Not household names yet but start getting used to them

• Ever since the Gavaskar-Srikkanth pair became history, India have failed to find a stable opening pair. Or indeed, sans Sidhu, a stable opener. Now with Chopra, India’s prayers seem to have been answered. And with Sehwag as partner, it replicates the Gavaskar-Srikkanth duo.

• In 2nd Test he batted five hours to save India from defeat. Has three century opening stands with Sehwag in six Tests. No pair since Gavaskar-Chauhan can match this.

Irfan Pathan, 19 (India)

• When this left-arm seamer picked nine wickets against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Pakistan earlier in the season, he was an obvious talent. Performance in Australia confirmed status as one of the most exciting young medium pacers in the game. With movement in either direction, Pathan can only get better.

• Four wickets in two Tests. A modest show? Maybe, but his victims: Hayden, Waugh, Gilchrist and Ponting.

Simon KaticH, 28 (Australia)

• Has been around for a while but since his Test debut at Leeds in 2001 has managed to play just two Tests before the Indian tour. Blame it on the packed middle-order but Darren Lehmann’s injury meant a window of opportunity and Katich walked right in. A reliable bat, Katich is also a typical Aussie cricketer — bowls a bit and is a brilliant fielder.

• 7-hr innings in Sydney denied India a win. As big names flopped, Katich’s 202 in two innings saved the day for Australia.

Imran Farhat, 21 (Pakistan)

• Twice picked for Pak side but promptly dropped. Reason: too rash, which he was. Despite being in the Saeed Anwar mould, he took too many risks, something an opener can ill-afford. After Anwar retired in 2003, Farhat was called up again—and this time didn’t disappoint.

• 107 from 112 balls against New Zealand and a record opening partnership of 197.

Ian Butler, 22 (New Zealand)

• He’s fast developing into possible partner for Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey. Though not as fast as Bond or as mean as Tuffey, he’s younger and precise mix of raw material required to be moulded into a good fast bowler. Ask the Indian middle-order which faced his 145-150 kmph bolts at Mohali.

• 6-46 against Pakistan and 24 wickets from seven Tests.

Yasir Hameed, 26 (Pakistan)

• What do you say about a young batsman who averages 53.54 in Tests and 45.95 in ODIs? Patient unlike Farhat—something Pak cricket is not used to. Has quickly become the pivot around which the more aggressive Pakistan batsmen revolve.

• 170 vs Bangladesh in Karachi. It was out of an innings total of 346, with the second highest being 54

—(SHAMYA DASGUPTA)