Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
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Technically Alvin Kalicharan was arguably the most correct of all left-handed batsmen.No attacking left-hander tackled spin bowling better than Kalicharan.Nor did any batsmen treat great pace with as much contempt ever in the in the world cup as Kali did against Australia in 1975.For sheer virtuosity and domination it was close to the best cricketing innings ever.At one stage he averaged above 50 in his test career before 1976 and looked stet to become the best batsmen of his generation.He was also very prolific representing Warwickshire.
Sadly politics let him down doing complete injustice to his talent.His form declined from 1976 being greatly overshadowed by Greenidge,Viv Richards and Lloyd.He made a comeback in India in 1978-79 and partially in Australia but again declined before joining the rebel tour of South Africa in 1982 which effectively ended his official career.
To me at his peak from 1973-75 he was in the Barry Richards class.I can never forget his classical 158 against the English team led by Tony Greig in 1974.He also scored a classy century facing Lillee and Thomson in 1975-76 down under .In Mumbai in 1978-79 he looked set to registering a double century before being wrongly adjudged lbw.
At his best Kali simply looked Bradmanesque or a Rohan Kanhai the other way around.Arguably no left -hander was as consummate at his best as Kalicharan.Resembled an a surgeon ,poet and boxer rolled into one blending grace,power and technical skill into a complete package.Rarely seen a batsmen treat such a good ball with such disdain or ease as Kalicharan.On his day as technically correct as Boycott as graceful as Majid Khan and as destructive as Viv Richards.Potentially he was better than Clive Lloyd or Gordon Greenidge and almost on par with Viv Richards.A very close contender for the test xi of the 1970's and would have made it in the era of 1970-75.
To me close to the most under-achieved of left handed cricketers ,let alone batsmen.
Sadly politics let him down doing complete injustice to his talent.His form declined from 1976 being greatly overshadowed by Greenidge,Viv Richards and Lloyd.He made a comeback in India in 1978-79 and partially in Australia but again declined before joining the rebel tour of South Africa in 1982 which effectively ended his official career.
To me at his peak from 1973-75 he was in the Barry Richards class.I can never forget his classical 158 against the English team led by Tony Greig in 1974.He also scored a classy century facing Lillee and Thomson in 1975-76 down under .In Mumbai in 1978-79 he looked set to registering a double century before being wrongly adjudged lbw.
At his best Kali simply looked Bradmanesque or a Rohan Kanhai the other way around.Arguably no left -hander was as consummate at his best as Kalicharan.Resembled an a surgeon ,poet and boxer rolled into one blending grace,power and technical skill into a complete package.Rarely seen a batsmen treat such a good ball with such disdain or ease as Kalicharan.On his day as technically correct as Boycott as graceful as Majid Khan and as destructive as Viv Richards.Potentially he was better than Clive Lloyd or Gordon Greenidge and almost on par with Viv Richards.A very close contender for the test xi of the 1970's and would have made it in the era of 1970-75.
To me close to the most under-achieved of left handed cricketers ,let alone batsmen.
