Beware South Africa, beware

THE EDITOR: The recently concluded international cricket season in the Caribbean has shown that a young West Indies team have the potential to once again stake a claim among the sport’s elite. Led by Brian Charles Lara, the chosen one has once again risen to the top of the world batting ranking with a total of more than 800 runs in six Test matches this year.

The question among many fans will once again arise. Who is really the world’s best batsman, Lara or Tendulkar? With his phenomenal consistency Sachin Tendulkar stands poised to surpass his countryman Sunil Gavaskar as Test cricket’s leading century maker. For years younger than Lara, the Indian maestro may very well put this record out of the reach of future aspirants. Brian Lara’s second coming as captain has given him a new lease in his cricketing career. Boldness, being more of a team man and leading by example being the key factors. Tendulkar has the company of Ganguly, Dravid and formerly Azharuddin, all world-class batsmen, to inspire him to display his considerable talent. Lara does not have that kind of supporting cast. The majority of the time that he comes to the wicket, the pressure on him is enormous. This is what makes him so unique.

I have always maintained that Sir Vivian Richards is the greatest batsman I have seen, until I saw Lara. He combines the artistry of Rowe or Dujon — I never saw Worrell — the savagery of Kanhai or Greenidge — never saw Weekes and Walcott — the genius of Sobers and Richards —never saw Headley. Has Tendulkar ever played the kind of innings under extreme pressure such as the 277 at Sydney (1993), the 213 at Sabina Park (1999) or the 153 not out at Kensington Oval (1999), rated by Wisden as the second greatest innings in the history of Test cricket. All against the might of Australia. Five double centuries adorn his cabinet so far. Only Bradman (12) Hammond (7) and Miandad (6) have scaled loftier heights. How then can one judge who is better? This is just for argument sake. Beware South Africa, beware.

MICHAEL DENNY
Arima