Cricket Special Report: Indian Sunil Gavaskar, the perfect opener
The era of 70’s and 80’s was a fast bowling dominated era. Fast bowlers were at their zenith. The bravest of the cricketers were the opening batsman, facing the fearsome fast bowlers without the helmets. The opening batsman of the time were supposed to be
at their belligerent best, and technically well equipped.
Sunil Gavaskar, the little master had all in his armoury to be one of the greatest opening batsmen of all-times. In the era dominated by fast bowlers, Sunil Gavaskar stood tall. He played with pure technique, resilience, and balance. He used to pick up length
very early. He assessed the pitch, conditions, situation and bowlers easily, while starting his innings. There had been some world class Indian batsman before him, but he stands out. He was India’s first great batsman. If, Gavaskar could be the one to give
credit, for India’s success overseas in batting department, it would be a justified statement.
He started his first class career with a duck, on debut, but centuries in the next three of his first class Ranji trophy matches. He showed the selectors that he is international material. His performance in the domestic circuit earned him the Caribbean
tour of 1971. No one knew that Sunil would be that great, a success. A 65 and a 67 not out in the first test. His form followed him the next 3 test matches. He in all scored 774 runs in 4 matches at an average of 154 with 4 centuries, including a twin of centuries
in the fourth test. It still remains a record for a batsman, to score the most runs in a debut series. His performance in the fourth test marked his status of greatness, a 124 and 220 in the Port of Spain, and became the 2nd batsman ever to score a century
and a double century in the same match. He, in doing so played a crucial role in India’s first ever series win in the West Indies in 1971.
Gavaskar had a bit of a lean period after his debut series. He only managed 693 runs in 13 test matches at a poor average of 27, a 101 at Old Trafford in 1974. The mid of the decade, 1975 to 1980 were Gavaskar’s most prolific years. He amassed an amazing
tally of 4434 runs in 45 test matches at a remarkable average of 59 with 18 test centuries. The next, and the last seven years of his career were on a bit low by his standards, but still right up there with the very best. He gathered 5878 runs in 94 test matches
at an average of 41 with 14 test hundreds.
Gavaskar, the runs machine of his era was the most prolific batsman of his time. He became the first batsman to score 10,000 runs, and to score 30 test centuries. In all, he scored 10,122 runs in 125 test matches at an average of 51 with 34 test centuries.
This was a record then.
His greatness can be measured by eyeing his records against the best side of his era, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Joel-Garner-c67141, Colin Croft, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, and the greatest of them
all, Malcolm http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marshall-c74817. Gavaskar scored runs against them every time he walked out to bat. He has gathered 2749 runs against them, in 27 test matches, at an average of 65 with 13 test centuries. In the Caribbean, he has an amazing record, scoring 1404 runs
in 13 test matches with an excellent average of 70 with 7 centuries.
Gavasker has scored the most runs in drawn matches than anyone else. He has 6039 runs to his name at an average of 65 with 22 centuries. In matches win, he has a good average of 44 with 6 centuries.
Facing the great fast bowlers like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193, Lillie, Thompson, Willis, Botham, Hadlee and the pace quartet of the West Indies without the helmet, and scoring these amount of runs is true measure of his greatness. He is arguably the greatest opening batsman
of his era.
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