The golden age of Test cricket

The brazen jump out drive of Trumper and the nuanced leg glance of Ranji are justifiably venerated. But the ‘upper cut’ of Tendulkar, the slash over point for six of Sehwag, Pietersen’s switch hit, Ponting’s pull-drive off the front foot, Lara’s Nataraj-like pose in pulling off the back-foot, and the overhead scoop of Dilshan are no less enthralling even if they don’t fit the copybook.

True, covered wickets and improved bats have made it more burdensome for bowlers, but the game has hardly suffered for they have coped superbly. Some of the most skilful and highest wicket-takers in the history of the game — Murali, Warne, Kumble, McGrath, Akram, Younis, to name a few — have been products of this era. Though more nuanced and less overtly expressive than batsmanship, bowling skills have evolved to a remarkable degree too.