May 07, 2004 03:31 PM
3563 Views
(Updated May 07, 2004 03:34 PM)
It is quite difficult to select five cricketers from the cricketing world. A lot of batsmen and bowlers have proved their worth in the game. When selecting them, their value in all departments of the game should be considered. Some of the greatest players have to be left out while writing this review. It hurts me very much. But some of them have to arise at the top while some stay out of it.
Most of the readers may not agree to this review, and will have a lot to say against this five, but watching these players play was a joy to watch and these guys have proved their worth in many different ways.
1) Brian Lara - Who could doubt the position of Brian Lara as the savior of West Indian team. He had always been in the aid of his team whenever it was in a poor state. He is such a perfect batsman that his team rests on his shoulders both as a player and also as a captain.
2) Jonty Rhodes - I don't appreciate him for his batting even if he has played some wonderful innings for his team, when it was in a state of disaster. I appreciate and admire him for his superb fielding. I don't remember seeing much shots get past this high-flying fielder of South Africa. I was disappointed that I couldn't see him in the last World Cup in South Africa. He would have been a morale booster for the South African team which was out in the very first round of that World Cup.
3) Jacques Kallis - This man is a class act. He plays like a master and strengthens his team like pillar. He just goes for massive hits in the slog overs after taking singles and building partnerships in the beginning and also in the middle overs.
4) Adam Gilchrist - No bowler could forget this name. This man is a commanding force of the game when batting. When he keeps, the ball simply can't go past the keeper. He is just amazing in the field and deserve more appreciation than what he gets.
5) Saurav Ganguly - There are a lot of people who don't like this man for his temper. But he is the most successful captain in the history of Indian cricket and one of the best in the world. His mastery over the offside makes him an eliminator when batting and he devastates spinners with his lofted shots over mid-on and mid-off. He is such a monster hitter that the opposition is afraid of bringing spinners into the attack when he is batting. He is more devastating in One Day Internationals.
Many legendary players like Rahul Dravid, Steve Waugh, Sachin Tendulkar, Javagal Srinath, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, Aravinda De'Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan etc could not be included. I considered them, but later thought against including them as I value these five players' class more than the others. I wrote this review after watching all these players playing.
I believe that these players can turn the course of a match and they have proved it a lot of times.
