Tough to rule middle kingdom
Sehwag’s move down the order will not necessarily be beneficial to him or the team
Nevertheless, the most important aspect of any experienced player looking to slide down the order is his mental state; such a request is generally an admission he is starting to have misgivings.
WRONG SIGNALS
Ricky Ponting made that mistake late in his career; his move was only minor, going from three to four. Nevertheless, it was a major move mentally and sent a signal to the opposition that Ponting, for so long a dominant batsman, was feeling vulnerable.
Like Ponting, much of Sehwag’s aura as a batsman is bound up in his aggressive approach to the bowling. Once that is diminished with a move down the order it’s like being a wounded animal; the predators smell blood.
Sachin Tendulkar on the other hand has never wavered; he’s batted at number four for the bulk of his career and has remained resolute in not moving lower in the order. In his mind he’s a number four and that’s the way he wants to finish his career.
Part of being a long-term Test player is to know where you want to bat. The captain may not always see things the same way but a batsman must be clear in his mind. The Australian selectors had the misguided idea that I should open and skipper Bill Lawry asked me for my thoughts.
I replied; “Bill you’re the captain and if you tell me I’m opening then I’ll do it but if you’re asking for my preference then it’s to bat at three.” In my mind I was a No 3 and I wanted to remain in that position until I retired.
There have been suggestions that India will need some experience in the middle-order when Tendulkar retires and that Sehwag may provide the answer. India already has plenty of talent and not inconsiderable experience in Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
That makes a strong top four when Tendulkar decides to retire. To then replace a middle-order player in his forties with one in his mid-thirties, who is struggling as an opener, doesn’t sound like a progressive move.