10 hits and misses from the first Cricket All Stars match

Fans around the world rejoiced when the brainchild of Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne, the Cricket All-Stars tournament, finally took flight at the New York Mets stadium in the United States. Bringing together cricket superstars from the 1990s and 2000s, the initiative’s aim is to promote the game in the States, as well as give cricket fans another chance to witness their heroes pick the bat and ball again.Warne’s warriors won the toss and chose to field on the Citi baseball ground, a baseball ground which was modified to host the cricket game. The Warriors completed an easy victory, barring a few minor middle order blemishes, to take Warne one up against Sachin’s Blasters.Here is a list of hits and misses from the first Cricket All-Stars match.

#1 HIT: Virender Sehwag

Just days after officially retiring from International cricket, Virender Sehwag rolled back the years by providing a blazing start to the Blasters. Partnering Sachin, he took full advantage of the reduced boundaries by belting six sixes, mostly over midwicket. Now bespectacled but smiling as always, he looked totally at ease in the company of retired players.

He singled out a hapless 53-year old Courtney Walsh for special treatment, belting sixteen runs off four balls from his first over. He was eventually bowled by a Vettori special that held its line and uprooted his leg stump. Until then, he had satiated many cricket fans who had longed for one more special from the Delhi dasher.

#2 MISS: Brian Lara

Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara playing in the same team was the stuff of fantasy teams, until the two united for the All Stars. Lara, who retired from international cricket in 2007, was last seen playing for the Vice Chancellor’s XI in a celebrity match a couple of months back.

Before that he had made sporadic appearances in some T20 matches over the last few years. His stay at the middle in the first All Stars match was cut short by a masterful spell from Shane Warne. The West Indian had ambled to a single run in eight balls, when he was trapped leg before, trying to sweep a straighter one.

#3 HIT: Shoaib Akhtar

While other ageing pacers readjusted their run-up to take it easy, Shoaib Akhtar bent his back, running the extra yards to generate pace the way he did in his heydays. He gave some chin music to Kallis, peppering him with bouncers at serious pace. He accounted for Matthew Hayden early in the Warriors innings, finishing his first spell by giving just twelve runs.

He came back for his second spell in the 12th over, straight away breaking the Ponting-Sangakkara partnership as he dismissed the latter to another searing bouncer. His express pace troubled the retired batsman, and one wonders how easily he would have fitted into the Pakistani team if injuries didn’t cut short his career.

#4 MISS: VVS Laxman

The Hyderabadi’s elegant game wasn’t expected to set the T20 format on fire, but Laxman could play his strokes in limited overs as well. On Saturday though, he looked rusty and out of sorts, understandably, since he last played a competitive match in 2012, just after he had retired from the international scene. He has played only 25 T20s, with three half centuries to his name.

He came to the crease at the fall of Tendulkar’s wicket, and looked like taking time to get his eye in. As he charged out of the crease to attempt a big shot, he was beaten by Warne’s line and turn, getting stumped in the twelfth over. He could manage just eight runs from nine balls.

#5 HIT: Ricky Ponting

The Australian legend, who played his last competitive match in 2013, gave fans a glimpse of his prime, converting a shaky start into a match-winning knock. One of the fittest of the retired lot, he made an unbeaten 48, hitting three sixes and three fours, including a hook off the bowling of Shoaib Akhtar that went sailing into the crowds.

He pulled and cut the loose deliveries to the boundary as he forged an eighty run partnership with Sangakkara. He was at ease against the wily Muralitharan, not letting the Sri Lankan settle down. He stayed till the end as Jonty Rhodes cleared the deficit with some big hits at the end.

#6 MISS: Courtney Walsh

The oldest of the lot, Walsh, at 53 wasn’t really expected to be a potent force against more recently retired batsmen. He had a forgettable evening at the Citi Field, bowling just two overs and conceding 30 runs.

His last game was a Cricket Legends match in late 2010. As he returned to the bowling mark after a long hiatus and a shorter runup, he couldn’t hit the right lines, bowling erratically and mercilessly getting dispatched for sixes by Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. His second over alone cost 23 runs, and the former highest Test wicket taker didn’t bowl after that.

#7 HIT: Shane Warne

The “King of Spin” has been one of the brains behind this unique venture, promoting the event even months before it became a reality. And much like the previous two decades, he weaved magic with his iconic wrist spin. Having introduced himself in the attack in the seventh over, he stemmed the carnage by the Sehwag-Sachin duo.

He went one up on Sachin by dismissing him, courtesy a brilliant one-handed catch by Jacques Kallis. He snared Lara next, catching him right in front of the wicket while Lara attempted a sweep. He capped it off by dismissing an out-of-sorts Laxman, finishing with twenty runs in four overs.

#8 MISS: Mahela Jayawardene

The Sri Lankan great, who retired earlier this year, was expected to have it easy against a group of players who gave up the game long time before him. After his retirement, he had been an active member of T20 leagues round the world.

On Saturday, he got out to a 15 ball-18, trying to clear an Andrew Symonds loosener, but finding Ajit Agarkar on the boundary. His dismissal compounded the Blasters’ slide further, as they threw away a good start and settled for just 140.

#9 HIT: Muttiah Muralitharan

Fans were treated to the sight of two best spinners bowling in the same match, and pitted against each other as opposite numbers. Muralitharan tied down the middle order with his pinpoint bowling, silencing the otherwise rampant Sangakkara with his variations.

He got the wicket of Symonds with a perfect ball that just turned enough to beat the bat. He might be 43, but he can still the next crop of spinners a run for their money. He gave away just eighteen runs from his stipulated overs, and if it weren’t for his economical overs, the chase would have ended quicker.

#10 MISS: Matthew Hayden

The belligerent beast, who recently turned 44, reprised his role of an opener for Warne Warriors. A veteran of 103 Tests and 161 ODIs, Hayden partnered Kallis in starting Warriors chase of 141. His last match in the baggy green was 2009.

He lasted only four balls, gloving to Moin Khan a short delivery that was angling to the leg side. He mouthed “Smashed it with my glove” in the microphone as he went back, having contributed just four runs to the score. Fans of the guy who made the Mongoose bat famous will hope for a better show in the next match.