Is Eoin Morgan fast turning out to be the next 'Big Thing' in International Cricket? He won an almost single-handed victory for England after they were down in the dumps thanks to smart bowling by the Bangladesh Captain.
Morgan did everything a finisher is expected to do in a tight game. He defended, ran real quick and shielded his partners before finishing off in style. Such was his involvement in his pursuit of the target; he didn't even realize he had completed his century. What a 'Team-man' to have!
England sure are a team on the roll in both forms of the game. This is in spite of the fact that they have lost the most number of 'Established Stars' over the past couple of years. Waughan, Simon Jones, Harmison, Giles and of course Flintoff; that is a tough line up to replace. Next to Australia, England is the team that has undergone the widest metamorphosis since the 2007 World Cup.
And here is a lesson for all the other teams; especially India. Build up your bench strength, support the tough nuts. Segregate the chaff and promote Yusuf Pathan up the order! And please give him some rope; not to hang him, but to do the rope-tricks! This man can be the most destructive player of our times if only our selectors, press and public give him the requisite support.
Our 'Press' has been generally too harsh in its criticism of Yusuf. He makes 18 runs of 13 balls and falls in his attempt to force the pace. Press says, "Yusuf Pathan once again failed the team". Ravindra Jadeja scored 22 of 20 balls and the same article lauds his batting! How crude and rude can they get!
In any form of Cricket, not many ordinary men have scored a hundred and a double hundred in the same match. Yusuf did exactly that in the Duleep Trophy Final and in the process, won a match that was almost lost till he took on the opposition single-handed.
Shane Warne handled him beautifully and he worked wonders for Rajastan Royals. With the right kind of backing, he can go a long way in International Cricket. I hope our Selectors and Dhoni will see the potential in this giant of a man and nurture him to greater heights. If not, the loss will be entirely ours.
Yusuf Pathan can be the Indian Cricket's answer to Afridi and Morgan. And he can be as difficult a bowler as Afridi. Nurture him, he is capable of changing the course of a match even before you can say... 'Quick Gun Murugan'
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