They are a separate breed

INDIAN CAPTAIN Sourav Ganguly, setting aside the disappointments of the moment, was lavish in his praise of Andy Flower, after the experienced Zimbabwe warrior, batting till kingdom come, had scripted a `Great Escape Act' in the Nagpur Test late last year.

``Never seen anybody playing the Indian spinners better at home,'' Ganguly remarked, having witnessed several more fancied line-ups coming apart in the heat and dust bowls of the sub- continent, and he did have a point.

But then, batting heroics - he conjured an unbeaten match-saving double hundred in a demanding situation - were only one half of Andy's stupendous contribution. The astonishing Zimbabwean had also kept wickets impeccably for more than two days, the most complete performance really by a wicket-keeper batsman in recent times.

Yes, the wicket-keeper batsmen are a separate breed. Very often the unsung heroes of international cricket, the sheer effort these cricketers often put in is mind-boggling.

Diving to pouch the rapidly travelling edges off the pacemen, displaying quicksilver reflexes while standing up to the spinners, egging their mates on when the chips are down... and making vital runs in crunch situations.

It can be physically and mentally exhausting, and unrewarding too; a catch put down at the end of a long, tiring day is often remembered more than a spectacular one taken at the beginning, a poor shot leading to a cheap dismissal is recalled time and again, overlooking a spectacular innings played earlier. Very often these spirited men end up becoming `Punching Bags.'

``We deserve two pay packets,'' Alec Stewart, former England skipper, and one of the foremost members of the tribe, revealed in a moment of frustration years back, and those were not vapid words. Stewart knew the pain, the sacrifices.

Considering that 'keeping is a highly specialised job, the performing lot are all-rounders in their own right, given the importance of their role. The hub of the side on the field, they are essential to any outfit's success.

These men provide their teams with an extra slot, where an additional batsman or a bowler could be fitted in, places that can mean the difference between close victories and narrow defeats, especially in the days of overs-limit cricket.

Having someone like Flower, Stewart or the swashbuckling Australian, Adam Gilchrist, gives so many options to the team- management and it is not very difficult to notice the fact that India has lagged behind desperately in this department.

In the past great names like Allan Knott, Rodney Marsh have produced deeds that will not be clouded by the mists of time and now it is the turn of Andy Flower and co. to hog the limelight.

Even a casual glance at the 32-year-old Andy's statistics takes one breath away. His batting average is indeed staggering - 3625 runs at 51.05 in 48 Tests with nine hundreds and 4972 in 164 one- dayers at 33.14. Not to forget his efficient, unruffled work behind the stumps.

The man, without a doubt, is an inspiration to his rather unglamorous team, seldom failing to deliver when it mattered, when the chips were down. In these days of `packaging' the southpaw may not exactly top the popularity charts as a media created celebrity, however, when it comes to pure cricketing reasons, he is way ahead of the pack.

What shines through in Andy's career is his excellent work ethic, uncompromising attitude on the field, the ability to, both, concentrate for long periods and innovate - nobody quite essays the reverse sweep better than him - with the willow, whether opening the innings or figuring in the middle-order, and keep wickets neatly without wilting under the workload, his fitness levels being the key.

Fitness is an area where Stewart, at 38 the senior-most member of the pack, cannot be faulted too. He is an indomitable English Lion, who has seldom been found wanting in commitment and courage in moments of despair. Precisely why it surprised so many of us to find his name in the match fixing scandal. Since the issue of his involvement in cricket's most forgettable chapter is still under investigation, it will be more prudent to focus on his achievements on the field of play, that are not insignificant really.

His attacking ways at the crease while countering the quickest of attacks in testing conditions - his hundreds in both the innings in the Barbados Test of '94 cannot be forgotten in a hurry - stand out in several England performances, otherwise lacking in character.

Stewart is an underrated 'keeper too, who has been much better than he often been given credit for, taking spectacular catches along the way.

