Chalk and Cheese

Makhaya Ntini doesn't usually walk, he bounces. He believes he's the fastest in the world, doesn't mind letting the world know. Ask him about the slower ball, and he says his job is to bowl fast; ask him what he's thinking when he gets hit for runs, and he booms, "I try and knock the batsman's head over". During the media conference in Delhi, he barged into the hall with bluster, almost challenging the awaiting pressmen to a duel. There's too much energy in him, and no sign of it drying up.

Shoaib Akhtar doesn't usually walk, he strolls. He too believes he's the fastest and doesn't mind letting the world know. Ask him about people comparing him with Brett Lee and he sniggers, "There's no comparison, mate"; ask him how he copes with so many injuries and he says, "I just wish I could get through one day of cricket without pain". During the same media conference, he casually walked in a good five minutes after the rest of the team and tried his best to stay inconspicuous. Obviously, he ended up hogging all the limelight and was soon whistling his way down the red carpet, taking a dig at his team-mates who were busy with interviews.

Both react differently when put in the spotlight. Ntini, it appears, has been waiting for this all day, eager to get in there and reel off answers. He loves the attention, doesn't hesitate for a moment. He talks about the challenges he had to endure while growing up in a small village - "No television when I grew up, nobody to learn from" - and fondly remembers the moments at home. "For my people, I am just Makhaya, not a South African fast bowler. I am not a hero for them, just one of them. Young boys come up to me and say, "Teach me to bowl fast". It feels amazing, amazing."

Shoaib is cool, at least he seems cool. He's constantly fiddling with his gold necklace, shuffling his sandals, fidgeting with his mobile phone. Some questions seem to bore him, he even yawns. It appears all he wants is to finish with this unnecessary hindrance. He wishes people understood the effort that goes into bowling fast, the pains that he's had to endure. Yet, he has no doubt that, if he were to start all over again, he would do nothing but bowl fast. "It's a thrill, mate," he says in an accent that's cutely comical, "you have to experience it to realise the feeling."

Two men, one profession, two completely different outlooks. They're so different, yet when they begin their run-up with the speed gun somewhere in the vicinity, there's hardly any difference.