Wasim Jaffer - A reward for consistency

Some players hog the limelight upon their arrival in domestic cricket and expectations run high on their performance ever since. One such player is Wasim Jaffer who has been performing consistently since his debut in 1996-97. The Mumbai opener has finally got his due for the consistency having been selected in the Indian squad to play South Africa.

Wasim Jaffer announced his arrival in style. He made every one sit up and take notice by scoring 314 in only his second first class game against Saurashtra - a world record for a player to score a first class triple hundred at 18. In the process he shared an opening partnership of 459 with S Kulkarni. With Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli in the Mumbai side, it needed a performance of this sort to be noticed and it seemed only a matter of time for the Mumbai opener to get into the national side.

Jaffer, who shows patience, looks composed and relaxed in his approach while accumulating runs. He posseses the basic qualities of an opening batsman - temperament and the determination to stay at the crease for long periods. This season Jaffer has been impressive in the domestic tournaments scoring 437 runs with an average of 63 in the five Ranji Trophy games including a score of 173 and two fifties. He had a string of scores like 69 and 94 in the Duleep Trophy semifinal and an unbeaten 173 in the final against North Zone when he carried his bat. In the 1998-99 Ranji Trophy season Mumbai did not qualify for the Super League and Jaffer had to remain content with 383 runs in three matches.

Though overlooked for the Challenger Trophy, Irani Trophy and India A tour this year, Jaffer was not disheartened and continued to do what he does best - pile up runs. With Ramesh, Devang Gandhi and Laxman being preferred for the opener's slot for the Australian tour and Arun Kumar and Gagan Khoda for the India A, the Mumbai opener had to wait his turn. But it did not take long for him to get the opportunity with Ramesh injured and with Devang Gandhi having a poor tour of Australia. Wasim Jaffer, if he is selected to play in the first Test in Mumbai against the South Africans, has the advantage of playing on his home ground which should give him a world of confidence.