Ganguly should open batting: Gaekwad

Former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad on Tuesday said skipper Sourav Ganguly should open the batting with Shiv Sunder Das, while Sadagoppan Ramesh should be fitted in the middle order for the second Test against Australia, in Calcutta, from March 11 to 15.

Speaking over phone from Baroda, Gaekwad said: "When Ganguly can open the batting in the one-dayers why can't he do so in Tests as well?

"By opening the batting he will give confidence to young Das as well. If they manage a good foundation, then the middle order with Sachin [Tendulkar] and Rahul [Dravid] can benefit a lot."

About Ganguly's captaincy in the first Test, at Bombay, which India lost by ten wickets, Gaekwad said: "It is quite natural that a big partnership comes up once in a way, like Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist did. You cannot solely blame the captain for it.

"However, there is no point in talking about the past; the Indians should regroup and play positively without going about the nature of the pitch, like they did the last time around in 1998."

He added: "India cannot bank on Sachin to deliver the goods every time and it is time Ganguly takes some initiative and starts opening the innings, which can also leave the Aussies thinking of a new strategy."

Mail Cricket Editor