Sehwag changes the course
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
AFP
A typically meandering third-innings performance from England contrasted with the most thunderous message of all, which came towards the end of the day from the frenzied blade of Virender Sehwag, writes Mike Atherton in the Times.
The effect on the mood of the moment was startling. The crowd, restrained, by Indian standards, for most of the match, suddenly hit full pitch with the growing awareness that a miracle was unfolding. The biggest effect was on England, though. The bowlers, Andrew Flintoff apart, wilted under the onslaught. James Anderson and Stephen Harmison sent down dross with the new ball and Panesar was forced into his best Ashley Giles impression, bowling way outside leg stump into the rough. England were on the defensive and panicking, and no amount of faux smiling from the captain could fool anyone that it was otherwise.
Unlike some of his peers, Sehwag has never obsessed over technique or mind games, writes Dileep Premachandran in the Guardian.
If not for his mother's encouragement, however, Sehwag might never have made it this far. His father, Krishan, who died last year, wanted the boy to focus on school and take over the family's grain-trading and flourmill business. Children are resourceful, though, and Sehwag used to conceal his kit on the terrace to make sure his father never knew. Today there was no hiding his unique talent, as a crowd of more than 20,000 cleared their lungs to deliver Cacofonix-like decibel levels.
The cameras caught Kevin Pietersen smiling. Well, that was a much better reaction than swearing and cursing — at Virender Sehwag or Steve Harmison or Alastair Cook. This smile did not express contentment; it was probably designed to express calm. But it did not fool anyone, writes Vic Marks in the Guardian.
Sehwag now deserves to be properly recognised for what he is: since the retirement of Adam Gilchrist, the most exciting batsman on the planet, writes Simon Wilde in the Times.
Until yesterday, Kevin Pietersen’s team had bossed this Test but it was India, resurrected when Virender Sehwag’s thrilling coup de foudre upstaged hundreds from Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, who could still sneak the win, writes Derek Pringle in the Telegraph.
England's bowlers, Andrew Flintoff apart, were mugged. If Sehwag played like this at Lord's, a shirt-sleeved constable would probably stroll on and serve him an Asbo for rowdiness in a public place. Someone should have told him that the one-day series is over, writes David Hopps in the Guardian.
Over the last four days England have contributed much more than half of their match fee to the Indian public. They have played a huge part in restoring the Indian people's faith in Test cricket. Their resourceful efforts have set up a denouement of enticing possibilities, writes Simon Hughes in the Telegraph.
Monday's outcome will determine if England can look forward with optimism to regaining the Ashes next summer or whether India, having beaten Australia last month, are on an inexorable path to finally establishing themselves as the best in the world.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo