Azhar and Tony Greig

It is very natural for Mumbaikar’s to play with Straight Bat, because we grew up in narrow streets, where best shot to play was straight. But if you look at it from bookish knowledge perspective, it is very “Natural” to play straight. Ball is coming from that direction and you are hitting it back with straight bat. Good coaching will teach you also how to play cover drives and whenever width is given natural swing of bat will hit the ball square on off side. However, “Natural Talent” comes into picture when a batsman is able to hit the ball on “On Side” and with authority and consistency. “Hook”, “Pull” , “Flicks” and “On Drive” are therefore comparatively difficult shots to execute and you need to have a natural skills to play those shots. Perhaps, that might be the reason, why, “Brian Lara” or “Mohd Azhar” or “Saeed Anwar” looked attractive and graceful players, because they could play difficult shots with ease and consistency and then the second benchers such as “Ganguly” or “Gower” or “Mark Waugh” etc comes into picture with their exclusive timings and then comes a “Feel Good” hitters such as “Richards”, “Kapil Dev” , “Dhoni” , “Gilchrist”, “Inzamam” etc where every shot of their gives back a punch like we are watching a Boxing in a circular stadium.

I was watching coca cola cup 2000 final between Pakistan and S.Africa. Close game, with S.Africa needed 67 runs in 60 balls to win with 6 wickets in hand. Easy enough isn't it. Well not so easy when opposition has, "Waqar Younis". In one over, he got 2 wickets, next over 1 more wicket and next over 1 more wicket. 4 more wickets gone from S.Africa and game totally turns in the favor of Pakistan. These are "Winners" we are talking about. Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne etc etc, They change the game in their favor in the matter of minutes.

One other observation, Voice of Cricket, "Tony Greig". Its not the wicket of Waqar until Tony Greig goes crazy in commentary box, "Oh yes, Got him, bowled him, clean bowled him, Look at the celebration, Its party down there, Smiles and claps are back in the ground, Waqar Younis just got Pakistan back in the game" What a voice, Cricket will never be the same without you Tony Greig. Good cricketers like Kallis, Tendulkars, Lara, Donald, Ambrose will come and go, but cricket will miss your voice the most.