NEW DELHI: What would you do if you’re batting on 195 and get a full toss on the middle stump? If the team is three wickets down having just lost Sachin Tendulkar, you’d probably play it safe.
But if you’re Virender Sehwag, then you’ll look to smash the ball out of the stadium. That’s exactly what happened on December 26, 2003 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With a draw in Brisbane and victory in Adelaide, India were in the lead and the Aussies were desperate for a win.The third Test at the MCG got underway with Sourav Ganguly winning the toss and opting to bat first. And then Sehwag cut loose.
Sehwag had a perfect opening partner in Aakash Chopra, who was an opener of the traditional mould looking to see off the new ball. Getting hit twice on the helmet by bouncers off Brett Lee, didn’t deter Sehwag one bit. His punches off the back foot through the covers, his clean hits down the ground and his flicks through mid-wicket bore the stamp of an onslaught of an opener looking to make a statement.
Sehwag’s stroke play that day had all the trademark shots, especially his hits through the covers with his feet absolutely nowhere near the ball. But the bat was so perfectly positioned that the ball raced through the infield of the MCG that was undergoing renovation at that time.
Sehwag got to his fifty off 78 balls and reached his fifth Test century off 144 deliveries with a flick through mid-wicket. This was his fourth Test hundred as an opener.
Having reached his 150 off 200 balls, Sehwag looked set for his maiden double ton till Aussie part-time bowler Simon Katich tossed a juicy full toss on the middle-stump. Sehwag’s eyes lit up: chance to get to a maiden 200 with a six. He swung his willow but slightly mistimed it and the ball went straight to Nathan Bracken who was the lone fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Sehwag’s 195-run onslaught came off 233 deliveries and was studded with 5 sixes and 25 fours. In trademark style, Sehwag later said that he would play the same shot again irrespective of the score he might be on.
But if you’re Virender Sehwag, then you’ll look to smash the ball out of the stadium. That’s exactly what happened on December 26, 2003 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With a draw in Brisbane and victory in Adelaide, India were in the lead and the Aussies were desperate for a win.The third Test at the MCG got underway with Sourav Ganguly winning the toss and opting to bat first. And then Sehwag cut loose.
Sehwag had a perfect opening partner in Aakash Chopra, who was an opener of the traditional mould looking to see off the new ball. Getting hit twice on the helmet by bouncers off Brett Lee, didn’t deter Sehwag one bit. His punches off the back foot through the covers, his clean hits down the ground and his flicks through mid-wicket bore the stamp of an onslaught of an opener looking to make a statement.
Sehwag’s stroke play that day had all the trademark shots, especially his hits through the covers with his feet absolutely nowhere near the ball. But the bat was so perfectly positioned that the ball raced through the infield of the MCG that was undergoing renovation at that time.
Sehwag got to his fifty off 78 balls and reached his fifth Test century off 144 deliveries with a flick through mid-wicket. This was his fourth Test hundred as an opener.
Having reached his 150 off 200 balls, Sehwag looked set for his maiden double ton till Aussie part-time bowler Simon Katich tossed a juicy full toss on the middle-stump. Sehwag’s eyes lit up: chance to get to a maiden 200 with a six. He swung his willow but slightly mistimed it and the ball went straight to Nathan Bracken who was the lone fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Sehwag’s 195-run onslaught came off 233 deliveries and was studded with 5 sixes and 25 fours. In trademark style, Sehwag later said that he would play the same shot again irrespective of the score he might be on.
