Doing a Strauss?

Andrew Strauss, during the 2006-07 Ashes, tried re-inventing his game to fill the void left behind by the absence of Marcus Trescothick.

And in the process, he ended up playing too many shots too soon - a series average of 24.7 with a top score of 50 is proof.

I was reminded of this watching Gautam Gambhir during the T20 World Cup and during the two matches of the current West Indies tour.

Vide his trying to open the face of the bat and run the ball down to third man - a shot he had completely shunned during his purple patch in 2008.

Gambhir has more strokes than most if he chooses to take his time at the crease. But, in the absence of Sehwag, it looks as if he has decided to eschew his natural game and don Sehwag's role.

Problem is, Gambhir is not Sehwag. And by trying to play like him, Gambhir is digging a rather large hole for himself.