Inzamam names 3 batsmen who 'changed cricket' with 'aggression, innovation & imagination'

Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has said that Sir Vivian Richards, Sanath Jayasuriya and AB de Villiers were three players who, according to him, changed game of cricket and gave it a "new style" due to aggressive manner in which y batted.

'He was an ever great player'

Considered as one of greatest Pakistani batsmen of all time, Inzamam in his Youtube channel said that former West Indies captain Richards changed way batsmen approached fast bowlers. "Years ago it was Viv Richards, who changed game. At that time batsmen used to play fast bowlers on backfoot but he showed everyone how to play m off front foot. He taught everyone that fast bowlers can be attacked. He was an ever great player," he said.

Richards played 121 Tests, scoring 8540 runs at an aver of 50.23. In 187 ODIs, Richards scored 6721 runs at an aver of 47. But most impressive part about his batting in ODIs was his strike rate of 90.20.

'He decided to attack fast bowlers in first 15 overs'

Inzamam n said that former Sri Lankan opener Jayasuriya changed way batsmen approach initial overs of an innings. " second change was brought in by Sanath Jayasuriya. He decided to attack fast bowlers in first 15 overs. Before his arrival, ones who used to hit ball in air were t considered proper batsmen but he changed perception by hitting fast bowlers over infield in first 15 overs," he said.

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Inzamam said former Proteas captain de Villiers brought an overall change to scoring runs with his big-hitting and versatile placement of shots. " third player who changed cricket was AB de Villiers. He changed cricket for third time. I would credit fast-paced cricket that you see in ODIs and T20s today to de Villiers. Previously, batsmen used to hit straight bat. De Villiers came in, started to hit paddle sweeps, reverse sweeps," former Pakistani skipper said.

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Ar common factor according to Inzamam among three was ir mental strength and ability to bounce back from every scenario.

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(With ncy inputs) (Im credits: AP)