Hayden and Dravid scrap for cricketing lives
Two great batsmen of this generation are clinging on after glittering careers - Matthew Hayden and Rahul Dravid
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Two great batsmen of this generation are clinging on after glittering careers - Matthew Hayden and Rahul Dravid. A big knock may not save their careers but at least it will allow them a dignified exit, writes Vic Marks in the Guardian. He adds that if Hayden opts to call it a day after the Sydney Test against South Africa, he will be regarded with greater affection beyond Australia.
It is tempting to stereotype Hayden. But how do you marry the born-again Christianity with the ruthless sledging of Graeme Smith in the South African's first Test? He has the swagger of a bully. Hayden has been one of the most intimidating batsmen of his era, but also one of the least endearing. So when his powers are on the wane there is a dearth of sympathy outside of Australia.
In the same paper, Mike Brearley feels England missed the trick by not picking Steve Harmison, and that James Anderson should have been dropped as he doesn't usually swing for long in India and rarely reverse-swings the old ball.
As to Harmison, he may at times give an impression of languidness, but I am not sure his attitude is different from how he was when top of the world rankings. It is a mannerism, rather than a potentially contagious down-heartedness. At Chennai, apart from feeding Virender Sehwag's cut shots in the second innings, he looked as likely as anyone to get a wicket, causing Sachin Tendulkar discomfort with the short ball.
In the Sunday Times, Simon Wilde writes that the England batsmen are stuck in the slow lane and it's rather ironic that many of them fail to mirror Pietersen's aggressive style. He says there's plenty to be learnt by watching Virender Sehwag's approach to Test cricket.
It is no coincidence that the three best teams in the world today each possess such audacious openers. It is what makes them capable of turning matches around. It is also no coincidence that this is the type of player England lack — and have done since Marcus Trescothick retired.
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo