Vijay Hazare-tribute on birth centenary today

[Harsh Thakor]

Today on March 15th we commemorate the centenary of the legendary Vijay Hazare.His deeds on the cricket field will be etched in the minds of Indian cricket fans forever. He carved a permanent niche amongst the batting greats.Fred Trueman thought Hazare negotiated pace bowling better than any Indian batsmen, including Vijay Merchant. He blended the prowess of a technician with the flair of an artist like an architect and musician rolled into one. Quoting Rahul Bhatia “Vijay Hazare, who passed away at the age of 89 after a prolonged illness, was one of India's early greats who did much on either side of India's midnight to put the country's batsmanship on the map of world cricket. Along with Vijay Merchant, he brought to Indian cricket a determination and a studied approach that complemented its flamboyance. His finest moment was at Adelaide in 1947-48, where he struck two hundreds against Don Bradman's "Invincible" Australians.” In his day and time the Hazare carried the weight of the Indian batting on his shoulders. The most vivid example was when he scored 89 out of 222 in a partnership with Vijay Manjrekar at Leeds in 1952..After the stand was broken the Indian batting folded for a paltry 293.Vijay Hazare was a master in a crisis like Steve Waugh or Javed Miandad. Hazare dominated first class cricket with the impact of an emperor. In 1940 he established a new Ranji trophy record when amassing 316 n.o.for Maharashtra against Baroda.Hazare glistered consecutive scores of 248,59,309,101,223 and 87 becoming the first man to total 1000 runs in an Indian first class season. His 1st double hundred was scored against the Muslims for the Rest in 1941-42.A week later he made another incredible first double century against the Hindus for the Rest in the pentagular in 1942.He scored 295 sharing a partnership of 300 with his brother Vivek.Hazare has scored 80% of his team’s runs. In 1947-48 in Australia at Adelaide Hazare made history by becoming the 1st Indian to score a century in both innings of a test match. Above all he achieved it against the best side in the world,Australia.He scored 116 out of 381 and145 out of 277,treating Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller with disdain.Earlier that season Hazare re-wrote the record books in first class cricket when participating in a world record 577 run partnership against Holkar.Cricket writer A.G.Moyes wrote about his great gift of timing and placement.Hazare manouvred the cricket ball with the control of a motorist or pilot. Fred Trueman when on hat-trick stated that “Hazare moved into line,bat close to pad,and the ball missed the edge by a *** papers width.Don Bradman wrote “Hazare had the soundest and most correct stroke production and was a truly great player.”However he felt that “he lacked aggression or cavalier approach to batting which prevented him from tearing an attack to pieces. Thus Bradman felt Hazare had the ability to tear an attack apart like Viv Richards or Gary Sobers.Arguably Hazare could have been classed with the likes of Viv Richards or all-time greats had he played for a longer batting line-up.No Indian batsmen in England in 1952 could cope as consistently with Bedser and Trueman . He was less defensive than Merchant with an awkward stance at the crease. Hazare’s most regal stroke was the cover drive which he executed with the flourish of an artist. He was less defensive than Merchant with an awkward stance at the crease. He also executed the cut stroke with the precision of a surgeon. Even the likes of Rahul Dravid have not bettered Hazare’s square –cutting..Hazare also executed the off –drive with charasterictic silkiness and the on –drive with flourish.Quoing Rahul Bhatia in cricinfo “Hazare proved adept on all manner of pitches, off front foot or back. Clean strokes - primarily the cut, hook and a glorious cover-drive -¬ punctuated long periods of defence as he tired attacks before pressing forth. This ability to absorb and release pressure in a controlled manner was unmatched by most in world cricket at the time. He often reined in his carefree strokeplay on the grounds that it was exhibitionism. When fires burned, as they did when Fred Trueman had the new ball in England in 1952, Hazare doused them with calculated calm.” Hazare averaged 50 or more in 5 consecutive test series before an unsuccessful tour of the Carribean in 1952-3.Hazare scored 2192 runs at 47.65 with seven centuries in test matches and scored 18740 runs at an average of 58.38 with 60 centuries in first class cricket. Vijay Hazare would be Vijay Merchant’s greatest rival for the title of the best pre-war batsmen.Geoff Armstrong included Hazare instead of Vinoo Mankad or Vijay Merchant in his list of all-time 100 greatest cricketers. The Merchant-Hazare duel was one of the most intense ever contests for supremacy ever seen in the history of the game.,that lasted a decade.Statistically Merchant was superior but Hazare tackled stronger opposition in England and Australia,scoring a greater aggregate of runs in test matches and number of centuries. Hazare faced better bowlers than Merchant like Trueman,Lindwall,Miller, and Fazal Mahmood and played in 30 more tests.I feel Hazare possessed more flair than Merchant. In the modern day and age I would have backed Hazare to average over 50 in test cricket and be an outstanding O.D.I.Batsmen. on the easier batting pitches of today. He would have been amongst the best stroke-players of the game. It would have been a spectacle witnessing Hazare batting in the contemporary era.He was almost the equal of a Gavaskar,Dravid or Tendulkar and may well ranks amongst the top 5 Indian batsmen of all-time.I would have loved seeing Hazare tackle the likes of Lillee,Marshall,Akram or Steyn. Quoting Rahul Bhatia “Hazare was no mere accumulator. He crushed spirits with the weight of his runs and the fluency of his batting. In 1943, he struck an extraordinary purple patch in first-class cricket: 264, 81, 97, 248, 59, 309, 101 and 223. The 248 and 309 are significant for his rivalry with Merchant, who bettered the first score by two runs, only to watch the new high score shattered by the triple-century a day later. In 1967, aged 51, Hazare ended his career with a first-class average nudging 58, with 60 hundreds, and a Test average of 47.65.”

[CoverDrive]

no idea but this thread reminds me of this dialogue

.In the Year 1929 sir,when India was playing against Australia in Melbourne city,Vijay Merchent and Vijay Hajare,they were at the crease and Vijay Merchet told Vijay Hajare,look Vijay Hajare-This is a very Prestigious match and you must consider this match very carefully.So considering the consideration that Vijay Hajare gave Vijay Merchant,Vijay merchent told Vijay Hajare that ultimately we must take a run and when they were striking the ball on the leg side Sir,the consideration became into a ultimatum and ultimately Vijay Hajare went to Vijay Merchant.

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[Sachin=GOD]

On Vijay Hazare's birth centenary, Vinay Kumar equals his feat of a century and five wickets in a Ranji final. Only two players to do so.