5 batsmen who can play every shot

Joe Root

One of the beauties of the gentleman's game is the diversity it offers to the viewer. One can forever mine the skills that comprise the repertoire of a fast bowler, spinner or a batsman. Over the decades, we have had greats who owned their game, but then some greats were more equal than the others.The contemporary generation of batsmen have given cricket lovers some sparkling spectacles, thanks largely to their ability to play every shot in the book and all around the ground. So what does playing every shot in the book even mean? Probably we could divide the whole batting arsenal into 4 sets, which overlap a little bit, but represent a different skill altogether.There are the classical offside and onside shots. Some batsmen could be filtered out based on how good they are on one side of the ground but how mediocre, they could be on the other side. Then there are shots to the rising ball, which not a lot of players in the world are comfortable playing, especially on fast, bouncy wickets.Lastly, there are the attacking innovative shots, which strictly speaking are "out of the book" and yet, deserve a special category, since we are talking about the contemporary game. Please note that it isn't true that there are just 5 players who own the entire roulette, but these were picked for maximum representation across countries, age-groups and a certain style of batting. That probably is a reason why players like Eoin Morgan and Steve Smith wouldn't be in the list, although they do a lot of justice to the title.

#5 Joe Root

Joe Root

Joe Root is amongst the youngest players in the circuit and is already being talked about in high esteem around the world. He is probably the heir-apparent in English cricket, considering he is a smart and thinking cricketer. He nudges Glenn Maxwell out of the list, largely because he can handle spin much better and can change his game under any circumstances.

Impressing at home and away against India, Root is in the Rahul Dravid mould – originally picked for Test cricket but showing his class, ability and determination even in the ODIs. Along with players like Jos Buttler, Ravi Bopara and Alex Hales, he represents a dashing breed of new English players who give their country some hope in the upcoming World Cup.

Root is technically correct and yet, cheeky, playing scoops and reverse sweeps when he wants to. He can handle the bouncer well and of course, like any good English batsman worth his salt, can drive all along the ground!

#4 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum

That blazing double-century he scored in Phillip Hughes’s memory, will be one of the finest knocks one would ever see a cricketer play in whites. One of the very few players who can dream on a good day to go past Rohit Sharma’s daunting ODI record score, Brendon McCullum with a triple and two doubles this year has made an amazing leap in cricket. He is now a tried and tested leader, gloveman, spectacular fielder/athlete and a batsman who walks into all three formats for New Zealand’s all-time XI.

McCullum isn’t usually a touch player. He likes giving the bowler a rap. He pulls, hooks and cuts ferociously. But, the attacking batsman can play all the classic shots and dig in deep enough on tough days, making him a complete player. What is even more important is the fact that he looks elegant against spin and pace, in Tests and T20s even when he hits them hard!

#3 Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene

Almost in the twilight of his career, Mahela is one of the game’s few classical touch players holding forte. His precision in finding gaps is clinical. He is one of those rare players who cares for the ball, who seems to caress and coax it, even when it flies away over the boundaries.

The flick over square, the classical hook, the ‘stand-tall and cut’ and the square drive – Mahela can play all of them without wanting to tear the leather out of the cherry; he will do it like he is not inclined enough to hurt the ball or the bowler, just score runs. Brought up on slow and low wickets, Mahela has adapted well to pace and swing, showing how skill and the ability to learn can take you places.

#2 David Warner

David Warner

David Warner is one of those new breed of players who made their name in the slam-bam version of cricket and then evolved to the upper echelons of the gentleman's game. In the Sehwag mould of batsmanship, David Warner makes a mockery of the cricket book when he needs to.

Switch-hits, reverse sweeps and ferocious cuts are part of his regular arsenal. Although not gifted with a left-hander's grace like a Lara, per se, David Warner has shown that he can grind and put through the tough rounds at the Test level, opening the batting for Australia and playing within the V when he has to buckle down. He has done it in the past in Tests against New Zealand and India in difficult conditions and is expected to continue doing it. His style of play is good for the game, especially with those who love the hoicks over cow corner.

#1 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers is the best batsman in cricket today, without a shade of doubt. The man who has played scintillating knocks around the world and who, as IPL viewers witnessed, could take even the most fearsome bowler in the world aka Dale Steyn (his teammate, what a loss it is to miss out on their contests in international cricket) apart, at will, is still considered an underachiever. That goes to show, how much talent he is blessed with.

AB can play the “stand-up and punch”, on-the-rise cover drive, flick of the pads and the pull, all with the same ease and elegance. When all that doesn’t work, he could sweep a fast bowler for a 6 behind square. Wielding the bat like it were a Samurai, he could slice and scythe his way through the toughest matches against the toughest bowlers. Some are blessed with eyes, some with wrists and some with nimble feet. AB has everything!

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Edited by Staff Editor