Somehow the supply of top-class openers has slowed. A few of the older hands still give doughty service, not least Saeed Anwar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Gary Kirsten and Michael Atherton. Apparently India has found a capable young craftsman in Shiv Sundar Das, and not before time. Mostly, though, the opening partnerships look fragile and early wickets regularly tumble. Many of these batsmen do not move their feet and angle their bats towards the slips.
Stoicism is needed, and skill.
Openers are meant to be gum trees, not delicate orchids. Of course, the same applies among the shrinking violets in the middle order. The basics of the game have been neglected, or forgotten. Over the years I've been lucky enough to watch several excellent batting coaches at work. Some of them hardly played the game, but they have eyes and ears and brains.