So I was wrong about Gambhir

On Ya Gambhir. Cannot recall any other Indian batsman showing his level of maturity in being able to attack or defend as requred and being able to adapt all types of the game at such an early age.

Yuvi is a hit or miss kind of guy and not suited for tests IMO. Also he looks like he will be soon entering the "Big Fat Loser" comp.

Yuvi just requires a change in attitude like Gambhir. Trev is right on the money.

Josh Carney wrote:On Ya Gambhir. Cannot recall any other Indian batsman showing his level of maturity in being able to attack or defend as requred and being able to adapt all types of the game at such an early age.

Yuvi is a hit or miss kind of guy and not suited for tests IMO. Also he looks like he will be soon entering the "Big Fat Loser" comp.

He's a match winner. Give him time. He does need a kick up the backside now and then, but he averages 50 since returning to the test side against England last year.

Despite all the doomsday predictions that were going on about how India's cricket was destined to go down the drain with the retirement of the big 4 and Kumble clearlly we have a lot of very good players in the wings. No need to get hung up with any specific individual.

but he averages 50 since returning to the test side against England last year.

Boosted by 2 not out innings.

SG wrote:

but he averages 50 since returning to the test side against England last year.

Boosted by 2 not out innings.

So a player should be discredited for managing to not lose his wicket?

No, he should not. My point was that his technique doesn't inspire too much confidence for him to do well consistently at test level.

Maybe not. But you were saying the same thing about Gambhir this time last year. Let's wait and see in regards to Yuvraj.

the question is whether he could handle the moving rising delivery that pidge used to barrel down on a regular basis.

his technic has improved a bit lately so it may not be as skewed as before.

He's crouching lower at the crease than before. If he can get through those first 20 balls he'll be fine.

But you were saying the same thing about Gambhir this time last year.

As I said before that its Gambhir's confidence and attitude which has paid him rich dividends in tests.

Not sure if Yuvraj has either of those traits.

BTW what an innings by Gambhir in the 2nd test!!!

By nature he is an aggressive bat. And to curb his natural instincts for 4 sessions and being single minded towards the job in hand is exemplary.

Without his effort India won't have been able to save this test.

Hope Yuvraj can learn something from him.

Dravid would be very proud of Gambhir's innings which had all of Dravid's patience written all over it. Eating up 400+ deliveries for a labourous 137. Only Dravid had so far that resilence and the ability to wear down the bowlers and frustrate them for not getting a wicket. Just 2 wickets in 2 days - any other day such a test would have been considered a timeless test played over a road and yet there was so much fight from both teams. A fair result in the end. Neither side really deserevd to lose this one.

Henry wrote:He's crouching lower at the crease than before. If he can get through those first 20 balls he'll be fine.

that's definitely a coaching manual input, almost all openers try to lower their centre of gravity as far as feasible.