Considering his value to the side, it was a blunder by the English think-tank to field Stewart as a specialist batsmen during the '96 World Cup - Jack Russell was the 'keeper then - and the move defied logic, the very purpose of possessing someone as versatile as this Surrey cricketer was undone.

Stewart wants to end a journey into Test cricket that began way back in 1989-90 after the Ashes this summer - he completed 100 Tests in the summer of 2000 - and when he decides to drift into the sunset, he will go down as a tireless performer...unless the damming allegation by an Indian bookie is proved.

Now to one of the most exciting cricketers in contemporary cricket. Adam Gilchrist can dismiss the best of bowlers ruthlessly, as a dangerous lower middle-order Test batsman and a breathtaking opener in limited overs cricket and keep wickets with aplomb.

Stepping into the shoes of a giant like Ian Healy can be demanding mentally, but Gilchrist has done wonderfully well in the dual role, establishing his own identity in the process. The dashing left- hander's 149 not out in Hobart, in a stunning onslaught on the Pakistan bowlers in what was a `Death or Glory' situation for the Australians, put him on course and he has not looked back, averaging 54.37 in 14 Tests, and 32.87 in 103 one- dayers.

He has been in his element donning the wicket-keeping gloves also, against the pace of McGrath and Lee and the spin of Warne and MacGill, plucking catches out of thin air.

And it was indeed a rich tribute to this extraordinary cricketer when he was named the Australian vice-captain at the start of the home season - he even led the side against the Windies in a Test when Steve Waugh was injured. He has revelled in the role too. This sparkling man is a star in every sense of the word and this is just the beginning.

Pakistan's Moin Khan has the heart of a champion. The 29-year- old battler from Karachi has bucked the odds all his career, and it really marked a triumph of the spirit when Moin was named the Pakistan captain on a long-term basis, following the '99 World Cup.

Moin's positive attitude, his brilliant glovework on occasions, and his attacking methods at the crease even if they are not always orthodox , have taken him to the very top in the Pakistan cricketing hierarchy.

However, burden of leadership seems to have taken the cutting edge off his game, telling on Moin's work behind the stumps and in front of them. The Pakistani is under pressure after the embarrassing Test series defeat against England at home, but then he is a fighter.

Moin had to stave off a stiff challenge from his great rival Rashid Latif, before clinching a permanent place in the Pakistan team, and knows the value of a national cap. Having to 'keep wickets to a varied attack - Shoaib's pace, Wasim and Waqar's speed and craftiness, Saqlain's guile - he has his hands full, but has invariably come up trumps in the heat of the battle.

Mark Boucher also has seldom been found wanting ever since he took over from the experienced David Richardson in '97. Technically brilliant behind the stumps - he stays low, waits for the ball to nestle in the gloves, has a wonderful sense of anticipation, and possesses lightning quick reflexes - the short statured keeper is the quickest to record 100 victims in Test cricket.

Boucher is an uncomplicated batsman too, who can really get after the bowling when in mood. To his credit, this sensational cricketer is at his rollicking best when the chips are down, the hallmark of a quality international player. He is already an integral part of the South African team, in fact, he's the vice- captain now.

West Indies' Ridley Jacobs does not quite possess the natural flair of Boucher, but makes up for the shortcoming in nautal talent with an ability to slug it out till the very end. Given an opportunity rather late in his career, the Antiguan 33 now, he has already come up with two very special feats.

By carrying his bat in the contest against Australia at Manchester during 1999 World Cup and picking up seven catches in an innings in the fourth test down under recently, equalling a World record, the sunny cricketer from the Caribbean has already outdone some bigger names.

He has been among the more consistent players in the Caribbean ranks - a left-handed batsman who is more effective than stylish and a safe wicket-keeper. In Jacobs' career is the timeless message - never give up, keep fighting till the very end.

Finally to Sri Lanka's Romesh Kaluwitharana, who has had his share of problems behind the wickets, but who can be a batsman of astonishing brilliance when he gets into groove. To be fair to him, keeping wickets to Muthiah Muralitharan, who can turn the ball prodigiously on any pitch, is never an easy task.

S. DINAKAR

Chennai

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