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Over the last year or so, there has been increasingly insistent chatter saying that, with the advent of Twenty20, test cricket has lost its charm and has been consigned to its doom. Test matches are being played to low TRP ratings and empty stadiums the world over, including the cricket-fanatic sub-continent. Moreover, players like Chris Gayle have publicly admitted their lack of commitment to tests and proclaimed that the death of test matches would not be so sad.

Being the cricket fan that I am, I had to go see what the furore was all about. And what better chance than the 3rd test match between India-Sri Lanka, with India gunning for the #1 spot in tests and Sri Lanka searching for their first win on Indian soil. Besides, the venue wa s the historic Brabourne Stadium that has played out many episodes of the legendary Vijay Merchant-Vijay Hazare rivalry of the World War II era.

After the local train journey to the stadium, I thought I needed to see a decompression chamber rather than a cricket match. Yet I shrugged of the stiffness and bought the cheapest ticket on offer. But the spectacle that was on offer was worth every buck of the costliest ticket, and the overpriced samosas, popcorn and Pepsi to boot. The innings Sehwag scripted was the type any cricket fan would want to watch as his last wish before he dies. In one day, he single-handedly turned the tables on the opposition who had piled up a more-than-decent 393 and put India into the lead as well.

It is an astounding achievement for one batsman to score 284 runs in a single day's play, an achievement the likes of which are unheard of since the times of the legendary Sir Donald Bradman himself. Moreover, Bradman had well over a hundred overs to play when he had scored 309 on a single day; Sehwag had a mere 79. By the end of the day, he had 40 hits to the fence and 7 over it. He had scored these runs in all directions, with all the shots in the book. Apart from the typical Sehwag cuts and slog-sweeps and lofted drives, he even played the reverse sweep to both Murali and Herath and scored 4s off them, no less.

Today he had a new opening partner in Murali Vijay, who replaced Gautam Gambhir as Gambhir had to attend his sister's wedding. More than once has the Gambhir-Sehwag combine been likened to the Jai-Viru pairing of the movie Sholay. Today, Jai had to be replaced with Vijay, and since both are names of characters essayed on-screen by Amitabh Bachchan, it made no difference to India and Vijay was as prolific as Jai usually is. Opening the batting with Sehwag at the other end is never easy, and Vijay more than held his own. Scoring at a very decent pace, he played a near-chanceless innings, with some lovely shots, and particularly some balls driven standing up were a treat to watch. He showed no respect to Muralitharan, even hitting him for six to get to his fifty. He was unfortunate to fall on 87, a number considered unlucky by the Australians as its 13 shy of three figures.

Sehwag never failed to bring the crowd (yes, there was a decent crowd) on its feet, with each of his lofted shots in particular bringing on tumultuous applause. The crowd also got into the act each time he approached a milestone, and went delirious after. Brabourne doesn't have huge stands, but both the East and North stands were full by the evening, and the West stand was also about half full. Cheerleading duties were traded between the North and East stands, and they had their moments, such as when a Sehwag reverse sweep had Kandamby at the point boundary running in the opposite direction, distracted by the stunning Archana Vijaya, NEO sports emcee, walking past behind him.

It is high time Sehwag is recognized as one of the modern greats of the game, at least in test matches. He has now scored all three top scores by an Indian, and stands poised on the record of being the only person ever to score three triples in tests. Besides, with a good 5-6 years of cricket still in him, there's no telling how many more he will go on to score. Tomorrow he also has the golden opportunity of making the highest score ever in tests by surpassing Brian Lara's 400. Since he scores at more than twice the rate of his partner, he can be sure India will not declare before that, if at all he were to get there. He has easily the most uncomplicated of techniques among all batsmen, yet it is inexplicable how he manages to score at strike rates well in excess of 100. There is a childlike simplicity in his approach to batting, with the only thing going through his mind being - "I just wanted to see the ball and hit the ball". If this really is the case, clearly he sees the ball differently than others.

This epic was a crowd's delight, and hence, as long as people like Sehwag are around, test cricket is in safe hands.

File Photograph Copyright: Chandru

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