Its impossible for me to narrow it down to just one man , so I wont try.
Michael Slater-
At about age 6 , like most little kids , I though cricket was the second most boring game on earth (golf taking the prize
) & would never have paid it a second thought.
However Slats was basically what converted me , watching him go out there & look to take them on from ball 1 , there was a rush of adrenalin about his approach , the 'round the world' backlift & the intense glint in his eyes.
Not the most consistent fella around but boy when he got a score you didnt wanna miss it.
I remember crying when he got dropped in 1995/96 at about 7 years old
VVS Laxman-
I was the ground for his 167 against Australia in 99/00 , and since that day Ive been a massive fan , again consistency aint his game , but he is the player you want to watch most in the current Indian line up , which with Sehwag , Dravid , Tendulkar around is quite a compliment.
Just the way he is able to hit the ball
SO HARD & make it look so casual & easy , rea cricket shots , right along the carpet , none of this Gilchrist / Hayden stuff , Laxman when on song never seems to give you a chance.
He also played the third best knock Ive ever seen in 2001.
Curtley Ambrose-
Like Slater , Curtley was one of the reasons I started paying attention to cricket as a little kid , his intimidating style & the at times freakish life he seemed to be able to extract from the deadest wickets amazed me.
My dad had taped most of the 1993 West Indies tour as he was big into it back then & I must have watched his 7 fer at Perth about 50 times , no kidding
Curtley was what inspired me to be a fast bowler.
Damien Fleming-
He's always been a personal favourite of mine , I used to watch perplexed at his ability to make the ball dip through the air both ways apparently at will.
A real thinking bowler , more brains than brawn.
He was a great character & I remember how happy I was after I went to a coaching clinic run by him in Canberra in 1999
Shame about the injuries though
Brian Lara-
Like Slater , it was the adrenalin rush in Lara's approach that made him one of my favourites from a young age , the 'round the world' backlift , brilliant footwork & those flashing cut shots he would hit , my dad taped his 277 at Sydney on that same 93 tour & like with Curtley's 7 fer Ive watched it many times since , he's a legend.
I know people always harp on about Tendulkar being the best player in the world , but I dont agree , for me Brian Charles is the greatest batsman on earth today , his phenomal hand-eye coordination , the footwork , the aggressive approach , the fact he basically carries his side & the technique which has overcome flaws through many hours of hard work.
