Abhimanyu Easwaran Knocks on India's Doors with Consistent Centuries

Abhimanyu Easwaran Knocks on India’s Doors with Consistent Centuries

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Bengal’s prolific opening batsman, continues to impress with his consistent performances, raising questions about his absence from the Indian national team. In the recent Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh, Easwaran hammered a century (127), his fourth in the last nine innings. This followed his two centuries in the Duleep Trophy and a superb 191 in the Irani Cup against Mumbai.

Easwaran’s impressive run of form has seen him score 7,638 runs in 99 first-class matches at an average of 49.92, including 27 centuries. Despite his stellar performances, he has yet to receive a call-up to the national team.

In an interview with TOI, Easwaran expressed his desire to make a fresh start this season after an injury-hit campaign last year. He praised the sporting pitch at Ekana Stadium, where he scored two centuries in the last 15 days.

Easwaran also discussed his aggressive approach in the second innings against Uttar Pradesh, which he attributed to the need to put up a decent score. He highlighted the importance of being proactive on challenging wickets.

Reflecting on his cricketing journey, Easwaran credited his father’s passion for the game as his inspiration. He also acknowledged the valuable lessons he learned during his time with India A, where he played alongside international cricketers.

Easwaran emphasized that his focus remains on performing for his team and that the decision of whether or not to call him up to the national team rests with the selectors. He expressed his gratitude for being part of the Indian team environment during the 2021 England tour, where he gained valuable insights from senior cricketers.

Steven Smith to Relinquish Opening Role for Australia in Border-Gavaskar Series

Steven Smith to Relinquish Opening Role for Australia in Border-Gavaskar Series

Steven Smith, Australia’s batting mainstay, will relinquish his opening role in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against India. The decision, initiated by Smith himself, was confirmed by George Bailey, the chair of selectors.

Smith’s request to move back down the order had been in the works even before Cameron Green’s season-ending back injury. Bailey revealed that Smith, in discussions with captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald, had expressed his desire to return to the middle order.

“Pat, Andrew, and Steven Smith had been having ongoing conversations separate to the untimely injury to Cameron anyway,” Bailey said. “And I think Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position.”

The move back to the middle order opens up two spots in the top six, with Green’s absence creating a vacancy at No. 4 and Smith’s departure leaving the opening slot vacant. Bailey hinted that Smith would have moved regardless of Green’s injury, but declined to speculate on the exact configuration of the top six had Green been fit.

“Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like,” he said. “But I guess once you do get moving parts, a lot of those conversations become null and void.”

The selectors are likely to opt for a specialist opener to replace Green and return Smith to his preferred position. Bailey downplayed the need for an extra bowling option in the top six, noting that Australia’s attack has played without an allrounder before.

“They’ve done it in the past,” Bailey said. “You don’t know how each Test is going to play out in terms of the workload for the quicks, or how much of an impact Nathan Lyon’s going to have across the summer.”

The focus now shifts to Australia’s domestic openers, with Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Sam Konstas emerging as potential candidates to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order. Bailey suggested that Konstas could put himself in the mix with continued strong performances.

“He’s in the mix as are plenty of others,” Bailey said. “I certainly don’t want to single single him out. I think the consistency of Cam Bancroft over a number of years, the consistency of Marcus Harris over a number of years, they’ve both had a look at Test cricket as well.”

Zaheer Khan's Suggestion Led to Virender Sehwag's Opening Batting Success

Zaheer Khan’s Suggestion Led to Virender Sehwag’s Opening Batting Success

Virender Sehwag’s transformation from a middle-order batsman to a devastating opener is a pivotal moment in cricket history. The idea to elevate Sehwag to the top of the order originated from an unexpected source: Zaheer Khan.

During a conversation with Shoaib Akhtar, Sehwag revealed that Khan had suggested the move to then-captain Sourav Ganguly. The suggestion stemmed from a match in 1999, where Akhtar had dismissed Sehwag at number seven in the batting order.

“What were you doing at number seven?” Akhtar asked Sehwag. “I used to bat in the middle order at that time,” Sehwag replied.

Khan’s suggestion was met with skepticism initially, but Ganguly was willing to experiment. In July 2001, during a tri-series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Sehwag was pushed up to open alongside Ganguly due to an injury to Sachin Tendulkar.

