Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, and Cameron White. Each of them was a top-class batsman who could make a mockery of any top-rated international bowler. And, if the pitch favoured batting, any bowler would give up bowling for the day.
The situation was similar in 2008 in Delhi in a Test match between Australia and India. Batting first, India posted 613 runs before declaring.
Given the conditions, it was sure that Australia too would put up a high score. And the start Australia got echoed the same. Zaheer and Ishant were being smacked ruthlessly by the Aussies. Mishra and Kumble were able to control the runs, but Hayden and Ponting’s rock-solid defence seemed impregnable that day.
A helpless Kumble tossed the ball to Sehwag. Sehwag’s first wicket was Matthew Hayden who got out to a plumb LBW.
Sehwag’s next victim was Ricky Ponting who was lured by an easy looking ball and was bowled. The turn Sehwag got on that ball was pretty impressive.
He managed to then get the better of Michael Hussey, Shane Watson and Cameron White.
And what was special was the turn he got on a pure batting pitch. All of his victims were either bowled or trapped for LBW.
He managed to pick up 5 wickets giving an excess of 100 runs in 40 overs, but still, he was the most economic bowler of the match.
Now that’s a rare feat, especially for a part-timer.
Sehwag, the batsman, often destroyed the opponents, but this time, it was Sehwag, the bowler’s turn.