Australians beware, Sehwag is on fire

 
Kersi Meher-Homji Columnist

By Kersi Meher-Homji, 9 Dec 2011 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert

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Australians beware, Sehwag is on fire + enlarge image

India's captain Virender Sehwag bats. AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi

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As Michael Clarke goes out to toss with New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor today in the Hobart Test, half his mind will be on Indian’s dynamic opener and six-smasher, Virender Sehwag.

And no wonder.

Sehwag’s sensational double century yesterday against the West Indies in an ODI at Indore, India, is enough to send shivers down any opposing captain’s spine. Especially as the Melbourne Test against India starts on the 26th.

For those Roarers who did not watch ‘Viru’ Sehwag’s run-spree last night, let me run through the highlights.

India won the toss and attacked with gusto, Sehwag (219 runs off 149 balls at a strike-rate of 147, belting 25 fours and 7 sixes) becoming the highest scorer in an ODI.

He is only the second player to score a double century in an ODI, the first being another Indian, Sachin Tendulkar, 200 not out vs. South Africa at Gwalior last February.

This made Tendulkar (resting from the ODI series against the Windies) exclaim: “I am very happy for Viru. It is even more satisfying that an Indian has broken my record.”

Sehwag added 176 runs with Gautam Gambhir (67) for the first wicket, then140 with Suresh Raina (55) at a run-rate of almost 8, till both – Gambhir and Raina – were run out.

Thus, India was at one stage 1-316 with Sehwag marching towards his record-smashing double hundred.

India eventually reached 5-418 at a run-rate of 8.36.

Thanks to a fighting 96 from Denesh Ramdin, the visitors scored 265 but lost the match by 153 runs and the series 1-3 with one match still to be played.

The focus was on Sehwag as he received compliments from colleagues, opponents and former greats (as reported in CricInfo).

Chris Gayle, himself a six symbol: “Well I did watch some of that innings by Viru… Brilliant striking!! Congrats on your 219… That’s child abuse!”

Team mate Yuvraj Singh who is remembered for smashing England’s Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in September 2007 in Durban in the ICC World T20: “I say it again! I never saw Sir Viv [Richards] bat but I’ve seen Sehwag bat! What a player, 219 in a one day game is next to impossible!”

Derek Pringle, former England Test player and now a commentator:”Sehwag, the greatest slaughterer of bowling since IVA Richards.”

And finally from Australia’s opener Dave Warner: “Wow, Test match tomorrow but am still up watching Virender Sehwag score, hopefully, 200. Unreal, and he does [get the] highest ever. Well done mate.”

Australian spectators love Sehwag’s unorthodox batting as much as they cheer the elegant stroke-play of Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

The Melbourne crowd had the thrill of watching Sehwag in full flight in the December 2003 Test. For five hours he enthralled the Boxing Day crowd of 62,600 by belting five sixes and 25 fours in his spectacular 195. Despite his fireworks India lost.

In the 2004 Multan Test against Pakistan Sehwag romped to 309, the first triple century by an Indian. And he brought it up with a six. Two Tests and three months ago in Melbourne, he had been dismissed trying the same stroke five runs short of what would have been his first Test double-hundred.

At Multan Sehwag thrashed six sixes and 39 fours in his epic 309 off 375 balls.

His highest score is 319 at a strike-rate of 105 against South Africa in the March 2008 Chennai Test. It included five sixes and 42 fours. He had hammered 257 runs in a day.

So be it an ODI or a Test sixomaniac, Sehwag provides entertainment plus to spectators but migraine to opposite captains.

No doubt Michael Clarke will have Sehwag on his mind as the Hobart Test commences today.

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