MCC XI vs ROW XI: A look at the Heroes and Flops of the day
An exhibition game that promised to fulfil the fantasies of most cricket-lovers around the world – Sachin Tendulkar’s MCC XI stepped on to the field against Shane Warne’s Rest of the World XI, in a celebration of the bicentennial anniversary of the Lord’s Cricket Ground.
The pre-match build-up saw tremendous buzz around the social media, with Twitter and Instagram accounts of legendary cricketers filling up with dream pics and selfies. Selfies of Afridi, Yuvraj, Tino Best and Umar Gul or funny pics of Pietersen doing Sehwag’s tie before a social dinner will be totally unforgettable.
The two best batsmen of the modern era: Tendulkar and Lara up against the two greatest spinners of all time Warne and Muralitharan – what better way to celebrate the great game in the Home of cricket!
However, the mega-show didn’t quite live upto its billing with viewers neither getting to see Warne and Murali bowl together, nor seeing Lara and Sachin bat in tandem. In the end MCC XI won it quite comfortably. The toss was won by Shane Warne’s ROW XI and after posting 293-7 on the board they had it comfortably chased down by Sachin’s MCC XI with 7 wickets to spare, thanks mainly to Aaron Finch’s 181 not out.
Here’s a look at the heroes and flops of the day:
ROW
Adam Gilchrist: The wicket-keeping batsman who revolutionised the modern game, Gilly walked to the middle with a GoPro camera fitted to his helmet. Started the ROW innings in great fashion with Sehwag, punching Shaun Tait for four fours in his first over. However Ajmal got him soon after being introduced to the attack with a doosra that began a lethal spell for him. Also captained his side at the absence of Shane Warne, later in the afternoon. Was quite a sight to see Gilchrist, Sehwag and Collingwood behind the stumps to Sachin!
Runs scored: 29(21). 1 Catch.
Virender Sehwag: Began well with Gilly. Hit 5 boundaries for his 22 before letting Brett Lee through his gate. Didn’t bowl, or have a great part to play in the second half of the game either.
Runs scored: 22(24).
Tamim Iqbal: The great Stephen Fry was considerably excited at the prospect of the presence of a Bangladeshi player in the game of legends. But apart from bearing the flagship of inclusiveness, didn’t have a big role to play. Was probably the quietest presence on the field. Got an unlucky decision to get out cheaply to Ajmal.
Runs score: 1(6).
Kevin Pietersen: While many expected the man to’ve been so unceremoniously dumped by the ECB to seize the stage to make a statement, the supremely talented cricketer was one of the major flops of the day. Scored just 10 runs before being foxed by Ajmal, and gave away 30 odd runs in two overs. Seemed to be one of the most vibrant presences though, interacting generously with the audience near the boundary and reminding everyone about the colourful personality that went with his skills on the cricket field.
Runs scored: 10. Bowling: 2-0-29-0.
Yuvraj Singh: Had Finch not outdone him later, he’d have been the biggest hero of the game. Once again underlined to the world his abundant gifts. Came in when the chips were down, and from 68-5 rebuilt the innings with Paul Collingwood. Later on upped the tempo to take his team to an above par score. The fact that all the sixes of ROW’s innings came from his bat today, says something for his efforts. Languidly dispatching balls to the boundary with effortless grace, Yuvraj charmed the viewers with one of the greatest sights in the modern-day limited overs game. As Andrew Strauss described it: it was poetry in motion. He reached his century with a four off his idol Sachin, and the gesture was like an iconic salute from a protégé to a champion. He finally departed in the 49th over trying to hit Tendulkar for his 7th six of the innings. Also turned his arms around for 6 overs albeit for not much success.
Runs scored: 132(134). Bowling: 5.5-0-46-0.
Shahid Afridi: Once again a fair flop in the day. Famous around the world for his destructive qualities, he departed cheaply with the bat for a 2-ball duck. To be fair to him he came right into Ajmal’s hot streak and got an absolute beauty straight away. With the ball was much better – his quick leg-spinners though didn’t succeed in giving him a wicket.
Runs scored: 0(2). Bowling: 5-1-29-0.
Paul Collingwood: Another hero of the day for MCC. Scored a fighting 40 to rescue his team with Yuvraj. Then came back with the ball to dismiss Lara and Dravid in back-to-back deliveries! One of the greatest thrills of this kind of a game is the blending of various different types of characters, and this classically, stoic British personality contrasted marvellously with his more flamboyant peers. This factor also helped in his batting to take his team out of the woods, as well as while bowling:chipping in inconspicuously with two crucial wickets.
Runs scored: 40(64). Bowling: 7-0-25-2.
Peter Siddle: One of the top quicks of today, Peter Siddle chipped in with bat and ball. After scoring a valuable 33 with the bat, came back to bowl two quick maidens with the ball. Although with the Lord’s wicket getting better for batting in the afternoon, didn’t succeed in providing his team with the breakthrough.
Runs scored 33(32). Bowling: 8-2-45-0.
