Human bazooka to WMD

His battering-ram style caused Ray Jennings to offer a solution of firing in a deadly yorker, or 8216;8216;gunning him down on sight8217;8217;, as an answer to solving the problem. Jennings was also realistic enough to also suggest that the game had found a batsman who could take limited-overs style batting into a Test arena and alter the way the game is being played.

Along with Sehwag, Matthew Hayden is one modern example of fast scoring; South Africa have Herschelle Gibbs when he is in form, and there is Marcus Trescothick as well as Sanath Jayasuriya and even the underrated Chris Gayle has the flair of the flamboyant strokemaker when it comes to scoring rapidly.

When you think of it, though, Sehwag8217;s debut Test century in Bloemfontein in 2001, was a remarkable effort, batting as he was at six. It was a genuine facade for what he has since unleashed. In 2002, England felt the weight of his fast scoring more than once. Remember the ICC Champions Trophy game against the Poms at Premadasa on a sultry evening laden with Sehwag8217;s overpowering style?

While limited-overs innings are lost in an overburdened calendar, Test performances always remain in the memory. What linger are the 195 in Melbourne, the 309 against Pakistan in Multan and 169 against South Africa at Kanpur.

History, though, has enough big-hitters for us to remember: A century ago we admired the grace and power of Australia8217;s legendary Victor Trumper, England8217;s Gilbert Jessop 8212; and Ranji, a stylishly free-scoring batsman.

Then we had The Don, who twice scored 300 in a day. He scored at a rapid rate; not in the Hayden/Sehwag style, but with touches of finesse that left bowlers struggling to retain their composure. Don8217;t forget, too, overrates were faster 8212; generally about 20 an hour 8212; and pitches were largely uncovered to the elements.

Barry Richards could also wallop the ball around when in the mood and Kapil Dev too caused a quickening of the pulse when went out to bat. Left-handed Bert Sutcliffe and John Reid were among some of the fastest-scoring batsmen, but mainly at domestic level; watching Sutcliffe put 270 on the board in a day8217;s play in a Plunket Shield game back in the early 1950s, and then go on the next day to score 385, is one memory of a holiday treat.

Viv Richards was also a free-scoring batsman and bowlers needed to tighten line and length if they were to keep the runrate in some sort of check. Why, even Brian Lara, when not burdened with weak Windies batting, has had his moments.

But the phenomenon of a Sehwag Test innings is creating comparisons because of his consistency. Yet he has touches of finesse and elegance. And that is what batting in a Test is all about; there are moments of magic as well as the bowler feeling awed by the sheer power of it all.

Justin Ontong admitted he had no answer to Sehwag8217;s attack at Eden Gardens. Smith, too, admitted that it is a matter of hope and pray that he gets a top-edge in the first couple of overs. If not, setting fields to contain such tactics leaves a fielding side vulnerable.

And the bouncer doesn8217;t always work.