MURALI VIJAY MAKES BAT DO THE TALKING Murali Vijay has had a turn-around of fortunes in 2013.

This year has been a roller coaster ride for the man from Tamil Nadu. He always possessed the talent, but never took the effort to improve his skills as an opener. In 2013, you have a much improved Vijay. He is back with a much improved back foot technique and he prices his wicket a bit more than was the case couple of years ago. Vijay cannot be compared to his celebrated team mates like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara but he certainly can make it count on his day. Murali Vijay, who hails from Tamil Nadu was the most unlikely of picks to succeed Gambhir in the Indian Test team. Vijay was fortunate enough to be selected when the BCCI decided to replace an out of form Gambhir. He didnt have the requisite runs in the domestic circuit to stake his claim for that spot. In fact, when he was selected for the home series against Australia in 2012-13 it was much of a gutsy move from the selection committee when they had some consistent performers in the domestic circuit were still waiting for their chance. Vijays selection into the Indian Test team was more based on his potential and flamboyance rather than his performance. That was clearly the logic behind his selection. Murali Vijay was formerly a front foot player which brought to his downfall. It was the same reason why he was thrown out of the ODI team and never made a return. The reason why Vijay has been doing well in this format is attributed to his improved back foot stroke play and his patience. With the advent of T20 cricket, Vijay played some scintillating knocks for Chennai Super Kings both in the Ipl and the Champions League. But it was severely criticized that he is severely lacking patience and he wont survive in this format with this aggressive mind set and his faulty back foot play. What came to his rescue was the fact that he had made quite good use of the chances he got in the longer format, with his only failure coming in the test series against West Indies in 2011. When Vijay was called up as the Test opener for 2012-13 series, many questions were asked on his selection. He put all the critics to rest when he scored back to back 150+ scores. After that Vijay has not looked back. In his last 10 innings he has scored 618 runs at an impressive average of 69. In the first test against South Africa at Johannesburg, he saw off the new ball and looked in control to notch up his half century. But then unfortunately he perished trying to flick Kallis for 39. This innings improved his confidence and he was in full venom when he came on to bat in the second test against South Africa. At the end of first days play he was not out on 91. He departed for 97 the following day, but this innings will stand out and give him confidence as an opener. It was an innings of grit, determination and confidence. He also worked out his strategy against Steyn and Morkel. He knew he didnt have the inputs in his batting arsenal to counter these two quickies, and all he did was leave, leave and leave! Sounds like its no big deal,but its far too difficult than what you think it is. Leaving a cricket ball is an art. In this series, the main mantra behind batsmen doing well has been their abilty to leave the ball well. Those batsmen who left the ball well like Vijay, Kohli and Pujara have come up with big scores and those who failed in it have been shown the pavilion. Especially players like Rohit Sharma and Hashim Amla have left the ball, only to see their stumps being disturbed.

Any width on offer outside the off stump, Vijay was quick to seize the opportunity. He was an absolute treat to watch even with the worlds best bowler Steyn bowling. Vijays exploits even prompted Steyn to bowl a negative line, shows how much Steyn got intimidated by Vijay. When Vijay smacked Steyn for back to back boundaries to bring up his half century, it was awesomeness personified. Who would have thought this would happen! Not even the Steyn Remover! This year will end with Vijay answering all his critics on his selection and he coming out of the casted shadows of his celebrated team mates. Vijay needs to continue the form he is in because he needs to understand that Dhoni had stated that he considers Gambhir as his third opener. Gambhir will be putting pressure on Vijay for the series to follow. He better appreciate the fact that, he cannot afford to be complacent.