Erstwhile
captain Sunil Gavaskar today said that he would favour India going
with four specialist bowlers and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in a
five attack in the first cricket Test against South Africa beginning
on 5 November.
Sunil
said that Jadeja can be a wicket-taking bowler with his left-arm spin
as he has done in the past and can also contribute with the bat,
making him best
possible for
the number seven spot.
Asked
whether India should go with five bowlers against South Africa
tomorrow, Sunil
said, "Having five bowlers gives you more options. But often the
fifth bowler does not get much chance to bowl. In Sri Lanka,harbhajan
did
not get to bowl as many overs as you want.
"Here,
Ravindra
Jadeja can be very handy as he can bat and also
bowl. As a bowler he can get wickets on Indian pitches and
conditions. As a batsman he should apply his mind, stay at the wicket
and he will get runs," said Sunil Gavaskar.
Sunil
Gavaskar said he would pick Jadeja in the playing XI as he is the
ideal candidate for the number seven spot in Test matches.
"Pick
Jadeja in the playing XI. He can bowl beautiful deliveries as he did
a couple of years back against Australian captain Michael Clarke in
Mohali," he said.
"In
limited-over matches, he can be a bit expensive but in Tests he is
the ideal number seven player. He is a fabulous fielder also and so
he can contribute in all departments of the game," said the
former Indian captain while pitching for Ravindra
Jadeja.
Gavaskar
also picked off-spinner Ashwin as the key man if India have to win
the match.
"If
India have to win, Ashwin is the key man. He is the five-plus wicket
taker in the team. You cannot say other bowlers as five-plus wicket
takers. When Ishant comes back, India will have two five-plus wicket
takers.
"If
the Indian batsmen put up a big score, Ashwin will be more confident
and that will give India the chance to win," Gavaskar told NDTV.
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