Coming back to Sachin and Lara..two of the modern batting greats.

Sachin of today is nowhere what he was in 90s, specially 94-98 season. He literally ruled the 90s when Lara was battling personal and mental problems from the unexpected success and fame. He was attacking and yet consistent. Bowlers in those days wouldn't like to bowl  at him. He would butcher any attack. I have seen those days, so I can tell. Post 2000, the only innings I think worth remebering is his assault against against Shaib Akhtar in particular in 2003 world cup against Pakistan. That was the innings only he could have played. I still remember how he shielded Sehwag against Wasim..coz Wasim was bowling so well that day.

The fact is that the world has seen him at his best, and they love him all over..in England, in Australia they love him as if he is a citizen over there. They want their home team to do well but deep inside they come to see another Sachinlike innings which doesn't happen these days.

I m sure it's the injury, that has forced him to cut down many of his shots. He is not as attacking as he used to be. He won't hit the fast bowlers over their head anymore, the booming off drives off the back foot are gone and he more than often plays those maneuvering kind of shots rather than his own free flowing shots. But..yet..Sachin playing like this is still..skillwise...far better than any contemporary batsman. Ask Ponting, ask Jayasuriya, ask Inzamam.

Lara..the greatest ever..never ever changed his game. His batsmanship was so amazingly attractive..as if u were glued to that high back lift and him jumping around the crease..those glorious off drives..those careless shots off the pads...and the disdainful shots dispatching any great spin bowler over there head..as if he was to say..GO FETCH 'EM.

LARA REMAINED THE SAME. WHEN BOTH WERE AT THEIR PEAK, BOTH WERE EQUALLY GREAT. SACHIN COULDN'T SUSTAIN. LARA DID. Again I m not talking about batting averages. I m talking about sustaining their natural game. I don't care much about batting averages. As l,ong it's around or over 50, u r good.

LARA to me is the most skillful batsman I have ever watched. There was no better entertainer than him. LARA TO BATTING WAS WHAT SHANE WARNE WAS TO SPIN BOWLING. THEY NOT ONLY SCORED RUNS, THEY WOULD BRING BUZZ TO THE FIELD..AN ANTICIPATION OF SOMETHING SPECIAL EVERYTIME THEY WOULD WALK ON THE CRICKET FIELD.

My interested in cricket waned comsiderably since Lara ( and Warne ) retired. I don't love the game as much..coz it's much poorer without players like Warne and Lara.