|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| ||
| ||
| ||
 | |||||||||
| |
From the shadows of giants Cricket is a funny game, as our observations of it repeatedly testify. It is also a game that provides us to experience the absolute talent of an individual. Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are batting phenomena for India and the West Indies. Both have entertained the world uncountable times in Test matches and one- day internationals. There is little need to rehash their calibre and performances. Both have become the brand ambassadors of batting in today’s cricketing era, and people from every nook and corner of the cricketing world are glued to the TV sets when either strides out to the middle. To draw another similarity, neither is playing in the ongoing India-West Indies series. Which is a pity, since their tussles over a seven-match rubber would have been a rare and wonderful sight. But in their absence, young guns Virender Sehwag and Ramnaresh Sarwan have grabbed the opportunity to make their presence felt. Both are Indian by name, even though one is playing for India and other for the West Indies. When they are out in the middle, though, their batting reminds one mostly of the hard-hitting West Indians of yesteryear, touched with a hint of elegance. The situational absence of the two towering champions of either side must have, in large part, contributed to the stunning performances from Sehwag and Sarwan. Neither, of course, is a veteran yet, especially when measured against the sheer weight of experience that Tendulkar and Lara possess. But necessity being the mother of invention, the two young talents have played mature and responsible innings in this series. Both Sehwag and Sarwan initially entered the international scene a few years ago, and at the time, their performances were little above the ordinary. Also, at the time, Tendulkar and Lara were the sole performers for their sides, their success necessary for the team's win. But in their absence, the lacunae of sheer talent has been filled by Sehwag and Sarwan, and this series could in fact see them turn into world-beaters, just like their respective predecessors. Undoubtedly, over the next five years or so, cricket fans all over the world will sit back and relish the batting of these two stars. This one-day series has seen some spectacular feats of batsmanship, not least from players like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. But Sehwag and Sarwan have, to me, been the real superstars, if only for the manner in which they have stepped large onto the international stage out of the shadows of champions.
The views expressed above are solely those of the guest
contributor and are carried as written, with only minor editing
for grammar, to preserve the original voice. These contributed
columns are solely personal opinion pieces and reflect only the
feelings of the guest contributor. Their being published on
CricInfo.com does not amount to an endorsement by
CricInfo's editorial staff of the opinions expressed.
[Archive]
|
|
|
     |
|
|||