da betsul： One sure sign of a top-class batsman is the ability to score consistently off good deliveries
da supremo： Wisden CricInfo staff11-Jul-2005One sure sign of a top-class batsman is the ability to score consistently off good deliveries. VirenderSehwag demonstrated this today. His strike-rate of 71 runs per 100 balls was proof of the ease with which he handled bowlers who didn’t bowl particularly badly to him.As many as 172 – or 83% – of the 206 balls he faced were on a goodlength or just short, and he hammered thesefor 116 runs. And 146 deliveries – 71% of the ballshe faced – were on off stump or just outside;he hit 109 runs – 74% of his total – offthem.Of course, he was quick to punish the errantball as well, as a top batsman must. Hesmashed 27 runs off the 22 fullish deliveries hefaced and gave the bowlers no scope to falter.As many as 111 of his 147 runs – 76% – cameon the off side, the area between cover andthird man being particularly productive, butthis merely reflected the line bowled to him. Heshowed admirable patience in playing out 152dot balls, and 114 of his runs – 78% – camefrom boundaries. But Sehwag is no slogger: hehad an in-control percentage of 78, which, whilenot quite Dravidian or Tendulkaresque, is perfectly respectable for a top-order batsman.