Player of the Week - Suresh Raina
July 1st, 2008Suresh Raina
Full name - Suresh Kumar Raina
Date of Birth – 27th November 1986
Place of birth - Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
Teams - India, India Under-19s, Indian Board President’s XI, Uttar Pradesh, Chennai Super Kings
Batting style - Left-handed
Bowling style - Right-arm off break
Under-19 debut – 27th July 2002 versus England U19s at Cardiff
Domestic debut – 1st February 2003 versus Assam in Ranji Trophy at Guwahati
International debut – 30th July 2005 versus Sri Lanka in Indian Oil Cup at Dambulla
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Born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh Suresh Raina was the blue eyed boy of Greg Chappell’s dream Indian team. He is a thorough bred cricketer coming through the Under-19 system of the BCCI. Despite the slump in form which was stated as the reason for his exclusion from the Indian team earlier, he still averages more than 35 in all forms and all levels of cricket.
He averages about 46 at the first class level and about 36 in the ODIs he has played. He also averaged over 44 in the tests he played with the Under-19 team. But he still has to prove a lot before he cements his place in Team India. The real test will come when he faces the bounce in South Africa and the swing in New Zealand. Aussies anyway are hot to handle anywhere, anytime.
He makes it to the player of the week scoring 301 runs in three matches at an average of 150.50 at a strike rate of 123.36, hitting two centuries and an 84 and bagging the Man of the Match award in all three matches. He has also been the silver lining in India’s pathetic dark clouded fielding display at the tournament.
Raina lost his place in the Indian side just before the 2007 World Cup. He hit back hard scoring 203 of 217 balls for Uttar Pradesh against Orissa in the first Ranji match of the 2007-08 season. He went 683 runs in the season with two hundreds and three fifties at an average of 48.78. He had a good stint at the Indian Premier League scoring 421 runs at 38.27.
But the things that really did him huge favor in selection for Team India were his excellent fielding and strike rates of 105 and 142.7 in the last Challenger Trophy and the IPL.
He hasn’t made drastic changes to his technique but looks more composed and sure of his off stump. He used to fish at balls outside the off stump a lot but now he either doesn’t go or more often goes with full conviction. He also looks to have more strength in his arms now and big hits are looking effortless.
He would be looking to cash in on the rich vein of form he has run in and with the series against Sri Lanka, the ICC Champions’ Trophy and the Champions League, all in India he will have a good chance to make a foothold before he has to travel to testing territories.
Just looking forward to a many more big hits from him over the mid wicket fence.
Dr. Mohit Goyal © IPL Cricket Forum
http://www.goyalmohit.blogspot.com/
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