urbestfriend Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 A poll on a social-networking site recently declared Chris Gayle a far more destructive batsman than Virender Sehwag. When Gayle arrived in the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp last month, their two-year purple patch in the IPL had been crushed and the team were preparing for a premature exit. When Sehwag joined a depleted Delhi Daredevils, little did he know that he would have to single-handedly steer his team through his time in this IPL. But while Gayle's first-game heroics battered the Kolkata Knight Riders, Sehwag's ferocious intent couldn't do much to change Delhi's kismet. Unlike Gayle, who had Virat Kohli and AB de Villers to back his explosive style, Sehwag didn't have a strong batting line-up supporting him. Delhi won each time Sehwag clicked but it didn't happen often enough. Though Gayle and Sehwag are both big-hitters, match-winners, and brutal on all bowling attacks, you wouldn't quite think their batting styles are comparable. Let's give it a shot, though. Footwork Most batsmen have a trigger movement before the bowler delivers the ball. It could be a slight shuffle across, a small press or something else that helps you get moving before the ball is delivered, which in turn helps you get into position quickly. But both Gayle and Sehwag stay completely still till as late as possible before a delivery. The quicker the bowler, the more crucial these movements, for you don't want to be late for the ball. But these movements can also give away a batsman's preferences in terms of strokes and scoring areas. For instance, if he goes back and across, chances are he's looking for a full ball and transferring his weight on to the back leg. The only movement from that position will be a forward press. Likewise, if he plants his foot in front, he prefers short-pitched deliveries. But these apply only to lesser mortals; great batsmen can do without. Both Gayle and Sehwag move only when the ball leaves the hand of the bowler, and hence give nothing away. In fact, even when they do move, their movements are restricted to the minimum. The lack of foot movement may have its pitfalls but their quick hands make up. When you can't reach the delivery with your feet, the chances of missing it increase, but both these batsmen have mastered the art of throwing their arms at the ball. And the minimal movement ensures they rarely find themselves in awkward positions that might lead to their playing off-position shots. Sharp eyes Gayle's and Sehwag's batting seems to be based on the simple technique of see ball, hit ball. This approach can only be effective if you do the first part right. While most good players pick the line and length quickly, what separates these two from the rest is their ability to pick slower balls and other variations with ease. Love Ablish, the Kings XI Punjab medium-pacer, changes his pace and disguises his deliveries well, but he couldn't fox Gayle who delayed his downswing a fraction to send the ball over the ropes. Ashish Nehra once told me that there are only two batsmen in the Indian team, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who, when countering sudden changes in pace, don't turn their aggressive stroke into a defensive prod. Instead they wait a fraction longer and at times even convert a defensive prod into a lofted drive. Most batsmen would be too early on the shot while facing a well-disguised slower one, but not these two. What makes Gayle and Sehwag even more dangerous is that they don't need to go down the track or generate momentum to send a spinner for six Hitting from the crease What makes Gayle and Sehwag even more dangerous is that they don't need to go down the track or generate bbody momentum to send a spinner for six. While Gayle prefers to give the fast bowlers the charge every now and then, like Sehwag he stays put in the crease when facing spinners. Both trust the downswing in their back-lifts to generate enough power, and it rarely ever fails them. Astute brains Since their batting looks simple and uncomplicated, most people discount the tactical shrewdness of these two. If the ball moves prodigiously at the start, they are happy to bide time. Even in Twenty20 games, like they did against Punjab and Deccan Chargers respectively, where they allowed the early swing to fade away before exploding. Gayle and Sehwag always target certain bowlers in the opposition and play strokes that may look ambitious but are percentage shots. They also trick bowlers by wildly heaving at and missing deliveries intentionally. Once, in a domestic game on a poor surface, Sehwag stepped down the track and played a rather ambitious shot, only to miss the ball by a mile. It looked suicidal but he had a plan in mind. He charged the bowler because he wanted to force him to shorten his length, which he did the following ball, to be dispatched to the fence. Gayle does the same against many quick bowlers only to sit deep inside the crease on the following ball. There are astute cricket brains working behind those rather calm facades. Both Gayle and Sehwag may have two Test triple-centuries to their names, but their recent performances in Twenty20 have been just as pleasurable to watch. Unless, of course, you are the hapless prey in their sights. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/515437.html A good article from Akash , explains what separates them from others. :hatsoff:
ensd2 Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Viru is the best in TEST , but have to recognise gayle is better in odi and t20
rkt.india Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Viru does not come down the track against spinners...what is he saying. He was stumped on Mendis when he stepped out on that 6/14 game of Asia cup, remember. Viru and Gayle both are different kind of players. Gayle is a 6 hitter while Viru is a 4 hitter mainly. Similarity is they are aggressive. It is pretty much a rubbish article to me. Viru is not that brutal hitter against genuine fast bowlers. While Gayle is better against genuine pace. He can take 20-30 runs even against like of Brett Lee, while Sehwag is better agsinst spinner in comparison to Gayle. The best example is the match against Deccan. Sehwag waited for the overs of Steyn and Ishant to pass and then he assaulted on lesser bowlers. When Gayle is in flow, there is no better and brutal hitter than him, even Sehwag is miles behind at that time. Viru is more conventional than Gayle. Viru is more timing and grace while Gayle is brutal force.
