சூறாவளி ஓய்ந்தது. சேவாக் முன்னூறு அடிக்கவில்லை. என்னே ஒரு அற்புதமான ஆட்டம் !!!!

This man from once upon a time mughal troop settlement in south western part of Delhi – Najafgarh has changed the way Indian openers had played the game.

The final test at Brabourne stadium against visiting Lankans would be remembered entirely for the heroics of Sehwag. On the Second day, he pulverized the bowling attack. He has done this many a times before but this knock was astounding even by his high standards, of a man who has close to 80 as his strike rate in tests. With this superb knock, he has now made 6 double centuries – the highest by any Indian. On field there are two : Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara. When it comes to scoring them faster, he is incomparable as he features in 3 of the top four and five of the top ten fastest double tons in test.

Technically, this was a very fluent knock as his runs came in all parts of the ground and was superbly paced one. He started slowly (by his standards) scoring 42 in the first 50 deliveries; next 50 fetched 55, each of the next 50 balls fetched more than 70. He had ended with 284 not out – just 25 short of all time record for most runs in a single day – still the top score in a day in the last 76 years. Even a bad back did not slow him and he batted like the nearby Arabian sea in high tide. There were enormous expectation at the close of play as he remained unbeaten on 284 consuming only 239 delivery @ 118.82 making his fastest 150 + score in Test.

All this had raised hopes of his completing 300, challenging Bradman and perhaps erasing Brian Lara. He had the chance of sharing with Bradman scoring third triple.

Alas this morning Viru fell seven short of a record breaking triple century – out caught and bowled by Muthiah Muralitharan for 293. His earlier triples had come against South Africa (319 at Chennai) and at Multan (309). He became the fourth player to fall in 290s after Martin Crowe, Vivian Richards and Sarwan. Sehwag's scintillating 293 came off 254 balls with 40 shots to the fence and seven sixes at an amazing strike rate of 115.35. He crossed another milestone of 6000 runs in tests during this knock.

Great Show ........  "Viru".....~~~ the master blaster

With regards – S. Sampathkumar