By his own stratospheric standards, Bradmans only lean run came during the Bodyline series. His average of 56 in that much-talked-about summer would have been commendable for any other batsman. Considering, however, that his career average is 99.94, almost 40 ahead of his closest rival, it is evident that Australias Ashes opponents, by fair means or foul, managed to find the kryptonite that rendered superman mortal.
Every other batsman, no matter how great, has had to contend with periods where adversaries discovered and exploited some weakness in technique or temperament, or where form simply fled from them.
George Headley endured nine innings in Australia in 1931-32 where he never reached 30 because the Australians, Clarrie Grimmett especially, launched a leg-stump attack with which the great West Indian failed to cope. He then, after much contemplation and practice, became such a master of on-side play that the same Grimmett declared him the best on-side player he had bowled to.
I felt Tendulkar was approaching the time to retire his blade during a poor run of form that began in 2004 and never really ended until some time in 2007. But he climbed out of the rut and embarked on what was the most productive period of his career, shutting up all who dared doubt the master.
Form is temporary, Viv Richards was fond of saying. Class is permanent. The good player does not become a bad player overnight. A batsmen of class, suffering a bad trot, will normally find a way to overcome any weakness, counter any line of attack, and eventually fall back into the run-making groove.
Hobbs, Hammond, Hutton, Worrell, Sobers, Chappell, Viv, Gower, Greenidge, Ponting, Lara, Dravid, all had periods when the runs dried up; periods when their techniques were scrutinized and picked apart by every self-appointed expert in the business and prognosticated upon by every fan with an opinion. They all had periods when self-doubt sneaked in uninvited, and rattled previously unshakable self-assuredness. Yet they always found a way to cast off the malaise and to re-emerge forcefully. They always found a way to return to their best.
Indias 2014 tour of England coincided with a dramatic and worrisome dip in form for Virat Kohli. Regarded as one of the games best, the Delhi right-hander was coming off years of significant international success in all three formats. During this high-achieving period there were no conditions too trying, no attack too daunting for him to master; and while he remained at the crease there was no run-chase beyond Indias reach.
Fiesty and confident, Kohli played with such freedom and such panache that hordes of Indian fans did not think it presumptuous to label him Tendulkars heir. The original Master Blaster himself, Viv Richards, was so taken with his skill and attitude that he was moved to remark that Kohli reminded him of himself. "I love watching Virat Kohli bat. He looks to me like an individual of my own heart. I love the aggression and serious passion that I used to have. He reminds me of myself." Sir Viv is allowed to say things like that, of course, for no one would dare challenge his credentials as one of the most destructive batsmen in history.
Much was expected of Kohli in England. It was widely felt that he would continue his run of outstanding performances against an England team in turmoil. It was supposed to be business as usual for India's premier stroke-maker, and though great batsmen have struggled to cope in English conditions before, Kohli was so convincing a player that we thought chances of him failing were miniscule.
So when he fell far short it was huge surprise. Kohli didnt just fail; he was a total, utter, undiluted failure in England. In the five tests he managed only 134 runs at an average of 13.4, and in four One Day Internationals (ODIs) he scored just 54 runs.
Suddenly, the batsman who was always assured and often untroubled became tentative. His superb footwork, always a hallmark of his play, became uncertain, and he started exhibiting a surprising ignorance of the location of his off-stump. Kohli had such a difficult time in England that he must have been happy when the tour ended, knowing he was returning to India, to more familiar, less challenging conditions.
But his problems in England seemed to have bled over into the West Indies series when he fell cheaply in the first ODI in Kochi. Not only did he fall for two, but there were signs of the same iffy footwork and indecision around off-stump that was evident in England. Kohli, it seemed, had not yet freed himself from his batting woes.
At the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, however, for the second ODI against the West Indies, Kohli fought back to some semblance of form with 62, scored off 78 deliveries. This was not the free-flowing Kohli by any means, but there were signs it was all coming back.
That this half-century meant a lot to Kohli, his teammates, and to the Indian fans, was evidenced by the hearty celebrations by all, and the obvious sign of relief etched on the batsman's face upon reaching the milestone.
Everyone will be hoping that this innings marks a welcome return to good form for India's best player. Everyone will be hoping that the diffident batsman they saw in England, so persecuted by James Anderson, who became something of a walking wicket, is again becoming the forthright, capable, intimidating player he was before. Everyone who loves cricket will be hoping we witnessed in Delhi the return of one of the game's foremost batting experts; one who has shown the rare ability to create masterpieces of the batting art.
Everyone, that is, except the West Indies. They will be hoping he waits till he gets to Australia.
Cricbuzz
