India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will find it very difficult when opting between Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina for the number five spot in the first Test between India and England in the Lord`s next week.
Yuvraj and Raina have almost similar capabilities — both left-handers, both aggressive, both brilliant fielders and both can few spin overs when required.
Raina played some crucial knocks in West Indies, he scored 232 runs at 46.40 with three half-centuries on tracks that most of the others batsman were having problems. Rahul Dravid even said that it was the most difficult among all he has played in the West Indies in the last 15 years.
On the other hand, Yuvraj Singh, who did not go on the West Indies tour, was the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2011. He has seven half-centuries from the last 11 Tests he played and the success he has enjoyed against England with at 46-plus average.
Yuvraj Singh might be the first man of choice because of talent; experience; he loves scoring against England, he has an average of 46-plus;and although Raina is more than handy with the ball, Yuvraj is a better part-time bowler and England has a tendency to get out to slow left-arm bowlers.
Stylish left-hander Yuvraj Singh will have to cool his heels for some more time as the southpaw is likely to sit out of the first Test against England at Lord's starting Thursday.
It is learnt that Suresh Raina is all set to to get a place in the playing XI ahead of Yuvraj.
Raina impressed all in the West Indies, scoring 232 that included three half-centuries in three Test matches. A fighting century in the tour match against Somerset in Taunton further improved his chances of selection.
The team management is thinking of sending Raina to bat at No. 6 position.
Abhinav Mukund and Gautam Gambhir will open the innings followed by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma. There will be a tough fight between Praveen Kumar and S Sreesanth for the third seamer's spot.
Praveen might hold the edge over Sreesanth if the team management decides to have a swing bowler in their armoury.
