Top guns out of big battle

New Delhi, Sept. 18: Bowlers could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief ahead of the Champions Trophy which starts in South Africa next Tuesday, for some of the world’s top big-hitters will be missing in action.

England duo of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, and Indian opener Virender Sehwag are recovering from injuries, with all of them renowned for ruining bowlers’ reputation with their innovative, clean and hard hitting.
When Sehwag fires, India are always assured of setting or chasing a stiff target. Not afraid of going after the bowling early in his innings, he is known for playing unorthodox shots to put the opposition on the back-foot.

“India will miss Sehwag’s explosiveness at the top,” legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar recently wrote in his column.

Meanwhile, England will find it difficult to pose a serious threat to big teams without key batsman Pietersen and all-rounder Flintoff. “It is always hard to be without your two best players, but that’s the reality we are in,” England captain Andrew Strauss said after losing the recent one-day series against Australia. England have often relied on Flintoff’s aggressive batting and sharp seam bowling to gain a big advantage. While England, Champions Trophy runners-up at home in 2004, will be under strength without Pietersen and Flintoff, cricket will be poorer without the three quality batsmen.