The move proved to be a masterstroke. Sehwag’s aggressive style and ability to score quickly at the top of the order transformed India’s batting lineup. He made his Test debut as an opener in 2002 and never looked back.

Sehwag went on to become one of the most successful opening batsmen in cricket history. He played 104 Tests and 251 ODIs, scoring 8586 and 8273 runs respectively. He was a key member of India’s victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup teams.

Sehwag’s impact on cricket was profound. His aggressive approach and ability to dominate bowling attacks inspired a generation of batsmen. He retired in 2015, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most entertaining and destructive openers the game has ever seen.

Shikhar Dhawan Retires from International and Domestic Cricket

Shikhar Dhawan Retires from International and Domestic Cricket

Shikhar Dhawan, India’s prolific opening batsman, has bid farewell to international and domestic cricket, marking the end of an illustrious career spanning over a decade. In a heartfelt video message, Dhawan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country and the unwavering support he received throughout his journey.

Dhawan’s international debut came in 2010 against Australia in Visakhapatnam, and he quickly established himself as a formidable force in the Indian batting lineup. Over the course of his career, he amassed an impressive 10,000 runs across all formats, including 24 centuries—17 in ODIs and 7 in Tests.

One of Dhawan’s most memorable performances came during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. His exceptional batting, which included two centuries and one fifty, played a pivotal role in India’s triumph.

Dhawan’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. He was a key member of the team that won the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2011 Cricket World Cup. His aggressive batting style and ability to score runs at a rapid pace made him a fan favorite.

In his retirement message, Dhawan expressed his gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and fans for their unwavering support. He acknowledged the sacrifices he had made along the way but emphasized that he was at peace with his decision.

Dhawan’s retirement leaves a void in the Indian cricket team, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of players. His exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and infectious enthusiasm have made him one of the most beloved cricketers in India.

Dan Lawrence to Open for England in First Test Against Sri Lanka

Dan Lawrence to Open for England in First Test Against Sri Lanka

Dan Lawrence, a versatile cricketer who has patiently awaited his opportunity, is set to make his Test debut as an opener for England in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Despite spending years as a drinks carrier and filling various batting positions, Lawrence is eager to seize this chance and prove his worth.

Lawrence’s journey to the Test team has been marked by both perseverance and adaptability. After initially being groomed as an opener, he transitioned to a middle-order role and even developed his spin bowling skills. His recent stint as captain of London Spirit has honed his leadership abilities.

Despite his eagerness to bat at any position, Lawrence acknowledges the challenges of opening the batting. However, he is determined to embrace the opportunity and make a positive impact. His aggressive strokeplay and resilience align well with England’s current approach under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.

Lawrence’s selection as an opener has raised some eyebrows, but he remains unfazed. He believes that his experience and versatility make him a suitable candidate for the role. The absence of Ben Stokes and the decision to replace him with Matthew Potts have also contributed to Lawrence’s selection.

As England prepares for the first Test, Lawrence is focused on enjoying the experience and contributing to the team’s success. He is grateful for the opportunity to showcase his abilities and hopes to earn a permanent spot in the Test side.

Tim Paine: Opposition Teams Welcome Steven Smith as Opener

Tim Paine: Opposition Teams Welcome Steven Smith as Opener

Former Australian captain Tim Paine believes that opposition teams will be delighted to see Steven Smith continue opening the batting, despite his underwhelming start in the role. However, Paine does not anticipate any changes to the batting order for the upcoming India series.

Paine remains optimistic about Smith’s ability to succeed as an opener, despite his struggles in New Zealand, where he managed only 51 runs at an average of 12.75. However, he acknowledges that Smith’s new position may not instill the same level of fear in bowlers.

“If I was playing against Australia, I would want Steve Smith to open the batting,” Paine said. “I want my best bowlers at their freshest with a brand new ball. When he was at his best batting at four, you just felt he couldn’t get out.”

Smith’s promotion to the top of the order has allowed Cameron Green to return to his preferred position at No. 4, where he impressed with an unbeaten 174 in the first Test at Wellington.

Head coach Andrew McDonald has defended Smith’s early returns, arguing that it is unfair to judge him based on just four Tests. Australia’s next Test assignment will be against India in late November, who could potentially field a formidable pace attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.

“I don’t think anything changes,” Paine said of Australia’s batting order. “Smith has earned the right to bat wherever he wants. If he is driven enough to be Australia’s Test opener, I think he’ll make it work.”

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