Azharuddin 163* vs SA at Kanpur

[Sehwag1830]

I don't know why this knock is not talked among great knocks of Cricket because it resulted in SA losing their first test series in 90s.And the match was also in balance at that point. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63726.html

[The Outsider]

Brilliant knock - watched it live at the ground. But like all his great knocks, rarely do they get the accolades after the subsequent happenings because people can't have a discussion on Azhar or his innings without bringing in irrelevant things to the topic.

[Sir john]

Class knock

[Sooda]

I watched it on TV. Azhar was in great form that series, smashed a ton in Eden gardens too right?.. it was around when I started to seriously follow cricket.

[Sir john]

@Outy paaji well said.we need to appreciate his achievements too.

[Ultimate_Game]

IMO these 2 were better... 1. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63725.html Azhar's knock in the 1st innings was one of the best counter-attacking innings ever. India was on the ropes and Azhar took on SA pacers and SA bowlers had absolutely no answers. 2. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63737.html This knock and the partnership with Tendulkar is one of the greatest partnership you will ever see which I rate on par with Laxman-Dravid stands of 2001 Kolkatta and 2003-04 Adelaide. India was 50 odd for 4 on a helpful track, Mandela had arrived at the ground post lunch and it seemed Azhar and Tendulkar put on a batting masterclass for Mandela. If anyone hasn't seen these two knocks and can somehow get a copy of the same, pls do so. This was batting at its best.

[The Outsider]

Azhar played some brilliant innings immediately after he was made captain - 192 at Auckland and dual hundreds in the England series immediately afterwards. The one at Lords came in the test where Gooch scored a triple century and a century in the second innings as well and is perhaps the only occasion when I've seen the media gushing in praise about a century more than someone who scored 450 runs in the test. In terms of batting conditions, his century in New Zealand in the 1998 tour was the best though - the pitch had a lot of grass and movement in the first innings: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63826.html

[vvvslaxman]

saw the match live.. He had quiet a few 163s if i remember.. Paul adams was the poor victim.. alongwith symcox. Greenpark had a pitch where ball hardly rose above knees. Azhaurddin is the best i have ever seen on such surfaces.

[Lurker]

I don't know why this knock is not talked among great knocks of Cricket because it resulted in SA losing their first test series in 90s.And the match was also in balance at that point. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63726.html

Great innings. As mentioned earlier Azhar played many gems. His batting was either absolutely trashy where he would be dismissed under 20 odd runs or he would play innings that would stand test of time. Plus he had the rare ability to make them at a brisk rate, run sharp singles and all this time appear very serene and stylish. As to why he is not talked more? Well because of his dark underdealings. Also it makes it easier for fans to forget the simple fact that even during the days of Maharathis there was a great batsman fully capable of doing the heavy lifting on his own :--D

[Crookbond]

Another gem in a losing cause - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63725.html I doubt anyone who watched this match can forget Azhar's assault on Donald and Klusener uqsGIDXnUcQ

[vvvslaxman]

Great innings. As mentioned earlier Azhar played many gems. His batting was either absolutely trashy where he would be dismissed under 20 odd runs or he would play innings that would stand test of time. Plus he had the rare ability to make them at a brisk rate' date='[b'] run sharp singles and all this time appear very serene and stylish. As to why he is not talked more? Well because of his dark underdealings. Also it makes it easier for fans to forget the simple fact that even during the days of Maharathis there was a great batsman fully capable of doing the heavy lifting on his own :--D

He was a "twos specialist".. He could place balls in unconventional areas and pick up 2s .. I remember in one of the test against England in 1993.. he picked four 2s in succession ..with deft placement on the on side.

[maniac]

Another gem in a losing cause - http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63725.html I doubt anyone who watched this match can forget Azhar's assault on Donald and Klusener uqsGIDXnUcQ[/youtue]

i think after that he attacked Klusner in a similar style a couple of times later as well. I also remember i think it was under SRT's captaincy during the SA tour 96-97,he played some carefree but entertaining cricket especially in tests

[zen]

He was a brilliant batsman and did esp well against Eng and SA ( talking abt teams from outside sub con). Those 100s in tough conditions in NZ were exceptional .... But as has been mentioned, he sold his country so much (probably the kingpin) that there isn't much point in discussing him. Negatives outweigh the positives he had (a brilliant batsman and fielder). It saddens me to write that he let his country and fans down

[akshayxyz]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okUzfUfzwD0]AWESOME CRICKET - Azhar to afridi - thoda time dekar daal na bade bhai! - YouTube[/ame]

[akshayxyz]

Good (and among the greatest) Indian batsman - Yes. Great Cricketer (role model) - No. No one forced him to do, what he did. Today, if he is a forgotten hero (especially for people who didn't watch him live), it is because of his own actions.

[ganeshran]

Extremely wristy player ..some shots that VVS plays remind me of Azhar

[pensionplan]

As stylish a player he was and easy on the eye Azza was utter tripe versus genuine pace. His poor record in SA, WI, Aus testifies that. VVS to me for being a similar type player style wise is a much better batsman than Azza when one takes into account all things.

[Raghav_12]

I liked that guy a lot once upon a time, but now can't bring myself to appreciate anything related to him. He was definitely a great batsmen but kind of threw that away. The thing that hurts is that he never seemed repentant, till now, about whatever happened. Even without match-fixing he had lost some of fans respect towards last years of his captaincy. Having said that, I recall myself hearing commentary for this match (mentioned in OP) and must say that it was pretty exciting display of batting.

[vvvslaxman]

As stylish a player he was and easy on the eye Azza was utter tripe versus genuine pace. His poor record in SA' date=' WI, Aus testifies that. VVS to me for being a similar type player style wise is a much better batsman than Azza when one takes into account all things.[/quote'] Not pace. but bounce. Ball has to come at certain height for him. His game is like that. In Australia he struggled everywhere except Adelaide where he played the same bowlers with ease. On certain type of pitches he was great regardless of country. At capetown his 115 was breathtaking. Laxman is a similar player only in some aspsects. Laxman is not such a fast scorer like Azharuddin. That is why Azharuddin was significantly a better ODI player than laxman who was no where close to rotating the strike like Azharuddin. Yes Laxman played the bounce better hence slightly better record in bouncy conditions although Laxman had a weakness against full length deliveries and swinging deliveries. Laxman a better match winner.. Azharuddin for me an artist. Gifted batsman who had a decent career without making much of adjustments to his batting. Only one adjustment he made he started adopting "two-eyed" open stance to get rid of his bad form. That is when he made that 102 in 74 balls against SA in kolkatta.

[vvvslaxman]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tq2JdClwpk]Md Azharuddin 4 4 4 4 4 Vs Lance Klusner - YouTube[/ame] third boundary is absolutely breathtaking.. this guy is even better to watch live.