Sports India

Alright, alright, we’ll do it; we’ll publish a feature on the upcoming all-rounders in world cricket.
The cherry on the top of our want to write this one was Kevin Pietersen’s debut Test wicket in the first Test against Pakistan at the esteemed Lord’s. We totally predicted it - things are going so amazingly well for the guy it was only destiny that foretold KP’s triumph with the ball that fine day.

Okay, so he hardly falls into the all-rounder category just yet but it’s seemingly only a matter of time before King Kev’ leaves the rank of batsman and joins the more alluring and lauded role of all-rounder. Right, enough about ol’ KP, let’s check out those who have already graduated to the all-rounder big time.

Glenn McGrath is first man up on the graduation podium…just joking. Okay, stop laughing and nod your head in agreement that Brett Lee is most definitely worthy of all-rounder status. Lee, Australia’s premiere fast-bowler now that McGrath’s days at the top are coming to an end has done more than enough to justify a spot at number seven or eight in the Aussie’s batting line-up.

It’s true, we’re about to mention The Ashes once again…as if it hasn’t been written about enough, but the fact of the matter is Lee’s ability with the bat almost outshone his prowess with the ball during that fine England-won/Oz-lost series. He’s as brutal with the willow as he is cocky with the lip; Brett cracks number one spot on the graduation podium with great ease.

Slotting in at a cool second is India’s young Kapil Dev wannabe. Irfan Pathan, with a handful of more than decent knocks to his name continues to slip up and down the batting-order. Skipper of the day, recently Rahul Dravid, has employed Pathan at the pivotal number three throne-esque position with great effect in One-dayers.

There, Pathan has shown glimpses of brilliance and his ability to bludgeon the ball in times of run-need aswell as his skill in caressing rank half-volleys to the ropes ala Sachin Tendulkar is unequalled by his fellow bowler/batsmen posers.

With two bowlers claiming first and second on the pedestal it’s only fair to give a batsman with aspirations to bowl better the bronze medal. On Virender Sehwag we pin that medal. On more than the odd occasion Sehwag’s whipped through his lot of overs at an economical rate and picked up a wicket or two. We watch in amazement every time as his rather tasty and profit-bearing pie-type off-spinners don’t get profited off and leave a bad taste in victim of the day’s mouth.

True, Indian wickets are easy to bowl part-time spin on and Sehwag wouldn’t fair nearly as well on Oz or South African tracks but when at home and part of a three-spinner strong bowling-attack, Sehwag’s always hot on the heels of the somewhat more in-the-know-about-spin-bowling Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh - So much so that he has a little part-time protégé of his own in young Yuvraj Singh, who too has lately been featuring in the lower half of the scorecard.

Other contenders: Ian Bell (but he will probably want to secure his spot in the side as a batsman first), Rana Naved (get well soon mate), Andre Nel (ha-ha…whatever) and Matthew Hoggard