Shane Warne: Surely the greatest disappointment in the day! Brett Lee was the unintentional villain as an accidental beamer from the fast bowler broke the hand of the “sheikh of spin”, robbing the expectant fans of a chance to see Sachin vs Warne probably one last time on the grand stage! Also, the much vaunted Murali-Warne bowling in tandem never really materialised, pouring cold water on many hopes!
Muttiah Muralidharan: Once again, a decidedly disappointing performance. Was introduced into the attack with Sachin and Finch going great guns and although got the wicket of Sachin, was never convincing with the ball. Kept straying down the leg-side, and was treated with disdain by Finch. However the one flavour that remained intact was the trademark smile!
Bowling: 10-0-55-1.
Tino Best: Not really sure what he was doing with the legends! But as always, one performer who bowled his heart out. Maybe the organisers felt, a bicentenary game at Lords couldn’t be complete without a speedster from the Carribeans! Kept steaming in throughout the day, although got hit for a few and also went wicketless. And therefore has to be put in with the flops.
Bowling: 10-0-63-0.
MCC XI
Sachin Tendulkar: Still looked liked that 19-year old-boy who’d stepped onto Lord’s for the first time 24 years ago! His legions of fans across the world must be thrilled with the regrown mane. Captained his team astutely while fielding, even turned his arms around for a few overs, and then came back and scored 44 runs. Took the wicket of Yuvraj Singh in the process. Walked into bat to reverberations of “Sachin! Sachin!” chants around the stadium, and to a standing ovation one more time. Played some vintage, ageless shots that made it hard to believe he’d been retired for even a day! Turned the clock right around, and was middling the balls with ample time in hand. Hit square-cuts and glorious drives through extra-cover and came dancing down the tracks to Murali. Till before he got out in a freakish way to Murali, it didn’t look like anything could get the better of him on this day.
Aaron Finch: Undoubtedly the star performer in the day. Bowled 4 overs for a bit of stick early in the day. And then came back to guide his team to victory with a mammoth 181, with the help of 23 meaty fours and 6 sixes. One of the few currently active players to make the squad, the young stroke-maker must’ve impressed his illustrious team-mates and opponents with his remarkable performance today! Interestingly, Finch was the only player in the match without a Test cap to his name.
Brian Lara: The Prince of Cricket didn’t get to share the stage with Sachin. Scratched around initially to Murali, before playing a glorious drive through the extra cover boundary off Collingwood. However 2 balls later, with his team comfortably placed at 174-1, he nicked one behind off the same bowler to depart.
Runs scored: 23(38).
Rahul Dravid: The Wall made as many headlines with his first-ball duck today, as probably Finch did with his match winning knock. Took a great catch in the first innings to break the Yuvraj-Collingwood partnership. But was a major flop with the bat.
Runs score: 0(1). 1 Catch.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: Batted nicely as usual for a chanceless 37. Came in to face the hat-trick ball off Collingwood, but stayed till the end to finish things off with Finch.
Runs Scored: 37(47).
Chris Read: During the middle of the match, if you were wondering why Sangakkara or Matt Prior weren’t there and what was Chris Read doing there, by the end you must’ve changed your mind about arguably the least famous cricketer amongst the 22! Although he did not bat, he kept wickets superbly effecting two brilliant stumpings off Ajmal. Although not familiar with keeping to the spinner he managed to read him correctly where his world-famous colleagues failed. Overall, had quite a big impact in the match!
2 stumpings.
Daniel Vettori: Had a fairly quiet day. The soft-spoken nerdy-looking cricketer with his trademark beard, bowled well but had modest returns to show for his efforts. Got hit for two glorious sixes off the left-handed Yuvraj.
Bowling: 10-0-47-0.
Brett Lee: Surely the biggest culprit of the day, despite a good show with the ball. Castled Virender Sehwag when he was going great guns, and then came back to break the important partnership of Yuvraj and Collingwood. Bowled well during the batting powerplay. But it’s hard to imagine fans forgiving him after breaking Shane Warne’shand with a (accidental) beamer in the final over.
Bowling: 10-0-55-2.
Shaun Tait: For someone who got taken to the cleaners by Adam Gilchrist with four boundaries in his very first over, he made a fairly decent comeback. The world had almost forgotten about him - the man who made his debut as a young quick sensation in the 2005 Ashes. This was a chance for him, to remind the world of his calibre. He bowled with customary good pace, although remained wicketless for his endeavours.
Bowling: 10-0-58-0
Saeed Ajmal: At one stage threatened to run away with the game with 4 wickets in 3 overs! Clearly the standout bowler in the day. The likes of Gilchrist, Pietersen and Afridi had no clue against him! It took a well-set Yuvraj to hit the only six that was to come off him on the day. Despite having two mavericks in Warne and Murali, Ajmal easily runs away with the honours for the best spinner today.
Bowling: 10-0-45-4.
Umar Gul: Had the least amount of role in the match. Bowled 2 overs and shared the new ball with Brett Lee before hobbling off the pitch with an injury and didn’t have any further role to play in the match.
Bowling: 2-0-16-0.