Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly revive golden memories

As some of the most legendary cricketers to have ever played the game battled it out in exhibition T20 matches across three cities in the United States, cricket fans around the world found themselves on a walk down memory lane.

Shane Warne's Warriors whitewashed Sachin Tendulkar's Blasters in the three-match series but more importantly both men achieved what had been their prime objective - to popularise cricket in hitherto unknown territories.

Also read: Cricket All Stars - Warne Warriors complete clean sweep against Sachin Blasters

An estimated 70,000 poured in at New York, Houston and Los Angeles to see Tendulkar smack Warne, Virender Sehwag pin Allan Donald into the stands even as he hummed a Bollywood song, Ricky Ponting recreating his magic, Shoaib Akhtar mixing raw pace with sheer guile, Muttiah Muralitharan flummoxing the batsmen and smiling with glee and Andrew Symonds doing what he did best for Australia - hit the ball long and hard out of the park.

While the Cricket All-Stars Series was being played in the USA, four very competitive teams were engrossed in top-quality Test matches. India were doing battle with South Africa at home while Australia first clobbered New Zealand in the first match before the Black Caps bounced back in style to hold their own at the WACA. Top-drawer cricket from some top-drawer cricketers.

Also read: This is what Shoaib Akhtar had to say about Sachin Tendulkar's captaincy

However, watching Tendulkar, Sehwag, Warne, Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Jaceques Kallis and Akhtar in action, one could not help but wonder if the quality of cricket in these exhibition games was distinctly higher than what was on display in two intensely fought Test matches. This may sound harsh but it does not speak lowly of the Virat Kohlis, AB de Villiers, David Warners and Kane Williamsons of the world. Make no mistake, they are high-class players and would have probably stood out even in the era of Tendulkar and Lara - but nostalgia does funny things to fans, writers and observers.

For a generation that grew up feasting on Tendulkar vs Akram, Lara vs Murali, Kallis vs Warne, few battles in modern day cricket hold the same charm.

There was a loud cheer every time Sehwag and Tendulkar walked out to open for the Blasters, there were excited voices murmuring in the crowd whenever Warnie came on to bowl to Sachin. Thousands of Indians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans settled in the United States had probably never seen these icons live on a cricket field - this was their chance to relive their childhood and revive some golden memories.

And like most things sweet, the best was reserved for the last. Sourav Ganguly may not have got his desired opening slot in Tendulkar's team but he made a mark in the third and final game of the series in the middle-order.

Also read: Ganguly threatens Tendulkar: Will return to Kolkata if I'm not allowed to open

The former India skipper was sent in at No. 4 in the two matches he played - in the third, Dada struck a typically classy 50 off 37 balls. What a treat it must have been for the LA fans - there were scores of 27 from Sehwag, 56 from Tendulkar, 41 from Jayawardene before the Ganguly masterclass unfolded.

Sourav Ganguly at the Cricket All-Stars Clinic at Dodgers Stadium ahead of the 3rd T20 match. (AP Photo)

The pace bowlers, star-studded as they were, with Coutney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Donald, Akram, Glenn McGrath making up a remarkable line-up, failed to fire and expectadly so. Some of them were as old as 52 and most had retired years ago. Most of the batsmen had the benefit of playing either international cricket or the Indian Premier League till very recently. But it was still a sight to behold.

Most fans in India, who were enthusiastic enough to stay up late to watch the first match, would have cringed with Warne's dismissal of VVS Laxman - a perfect leg-spinner lured VVS out of the crease, allowing Sangakkara to complete an easy stumping. But it was still a sight to behold for the sheer magic the old wizard could still create.

There would be a lot of analysis, plenty of talk and many discussions now that the All-Stars are set to go back into their daily lives. However, one gets the feeling that the world has not seen the last of Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar on a cricket field.