When it comes to cricketers, I have always had a secret soft spot for those that may not be the most gifted but are really disciplined and work really hard to make the most of their abilities. The perseverance does not necessarily pay off in the most handsome fashion for all of them and many remain relative journeymen when it comes to achievements on the international stage. Its heartening therefore when such men make it to the pinnacle of domestic cricket as captains of national championship winning teams.
Cool is not quite the word I used to associate with Hrishikesh Kanitkar during his brief stint with the national team but he always came across as a man with quiet resolve and steely determination. A first class average of 53+ is pretty special and if India hadn't been blessed with their best middle order line-up ever in the 2000s, then he would have definitely played more than the two Test matches he got. Much the same can be said of Mohammad Kaif who in a parallel universe would probably have been Dravid's successor both as the #3 batsman and captain of India but a mixture of a crowded middle order, poor selection, and plain bad luck means that Kaif will forever be known as India's best fielder and a game trier. That despite their international disappointments, both Kanitkar and Kaif were able to take relatively unfashionable Ranji trophy sides in Rajasthan and UP to multiple Ranji finals and win (twice in the former's case) is a solid achievement testament to the mental strength and character of both men.
Mental strength and character is something that's no stranger for Wasim Jaffer either. In some ways, he had a heavier burden than the other two men given that he came from the Bombay school of cricket and was therefore expected to do well at the Ranji and international level. He probably did not make the most of his chances but was quite competent and remains one of the few Indian openers to have scored a double hundred outside the subcontinent. His domestic record is of course stellar though it serves as an example of the gulf that remains (and is possibly widening) between Indian domestic cricket and Test match ability.
There's many more such examples of yeoman domestic champions from other countries even just during the time I've been following cricket (Stuart Law, Glen Chapple, Daren Ganga all come to mind). But more on them some other time.
Cool is not quite the word I used to associate with Hrishikesh Kanitkar during his brief stint with the national team but he always came across as a man with quiet resolve and steely determination. A first class average of 53+ is pretty special and if India hadn't been blessed with their best middle order line-up ever in the 2000s, then he would have definitely played more than the two Test matches he got. Much the same can be said of Mohammad Kaif who in a parallel universe would probably have been Dravid's successor both as the #3 batsman and captain of India but a mixture of a crowded middle order, poor selection, and plain bad luck means that Kaif will forever be known as India's best fielder and a game trier. That despite their international disappointments, both Kanitkar and Kaif were able to take relatively unfashionable Ranji trophy sides in Rajasthan and UP to multiple Ranji finals and win (twice in the former's case) is a solid achievement testament to the mental strength and character of both men.
Mental strength and character is something that's no stranger for Wasim Jaffer either. In some ways, he had a heavier burden than the other two men given that he came from the Bombay school of cricket and was therefore expected to do well at the Ranji and international level. He probably did not make the most of his chances but was quite competent and remains one of the few Indian openers to have scored a double hundred outside the subcontinent. His domestic record is of course stellar though it serves as an example of the gulf that remains (and is possibly widening) between Indian domestic cricket and Test match ability.
There's many more such examples of yeoman domestic champions from other countries even just during the time I've been following cricket (Stuart Law, Glen Chapple, Daren Ganga all come to mind). But more on them some other time.
Comments