Sachin=GOD Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Sehwag - consistent ; Gayle - inconsistent. Therefore Sehwag is better. kthnxbai.
gaurav92 Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Viru is the best in TEST ' date=' but have to recognise gayle is better in odi and t20[/quote'] This
Raghav_12 Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Viru does not come down the track against spinners...what is he saying. He was stumped on Mendis when he stepped out on that 6/14 game of Asia cup, remember. Viru and Gayle both are different kind of players. Gayle is a 6 hitter while Viru is a 4 hitter mainly. Similarity is they are aggressive. It is pretty much a rubbish article to me. Viru is not that brutal hitter against genuine fast bowlers. While Gayle is better against genuine pace. He can take 20-30 runs even against like of Brett Lee, while Sehwag is better agsinst spinner in comparison to Gayle. The best example is the match against Deccan. Sehwag waited for the overs of Steyn and Ishant to pass and then he assaulted on lesser bowlers. When Gayle is in flow, there is no better and brutal hitter than him, even Sehwag is miles behind at that time. Viru is more conventional than Gayle. Viru is more timing and grace while Gayle is brutal force. Reason for that was Sehwag has to play with much more responsibility than Gayle would ever have done. At time Gayle goes in shell as his relative lower career strike rate shows but I haven't seen Sehwag going in shell ever. In terms of overall attacking batsman Sehwag is miles ahead of Gayle.
cameron_black Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 when gayle gets going, he can be more devastating than sehwag, be it tests or limited overs cricket. but the problem is he rarely gets going. i think this IPL is the first time he has shown some consistency over a considerable amount of matches. sehwag on the other hand has shown he can rack up runs at a good SR on a consistent basis, especially in test cricket.
Zelig Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Sehwag - consistent ; Gayle - inconsistent. Therefore Sehwag is better. kthnxbai. If it's Tests, then I I'd agree. But in ODIs, the inconsistent Gayle averages almost 40.
The Outsider Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Viru is the best in TEST ' date=' but have to recognise gayle is better in odi and t20[/quote'] In T20s yes, but Sehwag is definitely better in ODIs. Gayle's strike rate in ODIs is good, but nothing extraordinary unlike Sehwag.
vvvslaxman Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 I have seen Gayle playing slow innings often. But with Viru it is a rarity.
rkt.india Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 In T20s yes' date=' but Sehwag is definitely better in ODIs. Gayle's strike rate in ODIs is good, but nothing extraordinary unlike Sehwag.[/quote'] Gayle is slogger when it comes to being aggressive while Sehwag is natural. His slow innings will be an aggressive inning for many. He is a timer, placer, and can improvise his shots. While Gayle has brutal power who mostly plays in the air whenever he goes attacking. He does not have the ground shots what Sehwag has. Gayle is a forceful hitter while Sehwag is all natural that is why he has an extraordinary SR in tests and in T20s and ODIS, he tries to become overaggressive at times. His test approach is as good as many others' one day approach. While Gayle in ODIs take his time and that is why has better average. He most often does not go all out slogging in ODIs because his slogging involves more risks.
yoda Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 IPL bowling is mediocre, any performances here should be kept in the context of IPL only.
