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| StraightDrive... |
 Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:32 pm |
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http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/429139.html
Duminy's a great in the making
The young South African has shown he has the right stuff to take over from
Ponting when the time comes
Ian Chappell
September 11, 2009
The story is told that near the turn of the century - 19th to 20th - Dr WG
Grace asked to see Victor Trumper's bat and promptly wrote on it, "From the
current champion to the future champion," and then signed the piece of
willow.
Despite the self-anointment - WG didn't need such modern aids as a computer
ranking to confirm his greatness - Grace's prediction was soon confirmed by
the dazzling strokeplay of Trumper. Minus the self-aggrandisement, we may
have glimpsed a potential modern-day changing of the guard in the last few
days.
Ricky Ponting has long been considered the master of the willow wielders. He
attained this lofty status even with the presence of Sachin Tendulkar and
Brian Lara, both of whom vied for the title from the days when the young
Australian was only a glint in the eye of Academy head coach Rod Marsh.
Judging by the cool approach and precise shot-making of Cape Cobras' JP
Duminy in the opening Champions League match, he's the young batsman most
likely to usurp Ponting's title. That would be an appropriate juxtaposition:
an Australian bestowing the title on a man who is known for his batting
prowess and by his initials.
Duminy announced himself to the world in Perth last year, when as a late
replacement for the injured Ashwell Prince he played a convincing part in a
mammoth, successful South African run-chase. Not content with a debut
half-century in a remarkable South African victory, he followed up with a
game-winning hundred at the MCG, as the team clinched a historic first-ever
series win in Australia.
Such a confident start to a Test career against the number one team in the
world spoke volumes for his skill and temperament. It's worth noting that
Ponting announced himself in a similarly spectacular fashion, also in Perth,
even if it was against slightly less talented opposition - a moderate Sri
Lankan side.
He scored an impressive 96 before an atrocious umpiring decision robbed him
of a century on debut. Since then it has been onwards and upwards in terms
of both performance and centuries and he now trails only Tendulkar, with 38
Test hundreds to his name.
While Duminy is yet to add to his MCG Test century, he has shown enough in
all three forms of the game to suggest he's the blueprint for 21st-century
batsman. Despite limited opportunities batting in the middle order in the
short versions of the game, he's made enough runs in tough situations to
confirm his talent, technique and temperament are all adaptable. Given an
extended opportunity to express his talent against the Bangalore Royal
Challengers in a hostile environment, he did so in convincing fashion. If
ever an innings deserved to be punctuated by a century, Duminy's effort did;
but he was denied not by the bowlers but by his own rapid run-rate.
Unlike Ponting and both Tendulkar and Lara, Duminy is slightly suspect
against the short-pitched ball. Normally this can lead to a curtailed
career, but in Duminy's case he has been quick to adapt to the demands of
international cricket and should quickly eradicate this shortcoming. Like
Tendulkar, Duminy possesses all the requirements for a Test career at number
four, and eventually he'll probably emulate Ponting in the shorter versions
of the game by batting at three.
In keeping with the modern demands for fast scoring Duminy's batting relies
more on aggression and less on technique. There's every chance that in the
hustle and bustle of the modern game, well-equipped batsmen like Tendulkar
and Ponting - who can both counter-attack and survive tough periods - will
go the way of the steam engine. Nevertheless, like the past batting masters,
Duminy doesn't waste time tinkering with frivolous shots and scores most of
his limited-overs runs from traditional cricket strokes. In the modern
tradition he has the strength to clear the boundary with the bulk of his
copybook cricket shots.
Judging by his superb Champions Trophy form Ponting is in no rush to
abdicate his throne. The way Duminy has commenced his Champions League
campaign, he may be about to elevate his game to another level. Lately, the
word "champion" has been in vogue, but it's not overstating the case to say
we're privileged to be watching two batsmen of that ilk, one current and the
other future. |
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| R. Spanditt... |
| Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:10 am |
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Guest
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Quote: Judging by his superb Champions Trophy form Ponting is in no rush to
abdicate his throne. The way Duminy has commenced his Champions League
campaign, he may be about to elevate his game to another level. Lately, the
word "champion" has been in vogue, but it's not overstating the case to say
we're privileged to be watching two batsmen of that ilk, one current and the
other future.
Disturbingly, I'm looking forward to watching JP smash everyone around
the park the next ten years. He is a joy to watch. |
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