It takes all kinds to make up this great game. The connoisseurs might root for the Rahul Dravids and Michael Vaughans who’ve kept the traditional virtues of technique and ‘correct’ cricket alive. They certainly do hold a crucial place in the sport. But in today’s day and age of fact paced cricket, imagine how boring this game would have been if there were no batsmen willing to take on the furious pace of Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar. It is indeed a treat to watch bowlers running in at 90 miles an hour. But them being hit out of the stands by the men with willow in hand is certainly a terrific sight for the cricket loving public. Yes, these are the ones unfearful of whose bowling at the other end and ready to take on any challenge by the scruff of the neck. Welcome to the age of slam bang cricket!
So who’s the most feared batsman among the current lot of willow wielders? The Wisden Cricketer magazine conducted a poll recently to find out the answer. The respondents were none other that 20 of the leading international bowlers like Harbhajan Singh, Brett Lee and Muttiah Muralitharan to name a few. Who better than these bowlers who’ve faced the wrath of those giant hitters? And there were no surprises in store. Here are the Top 10 most dreaded batsmen in the world according to the poll.
1. Adam Gilchrist, 2. Brian Lara, 3. Shahid Afridi, 4. Virender Sehwag, 5. Andrew Flintoff, 6. Sachin Tendulkar, 7. Chris Cairns, 8. Matthew Hayden, 9. Abdul Razzaq, 10. Ricky Ponting.
Now what is it that makes these top ten such a force to reckon with? Let’s start in the reverse order.
10. ‘Batting Powerhouse’ Ricky Ponting: Ever since Ricky Ponting made his debut in the mid 90’s, it wad believed he would go on to become Australia’s prolific run getter in the years to come. So it is no surprise to see the heights he has achieved today. The chief weapon in Ponting’s armoury is his pull shot. Among the best players of short bowling, Ponting’s great eye helps him to rock back and dispatch the ball over the boundary even if his initial movement is on the front foot. His lunging forward may have got him into trouble a few times, especially on the subcontinent, but then that is also one of his major strengths and something very unique. The wristy flicks by Ponting on the leg side might not look as elegant as VVS Laxman’s but it is certainly no less effective. Punter, as he is better known to teammates, had his share of troubles too when he was suspended for being involved in a pub brawl in Calcutta during Australia’s tour of India in ’98. But unlike teammate Warne, he mended his ways and today is among the best batsmen in the world, if not the best. Right now, he is at the zenith of his career and it is for precisely this reason that he finds a mention among the most lethal batsman of the modern era.
9. ‘Gentle Giant’ Abdul Razzaq: This Pakistani all-rounder can be best described as a ‘slog overs specialist’. Many a times his blitzkriegs at the end of Pakistan’s innings have been the difference between victory and defeat for his side. Looking at Razzaq’s crouched stance, one doesn’t get the impression of a good batsman. But leave aside the aesthetic part of his batting, and he is undoubtedly one of the hardest hitter of a cricket ball. Razzaq belongs to the category of stand and deliver batsman and if the bowlers fail to get it right in the final overs, they are taken to the cleaners by this Pakistani genius. The one weakness in Razzaq’s batting is his susceptibility when he is new at the crease. But once set, it’s a herculean task to stop the flow of runs from his willow. Capable of making a mockery of any attack in the world, what’s amazing about this big hitter is he stared is career at No.11- just like our own Kapil Dev. The turning point in Razzaq’s batting came when he was promoted to No.3 in the batting order during the ’99 World Cup in England. The rest, as they say, is history.
8. ‘Monster’ Matthew Hayden: How many batsmen are willing to go down the track to fast bowlers and hit them out of the ground? Well, Matthew Hayden certainly is. And that’s why he figures prominently among the batsmen opening bowlers hate to bowl to. Hayden’s monster like built gives him huge advantage as a batsman. But to his credit, he has made full use of it at least post the 2001 tour to India when he resurrected his career with some sensational knocks. Hayden’s biggest strength is that he can play almost any shot in the book. There was a time when he was miserable against spinners. But this extremely hardworking cricketer got over his woes and ‘swept’ his way to glory in the series against India four years ago. While all other batsmen struggled against Harbhajan, Hayden stood firm like a rock and had no trouble at all against the deadly spinner on India’s dust bowls. When in a murderous mood, he can destroy bowlers put prefers to remain a bit more subdued these days playing perfect foil to opening partner Adam Gilchrist
7. ‘Genetic Power’ Chris Cairns: The adage ‘Like Father Like Son’ sits perfectly on Chris Cairns. If Lance had the ability to knock the cover off the ball, Chris has only enhanced the big hitting reputation of the Cairns family. Though equally adept at playing fast bowling, watching Cairns come down the wicket and dispatch the spinners out of the ground is certainly a sight to behold. The strongly built lad has played quite a few memorable knocks, some on really big occasions. His crucial 60 in the early stages of the ’99 World Cup against Australia when he handled Shane Warne with effervescent ease was certainly one of them. So also was his century against India in the Champions Trophy final the following year. The innings was all the more special because Cairns played with an injured knee after he was declared fit just an hour before the final in Nairobi. Apart from this, he also holds the enviable record for having hit the maximum number of sixes in the longer version of the game. His career has been marred by injuries throughout. (Geoffrey Boycott once referred to him as the best ‘non-playing’ all-rounder). But despite it, Cairns has done enough to justify his place among the leading all-rounders in world cricket.
