Sunday 13 April 2008

Favourite cricketers 4 - Mohammad Azharuddin


Watching Mohammad Azharuddin often made me think of Ranjitsinjhi.
The wonderfully wristy Indian batsman graced Derbyshire with his presence for only a short time, and left in fairly acrimonious circumstances. What a player he was...
Anyone who has read the descriptive prose of Sir Neville Cardus will have an idea of the way that Ranjitsinjhi batted. Innovative flicks, dazzling footwork, effortless timing, and in the "words" of a county pro of the time "he never played a Christian stroke in his life".
A strange description the latter, but perhaps one that offers the best idea of the way that he played. A way that was perhaps beyond the compass of the average county player.
Azharuddin was like that. At times his batting took the game to a different level, with all around him struggling against a moving or turning ball, he would play his shots around the wicket with effortless grace and perfect placement.
The greatest innings I ever saw was played by Azharuddin at Chesterfield. Derbyshire were massively behind on first innings against Durham, with the wicket starting to turn and David Graveney looking like a combination of Bishan Bedi, Derek Underwood and Hedley Verity.
The county new boys made 625 and we were forced to follow on. All of the batsmen struggled, and we had a decent lineup at that time - Barnett, Bowler, Adams, Rollins, Wells, De Freitas - there were some good players.
Chris Adams made a good 94 but there was little else to shout about, Peter Bowler's 38 being the next highest score.
Azharuddin made 205. He scored a century before lunch with some breathtaking shots. I still recall a cut shot that was at the boundary before my eyes "found" the ball. After lunch, with partners running out, he decided to go for his shots to put the game beyond Durham. Time was running out and runs were important. Time and again he went down the pitch and hit the bowlers, especially Graveney, back over their heads. When the bowler dropped short, he changed his shot and played a deft late cut, or tucked it behind square on the leg side. Between the fall of the fourth and seventh wickets, Derbyshire scored 129 runs and the magical Indian scored 98 of them...
John Morris was playing for Durham at this time, and was amused by the bowler's asking him to go back at deep mid off.
"The only place I'll catch him here is in those trees" he said to the crowd. He was right, Azharuddin clearing the ropes time and again. Just when he looked set for another century, this time between lunch and tea, he was caught by Morris at mid on from the dibbly dobbly bowling of Phil Bainbridge. The rest folded like a pack of cards and Durham had just enough time to knock off the 160-odd they needed to win. Graveney later commented it was the finest innings that he had seen, and I have still not seen a better one, especially considering the state of the wicket.
His subsequent fall from grace in betting scandals has tarnished the image somewhat, but Azharuddin remains my only link with the Golden Age of cricket, prior to World War One. If it was anything like his batting - and I'm convinced that it was, the Edwardians were spoiled.

1 comment:

  1. Indian cricket board should recall Great Azhar to indian test squad & allow him to play his 100 test.
    all which is related to match fixing is a history and he has paid a very heafty amount which he shouln't had.
    Call the Great magician of cricket back & hope we witness another good knock,just to remember that he is still better as far as fitness is concerned from most of our young "TeamIndia"

    ReplyDelete

Please remember to add your name. Avoid personal comment at all times. Thanks!