ICC World Cup 2019, No. 4 batsman mystery and India's History

 No 4 batsman has played a very important role for India in past. This is the even one of the crucial batting position for India and even major role-playing in the batting line up. In Past Md Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj and Ajay Jadeja were played many crucial role and important inning. This is the only reason that there are so many discussions in the past couple of year.

 During the time of last 2 year, India has tried dozen of a batsman to fit for No.4 positions. A batsman likes M Pandey, Raina, Rahane, Yuvraj and more focus on Rayudu. till the world Cup 2019 selection still the mystery doesn't resolve and the those whom team management did R&D, sit out of the team. 

India History of No 4 batting position in the 90s onwards
 Indi Had very healthy history in no 4 positions which we have discussed in the earlier part. As the arrival of Md Azharuddin in 1985 India middle-order raised his capability to the net level. Azhar 

started as no.3 but as a requirement in the coming year, he shifted to no 4 in Order. Especially after 95-96 when Dravid concrete his feet on No3. After Azharuddin Rahul Dravid took the position For No 4 batsman due to Sehwag started Opening the inning with Sachin instead of Ganguly. 
Yuvraj Arrival - 
 Yuvraj Become regular player after 2002 and as starting of 2003 Rahul and Yuvraj managing No 4 batting order according to the requirement under Ganguly Captaincy. both are equally effective on the position and finish the job unbeaten many occasions. After Azharuddin in the 90s, Yuvraj and Rahul Dravid are the most successful No 4 batsman for India as you can see below table.

Past top player and situation -

Name	Inn	N.O.	100s	50s	0	H.S.	Runs	Avg	SR
M Azharuddin	137	23	3	33	3	153*	4605	40.39	77.58
Yuvraj Singh	108	11	6	17	5	150	3415	35.21	89.44
Rahul Dravid	102	11	2	26	5	109*	3301	36.27	70.91
S Tendulkar	61	8	4	15	5	140*	2059	38.85	77.09
MS Dhoni	30	6	1	12	1	109*	1358	56.58	92.82
Ajay Jadeja	29	10	2	6	1	103*	1008	53.05	72.47

 After Yuvraj -
 After Yuvraj India Have tried many batsmen in the position of No 4. This is the batting order where India have invested much on the player. Yuvraj becomes non-regular player after 2011 world cup and many players out of team till 2015 world cup. ICC World Cup 2015 where team India has many changes compared to 2011. total new team.
  With the secure opening pair Dhawan and Rohit Sharma India trying to Rahane as no 4 in the batting order. Rahane has the reputation of an opening batsman and he quiet satisfy selectors after his couple of good inning. He won't able to sustain faith and search start again with Tiwari, Uttapa, Manish Pandey, Nair Even Raina and Yuvraj again.

Rayudu mystery : - 
After a search of so many player Rayudu where team India claiming and ensured much time for No 4 position. Management invested around two-year to make him comfortable at no 4. But a couple of bad series, bad shot selection, getting out on wrong time and no runs from bat even in IPL, selector have to leave him an option for ICC World Cup 2019.

 Rayudu has score 1694 run in 50 ODI inning where he has better average 68 as no 3 and 42 as no 4. His Average is 47 in ODI which is quite good but his performance always comes in instalment like every alternative series. This is might the main reason drop him due to inconsistent performance. He has to be out of the team couple of series only because of the Yo-Yo test as well.

ICC World Cup 2019 and No 4 mystery:-
 Excluding MS Dhoni and V Kohli, there is no other option for India that who has bat at no 4 for quite a long time. If we see Dhoni 30 innings and Kohli 38 inning had played at no. 4 for India. and their average was 56.58 and 56.48 quite similar. 

Let we imagine if below player bat at no 4 and what will be the batting positions for others.

KL Rahul - KL Rahul has the reputation of the opening batsman and including him as back up the opener and resting for all match till anyone gets unfit, could be a bad decision. We might see him on No 4 in many of the matches if he scores regularly in the very first form of series.
Kohli - Kohli has a great record on no 4 and he is the player who can bat any position that he shows in past. There can be a situation when the team feel sending KL Rahul at no 3 than Kohli might come on No 4 on the Batting order.
Dhoni at no 4 - Dropping Ambati Rayudu also indicated that we can see Dhoni batting at No. 4 many occasions of the match. As the presence of Hardik Pandya and DK in depth, might Captain send Dhoni at No 4. This is the position for Dhoni which many legends even support for that and feel Idol for Him. ( How much Dhoni Important In World Cup )
 D Karthik had played some fantastic cricket in last many series where he finished the match on his own. He is the player who only needs 20 to 25 ball to score 35-40 more runs in depth. Due to this might, Team Management send Dhoni at no 4.

