23 December,2021 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton Murzello
India’s Virender Sehwag in full flight during Day One of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26, 2003. Pic/Getty Images
The December 26 Test probably gains more significance in Australia and there are few better sights in global cricket than a packed MCG.
Over the years, players have made Boxing Day special with their performances.
Among Indians, only Mohammed Azharuddin (103 in Wellington, NZ, in 1998) and Virender Sehwag (195 at MCG in 2003) have managed centuries on that day, with Sehwag's knock being the more memorable one.
Wisden of 2005 said there were 62,613 spectators at the MCG on December 26 in that 2003-04 Test and Sehwag just lit up the iconic ground with an innings of courage, flair and entertainment. Sitting in the media lounge, we journalists watched Sehwag and Aakash Chopra deal with turbulence in the form of some short-pitched bowling from Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken, who had made his debut in the opening game of the series in Brisbane. Both were hit on the helmet and survived a torrid first session to bring up India's first century partnership in Australia since Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth's 191 for the first wicket in the Sydney Test of 1985-86.
For a good part of the day, it seemed there was only one boss of the MCG and Sehwag's destruction appeared to bode well with the rebuilding work of the ground for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Across five hours and 12 minutes, he smashed 25 fours and five sixes.
His unconventional approach on either side of the wicket thrilled many and frustrated those for whom foot movement is an important ingredient of batting.
Mike Coward, that influential Australian cricket writer, wrote in the 2005 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack: "Elite Indian batsmen have often been noted for their quiet demeanour and inscrutability, but Sehwag is representative of a new breed who boast a self-assuredness, even cockiness. A daring opener, he has a simple philosophy and an uncomplicated style, playing by instinct and not by the book."
Sehwag had his chances. Two. And Adam Gilchrist believed he had him stumped just before lunch. Sehwag stepping outside his crease didn't impress Geoff Boycott, who was one of the commentators for that series. Boycott paced around the media area, saying if Brian Close (Boycott's senior at Yorkshire and England), had been Sehwag's captain, he'd have "pulled him aside to the bathroom and hit him."
Keith Stackpole, Australia's former attacking opening batsman, was around too and he didn't seem to have a problem with Sehwag wielding willow in his inimitable style.
The late Dean Jones turned up at his home ground to watch the action after completing his Sydney to Melbourne charity walk. I asked him which batsman Sehwag remind him of, to which Jones replied: "Obviously, there is a bit of Sachin Tendulkar in there but Sehwag is much like Adam Gilchrist. He has a bit of luck, is carefree, hits the ball in the air and makes mistakes."
Another deceased famous name to witness Sehwag's gem was Peter Roebuck, the doyen of cricket writers. In the next day's Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck wrote: "At the crease he has a gleam in his eye suggesting that reason plays but a small part in his approach. Repeatedly partners marched down the wicket to urge restraint from a man whose entire career has been an adventure. Sehwag listened quietly to their entreaties, smiled sweetly, blocked a couple of balls and generally tried to strike the next one into Richmond Station."
Towards the end of the day, when a double hundred was there for the taking, Sehwag tried to clout another of Simon Katich's full tosses, only to hole out to Bracken in the deep.
Despite the loss of both openers, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, India were still in a position of strength at 329 for 4. But astonishingly only 37 were added before the last wicket fell. Ricky Ponting's second double century of the series formed the bulk of Australia's first innings score of 558, to which India replied by managing 286 with Sehwag scoring just 11. Australia reached their 95-run target with the loss of only one wicket and by 12.39 pm on Day Five, a Test that promised so much for India ended in an utterly disappointing loss. Ponting claimed the man-of-the-match award for his 257, but I'd like to think Sehwag outscored him in terms of entertainment.
Like Sehwag asked at the press conference after Day One: "How many players get 195 against Australia? How many openers have scored 195 [on the opening day]?" The simple answer is ânot many' and that is why Sehwag and his punchy Boxing Day 2003 knock will stay special for years to come.
mid-day's group sports editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance. He tweets @ClaytonMurzello
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