Cricketfundas.com, the most comprehensive
cricket website on the net has come up with
this wholly innovative idea of the PERFORMERS
OF THE WEEK. In this feature we will look at
the performances of the cricketers during a
week and pay glowing accolades to the best
batsman and the best bowler. The past week
featured some amazingly stunning performances
and it would seem fitting enough to flag off
this feature in a week that featured arguably
the greatest test match ever played. There was
also a tight series on in Sri Lanka where
India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies were
slugging it out. Then there was a total
mismatch between New Zealand and hosts
Zimbabwe where the Kiwis completely
annihilated the Zimbabweans.
Coming to the performances, there were the
usual suspects and also a few new kids on the
block which augurs well for the future of
cricket all over the world. Daniel Vettori
turned in an outstanding performance in Harare
where he made an aggressive undefeated 127 and
also captured 6wickets to go with it. There
were also notable performances from Brendon
McCullum and Blessing Mahwire. Then there was
the Sri Lankan sojourn for India and West
Indies, where the old warhorse Sanath
Jayasuriya once again proved why he was once
the most destructive batsman in the late
nineties with a brutal knock of 67 in the
final. Mahela Jayawardene showed why he is a
class act with knocks of 94 and 83 against
India. Farveez Maharoof produced a miserly
performance of 10-5-9-3 against West Indies.
India had Yuvraj Singh in the forefront with
knocks of 110 and 42 and in the bowling
department Ashish Nehra redeemed himself with
a 6-59. West Indies too found solace from the
84 produced by Runako Morton towards the end
of the tournament.
But all these performances pale in comparison
with the stuff that was produced in Edgbaston
where two teams were playing out of their skin
to produce an all time classic.
The Ashes has come alive once again. Marcus
Trescothick laid the platform with a typical
90, Kevin Pietersen also played his part with
a knock of 71. For the Aussies Justin Langer
produced a gritty 82 and Shane Warne along
with Brett Lee brought them mighty close in
the end but alas, in vain. Ashley Giles proved
his detractors wrong with 5 wickets and Brett
Lee after a poor spell in the first innings
did well in the second with a 4-82 in the
second innings.
The
crown though goes to that giant of a man,
Andrew Flintoff who in a manner reminiscent of
Ian Botham in the 1981 Ashes test played the
match of his life. Coming to the crease at
4-187 in the first innings he combined
beautifully with Pietersen and hit 73 clubbing
5 sixes on the way. The situation he came in
during the second time England batted was far
more precarious with 5-72 on the board. Again
Freddie proved why he is considered the best
all rounder of our time with a 73. Though
there were other knocks of value because of
the way in which he played and the
fearlessness that was on show Andrew Flintoff
fittingly takes the mantle of the best batting
performer of the week.
Shane
Warne has always been something of an enigma
and he will continue to do so but the magic
that can be conjured up by those 5 fingers in
his right hand makes us stand up and applaud
him. Faced with problems in the past month
only a man of his stature could come up with
such a stand out performance of 10-162. The
Australians had to come back in the test and
Ricky Ponting had to fall back on the man he
has always relied upon in times of crisis.
Shane as always vindicated the faith shown by
his captain and produced a potentially match
winning 6-46 in the second innings. Shane
Keith Warne is therefore our bowler of the
week.
The next week promises to be exciting with the
Third test already underway and let’s hope the
second test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand
also turns out to be a close one. That’s it
for this week folks see you next week.