6. ‘Little Master’ Sachin Tendulkar: No matter how many comments are made about Sachin having past his best, the fact that he’s been placed in this category is proof enough that bowlers still take pride in having his wicket against their name. Once compared to Don Bradman by the man himself, Sachin has dominated world cricket for over a decade like very few have. Be it his signature straight drive down the ground or his bludgeoning cuts and pulls, this Little Master has always been a crowd puller. Though not as aggressive as in his youthful days, Sachin keeps showing glimpses of old time and again. Remember his whirlwind 98 against Pakistan in the last edition of the World Cup. The arch rivals had put up a mammoth total but Sachin made a mockery of it by his merciless counter attack on Shoaib Akhtar as India registered their fourth consecutive World Cup game against its neigbouring nation. As long as he plays, Sachin Tendulkar will always be a prize scalp for the opposition. To sum up Sachin immense contribution to the popularity of the game, one can quote Ravi Shastri who said, “Sachin Tendulkar has been sent down on earth just to play cricket and go back.”
5. ‘Brute Force’ Andrew Flintoff: A few seasons back, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff would certainly have not featured in this list. He was talented no doubt, but his impetuosity got the better of him time and again. Comparisons were drawn with Ian Botham when he arrived on the scene and that certainly didn’t help matters for the burly all-rounder. And when despite being ample opportunities he couldn’t deliver, he had to face the axe. But that was in the past. The new, improved Andrew Flintoff of today can be a thorn in the flesh of any opposition. What has changed is his attitude towards batting. The ball still flies of his bat quite a distance, but his selection of strokes has improved vastly. Having learnt the virtues of patience and discipline, Flintoff is today rated as a world-class cricketer which given his talent is a tag he is truly worthy of. It’s no coincidence that England’s successful run in international cricket has come along with the reincarnation of Flintoff. His masculine power has endeared him to English fans in a big way, especially of late. And if he continues in the same vein, God save bowlers all over the world.
4. ‘Swashbuckler’ Virender Sehwag: Isn’t this the same guy who was termed a Tendulkar clone during his early days in international cricket? How things have changed over the years. Today there are youngsters all over the country trying to ape his style of batsmanship. In his own words, Sehwag has a simple philosophy towards batting- if the ball is there to be hit, I hit. Yes that Virender Sehwag for you, uncomplicated and unfearful. Don’t talk technique to him. He has developed a style of his own. And as long as he continues scoring heavily, who is bothered about such nitty-gritties. One amazing quality about Sehwag is his tendency to reach milestones with a great flourish. Wonder how many would have dared to go down the track and hit a spinner for six to reach 300? Well, Sehwag certainly did that at Multan. And that’s why the Nawab of Najafgarh is so special. He truly a one of a kind cricketer and would have ruined a lot of bowlers careers by the time he finished (ask Saqlain Mushtaq). In the process, there might be some rash strokes and horrendous looking dismissals. But for the immense pleasure his batting gives cricket lovers, it’s a very small price to pay.
3. ‘Reckless Destroyer’ Shahid Afridi : If ever you wanted to use the term unpredictable for anyone, there can be no better example than Shahid Afridi. Even God cannot foresee what Afridi will dish out when he comes in to bat. The strongly built Pathan seems to have been around forever but has never been able to secure his place in the team despite his immense potential. When on fire though, there is no ground too big for him and no better site in world cricket than watching him have a ball at the expense of the opposition bowlers. No matter who’s got the ball in hand, if it’s Afridi’s day out there’s no stopping him. Of late, he also seems to have become a bit more consistent playing some extraordinary knocks during Pakistan’s recent visit to India and Australia prior to that. So cricket experts might feel that the reckless boy has finally matured. But somehow one feels with Afridi the unpredictability factor will always exist. And that’s what he will be remembered for years down the line when the mention of exceptional cricketers are made. Yes, exceptional he is and world cricket would be poorer without such eccentric characters around.
