Why on earth does Virender Sehwag make runs by the truckload in Test cricket, and play such ordinary cricket in the limited overs formats? Obviously he plays the occassional brilliant innings in the limited overs formats as well - with his incredible talent he is bound to. However his impact in Test cricket is clearly an order of magnitude higher than in the limited overs formats. The way he plays his cricket would suggest that he is likely to be more successful in the shorter formats. What the hell is going on?
In the answer to this enigma is perhaps the clue for Test teams to get this modern day Bradman under control.
Sehwag seldom gets out playing a defensive shot. In fact he seldom plays a defensive shot! Therefore conventional Test match fields are generally ineffective for him. Three slips, a gulley, and a short leg are not the areas that Sehwag is likely to be caught at, unless the conditions are overcast and aiding swing. Typically he will play the ball high over point or third man, drive it through the vacant extra cover or mid-off region, or flick it between square leg and midwicket. His edges are likely to fly high over the slips or gulley and go to the boundary.
Sehwag scores so quickly in Test matches that by the time the opposing captain considers a more defensive approach, he is already approaching a double hundred. No wonder he crosses 150 with such ease, and so often.
Sehwag's performances in the limited overs formats provides a clue on how to deal with him in Test cricket. As an opposing captain, you have to think as if you are playing a 50-over game when Sehwag is on strike. Only five men inside the circle, only one slip, an attacking third-man, two points (one short, and one deep), and a short square leg. Curtail the boundaries, invite him to pierce the field, and he is likely to give his wicket away going for his shots.
However there is one problem the fielding captain needs to deal with while following this approach. He will need to make wholesale field changes for the batsman at the other end. I believe this can be done, by following a strictly limited overs approach with Sehwag, and a semi-attacking approach with the batsman at the other end.
Obviously this is a nice theory, which may or may not work. Given Sehwag's genius, he will perhaps find another way. However his less than stellar record in the limited overs formats over a period of time suggests that there is a better than even chance of getting him under control with a different mindset.
