Jan 20, 2001 08:33 PM
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AFTER Sir RICHARD HADLEE, THE TITLE CREDIT OF THE
SECOND SWING SULTAN CERTAINLY GOES TO IMRAN KHAN
NAZI. HE IS EASILY THE BEST SWING BOWLER, PAKISTAN HAS EVER PRODUCED. HIS RHYTHMIC RUNUP AND SPRINGING ACTION LEADS TO A SWINGING LETHAL DELIVERY HAS SENT THE STUMPS MANY A TIME FLYING, OR INVARIABLY HAS THE BATSMAN GIVING A TAME CATCH TO THE WICKET KEEPER OR THE FIRST SLIP. TO COMPARE IMRAN KHAN AND KAPIL DEV,I WOULD CONSIDER KAPIL DEV TO BE A BETTER BOWLER FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT HE HAD PRACTICALLY NO SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER END IN TERMS OF PACE BOWLING.THE FACT THAT HE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO GET PAST SIR RICHARD HADLEE'S RECORD BEARS TESTIMONY TO THIS. BATTINGWISE, I WOULD RATE THEM ON PAR BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CAPTAINCY, IMRAN KHAN CERTAINLY IS A BETTER CHOICE MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIS SHREWD CRICKETING BRAIN, EVOLVING STRATEGIES AND READING OF THE SITUATION. HE WILL ALSO GET PAST KAPIL DEV ON HIS ABILITY TO SWING THE BALL BOTH WAYS. HE WAS A GREATER HERO ESPECIALLY AMONG THE WOMEN SPECTATORS.
