Monthly Archives: March 2009

Simply Sehwag

March 28, 2009

He has showcased his destructive prowess with the cricket bat around the world, caning bowling attacks instinctively and relentlessly. Bowlers and captain of all opposing teams dread the idea of watching him bat two sessions. Yet, even more than his attacking skills with the cricket bat, the single biggest trait that marks him out is his simplicity. From team-mates to rivals, from colleagues to biographer, everyone will concede that Virender Sehwag’s simplicity is his greatest characteristic.

He is a mere rustic, we were told a decade ago when he was making waves as a young lad who could hit the cricket ball real hard. Riding the breaks that came his way, Sehwag has become a household name as people realise that it is not ever so often cricket throws up a destructive talent that has everyone around gaping in awe. Sehwag has been that talent. Read more »

Batting has papered some cracks on field

March 13, 2009

There are some cracks that have been papered over by India’s awesome batting performances in the ODI series against New Zealand: Team India pace bowlers have only been marginally better than their counterparts.

Zaheer Khan has been the pick of the Indian fastmedium bowlers but the bowling unit has been struggling more than a fair bit to contain the flow of runs, even if you concede the fact that the grounds have been smaller than in most places around the world and the tracks flatter than perhaps even in India.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wicket-keeping could be the other area of concern. He can do with some improvement – he dropped Jesse Ryder off Munaf Patel in the third match and missed stumping Brendon McCullum off Yuvraj Singh in the fourth game. At other times, these wicket-keeping mistakes could have caused the team much anxiety but happily for the skipper and his unit, India was able to overcome these lapses.

Sehwag combines savagery with aesthetics

March 11, 2009

Virender Sehwag mersmerised us all one more time with his range of strokeplay, toying with the New Zealand attack as well as M/s Duckworth and Lewis in the fourth one-day international game in Hamilton on Wednesday. He made batting look so simple; and the hapless New Zealand bowlers pedestrian as India claimed the series with a match on hand.

He breezed to the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian – he needed just 60 deliveries at the Seddon Park – with a display of clean hitting that is unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry. His opening partner in the 201 run stand, Gautam Gambhir made 63 runs at nearly a run a ball but that seemed so slow against Sehwag’s 125 off 74 balls.

There was one mistimed drive for six off left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and one edge to the ‘keeper Peter McGlashan but all other strokes were played off the meat of his 1200gm bat. It was a savage innings and, even if it is an oxymoron, there was an aesthetic appeal to his innings. He has entertained before but this one will have to be top of the drawer stuff. Read more »

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