New Delhi: What would you do if you are batting on 195 and a full-toss ball lands on the middle stump? If the team has lost three wickets and Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket has also fallen, then you would probably want to play safe.
But if you are Virender Sehwag, you will try to hit the ball out of the stadium. This is exactly what happened on 26 December 2003. Melbourne Cricket Ground,
With a draw in Brisbane and a win in Adelaide, India were on top and the Australians were desperate for a win. Third Test at the MCG Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first. And then Sehwag struck.
Sehwag had a great opening partner in Aakash Chopra, who opened the innings in a traditional way and tried to push the new ball. Despite being hit on the helmet twice by bouncers from Brett Lee, Sehwag did not change his approach. His punches through the covers off the back foot, clean hits on the ground and flicks over mid-wicket showed that the opener was aggressive and wanted to make a mark.
Sehwag’s stroke play that day had all the trademark shots, especially his shot over cover, where his foot was nowhere close to the ball. But the bat was in such a perfect position that the ball sailed through the infield of the MCG, which was undergoing renovation at the time.
Sehwag reached his half-century off 78 balls and his fifth Test century off 144 balls with a flick to midwicket. This was his fourth Test century as an opener.
After scoring 150 runs off 200 balls, Sehwag looked set for his first double century, but Australian part-time bowler Simon Katich bowled a superb full toss on the middle-stump. Sehwag’s eyes lit up: a chance to reach 200 with a six. He swung his willow, but slightly mistimed the ball and went straight to Nathan Bracken, the lone fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Sehwag scored 195 runs in 233 balls with the help of 5 sixes and 25 fours. In his typical style, Sehwag later said that no matter what the score is, he will play the same shot again.
But if you are Virender Sehwag, you will try to hit the ball out of the stadium. This is exactly what happened on 26 December 2003. Melbourne Cricket Ground,
With a draw in Brisbane and a win in Adelaide, India were on top and the Australians were desperate for a win. Third Test at the MCG Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first. And then Sehwag struck.
Sehwag had a great opening partner in Aakash Chopra, who opened the innings in a traditional way and tried to push the new ball. Despite being hit on the helmet twice by bouncers from Brett Lee, Sehwag did not change his approach. His punches through the covers off the back foot, clean hits on the ground and flicks over mid-wicket showed that the opener was aggressive and wanted to make a mark.
Sehwag’s stroke play that day had all the trademark shots, especially his shot over cover, where his foot was nowhere close to the ball. But the bat was in such a perfect position that the ball sailed through the infield of the MCG, which was undergoing renovation at the time.
Sehwag reached his half-century off 78 balls and his fifth Test century off 144 balls with a flick to midwicket. This was his fourth Test century as an opener.
After scoring 150 runs off 200 balls, Sehwag looked set for his first double century, but Australian part-time bowler Simon Katich bowled a superb full toss on the middle-stump. Sehwag’s eyes lit up: a chance to reach 200 with a six. He swung his willow, but slightly mistimed the ball and went straight to Nathan Bracken, the lone fielder at deep mid-wicket.
Sehwag scored 195 runs in 233 balls with the help of 5 sixes and 25 fours. In his typical style, Sehwag later said that no matter what the score is, he will play the same shot again.