Vijay Shankar - Little tuff to be in playing eleven on every match especially at no 4 batting order. V Shankar is back up of all like All-rounder, Batsman and 4th bowler in a team. it is very important to him perform in very early matches where he gets a chance.
 Over All this Wolrd Cup start entertaining with lots of mystery and surprises from the start of the series.

Read This Also - How much England Dangerous in World Cup, Team analysis and Strongpoint
Read This Also - ICC World Cup 2019 Squad of Every Team and Major Changes, Full Squad Lists For All Teams

24th April, Happy Birthday Sachin Tendulkar and why you still great

24th April, Happy Birthday Sachin Tendulkar and why you still great

"Its rightly said that if in India Cricket is religion then Sachin Tendulkar is God". there are many occasions that India attracts cricket and make outstanding popularity before even Sachin Tendulkar arrives. But the madness and such extreme passion feed in Indian Fan only by Sachin.

 Comparisons between legend, who is the best: 
There are always be compared Sachin for a long time with many players like Lara, Ponting, Inzamam Ul Haq, Steve Waugh, and Virat Kohli. But important to notice that where ever comparison gets done Sachin been another side. 

Sachin Makes BCCI rich:- 
Even there is no doubt that Sachin Tendulkar is the only man who makes BCCI so rich. The time of the 90s where investors searching a true hero, Sachin arrives with all capabilities in front. All the advertisement and investors behind him and this is the reason why Sachin help BCCI to become the world most riches board among all.

 Bowler Dominant Eras: - 
 During the 90s cricket has bowler dominant and till 2000 equally similar to both. He played bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, Mcgrath, Shane Warn, Murlidharan, Alan Donald, Pollock, Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Crain's, Handle, Imran Khan, Chaminda Vaas, etc which was a good name in cricket. He makes all his records playing this bowler and even able to maintain batting average 44 in ODI and around 53 in Test cricket.
 This is only because he was the perfect batsman of the era and many nowadays cricketers motivated watching him. 

Batting in Immense pressure:-
 Always carried the burden of immense pressure & expectations from a fan and as well as team mates. No other batsman that played such a great inning like Sachin ever since he picked a cricket bat. Yet ended up with the most longevity in both formats of the game. Most runs, most 100s in both formats. Have good to great average in all countries he played in whether be it in tests or one day. 

Changes in techniques with time:- 

There was a shot that was batsman playing very often during the 90s, Sachin makes that regular and brings new techniques of playing uniques deliveries. Example in the initial time Backfoot punch, frequent cut and after the 95-96 uppercut, paddler sweep, etc. Fan gets happy and satisfies only with if Sachin scores even 25 or more runs. Because even in just 25 runs his batting look outstanding and unique. 

Records and Achievements:-
 That eras of Sachin Was as similar like Virat Kohli. After reaching 25 to 26 age, Sachin makes reports in every series or every alternate series. There are plenty of records that Sachin holds in batting and still to be broken by anyone. As Virat is the nearest to reach many of his records but still not might be able to archive all.

Away from Controversial life:-
 Sachin knows for the best and gets cricket. This is the one reason why people like him most. His cricketing career has been out of controversial only look SA series in 2002. 

First Person to achieve so many records:- 
 Still nowadays if we talk about records only name pop up Sachin Tendulkar. he is not only the most records holder but also the first person to reach there. Like the first person to reach ODI 10000 runs, ODI 200, Played Test match 200, 100 international centuries 50 Test century, etc. 
 one interesting fact that was always in talking that Sehwag, Chris Gale or Gilchrist could be the first person who can make 200 in ODI. Even having such tremendous batsman Sachin become the first person to score 200 in ODI. That even against the lethal bowling unit of South Africa. 
 He becomes first-person only because he knows how to make 100s and how to reach and compose inning to 200. One important fact that Sachin told in some of the innings that Rohit Sharma also can make 200 hundred in ODI and now you see he has most 200 plus in ODI.

Develop according to generations:-
 Sachin played around 24 years in India cricket team. during this period so many players came and gone. Sachne able to stay so long because of the change himself according to generation. He was the hero and star batsman of India Cricket team wherein the end of his journey with Indian Cricket, he slowly turns as a mentor of the team. Similarly, the current Dhoni Doing and playing a role for India.

