Courier's Special Delivery May Seal Yuvraj's Fate
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday January 11, 2008
YUVRAJ SINGH'S miserable tour of Australia is almost certainly over after he was dismissed by a courier driver for two runs in a practice match in Canberra yesterday.
Having failed in the first two Tests against Australia, Yuvraj was already under pressure heading into the match against the ACT Chairman's XI, and failed to reignite his chances for selection when he fell to Ash Perera after facing 15 balls.Perera earned a reputation during England's visit last year when he terrorised Marcus Trescothick in the nets, shortly before the batsman went home due to an unrelated mental breakdown."He was all over Trescothick that day. The English players couldn't believe it when they asked which state side he played for and we said he wasn't a contracted player," ACT Cricket's general manager, Andrew Dawson, said.Yuvraj appears to be battling his own demons, even after Sachin Tendulkar pulled him aside at a practice session on Wednesday to demonstrate correct strokeplay and offer advice.The besieged batsman with a pop star's image was caught at slip attempting a cut shot off a bowler who has never played grade cricket and drives a van for a living. Perera, who left Melbourne for an opportunity to play with the second-tier Comets team after his mother had beaten breast cancer, managed to skip grade level after being recommended to ACT by former Test quick Damien Fleming.Yuvraj's teammate Rahul Dravid, who made a solid 62 batting at No.4 as India declared at 9-325, suggested the batsmen who failed to perform yesterday had one more chance. "I am sure 'Yuvi' and the rest of the guys would like to get a lot more runs on the board ... that hasn't happened. They will probably get one more hit in this game, I hope they utilise it."[Yuvraj] has been put in a particular position and has been asked to play. He has just got to look back to [two Tests ago] when he scored a brilliant hundred for us and not worry about a few bad scores on this tour."Dravid said it was very important Yuvraj continued to believe in himself, although the selectors' faith may be waning.It seems a mere formality a new Indian batting line-up will be presented at the WACA Ground. What is not so clear is who will come into the side after opener Virender Sehwag's less than convincing knock of 24 from 49 balls yesterday, while Dinesh Karthik looked in good shape until a rash shot brought his demise on 25.The popular school of thought has been that No.6 Yuvraj would make way for either openers Sehwag or Karthik, which would allow Dravid to move back to first drop.After yesterday's performances, it would appear Karthik is the more likely option to partner Wasim Jaffer, who top-scored for India with 92 and thus eased the heat surrounding his own position after a dismal tally from Melbourne and Sydney.Dravid was noncommittal about his preference in the order, but admitted he was getting his timing back after compiling his first three innings at grass-growing speed. "My timing was not as good as I wanted it to be, but the timing is coming along," he said. "I have been quite happy with my second innings in Sydney and [yesterday]."I feel I'm in a pretty relaxed state of mind. I've been relaxed irrespective of what's been happening."Safe batsmen Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly did not play.In reply, the ACT finished the day 0-10.All of the Indian squad were at the match apart from Ganguly, who spent the day in his hotel bed suffering from a sore throat.India's High Commissioner, Sujatha Singh, and deputy Vinod Kumar, attended and will host a dinner for the players tomorrow night.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald
