Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Lax Attitude

Test matches against Bangladesh aren't probably where Indian Test Players' performance can be gauged. But, it is where you can regain some form for some important forthcoming games. Yuvraj had the perfect oppurtunity to do so on the 1st morning of the Mirpur Test. With the Bangladeshis pumped by Sehwag's remarks, they had India in a spot of bother at 107/4. Stepped in the Prince of Indian Cricket with a chance to play a knock that could change things around quickly. He stayed at the crease for 40 balls, with Shakib-Al Hasan doing a good job in keeping things tight. Then came a shot that was hit in the air with no conviction whatsoever and it was a straight dolly at mid-on. Even if Yuvraj Singh was trying to give some catch practice, he should have hit it harder to give Rubel Hossain a challenge. This was as easy it could get for Bangladesh.
I firmly believe that great Test sides have a really solid lower middle-order. With the likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman batting ahead of him, Yuvraj is seldom going to get a chance to play match defining knocks on flat tracks for India. The aforementined players are too good to all let go the oppurtunity at once. Yuvraj's oppurtunities will come when the conditions are going to be really tough to bat on. His only match-winning performance for the Test Side in the recent times has been the Chennai chase of 387. Even the greatest fans of Yuvraj Singh will agree that he isn't the most consistent, hard-working and dedicated cricketer. His temperament has been exposed on numerous occasions at the Test Level.
The West Indies had the likes of Alvin Kallicharan, Clive Lloyd and the Aussies had Steve Waugh and the likes at the No.5. &No.6. Yuvraj doesnt look even a part of the above mentioned greats. And with Murali Vijay performing well, he'd better get his act right or get dropped.