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ShareAt his peak, Vaughan was a delightful and stylish batsman. Not one to spend hours and hours in the gym, his batsmanship was based on fluency and deft touch rather than power. His sense of timing was brilliant and an uncanny ability to pick gaps in the field meant that runs always came at a good enough speed to frequently put his side into a winning position.
I saw him in the 2002 series against India when he matched Rahul Dravid-- then the world's top-rated batsman -- run for run, but with perhaps a wider range of strokes. Till that series, Vaughan had been considered an airy-fairy kind of player who would throw his wicket away when well set. Now he looked a world beater. By 2005, he had indeed become one, leading England to a melodramatic victory over Australia which shocked the cricket world.
In hindsight, Vaughan's captaincy gains precedence over his batsmanship because he helped England emerge from the morass of mediocrity into serious contention as the best team in the world. His players swore by him, and on several occasions, Vaughan's judgement and decision making altered the course of the match. He was both, a good leader of men and reader of game situations.
Comparisons with Mike Brearley, arguably the most influential England captain of the last three decades, are not unfounded, but in my opinion harsh on Vaughan whose contribution has perhaps been greater. Brearley won some famous matches and his book, Art of Captaincy, is a tour de force, but Vaughan had the more difficult job as captain.
Moreover, Brearley's best moment -- the 1981 Ashes triumph -- came when Australia were without several key players like Greg Chappell and Jeff Thomson; Vaughan led England to victory when Australia were at their best. All the encomiums coming his way are well deserved.
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For a nation obsessed by the sport -- and which now also provides a major chunk of its finances -- India's contribution to cricket literature and thought remains measly. In that context, the decision by the late Dilip Sardesai's family to commemorate the great batsman's death anniversary today with a lecture on issues that affect the game must be lauded. This is far more meaningful than just a ritual gathering of well-wishers.
The inaugural lecture will be delivered by Sunil Gavaskar, and I dare say that the choice is well made -- for logic and emotion both. Gavaskar is still the country's most significant voice on issues pertaining to the game; moreover he also made his debut in 1971 against the West Indies, in which Sardesai played perhaps the most crucial role in India's triumphs.
I don't know the subject of Gavaskar's lecture, but there are several issues which need urgent attention. The future of Test cricket, for instance, which is under threat from Twenty20. Or how players can retain focus (and hence form and fitness) in a sport increasingly driven by commercialism is something that would be equally relevant.
Surely, the current Indian team would have something to gain from the latter.
