Second coming of sorts for Raina

By Our Correspondent

Karachi

July 4: The Asia Cup might have done nothing as a quality check on players here. There is very little progress a player can make in these conditions. Amidst all the mediocrity on offer, where it has helped Indian cricket is to test a few new faces, and infuse confidence in the top-order.

The team management has done well to field some of the new players who were picked in wake of strong performances in the IPL. Manpreet Gony and Pragyan Ojha have now got a taste of international cricket and it will stand them in good stead in the coming months.

The quality of opposition may, however, be superior in coming months. Tougher tests await the side when they travel to Sri Lanka and later for the Champions Trophy and the stern test at home in the form of an Australian visit. The team will do well to have as many with a taste of international cricket before it gets tight this season.

Gony found the going tough against Bangladesh but he will take it all in as he tries and prepares for the future. Ojha has come unscathed through his first two games. Bowling his full quota against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka he held his own. A spinner who went for under five runs per over in the conditions deserves a lot of credit.

Ojha is not the left-arm spinner from the manual; he does not command a classical loop to induce the drive every time but has good control over his trajectory. Given his taller frame it is only understandable he resorts to this style rather depend on flight. It also shows he is a product of a new generation that is bred on limited overs cricket.

The tournament has also been a wonderful opportunity for Suresh Raina to rediscover his own game and claim his spot for good. To push a player as talented as Robin Uthappa to the background took hard work. It all started with the IPL where he showed maturity in handling tough situations. Raina has also grown technically. He plays more in front of the wicket and is not the uptight batsman he once was.

In the five innings he has played here Raina has managed 356 runs at a strike rate of more than 112. The knocks he has played against Pakistan and Sri Lanka would have certainly lifted him and it is time the captain shows faith and settles him at number three.

Raina will have to constantly improve and work on his game to sustain the good work. The Asia Cup has provided him the scope to launch his bid to be a permanent fixture in the side.