Old foes, new faces, and lots of lip
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
November 4, 2007
A India v Pakistan contest is never without interesting battles among the players from opposing teams. Here's a few that could flare up over the upcoming ODI series.
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Sehwag v Shoaib
Action v reaction doesn't get fierier. It's the longest run-up against the most exhilarating bat-swing, the fastest ball against the speediest bat. Sehwag doesn't do defence, Shoaib doesn't do half-measures. Earlier collisions have produced fireworks. There's also been plenty of lip. Sehwag has a strike-rate of 103.66 against Pakistan, Shoaib reserves his fastest for India. Both are on a comeback. Both like to make an instant impact. There are few more exhilarating ways to start a one-dayer. Blink and you'll surely miss it.
Younis v Sreesanth
This may turn into a battle for the stump mics. Sreesanth will talk, mostly with a scowl, and Younis will chat back, mostly with a smile. Expect mid-pitch skirmishes and plenty of banter. Younis likes to cheer his partner after every quick single and Sreesanth is rarely short of a word while walking back to the start of his run-up. Both are capable of swinging matches - Sreesanth will rely on moving the ball at a good pace, Younis on finding the gaps in the middle overs. Both love to improvise - Sreesanth with his slower ones and Younis with his cheeky paddles and glides. Don't miss this street-fight. It's as spicy as it gets.
Uthappa v Afridi
Seasoned cheek meets youthful brashness in a high-energy battle. Whether it's with his electric hitting or waspish legspin, Shahid Afridi likes to impose himself. A charged Afridi is usually a sign of a successful Pakistan set-up. He provides momentum quicker than the rest and turns games in a matter of minutes. In Robin Uthappa he could meet his match. Not one to shy away, Uthappa's gung-ho approach has worked so far. Whether it's his nonchalant walk down the crease or cool shuffle across it, he's shown his value as a finisher. Incidentally, neither is likely to back away from a chat.
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Pathan v Tanvir
Left-arm seamers rarely come with so much of a contrast. Irfan Pathan has transformed from a genuine swing bowler to a containing middle-over specialist. Sohail Tanvir, with his unusual wrong-footed action, is a new-ball threat. Pathan's stump-to-stump line is ideal for the middle and late overs while Tanvir's discomforting bounce off a good length can be used to exploit any early fizz on the pitch. Both are handy batsmen lower down the order - Pathan more conventional with a wide array of strokes, Tanvir more unorthodox, relying on a crisp flick off the hips.
Malik v Dhoni
India v Pakistan provides a captaincy challenge like few others. Both Shoaib Malik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are relatively new to the job, both are trying to build sides for the future, and both saw their sides reach the final of the World Twenty20 before subsequently stumbling in home series. Both are versatile batsmen capable of floating up and down the order and equipped to attack as well as defend. Both have faced the heat of an India-Pakistan series before but how they tackle the burdens of captaincy could decide the fate of the series.
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo
Cricinfo
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