But Andrew Strauss’s craft, courage and temperament on
Sunday ensured that his innings will find a place in the pantheons of ODI’s
greatest knocks and English cricket’s folklore.
The Bengaluru crowd had already been mesmerized by the wand
of the magician Sachin Tendulkar. But what Strauss produced later was an
eloquent art in leading from the front in a crisis situation. Take away Strauss’s
158, and the nine other Englishmen who batted on Sunday night scored 180
between them. Take away his partner Ian Bell‘s 69, and Strauss’s single-handed
defiance can be seen in perspective.
With due respect to the maestro, Strauss overshadowed
Tendulkar’s hundred last night. Strauss was batting second, under the pressure
of a chasing an awesome Indian score, in front of vociferous crowd supporting
the home team. As captain, there was added pressure on him. In contrast,
Tendulkar batted relatively freely, in familiar conditions with the crowd
behind him.
In a format known for innovations and improvisations,
Strauss crafted his innings in the classical mould. Not once his innings titled
towards the bravado. In the process, he emphatically proved that traditionalism
has a place in the abridged version of the game.
Strauss was in complete command and control against the
Indian seamers, whom he drove and flicked with exquisite timing. The Indian
spinners were supposed to trouble the English batsmen, but Strauss dented their
confidence – much like Graham Gooch in the 1987 World Cup at Mumbai. Strauss
was quick to read the length and used his feet profitably and intelligently. He
creamed 107 runs from 98 balls off the Indian spinners.
Strauss’s knock had all the ingredients of a masterpiece: It
had the heroics of a winner – well, almost – winner, the mental strength to
fight heavy odds and the classicism that brings joy to the purist.
It was a privilege to have watched an epic on the greatest
stage of world cricket.
This article has been published in Cricket Country on 1/03/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/andrew-strausss-hundred-will-find-a-place-among-odis-greatest-epics-829
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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