2. ‘Irrepressible’ Brian Lara: Not many batsmen are at their peak at the age of 35. But the way Brian Charles Lara has been batting of late, it seems it is indeed his golden period after the one he had in ’94 when he broke the world record for highest Test and first class score. The sad part is that so many of his greats knocks have gone unrewarded. But no matter how pathetic the state of Windies cricket is, Lara has always provided the Caribbean fans with a glimmer of hope with his exceptional brilliance. His knocks are only what can be termed as Lara specials. The shuffle before the flourishing drives has always been Lara’s trademark. Many believed it could land him in the wrong foot position to play the ball. But that hardly ever has been the case. He’s played in his own inimitable style and has given headaches to most opposition bowlers. And this is something only geniuses are capable of. At times, he may have been termed an enigma and rightly so for not delivering the goods consistently. But nobody can refute the claim that Brian is undoubtedly one of the greatest to have graced the game and his batting exploits will always remain part of cricketing folklore.
8. ‘Monster’ Matthew Hayden: How many batsmen are willing to go down the track to fast bowlers and hit them out of the ground? Well, Matthew Hayden certainly is. And that’s why he figures prominently among the batsmen opening bowlers hate to bowl to. Hayden’s monster like built gives him huge advantage as a batsman. But to his credit, he has made full use of it at least post the 2001 tour to India when he resurrected his career with some sensational knocks. Hayden’s biggest strength is that he can play almost any shot in the book. There was a time when he was miserable against spinners. But this extremely hardworking cricketer got over his woes and ‘swept’ his way to glory in the series against India four years ago. While all other batsmen struggled against Harbhajan, Hayden stood firm like a rock and had no trouble at all against the deadly spinner on India’s dust bowls. When in a murderous mood, he can destroy bowlers put prefers to remain a bit more subdued these days playing perfect foil to opening partner Adam Gilchrist
7. ‘Genetic Power’ Chris Cairns: The adage ‘Like Father Like Son’ sits perfectly on Chris Cairns. If Lance had the ability to knock the cover off the ball, Chris has only enhanced the big hitting reputation of the Cairns family. Though equally adept at playing fast bowling, watching Cairns come down the wicket and dispatch the spinners out of the ground is certainly a sight to behold. The strongly built lad has played quite a few memorable knocks, some on really big occasions. His crucial 60 in the early stages of the ’99 World Cup against Australia when he handled Shane Warne with effervescent ease was certainly one of them. So also was his century against India in the Champions Trophy final the following year. The innings was all the more special because Cairns played with an injured knee after he was declared fit just an hour before the final in Nairobi. Apart from this, he also holds the enviable record for having hit the maximum number of sixes in the longer version of the game. His career has been marred by injuries throughout. (Geoffrey Boycott once referred to him as the best ‘non-playing’ all-rounder). But despite it, Cairns has done enough to justify his place among the leading all-rounders in world cricket.
6. ‘Little Master’ Sachin Tendulkar: No matter how many comments are made about Sachin having past his best, the fact that he’s been placed in this category is proof enough that bowlers still take pride in having his wicket against their name. Once compared to Don Bradman by the man himself, Sachin has dominated world cricket for over a decade like very few have. Be it his signature straight drive down the ground or his bludgeoning cuts and pulls, this Little Master has always been a crowd puller. Though not as aggressive as in his youthful days, Sachin keeps showing glimpses of old time and again. Remember his whirlwind 98 against Pakistan in the last edition of the World Cup. The arch rivals had put up a mammoth total but Sachin made a mockery of it by his merciless counter attack on Shoaib Akhtar as India registered their fourth consecutive World Cup game against its neigbouring nation. As long as he plays, Sachin Tendulkar will always be a prize scalp for the opposition. To sum up Sachin immense contribution to the popularity of the game, one can quote Ravi Shastri who said, “Sachin Tendulkar has been sent down on earth just to play cricket and go back.”
5. ‘Brute Force’ Andrew Flintoff: A few seasons back, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff would certainly have not featured in this list. He was talented no doubt, but his impetuosity got the better of him time and again. Comparisons were drawn with Ian Botham when he arrived on the scene and that certainly didn’t help matters for the burly all-rounder. And when despite being ample opportunities he couldn’t deliver, he had to face the axe. But that was in the past. The new, improved Andrew Flintoff of today can be a thorn in the flesh of any opposition. What has changed is his attitude towards batting. The ball still flies of his bat quite a distance, but his selection of strokes has improved vastly. Having learnt the virtues of patience and discipline, Flintoff is today rated as a world-class cricketer which given his talent is a tag he is truly worthy of. It’s no coincidence that England’s successful run in international cricket has come along with the reincarnation of Flintoff. His masculine power has endeared him to English fans in a big way, especially of late. And if he continues in the same vein, God save bowlers all over the world.
