Maynard among extraordinarily gifted

A blog in the Guardian says the talent of Tom Maynard, who died last week, suggested he was in a different league as a performer.

Among the Twitter posts was one from Scyld Berry that said: "Tom Maynard was so talented that when at Millfield [school] he played for the neighbouring village of Butleigh, batted left-handed and hit a 100. RIP."

Stories like that one are really about the difference between us, the distance between not just the amateur and the pro, but between professionals and internationals and between internationals and the genuinely great. Ultimately, they see the world differently. Martin Amis described it brilliantly as "the natural severity" of the truly talented ball-player. What they do is different; when they strike the ball it makes a different sound, it goes to a different place, at a different speed.