The Empire Strikes Back

Vikram Solanki
Born: Udaipur

The English see much of the Oriental in Solanki when he bats in the middle-order. Supple wrists and an ability to place the ball make him a touch-artist but Solanki is yet to create waves at the international level. Still, they say, there probably isn’t a more talented Anglo-Asian than this Rajput lad, who migrated with his family to England when he was just eight.
After a bright start to his career with Worcestershire, Solanki also had a couple of good tours with England A. However, his transition to international cricket wasn’t easy — his impetuous wristy shots let him down. Some feel he shouldn’t have neglected the other aspect of his game — the ability to bowl gentle off-spinners — as that would have pushed him to all-rounder grade. But Solanki reasons his only hope of a comeback is plundering runs by the tons. At 26, it’s not over for him yet.

Anurag Singh
Born: Kanpur

He’s of the same stock as Mike Brearley and Michael Atherton: the brainy type who led their university team. And all three were England captains, though Anurag led the Under-19 team. He announced himself as a prodigy against, ironically, the touring Indians, with two centuries. He has, of course, been tipped as a future England captain but Anurag has taken a while to come through: his first county century came only last year and his lack of run-making hasn’t gone down too well with the selectors.

Now playing for Worcestershire, where he joins several other Anglo-Asians, the next season or two will be make or break for this practising 27-year-old lawyer.

Aftab Habib
Born: Reading (England)

There are several similarities between Aftab, who plays for Essex, and Afzal: neither has been able to get on the right side of the cricket establishment in England. Like Afzal, Aftab has played in two Tests for England but couldn’t really fire — in fact, his batting average wouldn’t do even a tailender proud. Despite his loose technique, which causes problems early on in his innings, the ability is there, as Aftab’s county record would justify.

Usman Afzaal
Born: Rawalpindi

There’s a growing feeling that Afzaal is too much under the spell of various demons inside him. A hugely talented left-handed batsman and a quick-silver close-in fielder, Afzaal should have sealed his place in the England side last year when, in his debut series against Australia, he came up with a courageous half-century in The Oval Test. Yet he’s been ignored for all of this season by the selectors.

One reason has to be his cocky attitude, a negative as far as his coaches at Nottinhgamshire (Clive Rice) and England (Duncan Fletcher) are concerned. Afzaal didn’t get to play a Test in New Zealand earlier this year as the team management felt he was overweight and not paying attention to his general fitness.

However, with Afzaal’s can’t-say-die-spirit you can be sure of one thing: he’ll fight back.

He’s already started, using one lifeline while playing for an MCC XI by taking a century off the Sri Lankans in a side game.

Depesh Patel
Born: Wolverhampton (England)

Though he’s yet to complete a first-class season, Depesh has caught the eye of English selectors. Tall (6ft 4) and hefty (13st), he bowls fast, his pace and the steep bounce he generates off the pitch the talk of the minor counties. The race among the main counties to sign him was won by Worcestershire, for whom he’s currently playing his first season during a break from school. Though born and bred in England, Depesh — a member of the large Gujarati community — keeps close contact with India (Tendulkar, not surprisingly, is his favourite batsman). But his childhood hero is Allan Donald. Will Depesh be the Brown Lightning?

Kabir Ali
Born: Moseley (England)

Till now Kabir’s career graph had been running along lines similar to the that of his cousin Kadeer. Both had played for the England Under-19s and for Worcestershire in county cricket but Kabir has just broken an extra barrier; he has been named as a probable for English Cricket Board’s National Cricket Academy in Adelaide, which means this lanky fast bowler of Pakistani origin could be earning his English cap soon.

The past two seasons have been frustrating but, having recovered from a stress fracture in his back, Kabir is in the midst of a fine season in county cricket. He currently heads the wicket-takers’ list and promises more action. At 21 he is more than the brash kinds; he also knows where exactly to pitch the ball.

Monty Panesar
Born: Luton (England)

Mudhusuden Singh Panesar (to give him his full name) draws obvious and quick comparisons with Bishan Singh Bedi. Monty plays for Northamptonshire and bowls slow left-arm spin with his patka on; Bedi did the same in the 1960s and 70s, much before Monty was born. Panesar has come through the grades, having played with distinction for the England Under-19s. He took his first international step this year when he turned out for the British Universities in a side game against Sri Lanka and, impressing the selectors there, made the cut through to the National Academy in Adelaide.