Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101575212000.htm

Sport - Cricket

‘Merchant’s late cut was a full-blooded shot’

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: Vijay Merchant’s 96th birth anniversary was celebrated at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) by the Legend’s Club here on Friday.

Madhav Mantri, who handed over the Presidentship of the Legends Club to Madhav Apte, revealed that Merchant’s late cut was not delicately executed, but was a full-blooded stroke that hurt the wicketkeeper. Mantri, 86, said Merchant was exceptional while facing swing bowlers. Bringing out Merchant’s knowledge on the quality of equipment, Apte, 75, said: “in 1943, he presented me and my brother (Arvind) a green cotton bag with a Maurice Leyland No. 6 bat and Jack Hobbs pads. “I was 11 and Arvind, 9. I took 10 wickets bowling leg-breaks and batted at No. 10, but Bobby Talyarkhan wrote about the No. 6 Leyland bat and the Hobbs pads. Merchant was so meticulous in choosing the cricket gear. It’s great to be a cricketer and an admirer,” he said. Recalling an incident when the Films Division produced a documentary on cricket, Raj Singh Dungarpur said: “Merchant had not touched the bat for 20 years. Young Kailash Gattani bowled with the new ball and Merchant, asked to demonstrate the late cut, executed a perfect shot. “Once Alec Bedser motioned me with his awesome finger at the Lord’s Committee Room and told me that Merchant was the best overseas batsman he had bowled to after Sir Don Bradman.” Former India captain Ajit Wadekar said he’s indebted to Merchant for making him the Indian captain.