Sehwag hasn't scored a 50 for nine innings

PERTH: Comeback opening batsman Virender Sehwag, who managed a stroke-filled 29 on the opening day of the third Test against Australia here on Wednesday, has not scored a half-century in his last nine Test innings.

The 'Delhi Dasher', who is back in the Test side after a year, last scored a half-century in June 2006 and that was 65 against the West Indies at Basseterre.

Since then he has scored 0 and 4 in Kingston in June 2006, 4 and 33 at Johannesburg in December 2006, 0 and 8 in Durban in December 2006, 40 and 4 in Cape Town last January and 29 at the Western Austrlia Cricket Association Ground (WACA) on Wednesday.

Sehwag, who was not even among the original probables for the tour down under, was picked after Gautam Gambhir's sore shoulder failed a fitness test just before the team was announced in Bangalore Dec 12.

Sehwag got the nod because of his good track record against Australia. In nine Tests against them, he has smashed two centuries, including a superb 195 in Melbourne in 2003-04, and three half-centuries to underline that he is the batsman for the big occasion.

After being ignored for the first two Tests, which India lost in Melbourne and Sydney, Sehwag cracked a whirlwind century against an Australian Capital Territory (ACT) XI in a practice game in Canberra last week to strengthen his claim for a recall.

Although the ton came against a none-too-impressive bowling attack, it gave the team management enough reason to pick him to partner Wasim Jaffer. Part-time opener Rahul Dravid had partnered Jaffer in the first two matches.