<strong>5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes: </strong>Generalization and oversimplification of talent are the most common errors we commit while analyzing cricketers. We must acknowledge that each player lends uniqueness and diversity to the game. If everybody brought similar ingredients to the table, it would make watching cricket boring rather than exciting. And an educated look would suggest that there is no dearth of such stars who bring something special with them. Today we take a look at some cricketers whose expertise in a particular department has made them the defining factor for their teams.

<strong>5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes:</strong>

<strong>1. Virender Sehwag &#8211; 1<sup>st</sup> ball fours:</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/Virender-Sehwag-e1424858193471.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-7239" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Virender-Sehwag-e1424858193471.jpg" alt="Virender Sehwag ODI" width="398" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7239" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption>

Sehwag&#8217;s approach to batting is based on a simple philosophy: if the ball is there to be hit, just hit it. And he has shown that he doesn’t shy away from dispatching bad deliveries even if they happen to the first of the innings. For the aggressive opener getting set before stepping up the run rate is nothing but a myth. In the 2011 ODI World Cup played in the Indian subcontinent, Sehwag hit boundaries off the first ball of the innings in 5 consecutive games. Not only opposition teams but even his teammates were astonished by his fearless approach and uncomplicated style of play.

<strong>2. Lasith Malinga &#8211; Yorkers:</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/Lasith-Malinga-sl-e1438761626565.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-21667" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-sl-e1438761626565.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga" width="396" height="273" sizes="(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-21667" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption>

Lasith Malinga is one of the most flamboyant cricketers to have ever emerged from Sri Lanka. With a freakish action Malinga not only bowls with substantial pace but also exemplary accuracy. The tilt of his arm at the time of delivering the ball amuses many as to how could he bowl with such precision. Put in absolutely simple terms, he is the only pacer in world cricket who could deliver Yorkers at will. There is just nobody like him in the last stages of the game. Going by current trends it is not long when he would be renamed Lasith ‘<strong>Yorker’</strong> Malinga.

<strong>3. Sunil Narine – Mystery deliveries:</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Sunil-Narine-kkr-Banned.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-17424" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Narine-kkr-Banned.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine" width="436" height="304"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-17424" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Narine&#8217;s high-arm bowling action is deceptive for batsmen, and with all the variations he possesses, he more often than not succeeds in bamboozling batsmen. The mystery spinner was signed up by Kolkata for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League and has been an integral member of the side since then. Narine finished IPL 2012 as the Player of the Tournament with 24 wickets at a miserly 5.47 runs per over. The single biggest plus point of Narine’s bowling is that batsmen struggle to pick him off his hand. Apart from that his deliveries turns quite a bit which makes it even more tough for the batters to manage. If he gets his action sorted out soon the Caribbean star can be one of the prominent spinners in World Cricket.

<strong>4. AB de Villiers &#8211; Defying cricketing logic:</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/AB-de-Villiers-T20-Latest.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-23435" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-T20-Latest.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="400" height="263" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23435" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption>

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers has rose from the ranks to become one of the world&#8217;s best batsmen, across all formats. When on song, De Villiers can take any bowling apart with his wide array of strokes on either side of the wicket. His shots often defy conventional sense and leave most of us speechless. Be it the reverse sweep of the pacers or the revolutionary ramp shot his ability to innovate has left bowlers hapless on many occasions. He has the skills and temperament to back up his creative intent. His fabulous footwork against the spinners is a treat to watch. Cricket should be pleased to have him.

<strong>5. MS Dhoni &#8211; A perfect finish:</strong>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/MS-Dhoni.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-7025" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni.jpeg" alt="8000 ODI runs" width="377" height="529" sizes="(max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7025" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

If Dhoni is there at the crease the hope is alive. Such is the success rate of the Indian ODI captain that fielding sides do not consider the match to be safe until they dismiss the power hitter. A master at timing his attack to perfection Dhoni is a figure of concentration and unperturbed determination in the final stages of a match. Be it the World Cup final of 2011, the famous match in Adelaide versus Australia or the Tri series final where he scored 16 off the last over, MSD is an institution when it comes to the art and craft of taking the side home.

