Cricket Special Report: Bettor.com’s Top 10 Classy-Batsmen from 1990 onwards (Part 3)
(Continuation of Part 2 and the discussion regarding the top ten classy batsmen from 1990 onwards, keeping in mind, that case in point is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 Brian Lara)
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brian-Charles-Lara-c48471
Brian Charles Lara has an outstanding test cricket record. He has played a total of 131 matches, out of which he has appeared in 232 innings. The veteran star batsman has a massive of 11,953 runs to his name, on an average of 52.88. He has also maintained
a strike rate of 60.51, as he has scored 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries. Not to forget, his classy 1559 boundaries and 88 smashing sixes, and his best of 400 runs, which is the highest score by any individual in a single innings.
Lara’s ODI record is also extremely commendable; the veteran has scored a massive of 10405 runs, from 299 matches played by him. He averages a healthy of 40.48 and has maintained a strike rate of 79.51 throughout his career. He has 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries,
with a best of 169 runs in the 50-over format of the game. Not to forget, that the veteran has struck 1035 boundaries and a huge number of 133 smashing sixes.
Brian Charles Lara 16 years of test and 17 years of ODI cricket might just be the finest cricketing career known to the international arena. His effortless strokes directed towards the fence, and his countless making and breaking of records is the reason
behind him being one of the most remembered players in the history of the game.
Lara’s playing role, personnel achievements, test and ODI credentials say loads about his class and potential. He surely was a threat to one of the best bowlers of his era. He is definitely worthy of the number 1 position among the top 10 classy batsmen
from 1990 onwards.
One can surely hope in light of players such as Chris Gale’s talent of effortless stroke play, that the West Indian cricket will soon give birth to yet another “Prince of Cricket”, just like Brian Charles Lara. It is only time which would tell everyone what
else does the West Indian cricket has to offer in all formats of the sport.
Saeed Anwar
Saeed Anwar is famously known for his wrist work, flicks, and his ability to dominate the fielding off-side. His late cuts were highly threatening to several bowling oppositions, as in the initial 15 overs of a 50-over game, the bowling side has to follow
certain field restrictions such as placing only two fielders out-side the inner circle. And given the ball is struck from the middle of the bat and finds the gap, it can easily run to the fence or boundary.
There are a handful of cricketing moments when the Pakistani cricket team is dreaded for its opening pair, but during the 1990’s era, the left hand dasher Anwar dominated the opening stand for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 alongside with former captain and team-mate Aamir Sohail.
The two left-hand dashers were known for giving the team good opening stands for the middle order to build their innings accordingly.
Another special quality in Anwar’s batting power-play was his ability to convert good starts to half-centuries and centuries. He had developed the habit of scoring big totals, which is one of the reasons to Pakistani success in the 1990’s.
Saeed Anwar was born on 6th September, 1968, Karachi, Pakistan. The veteran left hander major playing teams included Pakistan, Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, and United Bank Limited.
The veteran was an engineer by profession. He was planning to go to the United States of America for his higher education, when he was called for the national team.
Saeed Anwar’s life was completely changed by the tragic death of his daughter in 2001. As a result he turned to religion and was seen as the turning point to the Pakistani cricket team's Islamisation, that was eventually criticised for Pakistan's failure
to live up to its high expectations. It was the mere fact that his conversion wasn’t helping him to play up to his potential. He was forced out of the national team.
(To be Continued...in Part 4)
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