Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin reckons that the ageing Sachin Tendulkar could opt for a more open-chested stance to counter quick incoming deliveries which has accounted for his bowled dismissals in recent times. Azhar said an open stance would give Tendulkar just that little extra time to cover the swing of the ball and such a change may help the batsman on the bouncier tracks of South Africa where India will play their next Test series. “To each his own, but I believe that Tendulkar can opt for a chest-on stance which will enable him to play the pacers easily. With age reflexes get slower but you can wriggle out if you have the technique like Tendulkar has,” Azhar-uddin said. Tendulkar, who has now retired from ODIs, has been bowled eight times and trapped leg before wicket 10 times in his last 37 Test innings. Azhar, a veteran of 99 Tests and 334 ODIs, further explained, “With a side-on stance, you can see the delivery with only one eye but a chest-on stance helps you observe with both eyes. This also helps one to cover the swing. I have a feeling that Tendulkar will find it easier to play the inswinger. Once he scores a few runs, he can again revert back to his side-on stance.” Azhar, known for his silken wristy strokes during his playing days, cited his own example of having sought Zaheer Abbas’ advice on changing his grip during India’s tour of Pakistan in 1989 which helped him regain lost touch. “Initially, I found it painful as it hurt my thumb and my right hand would come off the handle. It took time but I was open to suggestions and it worked for me,” the 50-year-old former cricketer, who is now an MP from Moradabad, said. On Indian cricket’s newest batting sensation Shikhar Dhawan, Azhar said that he was impressed with what he saw of the Delhi swashbuckler but his real test would be against South Africa at the end of the year. “Shikhar’s real test will be against Dale Steyn in South Africa. He is a good player to watch as he has a high-on-handle stance. A lot like Allan Lamb or Mark Waugh — the players of our generation”, Azhar said. “He is a compulsive puller but I saw a tendency of his to recede back to short balls during Champions Trophy in England. He should sort that out before Steyn and Morkel come calling,” he said.
