poorly that they are pushed out. And while the “Stars” are playing, few replacements are groomed. Rare is the player, like the legendary Sunil Gavaskar who quits when people ask “Why?” and not when they ask “Why not?”
VG = Very Good
Posted by: Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged)
Date: 12/08/2008 19:19
VG = Very Good
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 12/08/2008 21:13
Ideally, players like Badrinath, Raina, Tiwary, Rohit Sharam, Yuvraj (though he did get chances) others would have been given chances to play a few Tests here and there and get a feel for pressures of playing in Tests...
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 13/08/2008 11:26
Quote:Players who are “Stars” do not normally leave voluntarily and are not replaced till they perform so poorly that they are pushed out.
True enough, but unsurprising considering that few cricketers on the international stage have left voluntarily.
From Australia, Waugh (both of em) had to be pushed out. However, McGrath and Warne retired voluntarily. Are bowlers are more willing to do it? Maybe Kumble will.
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 13/08/2008 12:01
The Sehwag-Gambhir opening combination has been India's only positive since the Australia tour last year. Sehwag has been awesome since his comeback. Gambhir is now a proven ODI and T20 player. I will still reserve my judgement on him in Tests, regardless of his good showing in SL. The Lankans had no pace attack to speak of. The Australia Test series will be the real challenge for Gambhir.
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 13/08/2008 17:54
I wouldn't call Sri Lanka's opening bowling attack as no attack...Vaas has over 300 wickets and Prasad was pretty quick...
Sure they missed Malinga and Fernando...but still not completely toothless with the new ball...
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Sure they missed Malinga and Fernando...but still not completely toothless with the new ball...
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: ananthd (IP Logged)
Date: 13/08/2008 18:14
I've changed my opinion of Gambhir...
He seems to have sorted his mental map as an opener...
There's no questioning his talent, it's just that he tended to waft away a touch to the seamers early on...
Now he seems better at leaving them...
The only question now is can he make his fifties count? He has the dirty habit of getting out when he is on top...
He seems to have sorted his mental map as an opener...
There's no questioning his talent, it's just that he tended to waft away a touch to the seamers early on...
Now he seems better at leaving them...
The only question now is can he make his fifties count? He has the dirty habit of getting out when he is on top...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2008 15:02
Gavaskar-Chauhan Partnership scored over 3000 runs...and Chetan never scored a Test hundred...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2008 17:39
Birbal, with due respect, 35 year old Vaas is hardly a threatening Test bowler these days. And Dammika Prasad really would not have gotten more than a couple of wickets against a good batting lineup...something India unfortunately doesn't have right now. Also the less said about Kulasekara the better. As I said, I will reserve judgement on Gambhir until he faces a quality new ball attack...he struggled against such bowlers in his first Test stint. He may have improved now, the Australia series should give us a better idea.
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2008 18:22
OK, let's agree to disagree... I think Vaas is still a fine bowler... though the slow-low pitches in Lanka do negate his effectiveness a bit...
But you are right, right now Lanka's opening bowling is a bit weak.. if Malinga was fit and Prasad played all 3 Tests..then yes, the attack would have been much better...
But you are right, right now Lanka's opening bowling is a bit weak.. if Malinga was fit and Prasad played all 3 Tests..then yes, the attack would have been much better...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2008 18:40
Birbal, just to illustrate my point about Vaas...below are his Test stats over last 3 years (minnows excluded):
The average is on the higher side, but more importantly, he picks up less than 3 wickets per Test.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:14:18:49:39 by Max.
Mat Wkts BBI Bowl Av 17 48 5/61 33.02
The average is on the higher side, but more importantly, he picks up less than 3 wickets per Test.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:14:18:49:39 by Max.
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2008 19:16
He is their version of late career Kapil...eh?
He is now going to join the Fab 4..(the other Fab 4) plus Pollock as the one who has got 300 wickets and 3000 Test runs...
He is now going to join the Fab 4..(the other Fab 4) plus Pollock as the one who has got 300 wickets and 3000 Test runs...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 14/08/2008 19:34
^ Excellent achievement indeed. Though his bowling has deteriorated, Vaas' batting has improved during the same period...he averages 31 in the last 3 years, and his overall average is around 24.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:14:19:44:27 by Max.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:14:19:44:27 by Max.
