05 December,2009 09:13 AM IST | | Sanjjeev K Samyal
For the first time in three days of the third Test, there were long queues outside the Brabourne Stadium. The North and East stands were packed to capacity yesterday.
The man who pulled them to come to watch Test cricket was India opener Virender Sehwag.
The excitement was all about being there to see Sehwag better Brian Lara's highest Test score of 400.
But, to the disappointment of the Indian cricket team's fans, for the third time Sehwag fell around the 300-run mark.
Twice he got out immediately after reaching his triple hundreds (309 at Multan vs Pakistan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa at Chennai in 2007), and yesterday he fell at 293.
The effortless ease with which Sehwag has batted in these knocks, proves that the 300-run mark is not a challenge at all for the Indian opener.
At the same time, his repeated dismissals in the range of 300, has raised the point whether he has it in him to scale the 400-run mark.
It looks like, for Sehwag to emulate Lara, he still needs to take his game a couple of notches higher.
Lara may have had his ups and downs, but when he was at his peak, there was none with stronger temperament and physical fitness.
The 31-year-old Sehwag had a back-injury scare during this knock when around the 150-run mark.
He was fortunate that it happened at the stroke of the tea interval which allowed him to get treatment in time to continue.
A Trinidad-based local cricketer-turned-photo journalist Brian Camacho had revealed during a discussion with MiD DAY that when Lara first got the record (bettering Sobers' 365), he had done his pre-season training with an absolute maniacal zeal.
"Every morning we could see him running up the hill on the road leading to his house during that season. You could see his focus and fitness. We knew something special was round the corner.
His training always used be very intense in the seasons he did well," Camacho said. There is no denying that Sehwag will have to match the left-handed legend in mental and physical strength when he was at his peak.
Sehwag admitted that he missed an opportunity to make an attempt at the record. "Yes, it is a missed opportunity but I think there is always a next time," said Sehwag.
Asked how he felt when he resumed his innings yesterday morning, the Indian opener said: "Physically I was fine, only mentally I was a bit fatigued."
The Sri Lankans, however, must have heaved a sigh of relief to see Sehwag's back.
He has put India in the driver's seat. Having conceded a lead of 333, Sri Lanka need to bat two full days to save the game.
