Wednesday, December 15, 2010

One Of My Favorite Cricketers: Imran Khan

 Imran Khan is easily one of the five greatest cricketers of all-time. Imran Khan could do almost everything that is part and parcel of the game of cricket. He dogged headlines with his feats as bowler. He chipped in with his bat and contributed significantly with the bat whenever his team needed him as a batsman. He authored many Pakistan wins with his shrewd leadership skills. There have been very few cricketers throughout the history of the game who have been good at almost every department of the game. In that regard he can be compared to Gary Sobers for being the best all round cricketer of all time.

The difference between Gary Sobers and Imran Khan is that Gary Sobers was great batsman who could contribute significantly with his bowling. Imran Khan was a great bowler who could contribute significantly with the bat. Both of them were great fielder. Imran Khan of course is more popular as a great leader than Gary Sobers. In that sense, if Gary Sobers is hailed as the greatest cricketer ever, Imran Khan too is not far behind for being the greatest cricketer of all time. At the worst, he is one of the five greatest cricketers of all time.

People looked up to Imran Khan with hope. They know he was capable of anything of a cricketing field. He won many one day tournaments for Pakistan. He led Pakistan to away test triumphs in Australia, England, and West Indies. These would put him alongside the other greats of his time. But he had some distinct achievements to his career. He successfully drew two test series against the might West Indian team. He in fact came close to winning the series against West Indies in West Indies. If not for the decision that went against him when Vivian Richards was struck plumb in front the wickets, Pakistan would have won the series against West Indies in West Indies. Gary sobers perhaps did not face such fierce competition as Imran did and excelled. The West Indies team that Imran Khan drew two test series with, and came close to winning the series was perhaps the best team of all time, and no other team fared better than Imran Khan's Pakistan against that might West Indies. A big chunk of credit goes to Imran Khan. That performance against West Indies was perhaps the crown in Imran Khan's illustrious test career.

If the performance in test series against the mighty West Indies was a crown in his test career, he crowned his illustrious one day career with the highest one day prize, World cup in 1992. He rounded off his illustrious career with the prestigious World cup in 1992. Pakistan came close to winning the world cup in the year 1987 before they eventually lost marginally in the semi final against Australia. Then to come back in 1992 at the age of 39, and actually win the cup was phenomenal.

Imran missed two years in cricket due to injury when he was at the peak of his career. Otherwise his cricketing statistics would have been even better. But Imran was that sort of few cricketers who never played for records and statistics. He is an all rounder off the field as well. He was the hearthrob of the entire cricketing world.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Players To Watch Out In Cricket World Cup 2011

The countdown has already begun for the 2011 World cup. Everyone, including the cricketing legends are picking their favorite teams. In one of my previous columns, I have already discussed the prospects of each team from an audience point of view. Let us pick and discuss the players who may mark in this World cup.

1. Hashim Amla:  Hashim Amla has emerged as one of the best batsmen in both forms of the games in the recent times. His form in one day games of late has been impeccable. The subcontinent pitches may further help Hashim Amla flourish in the 2011 World cup. Hashim Amla could play a key role along with other South African batsmen to register the first World Cup win for South Africa.

2. Virender Sehwag: I am not required to tell what Virender Sehwag can do with his bat. If he hits a purple patch in the forthcoming World cup at the top and with some outstanding batsmen like Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni to follow him, India can go all the way in the forthcoming World cup, and a couple of good performances could see them through to their second World cup title.

3. Umar Akmal: This prodigiously talented from Pakistan has been hailed as one of the best talent in the last 20 years. He burst on the International with breathtaking performances. Of late, his form has deserted him. I consider his poor form is more due to the crisis and instability in Pakistan team than any of his own reasons. If he gets going in the forthcoming World cup, and some of the mercurial Pakistan batsmen do well, Pakistan too should not be far behind from their second World Cup title.

4. Yuvraj Singh: Probably the most dangerous one day batsman in the World, more dangerous than Virender Sehwag and Umar Akmal. The only concern has been his indifferent form in the recent past. If he delivers with the bat, India becomes automatic favorites to lift the trophy with so many other talented batsmen around him.

5. Shane Watson: Shane Watson is the man for Australia. He has been the key in the recent success of Australia in one day formats of the game. He could be Australia's best bet with both the bat as well as the ball. If he could deliver at the top of the order with the likes of Ponting and Hussey to follow him, Australia can prove to the world that they are still the best team in the whole world.

6. JP Duminy: He can take the attack to the opposition at any stage of the game. One of the dangerous batsmen in the middle order in the world. If South Africa has to go the distance, he has to come good with Amla and couple of other key players. He has the ability to play waiting game and attacking game. He can turn the game on its head at anytime.

7. Praveen Kumar: In the bowling department for India, Praveen Kumar could throw more surprises than anybody else. Agreed, Zaheer Khan is currently one of the best bowler in the world and the best Indian bowler, but Praveen Kumar has the ability to surprise the batsmen and pick up wickets regularly. It was his bowling that saw India beat Australia in one day finals when India last toured Australia.

8. Wahab Riaz: Wahab Riaz is another typical Pakistan cricketer who has abundance of talent. He is an extremely good bowler, and could be decisive batting down the order. He is one of those big hitting down the order the batsmen who deliver the knockout punch. He is a welcome addition to a power-packed Pakistan batting line up.

9. Dale Steyn: Dale Steyn is one of the few bowlers in the world who could actually run through a batting order. But his efficiency on the subcontinent pitches in doubtful. Still, with his pace and accuracy, he is the most dangerous bowler in the tournament and could play a key role in South Africa's success in the World cup.

10. Eoin Morgan: He is one of the finest one day batsmen in the world currently and can win matches singlehandedly. If England has to win their first one day World Cup title, he should come good along with some other key players like Kevin Petersen and Paul Collingwood.