Brainfade Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Sometimes, you have to look to numbers to tell the real story: Sehwag Tests 87 150 6 7694 319 53.43 9393 81.91 ODIs 236 230 9 7760 175 35.11 7456 104.07 Gayle Tests 91 159 6 6373 333 41.65 10783 59.10 ODIs 228 223 16 8087 153* 39.06 9633 83.95 In 3 of the 4 bottom-line categories, Sehwag's numbers are superior. So, there you go.
Prakat Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 And, for an opener who averages 35 he has sealed the result of one too many ODI matches. 20 years from now someone who hasn't seen him play will look at that stat and wonder what the big deal was about Sehwag anyway.
The Outsider Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Sehwag is hugely underrated in ODIs. He has better stats than Gilchrist - his role is not to play a long innings. If it happens then well and good but his primarily role in the side is to get the side off to a blistering start - the semi final against Pakistan is a perfect example of the Sehwag effect.
Zelig Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 ODI stats Sehwag in Australia 2004-2008 15 385 90 25.66 0 5 2/40 50.40 0 4 0 in England 2002-2004 12 261 71 21.75 0 3 2/51 58.66 0 5 0 in South Africa 2001-2006 22 542 82 27.10 0 4 2/24 42.00 0 14 0 in Sri Lanka 2001-2010 35 1147 126 37.00 4 24 4/6 34.62 0 8 0 in India 1999-2011 84 2745 146 34.74 4 35 3/28 38.42 0 30 0 in West Indies 2002-2007 11 454 114 41.27 1 5 2/17 32.20 0 5 0 Gayle in Australia 2005-2010 14 229 82 17.61 0 1 1/32 230.00 0 4 0 in England 2000-2009 22 694 132* 38.55 1 16 3/50 29.81 0 14 0 in South Africa 2003-2004 11 398 152* 39.80 2 7 2/60 50.28 0 4 0 in Sri Lanka 2001-2011 10 288 85 28.80 0 4 2/38 58.00 0 2 0 in India 2002-2011 22 1117 140 55.85 6 17 3/3 31.94 0 12 0 in West Indies 2000-2010 92 3072 132 34.90 3 69 5/46 33.40 1 40 0 Discuss
Brainfade Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Sehwag is hugely underrated in ODIs. He has better stats than Gilchrist - his role is not to play a long innings. If it happens then well and good but his primarily role in the side is to get the side off to a blistering start - the semi final against Pakistan is a perfect example of the Sehwag effect. And in test matches, it is a non-contest. A SR of 80+ at an average of 50+ ... no matter how you slice it, it is phenomenal stuff. Gayle has to bring his IPL form into test matches continually for the next 5 years to get close to those numbers.
Gaylism Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Gayle is slogger when it comes to being aggressive while Sehwag is natural. His slow innings will be an aggressive inning for many. He is a timer' date=' placer, and can improvise his shots. [b']While Gayle has brutal power who mostly plays in the air whenever he goes attacking. He does not have the ground shots what Sehwag has. Gayle is a forceful hitter while Sehwag is all natural that is why he has an extraordinary SR in tests and in T20s and ODIS, he tries to become overaggressive at times. His test approach is as good as many others' one day approach. While Gayle in ODIs take his time and that is why has better average. He most often does not go all out slogging in ODIs because his slogging involves more risks. U don't know what u are talking about with respect to Gayle's ground strokes. gayle is a very good timer and placer of the ball .... NcuzQpUanLg oOkpe3-IifU&feature=related
Brainfade Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 U don't know what u are talking about with respect to Gayle's ground strokes. gayle is a very good timer and placer of the ball .... NcuzQpUanLg oOkpe3-IifU&feature=related I checked an astronomy website and it something about the moon being blue on both of those days. Or as they say in Tamizh: "Aadikkoru vaati Amavasaikku oru vaati."
jaggadaku Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 Viru is the best in TEST ' date=' but have to recognise gayle is better in [b']odi and t20 I don't think so Viru averages 40+ in ODIs in the last four years http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/35263.html?class=2;spanmin1=01+Apr+2007;spanval1=span;template=results;type=allround
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