<p><strong>5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes:&nbsp;</strong>Generalization and oversimplification of talent are the most common errors we commit while analyzing cricketers. We must acknowledge that each player lends uniqueness and diversity to the game. If everybody brought similar ingredients to the table, it would make watching cricket boring rather than exciting. And an educated look would suggest that there is no dearth of such stars who bring something special with them. Today we take a look at some cricketers whose expertise in a particular department has made them the defining factor for their teams.</p>
<h4><strong>5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes:</strong></h4>
<h4><strong>1. Virender Sehwag – 1<sup>st</sup> ball fours:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_7239" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7239" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/Virender-Sehwag-e1424858193471.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-7239" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Virender-Sehwag-e1424858193471.jpg" alt="Virender Sehwag ODI" width="398" height="453" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7239" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sehwag’s approach to batting is based on a simple philosophy: if the ball is there to be hit, just&nbsp;hit it.&nbsp;And he has shown that he doesn’t shy away from dispatching bad deliveries even if they happen to the first of the innings. For the aggressive opener getting set before stepping up the run rate is nothing but a myth. In the 2011 ODI World Cup played in the Indian subcontinent, Sehwag hit boundaries off the first ball of the innings in 5 consecutive games. Not only opposition teams but even his teammates were&nbsp;astonished by his fearless approach and uncomplicated style of play.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Lasith Malinga – Yorkers:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_21667" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-21667" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/Lasith-Malinga-sl-e1438761626565.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-21667" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-sl-e1438761626565.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga" width="396" height="273" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-21667" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Lasith Malinga is one of the most flamboyant cricketers to have ever emerged from&nbsp;Sri Lanka. With a freakish action Malinga not only bowls&nbsp;with substantial pace but also exemplary accuracy. The tilt of his arm at the time of delivering the ball amuses many as to how could he bowl with such precision. Put in absolutely simple terms, he is the only pacer in world cricket who could deliver Yorkers at will. There is just nobody like him in the last stages of the game. Going by current trends it is not long when he would be renamed Lasith ‘<strong>Yorker’</strong> Malinga.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Sunil Narine – Mystery deliveries:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_17424" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-17424" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Sunil-Narine-kkr-Banned.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-17424" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Narine-kkr-Banned.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine" width="436" height="304" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-17424" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Narine’s high-arm bowling action is deceptive for batsmen, and with all the variations he possesses, he more often than not succeeds in bamboozling batsmen. The mystery spinner was signed up by Kolkata for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League and has been an integral member of the side since then. Narine finished IPL 2012 as the Player of the Tournament with 24 wickets at a miserly 5.47 runs per over.&nbsp;The single biggest plus point of Narine’s bowling is that batsmen struggle to pick him off his hand. Apart from that his deliveries turns quite a bit which makes it even more tough for the batters to manage. If he gets his action sorted out soon the Caribbean star can be one of the prominent spinners in World Cricket.</p>
<h4><strong>4. AB de Villiers – Defying cricketing logic:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_23435" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23435" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/AB-de-Villiers-T20-Latest.jpg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-23435" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-T20-Latest.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="400" height="263" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23435" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Abraham Benjamin de Villiers has rose&nbsp;from the ranks to become one of the world’s best batsmen, across all formats. When on song, De Villiers can take any bowling apart with his wide array of strokes on either side of the wicket. His shots often defy conventional sense and leave most of us speechless. Be it the reverse sweep of the pacers or the revolutionary ramp shot his ability to innovate has left bowlers hapless on many occasions.&nbsp;He has the skills and temperament to back up his creative intent. His fabulous footwork against the spinners is a treat to watch. Cricket should be pleased to have him.</p>
<h4><strong>5. MS Dhoni – A perfect finish:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_7025" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7025" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/MS-Dhoni.jpeg"><amp-img class=" wp-image-7025" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni.jpeg" alt="8000 ODI runs" width="377" height="529" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7025" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>If Dhoni is there at the crease the hope is alive. Such is the success rate of the Indian ODI captain that fielding sides do not consider the match to be safe until they dismiss the power hitter. A master at timing his attack to perfection Dhoni is a figure of concentration and unperturbed determination in the final stages of a match. Be it the World Cup final of 2011, the famous match in Adelaide versus Australia or the Tri series final where he scored 16 off the last over, MSD is an institution when it comes to the art and craft of taking the side home.</p>

