One of the best

When I first started off playing cricket at the age of 10 (by cricket I mean pads, gloves & a leather ball); all the boxes of balls had a photograph of a West Indian bowler in his delivery stride. I still recall asking my coach who this guy was....

Any true sports fan will know there are moments when one is watching a match at the field of play or on television, when the camera or our attention turns to one particular individual in the spotlight. Your heart immediately begins to pump faster, your eyes light up, you unconsciously lean forward in your seat to get a better look at the person.

For me this happens only when I watch the beautiful game that is cricket or occasionally golf. But mostly always cricket. I still remember the first time I saw Steve Waugh play 'live' on a cricket pitch. That's when I first felt this sensation I refer to.

Well, it came back again last night as I watched the Windies fight out a draw in the 1st test at Antigua. The inimitable Dean Jones with the now familiar microphone in his hand had managed to corner that legend of legends; who to me ranks easily as amongst the top 5 quick bowlers who have ever played the game: Andy Roberts. A little older, a lot grayer, cherubic and genial looking, you could pass him on the street and exchange a smile at that nice, middle aged man but the moment he begins to expound on the game he played so well, you instantly know that here was a man who knew what fast bowling was all about; and who did it better than almost anyone else. Hearing the great man talk about the current fast bowling crop was exhilarating, partly because many things he said echoed my sentiments, partly because his clinical analysis made me see things I hadn't seen before. Amongst other things, he said:

- Brett Lee has by far the most flawless run up to the crease in world cricket
- Shoaib chucks ( "I haaave a little problem with his aaaction" :-)
- Shane Bond, injuries aside, will probably be the best fast bowler of this generation

The next section on the telly was Andy Roberts coaching Irfan Pathan through a series of mock run ups: each time you could see him stop Irfan, explain a point, shake his head in frustration when Irfan wouldn't understand, explain again this time with actions and foot movements and off went Irfan again to the top of his run to remedy that little chink which Roberts had noticed in his approach to the crease. Just watching that little 2 minute clip had me awestruck. One of those moments...My skin still tingles with excitement when I recall Roberts putting Pathan through the paces...aah to have had the opportunity to watch him bowl....cheers you legend!