Of `Pundits', Loud-mouths and a Genius !!!



By: Venkatachalam. A. Krishnan

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They said he is past his heydays...



They said he hasn’t played competitive Cricket for several months and he can’t play anymore...



They said he is an egoist, and has other priorities in life...



They said he is NOT a Team-man and none of his own teammates want him...



They even said he should not be chosen for the World cup as the team was doing well without him and his entry will be more of a negative influence...

The self-styled PUNDITS have long been voicing their opinions on matters cricket and otherwise. The history of the World is so replete with their predictions and they definitely have a mass-following who take their words as the gospel truth.





But Brian Charles Lara has different ideas. When nobody gave him as much a semblance of a chance, he comes back with a bang. And what an occasion he chose to do it!



Lara’s innings of 116 against the Formidable South-Africans in the opening encounter of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 is definitely one of the greatest ever displays of Genius to happen on a Cricket-field.



That they reserve their best for the Big-stage is what separate the Great from the mere-mortals. And Lara is definitely up there at the very top of the list of the best.



Yes. He would have been walking back to the pavilion after just one ball had Kallis latched on to the ball off Ntini. But there again, the greats capitalize on the chances offered to them. That is, if you can really call that a chance. It was not in any way even close to half a chance. Only the sheer athleticism of Kallis made it look like a chance.



The West Indians were tottering when he walked in. He took his time to settle in and the rest is, as they say, HISTORY!



The CLASS was visible from minute ONE. The timing was back in his shots and the sheer elegance was there for everyone to enjoy. With clean orthodox cricket-shots, this innings was a Purists-delight.



Whatever opposition Lara had was only internal to him. He had to prove it to himself more than to anyone else. And he managed to do it authoritatively.



All the others in the West-Indian team had to do was to bat around Lara. He forms the core, radiating confidence, and the others definitely benefit from it. After all, the opposition bowlers tend to forget their tricks when this man is on song.



The West-Indians were clearly the better team at Newlands, Cape Town. Even the almost-savage dare-devilry of Lance `ZULU' Klusner couldn’t get the Porteas a win.



Brian Lara has arrived again!


He is fit, and more importantly HUNGRY. Let the lesser mortals be satisfied with the leftovers.



This world cup has got of to the best of starts possible. And Lara's Magic-wand will do more talking. The `Pundits' are definitely going to have more wounds to lick on.



But then they also said the World is FLAT and the Sun goes around us!!!



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