<p><strong>5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes: </strong>Generalization and oversimplification of talent are the most common errors we commit while analyzing cricketers. We must acknowledge that each player lends uniqueness and diversity to the game. If everybody brought similar ingredients to the table, it would make watching cricket boring rather than exciting. And an educated look would suggest that there is no dearth of such stars who bring something special with them. Today we take a look at some cricketers whose expertise in a particular department has made them the defining factor for their teams.</p>
<h4><strong>5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes:</strong></h4>
<h4><strong>1. Virender Sehwag &#8211; 1<sup>st</sup> ball fours:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_7239" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7239" style="width: 398px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/Virender-Sehwag-e1424858193471.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-7239" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Virender-Sehwag-e1424858193471.jpg" alt="Virender Sehwag ODI" width="398" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 398px) 100vw, 398px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7239" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sehwag&#8217;s approach to batting is based on a simple philosophy: if the ball is there to be hit, just hit it. And he has shown that he doesn’t shy away from dispatching bad deliveries even if they happen to the first of the innings. For the aggressive opener getting set before stepping up the run rate is nothing but a myth. In the 2011 ODI World Cup played in the Indian subcontinent, Sehwag hit boundaries off the first ball of the innings in 5 consecutive games. Not only opposition teams but even his teammates were astonished by his fearless approach and uncomplicated style of play.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Lasith Malinga &#8211; Yorkers:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_21667" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-21667" style="width: 396px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/06/Lasith-Malinga-sl-e1438761626565.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-21667" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-sl-e1438761626565.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga" width="396" height="273" sizes="(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-21667" class="wp-caption-text">(© Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Lasith Malinga is one of the most flamboyant cricketers to have ever emerged from Sri Lanka. With a freakish action Malinga not only bowls with substantial pace but also exemplary accuracy. The tilt of his arm at the time of delivering the ball amuses many as to how could he bowl with such precision. Put in absolutely simple terms, he is the only pacer in world cricket who could deliver Yorkers at will. There is just nobody like him in the last stages of the game. Going by current trends it is not long when he would be renamed Lasith ‘<strong>Yorker’</strong> Malinga.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Sunil Narine – Mystery deliveries:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_17424" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-17424" style="width: 436px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Sunil-Narine-kkr-Banned.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-17424" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Narine-kkr-Banned.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine" width="436" height="304"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-17424" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Narine&#8217;s high-arm bowling action is deceptive for batsmen, and with all the variations he possesses, he more often than not succeeds in bamboozling batsmen. The mystery spinner was signed up by Kolkata for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League and has been an integral member of the side since then. Narine finished IPL 2012 as the Player of the Tournament with 24 wickets at a miserly 5.47 runs per over. The single biggest plus point of Narine’s bowling is that batsmen struggle to pick him off his hand. Apart from that his deliveries turns quite a bit which makes it even more tough for the batters to manage. If he gets his action sorted out soon the Caribbean star can be one of the prominent spinners in World Cricket.</p>
<h4><strong>4. AB de Villiers &#8211; Defying cricketing logic:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_23435" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23435" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/07/AB-de-Villiers-T20-Latest.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-23435" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-T20-Latest.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="400" height="263" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23435" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: AFP)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Abraham Benjamin de Villiers has rose from the ranks to become one of the world&#8217;s best batsmen, across all formats. When on song, De Villiers can take any bowling apart with his wide array of strokes on either side of the wicket. His shots often defy conventional sense and leave most of us speechless. Be it the reverse sweep of the pacers or the revolutionary ramp shot his ability to innovate has left bowlers hapless on many occasions. He has the skills and temperament to back up his creative intent. His fabulous footwork against the spinners is a treat to watch. Cricket should be pleased to have him.</p>
<h4><strong>5. MS Dhoni &#8211; A perfect finish:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_7025" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-7025" style="width: 377px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2014/11/MS-Dhoni.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-7025" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni.jpeg" alt="8000 ODI runs" width="377" height="529" sizes="(max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-7025" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>If Dhoni is there at the crease the hope is alive. Such is the success rate of the Indian ODI captain that fielding sides do not consider the match to be safe until they dismiss the power hitter. A master at timing his attack to perfection Dhoni is a figure of concentration and unperturbed determination in the final stages of a match. Be it the World Cup final of 2011, the famous match in Adelaide versus Australia or the Tri series final where he scored 16 off the last over, MSD is an institution when it comes to the art and craft of taking the side home.</p>

5 Cricketers and their defining aptitudes

5 cricketers and their defining aptitudes: Generalisation and over simplification of talent are the most common errors we commit while analyzing cricketers.