5 best duels from the Cricket All-Stars Series

The Tendulkar-Warne duel turned out to be a tame one at the All StarsMuch to the disappointment of cricket fans all over the world, the electrifying confrontation between the legends of the game known as the Cricket All-Stars T20 has come to an end after 3 feisty encounters.However, it has given us all numerous moments to cherish and retain in our memories for a very long time, at least till the time we get more of them when the next edition of the tournament comes around.Although the All-Stars series has mainly been about two teams filled with legends having a go at each other, there have also been a few individual battles fought. While many of them were dominated by one of the two players, a few were evenly contested as well.Let’s take a look at some of the great duels from the series:

#1 Virender Sehwag vs Allan Donald

Sehwag went after Donald in both matches that the latter played

Every time Allan Donald ran in to bowl at Virender Sehwag during the All-Stars series, you could sense that Viru was all set to hit him out of the park. The very first confrontation between the two during the 1st T20 saw the ball disappear over the mid wicket fence and into the crowd.

The next ball was blocked by Sehwag, but in Donald’s following over he again flicked a leg stump half-volley for four as soon as he came on strike. In the final game of the 3-match series, Donald opened the bowling and was dispatched for a first-ball-four in pure Sehwag style.

Not a single run came off Sehwag’s bat in the next 4 deliveries until he smashed a home run over fine leg for a six from Donald’s last ball in the over. The Delhi dasher was not done yet as he hammered ‘The White Lightning’ for another maximum off the last ball of his next over while humming a popular Bollywood number.

#2 Shoaib Akhtar vs Matthew Hayden

Akhtar nailed Hayden with the short ball in the 1st T20

Among the first duels of the All-Stars was the one between Shoaib Akhtar and Matthew Hayden in the 1st T20 at New York. Although it was the Pakistani pacer who emerged victorious, the interesting bit was to see the two great rivals go at it once again.

Akhtar’s first ball to Hayden was a wide one and Hayden tried to carve it but ended up missing it completely. The next delivery saw Hayden flash at another wide one, only this time he managed to send it to the boundary for a one-bounce four.

On the third ball, the burly Australian stepped out in his trademark fashion but just ended up playing all around it while the next one from Akhtar was a wide down the leg side. Then came what was possibly one of the best moments of the All Stars series.

Akhtar charged in and delivered a pacy short delivery forcing Hayden to attempt the pull shot and edge the ball to the keeper as the fans at the Citi Field went into a frenzy. Unfortunately, we didn’t see more of this Hayden-Akhtar contest during the rest of the All-Stars tournament.

#3 Matthew Hayden vs Glenn McGrath

McGrath sticks out his tongue after dismissing Hayden in the 2nd T20

Things certainly get very interesting when two great compatriots are pitted against one another and this is exactly what transpired between Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath in the second T20 of the All-Stars series.

Hayden pushed McGrath’s first delivery to him for a single and smashed a rare wide full toss for a four from the last ball of the over. The two came face to face yet again in the 7th over of the Warne’s Warriors’ innings.

The first ball was fullish outside off Hayden blasted it back over the bowler’s head for a magnanimous straight six. McGrath’s next delivery was also sent packing beyond the long-on fence for another brutal maximum.

Just when everyone thought that Hayden had got the better of his fellow Australian, the latter pitched the next delivery in his favourite spot just slightly outside the off stump inducing the inside edge of the bat as the ball crashed on to the stumps.

As the crowd broke into a loud cheer, the legendary Australian bowler simply stuck his tongue out in a friendly gesture towards Hayden.

#4 Michael Vaughan vs Shoaib Akhtar

Michael Vaughan smashed Shoaib for a six in the 2nd T20

Another interesting yet brief duel took place between Shoaib Akhtar and Michael Vaughan in the second game of the All-Stars series. After a patchy start to the over where Akhtar allowed Vaughan to get off strike with a loosener, the Pakistani made amends quickly as he beat the latter comprehensively off the third ball of his over and forced an outside edge of the next one which raced away for four.

The next few balls that Akhtar bowled saw Vaughan attempting to smash the bowler to the boundary but without much success.

Vaughan finally succeeded in his quest as he clobbered the penultimate delivery of Akhtar’s second over towards mid-wicket for four. But the Englishman did the unthinkable of the next ball as he blasted the paceman’s full delivery outside off stump for a monstrous six over cover.

While Vaughan looked overjoyed with the result, Akhtar was not amused at all.

#5 Shaun Pollock vs Wasim Akram

Akram’s swing was ineffective against Pollock

Shaun Pollock’s breezy 55 in the second T20, albeit in a lost cause, was one of the highlights of the All-Stars series. But the most notable part of the South African all rounder’s entertaining knock was the way in which he handled the legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram.

Akram came in to bowl the 19th over of the Blasters’ innings, and with the result already being a foregone conclusion, Pollock decided to launch an all-out attack on him. The Pakistani pacer managed to beat the bat of Pollock of the first ball as the batsmen ran a leg bye.

When the Proteas champion came back on strike on the third ball, he deposited a low full toss into the mid-wicket boundary. The next one was a slower delivery on leg stump and Pollock sent it sailing over the stands.

This prompted the Pakistani genius to change his angle and come over the wicket, but it did not deter Pollock from smashing another six over cover. Akram did manage to pull one back conceding just a single off the final delivery.