King of One Day Cricket:- 
 One day cricket which Makes Sachin so popular in India. His greatest inning comes in mainly One Day. He was Wisden top 5 batsman in ODI along with in Test
Only Viv Richardson and Sachin in both lists at the same time.
 One day inning like 143 vs Australia in Sharjah, 200 vs South Africa, 98 in World Cup vs Pakistan, 175 vs Aussies, most runs in a single year, most hundred in a single year, the era of 1998 all these and many more performance make Sachin great batsman of ODI.



Best Quotes from experts and legend of cricket:-

• “Gentlemen, he is the best batsman I have seen in my life. And unlike most of you, I have seen Bradman bat.” John Woodcock (English journalist)
• “I saw him (Sachin) playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I feel that this player is playing much the same as I used to play, and she looked at him on television and said yes, there is a similarity between the two...his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel.” Sir Donald Bradman
• “Sachin Tendulkar has often reminded me of a veteran army colonel who has many medals on his chest to show how he has conquered bowlers all over the world.” Allan Donald
• “I think he is marvellous. I think he will fit in whatever category of cricket that has been played or will be played, from the first ball that has ever been bowled to the last ball that’s going to be. He can play in any era and at any level. I would say he’s 99.5% perfect.” Sir Vivian Richards
• “You can’t contain Sachin’s deeds in a statistical frame. He brings unstinted joy to the art of batting. To me, he best symbolises the heights an individual can rise to dominate a team sport. Words can never capture the beauty of Sachin’s cricket.” Kapil Dev
• “I don’t know cricket, I don’t know how Sachin plays. But I still try to watch him playing because I want to know why my country’s economy goes down 0.5% when he’s batting.” Barack Obama (former US President)
• “Even if my grandchildren don’t remember the fact that I scored 10,000 runs in One Day and Test cricket, they will surely remember the fact that I was a team mate of Sachin Tendulkar.” Rahul Dravid
• “You get him out and half the battle is won.” Arjuna Ranatunga
• “If I've to bowl to Sachin, I'll bowl with my helmet on. He hits the ball so hard.”Dennis Lillee.
• “Cricketers like Sachin come once in a lifetime and I am privileged he played in my time.”Wasim Akram
• “We did not lose to a team called India, we lost to a man called Sachin.” Mark Taylor
• “He’s been in form longer than some of our guys have been alive.”Daniel Vettori
• “There are two kinds of batsmen in the world. One, Sachin Tendulkar. Two, all the others.”Andy Flower
• “The only batsman I would love to see by paying for the tickets and sitting in the stand just to watch him is none other than Sachin Tendulkar.” Brian Lara
• “If Sachin bats well, India sleeps well.” Harsha Bhogle
• “When you play against Tendulkar, you almost want to see him get a few runs just to see him bat.” Mark Waugh
• “I never get tired of umpiring whenever Sachin is at the crease.” Rudy Koertzen
• “Technically, you can’t fault Sachin. Seam or spin, fast or slow nothing is a problem.” Geoffrey Boycot
• “The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter… is he human?” 
• Michael Atherton
• “The thing I like the most about Sachin is his intensity. After being in the game for so long, he still has the same desire to do well for India in any international match. I tell you what, this man is a legend.” Sourav Ganguly
• “Sachin is the most complete batsman I have ever seen.” Ricky Ponting
• “The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility – all make for a one-in-a-billion individual.” Glenn McGrath
• “He is someone sent from up there to play cricket and go back.”
• Ravi Shastri
• “I’m fortunate that I’ve to bowl to him only in the nets.” Anil Kumble
• “Form is temporary, but Class is permanent”Saeed Anwar
• “I have seen God, he bats at no. 4 for India.” Matthew Hayden
• “Don’t bowl him bad balls, he hits the good ones for fours.”Michael Kasprowicz

• “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing us to breathe the same air as you do.”Shahrukh Khan
• “Test cricket is bloody hard work, especially if you’ve got Sachin batting with what looks like a three-metre-wide bat.” Mike Hussey
• “Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane in India with Sachin on it.” Hashim Amla
• “Sachin Playing well & looking very positive. I think that a couple of fours he hit settled the nerves. Don’t know about his nerves, I’m talking about the nerves of each & every person in the crowd”
• Harsha Bhogle During Sachin’s last Test match

 Still, there is a lot of debate and conversation according to my favourite and fact. But it's not wrong to say he is the first person to bring such kind of popularity, Money, Passion, dedication, regions of cricket, so many records for India, pride for India 

Regards,
Ravindra Singh
The Only Cricket Show

Top 3 Opening Unit in World Cup 2019, real entertainers.

