The opening batsman

Traditionally the opening batsman was likened to a dam - someone who holds the water long enough for the others to prosper. He would take the shine off the ball and hold fort in difficult conditions. His vigil would ensure that the dangerous bowlers would be blunted when fresh and fairly tired when the new batsmen eventually came out to bat.

Fairly similar to a college or even a corporate scenario when there are some n people to be reviewed by the boss for their performance. The first man in has a job to do and perform a duty to the rest of his/her colleagues (yeah the man in this case can be interpreted as man/woman). The opener here has to bear the brunt of a fresh boss bowling the unplayable short deliveries, the zippers that you have no clue about, the ones that have you playing for the in-coming delivery but go out instead. He has to ensure that he consumes time and in general drains out the enthusiasm from the boss. So when the others come in to play - its already a placid pitch as they know what questions to expect and are generally prepared plus fatigue would have already set in for the ever-questioning-boss.

Invariably the opener who gets out early exposing the middle order to a boss on rampage partly ensures that everyone has a torrid time. A bad opener can ruin the team's fortunes.

Lately however there has been another breed of openers. The ones who choose not to defend but aim to get to their 100 before the crowd has even settled into their seats. I ofcourse have the likes of Sehwag and Hayden in my mind as I write this. They pulverise the bowlers and generally put them on the backfoot so that they dont have much enthu left for the day even when there is new guy at the crease. Also given that this opener has put on runs so fast on the board - it lets the remaining guys bat without pressure and get their collective eyes in.

Yes - there is an analogy coming up here too. Just imagine a presenter in the review who instead of getting hammered by the boss - suddenly starts questioning his boss about stuff that has gone wrong, about all the support promised but not given. Someone answering everything aggressively - maybe even putting the boss in a good mood with all the forthcoming answers - Oh yes that eases up the pitch too.

Then there is that utility of the opener to put up the first runs on the board - to break the ice. Its the opener who has to break the awkward silence and get things going.

So here is a tribute to all good openers - Be the Akash Chopra variety or the Sehwag. Whether they get a ton in half an hour or half a run in an hour - they play the most unique and difficult role in cricket and otherwise.

The components

Talent is what you are born with, the ability to get that bat hit the ball in time, the ability to turn around that arm and see the ball reach with some pace down the 22 yards. The ability to middle it and the ability to turn it. Talent is bestowed.

Technique is what your hardwork builds onto your talent. The long hours spent as a kid with your unrelenting coach. Hours and hours of hitting a ball hanging in a sock right in the middle. Hours of putting that front foot forward and keeping that head steady. Recursive strides to the pitch to get that high arm action, the numerous efforts to roll that wrist over - to land the ball on the proverbial penny.

Experience is knowing what to do when. Experience is also telling the rookies what to do when. Experience is the instinct that life gives you after years of run-ins

Temperament is the ability of doing what needs to be done under pressure. Over and over again. And again.

Flair is the ability to make people forgive you for the lack of all the above.

Form is the resultant effectiveness when either all the above desert you or all the above align with you.

Luck is what precludes any of the above.