Indian Cricket
Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
By Taps
December 23 2009
12 of his last 13 100s have been over 150. He has 6 double centuries and was a few runs away from the fastest triple century in cricket. None have come against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe. And he was promoted as a makeshift opener in test cricket - supposedly the hardest position to bat in Tests!
What's amazing is that he scores at an atrocious rate for test cricket. His strike rate is in the mid-eighties and he owns the records for the fastest 250+ scores, fastest 300 scores etc.
Has made runs on bouncy SA wickets, In Aus, Eng, SL, Pak, NZ. In fact, in the last SL series, where none of the batsman from Ind could score against Mendis and Murali, he hit a double ton. The next highest score was 25 or so!
But most importantly, we don't give Sehwag his due when describing his innings as brutal or explosive or pulverizing. Anybody watching this innings or any of his big innings closely should use one word above all others - GENIUS!
I am a huge fan of Sachin, Lara and Richards! Of the three Lara in full song comes closest to the range of shots that Sehwag possesses. Sachin and Lara are definitely more attractive playing the cover drive or the straight drive or the cut, but for sheer imagination and ability to create astonishing strokes out of nothing, Sehwag is unparalleled!
I know that I myself find it hard to name him as such. No footwork.. absolutely still head, great hand eye coordination and an incredible ability to manufacture positive strokes from any delivery! People would love the best batsman to have the grace of a Gower, the correctness of Sachin and flashes of Lara. Sehwag on the other hand is known as the "Butcher of Najafgarh! But boy, what a butcher!! Not for him, the death from a thousand delicate cuts.. He just likes to chop away with a frenzy not seen in test cricket before.
Maybe he isnt the greatest. Maybe Sachin with his correctness and Lara with his flashes are considered better. But it's time for us to move Sehwag up a bracket. He is not merely a great batsman! We are seeing a legend live and in full flow! Enjoy it because test cricket may not see the likes of him again!
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
23/12/2009 23:33
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
Quote:anu_D
Please define modern era
From the date of Lara's retirement?
Remember he is the same guy who said these things...
About Aussie bowling in the 2003 WC Finals..."Mein Unko Faad Doonga" i.e. "I'll simply tear them up"
About Sri Lanka bowlers during Brabourne Test... "I felt sorry for them..."
And best of all the response to Shoaib Akhtar who was egging him to go for a pull or hook shot... "Bowling kar raha hain, ke bheek maang raha hai?" i.e. "Are you bowling or begging?".......HAAHAHAHAHAA.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:24:16:40:25 by Birbal.
> prolly the most biased press in almost any developed western country .
Trust me, we believe you. And you needn't limit it to developed or western countries.
When I look at their media the US seems so much more mature, with the possible exception of Fox - which, no coincidence, is owned by Aussie lunatic Murdoch.
[www.cricinfo.com]
Here is Sehwag himself on Greggy...
Indian opener Virender Sehwag has branded Greg Chappell untrustworthy and criticised the former Indian coach for interfering with his free-hitting batting style.
Sehwag took aim at the Australian great while heaping praise on Chappell's successor, current Indian coach Gary Kirsten.
Kirsten "doesn't force things on you" Sehwag told the Press Trust of India this week.
But he said Chappell had tried to get Sehwag to change his batting style, known for its aggression and explosiveness but also criticised for its lack of footwork.
"He had his view on my front-foot play, my footwork," Sehwag told PTI.
But more damning was the picture painted by Sehwag of Chappell as someone who betrayed the confidence of his players.
"The thing (with Chappell) was that whatever you shared with him, it was promptly disclosed to the media and selectors," he said.
"He hurt the trust ... I wasn't comfortable with him," Sehwag said.
By comparison, Sehwag labelled Kirsten ""the best coach I have ever seen".
"His basic premise is: you all are international cricketers and you know how to succeed and how important it is to succeed.
"So I won't thrust anything on you. But whenever you need me, for practice, throwing balls, sharing ideas, worries, I am always there."
It was not the first time instance of acrimony between Chappell and an Indian player.
In a confidential email to the BCCI in 2005, Chappell said then Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was unfit for the job and ran the team through "divide and rule".
The email was one of a number of events that indicating an ongoing spat between the pair.
Chappell resigned as Indian coach soon after India's poor performance at the 2007 world cup.
They have started the greatest since Bradman spin again...
Btw, Sehwag has SIX Doubles in less than HALF as many Tests as Punter...and it includes 2 Triples... but hey he is just a mindless basher... Punter is the man who laughed in face of bowlers... though I am pretty sure Bhajji laughed in his face most of the time...
More Indian Cricket headlines
- Player Contracts/Retainers Announced for 2021
- Indian Test Squad for Upcoming England Series Announced
- Indian Test, ODI, and T20i Squads for Australia Tour
- Two New Members of Senior Selection Committee Chosen
- Janini & Vrinda: New Wave of Indian Female Umpires Coming Up
- Wasim Jaffer: The Man Who Loved Batting
- India Start Next Phase of Test Championship as Favorites
- India U19 Reach World Cup Finals For Third Time in a Row
- Four Time World Champions India Announce U19 Squad
Indian Cricket latest threads
- DOMESTIC CRICKET LINKS BLOG
- Player Contracts/Retainers Announced for 2021
- Indian Test Squad for Upcoming England Series Announced
- Indian Test, ODI, and T20i Squads for Australia Tour
- Two New Members of Senior Selection Committee
- Janini & Vrinda: New Wave of Indian Female Umpires Coming Up
- Wasim Jaffer: The Man Who Loved Batting
- India Start Next Phase of Test Championship as Favorites
- India U19 Reach World Cup Finals For Third Time in a Row
- Four Time World Champions India Announce U19 Squad