 World Cup 2019 is going to be full of entertainer by the opening batsman of every team. As per current ODI batting ranking, out of 20 TOP batsmen, there are 11 are opening batsman. So you can imagine how will be the contribution in World Cup of openers.

 We have brought out top 5 openings unites of present ODI cricket:-    

 England - England is the favourite team for World Cup 2019. This is the reason behind their strong batting unit along with every department. Similarly, from the last couple of year, the contribution from opening batsman even rise up. 

 The opener Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hale have played fantastic innings in the past couple of years as openers. They are able to play long and big inning and Chang the match way. 
 Jason Roy and Bairstow have scored 1401 runs in 24 innings with a fantastic average of 58. 
Records of All three openers: - Strike rate of all three is fantastic and impact hard to any bowlers.

Overall	Inns	NO	100s	50s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Jason Roy	71	2	7	12	180	2661	38.57	105.51
Alexander Hales	67	3	6	14	171	2419	37.8	95.73
Jonny Bairstow	54	8	6	8	141*	2118	46.04	105.01

 Jason Roy debuted as opening batsman itself and played in that position from start. records of all three as Opening the inning : -  

Opening	Inns	NO	100s	50s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Jason Roy	71	2	7	12	180	2661	38.57	105.51
Alexander Hales	53	2	5	12	171	1974	38.71	96.29
Jonny Bairstow	32	3	6	3	141*	1471	50.72	113.33

Jonny Bairstow is on his career-best form and as an opener, he has scored 6 hundred from the last couple of year. His average as an opener is above 50 and strike rate even more than 113. Best from his tool career records.
 Jason Roy is the regular and most consistent opener of England and with the strong backup of Alex Hales England opening pairs look really Dangerous.

India - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are regular and most constant since 2013. This pair is 2nd best opening pair for India after S Tendulkar and S Ganguly. 

Both have scored 4541 runs in 101 innings till now which is 4th highest in ODI cricket. Scored 15-century partnership and 13 fifty with an average of 45.41.
   KL Rahul has fantastic IPL season and his record as opener even impressive. he made 343 runs in 13 innings with an average of 56. So as to the total 

Overall	Inns	NO	100s	50s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Rohit Sharma	200	31	22	41	264	8010	47.4	87.95
Shikhar Dhawan	127	7	16	27	143	5355	44.63	93.8
KL Rahul	13	3	1	2	100*	343	34.3	80.9

 Rohit Sharma is the player who can play big inning as he has shown in past. he has more than 7 innings 150 plus and 3 innings 200 plus. also had more than 200 sixes which is more than inning he played. Dhawan also had 16 century as an opener since he started playing from 2013. 

Position	Inns	NO	100s	50s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Rohit Sharma	121	14	20	29	264	6043	56.48	91.51
Shikhar Dhawan	127	7	16	27	143	5355	44.63	93.8
KL Rahul	7	2	1	2	100*	280	56	83.58

Also Read - Top Most Batting Records in World Cup

Also Read - World Cup Squad of Every Team and Major Changes

Australia - With the entry of David Warner Australia batting line up get strong balance. With good performance from the last couple of series Australia back in the race of favourite for World Cup 2019. and form of Warner, Khawaja and Finch make opening stand strong as earlier.

 David Warner and Aron Finch were regular openers for Australia before the year and both have done a good job.
 Both have 2128 runs in 48 innings with 44 average and 5 hundred. even Khawaja and Finch gave some great opening stand in 14 innings. Absence of Warner Finch and Khawaja scored 897 runs with an average of 64 and hit 3 hundred with 4 fifties. 
 David Warner, from 2015 to 2017 have scored 12 hundred and able to maintain his average more than 55 and above. He has played inning like 178,179 and 173 and more also his strike rate above 100. 
  Records of All three Openers : - 

Opening	Inns	NO	100s	50s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Finch	103	2	13	21	153*	4032	39.92	88.17
Warner	103	3	14	17	179	4322	43.22	96.22
Khawaja	20	1	2	8	104	1019	53.63	85.99

  Finch also in good touch this year where he played his career best 153*. his average in 52 in 2019 and also able to maintain decent form since 2013. He played good knock with khawaja  in last couple of series.

Overall	Inns	NO	100s	50s	HS	Runs	Avg	S/R
Finch	105	2	13	21	153*	4052	39.34	88.16
Warner	104	4	14	17	179	4343	43.43	96.55
Khawaja	30	2	2	10	104	1238	44.21	83.09

There more opening unite that even give good amount of entertainment. 

West Indies, New Zealand and Pakistan