Really who would have believed that Ishant Sharma could bat against Australians for so long..It was a lot about luck and of course the mental strength of the two batters. Hopefully Ishant shows the same mental toughness in pressure situations when he bowls in limited overs cricket..
There's no doubt that VVS played one of the best innings in cricket history to snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat. However one thing I could not understand was his keenness or rather over keenness in exposing Ishant when he should have been facing the music. As a matter of fact of the 131 deliveries played between Ishant and VVS, the former faced as many as 92 deliveries which is a very high percentage as compared to VVS who had faced only 39 deliveries until then. Between the 34th over and the 56th over of the Indian Innings ( total of 22 overs when they had that unbelievable partnership ), VVS had taken a single in the first delivery in as much as 14 overs.... Of the balance 8 overs, Ishant was facing the first delivery of 4 overs which means actually VVS was only playing the second fiddle to Ishant in reality. To sum it up VVS was 25 not out in 30 balls when Ishant walked in and was 69 in 69 balls when Ishant was out for 31 in 92 balls.... Thus while VVS did play a blinder this aspect of his exposing Ishant for so long still remains a mystery... What if the Aussies had bowled better and removed Ishant.... Then would VVS have got so much Credit for his wonder inning? Really doubt it...
Re: Laxman Innings - The Mystery Unsolved
by LG on Oct 06, 2010 12:20 PM
Excellent observation. Ishant should get more credit. In addition the points you have raised, Ishant ran his runs himself whereas VVS had Raina as runner. So to be fair, Ishant deserve more credits than VVS and Zaheer for this victory.
Tendulkar 1994 Arjuna Award,Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award - country's highest sporting honour 1998, 1999 Padmashri, Padmavibhushan 2010 Dravid 2004 Padmashri Sourav Ganguly 2004 PadmaShri Anil Kumble 2005 Padmashri Sehwag 2010 Padmashri VVS Laxman Arjuna Award 2001 Bhajji 2009 Padmashri Dhoni 2009 Padmashri (ironically - both of them skipped the awards function!!) Dhoni also got the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for 2008 RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD IS THE HIGHEST SPORTING HONOR IN THE COUNTRY!! Tendulkar and Vishy Anand also got it!!
I think Laxman needs to be given Padma Vibhushan and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for 2011 - directly!! That would be a real honor!!
The fact that laxman used a runner right from the start of his innings is not tolerable. He stands and hits the ball and raina has to do the running. Such a concept must be immediately abolished.
It should be made compulsory that the batsman has to run and make his runs. And not use any by-runners even if injured. The concept of by-runners should be removed since its equal to cheating. How will the opponents know if the player is really injured or just faking and using a runner..? Its a disgrace.
Re: Best innings using a by-runner
by Moshadi Maino on Oct 06, 2010 11:18 AM
Dear Guest,
Cricket is like that. Its laws are loaded in favour of the batsmen. Poor bowlers are cannon fodder. It all goes back to the class system of England, an evil which, by the way, is still going strong.
But nothing against the rules. You know that Saeed Anwar broke the ODI world record against us by using a runner. And he was obviously faking it. Even so, we Indians were sporting and accepted that record.
Re: Best innings using a by-runner
by Virender Raghave on Oct 06, 2010 10:22 AM
This is not the first time happened in cricket history. I hope you know that he could not bat in the first inning?
Re: Re: Best innings using a by-runner
by spiritOfCricket on Oct 06, 2010 12:24 PM
best you people quit watching cricket, or if u want to feel the pain then play cricket and know the pain. they are not playing gully cricket (as u replace a injured one at ur match)