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 15/08/2008 18:17
If one goes by only 500 runs together...the Best Indian opening pair in Tests by far is Vijay Merchant and Mushtaq Ali...who have partnership average of over 80 runs...
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2008 18:26
VG proving their worth again...
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: ananthd (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2008 19:11
But Gambhir underscores my point again, the guy isn't making his starts count to go on and get the big one....
Somewhat disappointing that...
Somewhat disappointing that...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2008 19:39
exactly my point ananadth.. he literally throws away his wicket... the scoreline would have looked different by the end of 1st day had gambhir stayed longer..
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2008 19:40
It is wierd how a guy who scores so much in FC cricket has no patience to play long innings in Tests...
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: kappax (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2008 23:04
Naaa.. he was a trifle unlucky today... he played the angle of the ball and kept its line with subtle movement...
Well don't mind this as long as we get great starts for now... though would prefer big 100's.. this should atleast close the door on a Jaffer comeback for 2 test series...
Well don't mind this as long as we get great starts for now... though would prefer big 100's.. this should atleast close the door on a Jaffer comeback for 2 test series...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 20/10/2008 03:57
70 plus runs partnership in the first innings and now 100 plus in the second at a very fast clip...
V-G has become one of, if not the best, opening partnership in Tests today...
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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
V-G has become one of, if not the best, opening partnership in Tests today...
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ICL Ko Support Karo Yaro...
BCCI Ko Joote Chappal Maro....
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 26/12/2008 00:00
Max and ananthd Gambhir has now proven his ability to play the big knock too...
Double century versus Aussies and run spree against the poms... to finish the series with a stupendous average...
Double century versus Aussies and run spree against the poms... to finish the series with a stupendous average...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: ananthd (IP Logged)
Date: 26/12/2008 04:12
Gambhir has graduated and is the most consistent batter in the team now....
Actually, I think he'd be the perfect #3 to replace Dravid....
Provided we can get a decent opener replacement(Vijay/Rahane/Mukund)....
This won't be happening very soon, but I think Gambhir's natural position is #3, the slot he bats for Delhi....
Actually, I think he'd be the perfect #3 to replace Dravid....
Provided we can get a decent opener replacement(Vijay/Rahane/Mukund)....
This won't be happening very soon, but I think Gambhir's natural position is #3, the slot he bats for Delhi....
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 26/12/2008 23:02
Of all Indian opening pairs with more than 1000 runs together... Veeru Gambhir have the HIGHEST average of 56 per partnership...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 11/03/2009 18:12
Now they overtake Sachin and Ganguly as the Indian opening partnership with the highest average... and their strike rate is usually much faster too...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/11/2009 23:58
Now they have 2442 runs with partnership average of 58.14
Stupendous...
Stupendous...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 00:21
yes excellent birbal
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Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 18:26
So now Veeru-Gauti have the HIGHEST opening average for Indian batsmen in both Tests and ODIs...NICE!
In ODIs... Sachin-Saurav have many more runs... and in Tests... Sunny-Chetan have more runs...
In ODIs... Sachin-Saurav have many more runs... and in Tests... Sunny-Chetan have more runs...
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Atul (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 18:29
looks like these two will set some records to break as openers for India and may be for world.
Gambhir record is awesome 7 centuries in last 8 Tests wow
Gambhir record is awesome 7 centuries in last 8 Tests wow
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Gabbar (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 18:31
yeah reminds me of gavaskar's run of 20 centuries in first 51 tests or so
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Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
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Tendulkar is the greatest cricketer of all time
Re: VG = Very Good
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 25/11/2009 18:44
20 in 50 only other batsman in ENTIRE history of Test cricket with that many... was Sir Donald Bradman...
Here is Sunny at 50 Test mark...
1971-1979 50 4947 221 57.52 20
If he continued to score 100s at same rate he'd have ended up with 50 in Tests...
Here is Sunny at 50 Test mark...
1971-1979 50 4947 221 57.52 20
If he continued to score 100s at same rate he'd have ended up with 50 in Tests...
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