Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



India's middle order batsmen having a ball
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 24 - 11 - 2010

As I write this, Rahul Dravid has just completed his third century of the calendar year; statistically it has not been his best year, nor has it been his worst. The spotlight has been so firmly fixed on Sachin Tendulkar that the resurrection of Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman has gone almost unnoticed.
So often in the recent past has the famed Indian middle order been written off that the mere fact it can continue to surprise and give us glimpses into its best days says something for its remarkable character. It is when success comes calling despite slowing reflexes and ageing bones that it is most welcomed. Tendulkar is having another of his Indian summers, not having made so many runs in a year since 2002. His six centuries were made with the same authority and enthusiasm as his previous 43. The start of every innings he plays now will be seen as the beginning of the road to his 50th Test match century. This is rather like the anticipation ahead of Pele's one thousandth goal in soccer.
India has not done well in the current home series against New Zealand. Its batsmen struggled in the first two Tests – with the lineup, middle order and all reduced to 25 for five in one spell of fast medium bowling by Chris Martin in Ahmedabad – and however exciting Harbhajan's emergence as a century-maker has been, India has lacked the authority of being the No. 1 team in the world. It found it easier to beat the second best team, Australia, than the second worst team in the world rankings. No professional sportsman will make the excuse – as has been made on behalf of the Indian team – that he finds it difficult to motivate himself against lesser opposition.
While Virender Sehwag emerged as the key batsman for India, the focus was on Laxman and Dravid, especially as a talented younger lot was waiting in the wings ready to take over.
Yet it was important for the South African tour to follow that the middle order came together and made its mark. Laxman's 790 runs this year (two centuries and six fifties) may be statistically inferior to the efforts of Tendulkar and Sehwag, but he was there when it mattered, guiding India to victories in Sri Lanka and Mohali or preventing late collapses. He did all this without compromising on the essential beauty of his batsmanship, driving with a flair seldom seen in contemporary cricket.
Dravid's struggle in the first Test against New Zealand was palpable, yet he finished with a century. This is the lesson youngsters will have to learn, especially as the caravan moves to South Africa. Batting in Tests is as much about scoring runs as denying the opposition time to get back into the game and force a win. Dravid may have been slow then, but in getting back to the basics and refusing to roll over and die, he provided an important clue to greatness.
His century in the final Test, by contrast, was a flowing effort; clearly whatever had clogged up his mind and his strokeplay had been unclogged. The quick dismissals of Tendulkar and Laxman on the third morning merely underscored the importance of the Dravid style of batsmanship at number three for India.
It has been a fabulous season for the middle order as it has rediscovered the methods that made it great in the first place. Watching some of India's greatest batsmen remind us all over again just why they are held in the kind of esteem they are has been a treat. There are two Tests remaining this year – and India's middle order has prepared well for South Africa where its record needs some serious refurbishing.
__


Clic here to read the story from its source.