Warne’s take: Sehwag, Tendulkar and the Fortress

For once, I agree with some of what Warne has had to say. This bit on Sehwag woke me up from my blogging lull and other energy-draining, spirit-dampening stuff that’s been bogging me down of late. Here’s a thrilling bit on our very own Viru.

“Virender Sehwag was facing Pakistan’s medium-fast bowler Abdul Razzaq, who was reverse-swinging the ball, and the way the Indian handled him is narrated in an interesting story in Australia’s legendary spinner Shane Warne’s just released book.

“Sehwag came up to (his batting mate Jeremy) Snape and said: ‘We must lose this ball. I have a plan’. Next over he whacked the ball clean out of the ground, forcing umpires to pick another from the box that would obviously not reverse straight away. To which Sehwag said: ‘We are alright for one hour.’ Smart I say.”

That’s amazing! Maybe it’s only amazing to stupid spectator me. Here’s a dimension to cricket that I didn’t think batsmen had. Perhaps not too many people have it. Perhaps that’s also why there’s only one Virender Sehwag.

As to be expected, Warne is all fan-girlish about Tendulkar. Perhaps that has more to do with the way Tendulkar has played Warne than Tendulkar the batsman.

It’s not too interesting that Warnie rates Dravid among the best for many Aussies respect Dravs. He could very well have been called the Fortress, not just a Wall, says Warnie. You’d have to break thru the Wall to see the God (or get the guy at the other end). Ah nostalgia!

I’m now itching to buy that book.