Sport | Cricket
Cautious approach key to success, says Sehwag
Curbing natural aggression early in an innings has been the key to Virender Sehwag's strong Test comeback, the Indian opener says.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:06 March 26, 2008
Chennai: Curbing natural aggression early in an innings has been the key to Virender Sehwag's strong Test comeback, the Indian opener says.
The 29-year-old marked his Test recall in the last two games of the Australia tour by stroking 151 in the drawn final Test in Adelaide. India lost the series 2-1.
The Delhi batsman had been sidelined for the previous three Test series in 2007, dropped for the Bangladesh and England tours and against Pakistan at home after a poor run with the bat.
"It was tough for me on both the mental and technical aspects," Sehwag told reporters ahead of the first Test against South Africa which begins in Chennai today. "I was not in a good mindset. So I kept telling myself that I have done it in the past and I can do it in the present too. For me, I was trying to dominate from the first ball, which was why I was struggling," he said.
"In Australia, I was looking to take on the bowlers after 15-16 overs."
Sehwag, who has hit 13 centuries from 54 Tests and has an average of 50.46, suffered a form slump over the last two seasons.
He needed his skipper's backing to make the squads for both the 2007 World Cup as well as the Australia series, where he vindicated Anil Kumble's faith in him by also playing a key role in the third Test win at Perth.
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