The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Rich tributes paid to Hazare

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 13, 2005

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Rich tributes paid to Hazare

MUMBAI, MARCH 12. It was with a touch of emotion that speakers at the Legends' Club meeting at the Idar Room, Cricket Club of India, recalled Vijay Hazare's remarkable centuries against Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller and his fine batting on the 1952 tour of England. Hazare passed away at Baroda on December 18 last year at the age of 89 and fittingly the function began with a 45 minute audio visual show that highlighted his visit to the CCI two years ago when Indian batsmen who scored centuries or captured five wickets at Lord's were honoured by the then Marylebone Cricket Club President Charles Fry.

Hazare's grandson, Kunal, spoke about his memories of his grandfather on the occasion.

Hazare's 105-run partnership with Dattu Phadkar for the sixth wicket after India was down 0-4 and 5-26 was recalled by Raj Singh and his 38 at `The Oval' when India was struggling at 64 for 6 was described by veteran cricket writer Raju Bharatan. "Mushtaq Ali once told me that he felt Hazare had a better repertoire of strokes than Vijay Merchant because he was raised on matting wickets, but Alec Bedser said Merchant was the overseas batsman other than Don Bradman he found most correct," said Raj Singh. Another veteran journalist, the London-based Dicky Rutnagur also spoke on the occasion.

Madhav Mantri, who will succeed historian Vasant Raiji as President of the Legends Club at the next meeting on April 11, said Merchant had given up the hook shot after he lost the ability to keep the ball down.

The Legends Club Meeting was established two years to pay tributes to the three great cricketers of the 1940s and 50s. Former England captain Raman Subba Row and Australia's Bobby Simpson sent faxed messages paying tribute to the qualities of the legends.

Simpson will be present for the next meeting when he visits Mumbai to conduct an annual camp at the Brabourne Stadium. — Our Special Correspondent

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