4. ‘Swashbuckler’ Virender Sehwag: Isn’t this the same guy who was termed a Tendulkar clone during his early days in international cricket? How things have changed over the years. Today there are youngsters all over the country trying to ape his style of batsmanship. In his own words, Sehwag has a simple philosophy towards batting- if the ball is there to be hit, I hit. Yes that Virender Sehwag for you, uncomplicated and unfearful. Don’t talk technique to him. He has developed a style of his own. And as long as he continues scoring heavily, who is bothered about such nitty-gritties. One amazing quality about Sehwag is his tendency to reach milestones with a great flourish. Wonder how many would have dared to go down the track and hit a spinner for six to reach 300? Well, Sehwag certainly did that at Multan. And that’s why the Nawab of Najafgarh is so special. He truly a one of a kind cricketer and would have ruined a lot of bowlers careers by the time he finished (ask Saqlain Mushtaq). In the process, there might be some rash strokes and horrendous looking dismissals. But for the immense pleasure his batting gives cricket lovers, it’s a very small price to pay.
3. ‘Reckless Destroyer’ Shahid Afridi : If ever you wanted to use the term unpredictable for anyone, there can be no better example than Shahid Afridi. Even God cannot foresee what Afridi will dish out when he comes in to bat. The strongly built Pathan seems to have been around forever but has never been able to secure his place in the team despite his immense potential. When on fire though, there is no ground too big for him and no better site in world cricket than watching him have a ball at the expense of the opposition bowlers. No matter who’s got the ball in hand, if it’s Afridi’s day out there’s no stopping him. Of late, he also seems to have become a bit more consistent playing some extraordinary knocks during Pakistan’s recent visit to India and Australia prior to that. So cricket experts might feel that the reckless boy has finally matured. But somehow one feels with Afridi the unpredictability factor will always exist. And that’s what he will be remembered for years down the line when the mention of exceptional cricketers are made. Yes, exceptional he is and world cricket would be poorer without such eccentric characters around.
2. ‘Irrepressible’ Brian Lara: Not many batsmen are at their peak at the age of 35. But the way Brian Charles Lara has been batting of late, it seems it is indeed his golden period after the one he had in ’94 when he broke the world record for highest Test and first class score. The sad part is that so many of his greats knocks have gone unrewarded. But no matter how pathetic the state of Windies cricket is, Lara has always provided the Caribbean fans with a glimmer of hope with his exceptional brilliance. His knocks are only what can be termed as Lara specials. The shuffle before the flourishing drives has always been Lara’s trademark. Many believed it could land him in the wrong foot position to play the ball. But that hardly ever has been the case. He’s played in his own inimitable style and has given headaches to most opposition bowlers. And this is something only geniuses are capable of. At times, he may have been termed an enigma and rightly so for not delivering the goods consistently. But nobody can refute the claim that Brian is undoubtedly one of the greatest to have graced the game and his batting exploits will always remain part of cricketing folklore.
And whoa the numero uno spot goes to…
1. Adam ‘Dasher’ Gilchrist: Some years back, Gilchrist tried his hand at golf and onlookers say he struggled to hit the ball even a decent distance. But replace the golf stick with the cricket bat and it is an altogether different proposition. One of the few wicket-keepers who can claim their spot in the side on the basis of batting ability alone, Gilchrist has given a new definition to the term all-rounder. Don’t forget that he had to slip into the shoes of the legendary Ian Healy. But in no time, Healy was forgotten and everyone was raving about this guy named Gilchrist. The success of this dashing left-hander can be attributed to his positive attitude towards the game. There’s never a dull moment when Gilchrist is at the crease. He scores big ones with amazing consistency considering the amount of risks he takes. Like Sehwag, he too doesn’t posses the perfect technique but is gifted with a great eye and can play a shot to almost every delivery. You bowl length and he’ll drive you, bowl short and the ball will disappear into the stands. With Gilchrist at the crease no target seems impossible. " I don't want to bowl to him, man" is what Pakistan seamer Azhar Mahmood felt about facing the dazzling strokemaker from Down Under. Need we say anything more?
The bad news for bowlers all round the world is that with Twenty20 cricket making such waves on the international circuit, it will only provide a platform for these master blasters to wield their heavy bats even more ruthlessly. Didn’t we say cricket is a batsman’s game?
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