KANPUR, OCT 23: One bats right handed and looks compact with his copybook style - head still, nimble footwork, minimal shuffle and full face of the bat - and is as comfortable on the front foot as on the back. That's the Calcutta-based Gujarati Debang Gandhi. The other, a southpaw, gives a damn about copybook stuff. His mantra is simple: Put right leg forward and block, block, block.miss, miss, miss.hit a boundary. That's Tamil Nadu's Sadagoppan Ramesh. The only thing common between the two is that they are openers.They came together for the first time against the visiting West Indies A last winter and got noticed after making an impression against the Caribbean attack spearheaded by Ian Bishop.Ramesh got in first, against Pakistan early this year, and made the most of it. Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar were scratching their heads as Ramesh succeded with his hit-and-miss formula. Critics, including batting greats Sunil Gavaskar and Geoffrey Boycott, were unimpressed with his technique - especiallyvulnerable as an opening batsmen.Ramesh will be tested in England, for sure, critics felt. Surprise, surprise. Ramesh passed that test. Ramesh reminds one of Graeme Fowler, the English opening batsman in the mid-80s. He would play ungainly, forcing the rival skipper to strengthen the slip cordon. Similarly, Ramesh has led many a bowler in that trap. Most of his boundaries come in the arc between third man and point. Now, some bowlers make it a point to plug that `gap'.One thing Ramesh must work on is his match fitness. There have been instances when Ramesh has fallen to a loose stroke, probably due to fatigue. Gandhi, on the other hand prefers to see the shine of the new ball off, before gaining control. It may be a bit naive to judge him against a Kiwi attack on Indian pitches but still, that doesn't take away the credit from the young man.A tour to Australia will be a challenge for both Ramesh and Gandhi. That's the test they need to pass. Even if they do decently well, India's worries about theopening slots may well be over. The two have the heart for that. Will their form allow ?
