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!
Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged)
Date: 23/12/2009 23:33
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Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era??
Posted by: Max (IP Logged)
Date: 04/12/2009 07:31
It's always a debatable topic. Test cricket allows for many different styles/approaches. But one thing for sure, Sehwag is the most destructive batsman of all-time. He has the fastest triple hundred, 3 of the top 4 fastest double hundreds, the fastest 250, and is only one of 3 batsmen to have scored 2 Triple hundreds. And all this in just 70 Test matches. Enough said.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era??
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 22/12/2009 17:04
His record is PHENOMENAL...and I think if not the Greggy hiccup it would have been even more so...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era??
Posted by: Haringey Racer (IP Logged)
Date: 22/12/2009 18:26
No.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era??
Posted by: anu_d (IP Logged)
Date: 22/12/2009 19:06
Please define modern era
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era??
Posted by: Haringey Racer (IP Logged)
Date: 22/12/2009 19:21
Quote:anu_D
Please define modern era
From the date of Lara's retirement?
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era??
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 22/12/2009 20:37
He certainly has claims to be THE GREATEST of all time...not just of the modern era...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 15:55
If Sehwag was English or Australian...he would have been ANNOINTED GOD by the Western press...and then the copycat Indian press would have nodded its head in agreement...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:14
Veeru must know what people are saying about him, with an English batsman going so far as to say he's the greatest of all time -- yet he's so humble as to wave off all comparison with Tendulkar and Richards, and even saying Gambhir is the second best opener after Gavaskar. A modest and self-deprecating man, despite hisknowledge of his own powers.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:17
No cloyingly humble like SRK though...
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.
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.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:29
Yes, he certainly is no shrinking violet when it comes to facing down the opposition.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: sports is fun (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:36
sehwag is a very honest man and it shows in his batting , pure clean hitting, aus press is the most childish press if u ever belive me. prolly the most biased press in almost any developed western country .
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:41
> aus press is the most childish press if u ever belive me
> 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.
> 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.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:43
yeah I was thinking that too.. Fox is Murdoch owned...kinda makes sense...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: sports is fun (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 16:55
yeah i saw a doco called outfoxed on r murdoch's fox tv in us . gtta glimpse of media in us.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 24/12/2009 17:28
What is the highest ICC individual ratings points Sehwag has ever achieved...? I think Hayden at one point topped Gavaskar... now that shows how silly the ratings are...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 31/12/2009 20:31
If you go by the ICC player ratings...he has only EVER been as good as Stan McCabe and Lindsey Hassett... and currently he is rated worse than Ian Botham and Bob Cowper at their peak...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Meet_New_Mr_India (IP Logged)
Date: 03/01/2010 19:08
I. Chappell has some nice words for Sehwag, touting him as the modern era Bradman..
[www.cricinfo.com]
[www.cricinfo.com]
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 04/01/2010 01:38
Ian Chappell is merely trying to prevent people from taking aim at Greg for nearly ruining Sehwag...see how he tries to show that Wright had issues with Sehwag...
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.
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.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 04/01/2010 01:51
The only weakness I see in Sehwag is against the swinging ball...that too when it swings late... His poorish batting averages against England and New Zealand show that... but pace, bounce, etc. don't bother him... and spin to him is MAKKHAN...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: sports is fun (IP Logged)
Date: 04/01/2010 11:09
^ the late inswinging delivery. but then it is sehwag wen he puts his foot down , then it dosnt matter what the situation, pitch or bowler . just pure mayhem and fun for ME.
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: round rock (IP Logged)
Date: 04/01/2010 12:50
i would rate him the best batsman of this century
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Birbal (IP Logged)
Date: 15/01/2010 17:30
The Aussie media is going ga-ga over Ponting...who btw, was dropped on DUCK and then had two more lives via the fielders... in his 209...
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...
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...
Re: Is Sehwag the Greatest Batsman in the modern era?
Posted by: Spirit of Cricket (IP Logged)
Date: 15/01/2010 22:17
Sehwag vs Ponting is a non-starter - Sehwag by miles. And without the umpire benefit that lbw-prone Ponting gets in each and every match.
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