 India should open with Dravid, Sehwag: Steve Waugh
31st Dec 2007 18:04 IST
Agencies
Rahul Dravid's poor show in Melbourne notwithstanding, India should open with the right-hander and send Virender Sehwag as his partner in the second Test, suggested former Australia captain Steve Waugh.
Waugh said Dravid should not be written off after just two failures and he would prove a perfect foil for Sehwag who could play his natural aggressive game.
"I would keep Dravid as an opener but I would bring in Sehwag to open the batting with him. If Sehwag comes in and plays his shots, his natural way will take pressure off Dravid who can work his way back into a bit of form," said Waugh.
"Every player is entitled to struggle once or twice in his career. He probably hasn't timed his poor form well but I certainly wouldn't write him off," he reasoned.
An admirer of the former India skipper, Waugh said he was baffled to see him relinquish captaincy after the UK tour.
"I was quite surprised when he did so because I knew he really valued and cherished that role. There may be one or two issues going on behind the scenes that people don't know about. I think he needs to just enjoy his cricket. He didn't really look like he enjoyed it. He has to take in the attitude that he doesn't have anything to prove to anyone. He has done everything you could possibly do in cricket, just go in with a clean slate and enjoy yourself," he said.
Waugh, meanwhile, did not seem too impressed with the other opener, Wasim Jaffer, and said he should pave way for Sehwag.
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