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Why Yuvraj was dropped from the Test squad. Figure it out!
Yuvraj Singh's Test comeback was again short lived, as the selectors dropped him from the team for the third and final Test against the West Indies, in Mumbai, beginning next week.
The experienced Punjab left-hander made way for Mumbai youngster Rohit Sharma, who himself has battled for consistency since making it to the international stage.
With the all-important tour of Australia coming up next month, the selectors have sent out a loud and clear message that Yuvraj does not fall into their scheme of things as far as Test cricket is concerned.
Rajneesh Gupta presents a statistical look on Yuvraj's showing in Tests since making his debut against New Zealand in 2003.
Born: 12 December 1981 (Chandigarh)
Home Team: Punjab
First Test: v New Zealand at Mohali in 2003-04 (made 20 & 5 at # 6)
Last Test: v West Indies at Kolkata in 2011-12 (made 25 at # 7)
Tests: 37, Runs: 1775, 100s: 3, 50s: 10, HS: 169, Avg: 34.80Why Yuvraj was dropped from the Test squad. Figure it out!
A comparison of Yuvraj's Test performance against each country is interesting. All his three centuries have come against arch-rivals Pakistan, but none resulted in victories, with two losses for India and a draw.
His record against Pakistan is the best, as he averages 63.55, with a tally of 572 runs in seven Tests.
But his record against Australia is poor, with just 64 runs in four Tests, and that against minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe also below par.
Yuvraj's performance against each country
|
| Mts | Inns | NO | Runs | Hs | Avg | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| v Australia | 4 | 8 | 1 | 64 | 27 | 9.14 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| v Bangladesh | 2 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 25 | 18.50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| v England | 5 | 9 | 1 | 346 | 86 | 43.25 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| v New Zealand | 4 | 7 | 2 | 150 | 54 | 30.00 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| v Pakistan | 7 | 9 | 0 | 572 | 169 | 63.55 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| v South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 32 | 32.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| v Sri Lanka | 6 | 9 | 1 | 367 | 77 | 45.87 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| v West Indies | 6 | 10 | 1 | 170 | 39 | 18.88 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| v Zimbabwe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 25 | 18.50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 37 | 57 | 6 | 1775 | 169 | 34.80 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
Why Yuvraj was dropped from the Test squad. Figure it out!
Yuvraj in the subcontinent & outside
Yuvraj is regarded as one of the best middle-order batsmen when it comes to One-Day Internationals, but it is exactly the opposite in Tests.
Also, he has failed to make an impact with the bat overseas in conditions helpful for bowlers, scoring 353 runs in 12 overseas Tests.
It is this worrying statistic that goes against him when it comes to his selection to the Test squad for foreign tours.
|
| Mts | Inns | NO | Runs | Hs | Avg | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| in the subcontinent | 25 | 37 | 4 | 1422 | 169 | 43.09 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
| outside the subcontinent | 12 | 20 | 2 | 353 | 62 | 19.61 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Why Yuvraj was dropped from the Test squad. Figure it out!
Yuvraj at each batting position
The Punjab left-hander has tried his luck at a few batting positions, including opening, but hasn't been able to make an impact.
|
| Inns | NO | Runs | Hs | Avg | 100 | 50 | 0 |
| at # 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 15.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| at # 5 | 11 | 0 | 227 | 75 | 20.63 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| at # 6 | 39 | 4 | 1359 | 169 | 38.82 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
| at # 7 | 5 | 1 | 174 | 77 | 43.50 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Why Yuvraj was dropped from the Test squad. Figure it out!
Yuvraj Tests played & missed (since debut)
When Sourav Ganguly quit cricket in 2008 everybody thought the slot vacated by the left-hander would be taken over by Yuvraj, but, sadly, he failed to grab his opportunities.
It is not that Yuvraj has not got enough opportunities to showcase his abilities, as is evident in the table below, but he has always struggled to score consistently.
| Year | Played | Missed |
| 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5 | 7 |
| 2005 | 4 | 4 |
| 2006 | 9 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 | 8 |
| 2008 | 4 | 11 |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 | 11 |
| 2011 | 3 | 7 |
| TOTAL | 37 | 54 |
Why Yuvraj was dropped from the Test squad. Figure it out!
Yuvraj's performance in comeback Tests
Luck has also not been on Yuvraj's side, with quite a few injuries and fitness concerns hampering his comeback, which now totals 10.
Last year, he was ruled out of a Test in Sri Lanka because of illness and his replacement, Suresh Raina, scored a century on debut. Then, earlier this year, he injured his finger during a Test against England in Nottingham and was forced to pull out of the series.
While all the other Indian batsmen enjoyed a run feast against the inexperienced West Indies attack, Yuvraj struggled with scores of 23, 18 and 25 in the three innings he batted first two of the ongoing series. He looked quite uncomfortable against the pace duo of Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach in Kolkata, and, no wonder, the selectors were forced to look elsewhere.
With so many youngsters knocking at the doors of Test cricket with a consistent showing in domestic cricket, the question is: how and when can Yuvraj stage another comeback?
| Tests missed | Comeback Test | |||
| 4 | 59 | v Pakistan | Multan | 2003-04 |
| 9 | 12 | v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2005 |
| 1 | 0 & 77 | v Sri Lanka | Delhi | 2005-06 |
| 1 | 15 | v England | Mohali | 2005-06 |
| 10 | 169 & 2 | v Pakistan | Bangalore | 2007-08 |
| 4 | 32 | v South Africa | Kanpur | 2007-08 |
| 7 | 14 & 85 | v England | Chennai | 2008-09 |
| 2 | 52 & 5 | v Sri Lanka | Galle | 2010 |
| 14 | 62 & 8 | v England | Notingham | 2011 |
| 2 | 23 & 18 | v West Indies | Delhi | 2011-12 |