Stop experiments with batting order: Wadekar

Bhopal, Apr 6 (UNI) Disapproving frequent frequent experimentation with the batting order, former India captain and coach Ajit Wadekar said the players should know their position in the team well in advance.

''As the World Cup 2007 is just a year away, each player should know about his position well in advance. Frequent experiments should be stopped and the batting order fixed so that the player could consolidate his position,'' Wadekar told newsmen here yesterday.

He was in the Lake city to participate in a function to christening the BHEL sports complex after veteran sports commentator J P Narayanan, who died here in October last year.

''We can't expect much from a batsman whose batting order was not fixed earlier'', the former cricketer said.

Lauding India's performance in the ODI against England, Wadekar, however, said we should attempt good score from the start itself.

Rahul Dravid should be engaged as opening batsman and Pathan should be allowed to play at his pre-determined position, he said.

India should maintain its performance displayed in recent ODI as it had to take on defending champion Australia in the World Cup, Wadekar said.

The former captain appreciated the performance of youngsters Yuvraj, Raina and Pathan and suggested that former captain Saurav Ganguly should be given a chance as Virender Sahwag and Mohammad Kaif were not in form at present.

On India's defeat against England in the third Test in Mumbai, he said India should have opted for batting after winning the toss and their decision to go for bowling was a mistake.

UNI SHD-SP DH ND1356