15 BATSMEN WHO GAVE CRICKET ITS POETRY AND TOOK AESTHETICS TO SUBLIME REGIONS
My 15 most stylish, elegant or graceful batsmen of all time, selected in my order of merit. This is my list of the batsmen I consider to have taken the beauty of batting to it’s ultimate zenith. I am not analysing the best batsman statistically or the most technically correct, mercurial or entertaining. My criterion is the extent of grace or elegance exuded when batting.
1. Frank Worrell-
Resembled a violinist when batting with his strokes reminiscent of the notes of a flute. Very prolific statistically, staggering tons of runs, but never at the cost of his golden touch. His 197 n.o at Trent Bridge and 261 at Old Trafford were the equivalent of monuments to the game .Frank would pierce the most impregnable gaps like the classic movement of ballad dancer. Classical technique, able to adapt in any conditions. Even when pulverising bowlers, respected a cricket ball with the grace of a priest bowing before a pulpit.
2. Zaheer Abbas-
Bisected the field in the manner of a surgeon dissecting a wound with geometric precision. Simply magical timing, bringing his bat down at the very last moment when the ball looked like crashing through his gate. In executing the same stroke he would move forwards and backwards. Had an appetite for big scores like no right handed batting stylist, but at no moment lost his glorious touch. Zaheer Abbas reminded one of painter making curves on a board with his shots looking like the mere touches of painter's brush. Few batsmen held bat at such classical angles and none better executed the dive on either side of extra cover. No batsman ever looked more like a manifestation of the divine.
3. David Gower-
Rarely has any one batted with such effortless ease or caressed the ball in the manner of a mother putting a child to sleep than David Gower. The most lethal pace attacks would be taken to the sword by Gower but never at the cost of divine grace. Even when hooking and pulling with utmost contempt, Gower exuded a silken touch. I can't forget the remorseless ease with which he flayed great pace bowlers with majestic grace. His footwork was lazy and his technique loose, but still opponents prized his wicket as much as any batsman. Exuded grace in simply mythical proportions.
4. Mohammad Azharuddin-
Not classically correct and possessed lazy footwork like Gower .However still took artistry to dimensions rarely explored, with his almost mythical leg glance. When scoring his 121 at Lords in 1990 and 158 at Old Trafford exuded grace of simply heavenly proportions, virtually never seen in England by an overseas batsman. In full flow Azhar was simply poetry in motion. Although at times circumspect against pace ,he played some of the finest innings against challenging pace attacks of Australia and South Africa. He could also look majestic when driving and cutting ,with his sheer touches mesmerising the best of bowlers. In many ways re-defined the oriental batting artistry.
5. Denis Compton-
No batsman looked more like a circus acrobat when batting as Compton who displayed the inventiveness of a magician .Although unorthodox, he challenged great bowlers better than any contemporary batsman, averaging over 50.One can’t forget how he literally danced down the track to punish bowlers and his magical lofted sweep. Explored regions in batting that were surreal.
6. Ranjitsinghji-
Equivalent of a prophet or a musical composer of the game Gave batting virtually a new dimension, introducing the late cut and leg glance, as well as the art of back-foot defence. One of the finest batsmen of all time.
7. Gundappa Vishwanath-
Took artistry to simply surreal dimensions. Vishwanath's strokes reminded you a lotus blooming in full His square and late cut and combined hook, pull and flick stroke had touches of a work of Michelangelo. Even when upto the challenge against the most lethal short-pitched bowling or wicket with uneven bounce, He was as majestic as ever. When scoring an unbeaten 97 at Madras against West Indies in 1974-75 and 124 against them in 1978-79 in the same ground, he bisected a field in the manner few ever did. Above all championed a crisis like very few of his era.
8. Ted Dexter-
Brought back memories of the Golden age of English cricket. Treated the best West Indies and Australian bowlers with contempt which no batsmen did in his era, but still exuded majestic grace. Overshadowed even likes of Peter May and Colin Cowdrey. Few batsmen ever drove pace bowling more majestically.
9. Greg Chappell-
Batted with characteristic English touch taking perfection to sublime proportions. Ultimate epitome of technical perfection with absolute mastery in the 'V.' Best exponent of the flicked on drive.
10. Mark Waugh-
Absolutely classical or majestic on the onside, with almost feline touch. When pitted against the finest pace bowlers and the hardest pitches, would come out on top. Exuded grace more than any Australian batsman in the last 3 decades. Can never forget his classical 124 at Durban in the 2nd test in 1997, on a wearing pitch, to win a game.Also mastered the turning tracks in India.
11. Brian Lara
-Flawed genius who on his day could sit with the Gods of Olympus. Mercurial with the intensity of a thunderstorm, but never at the cost of god gifted grace. The sublime beauty in his batting, gave vibrations of 'Lara's theme in Dr.Zhivago. ‘I can never forget his whip shot or drive through the covers. No left -handed looked more like a musical composer when batting, who took inventiveness to mythical regions. Even when craving his most mammoth scores of over 300,or double centuries ,revealed a poetic touch.
12. Mahela Jayewardene -
Difficult to describe the sheer sweetness sin his strokes .Even when tearing an attack apart, exuded the vibration s of a flute player. In the age of commercialism re-introduced poetic grace to the game.
13.Damyn Marten-
Elegance personified who even in the age of agression treated a cricket ball with the respect of a priest bowing before a pulpit.When cricket had virtually been reduced to playing like machines.Damyn re brought the poetry of the game.
14.VVS Laxman
-In many ways like another form of Gundappa Vishwanath .Not so technically perfect,but classical in adjusting the bat angles to punish even the best of deliveries.Glided the ball with more pwroess than almost every batsmen of his day.
15.Martin Crowe-
In full flow an epitome of batting perfection ,with the movements of ballad dancer performing.Another version of Greg Chappell.
