1981, NIE, innings of 70, one shot I hit through mid wicket. Saw the ball, just short of a good length, I think it was a medium pacer. Just put it away 'on the rise' to mid wicket with a last instant turn of the wrists. What a fine shot I enjoyed at that time!
1980. Another pull shot - same ground, Subbi's "Bradman" bat, plastered all over the blade. Flat six to mid wicket.
1986, BUCC, innings of 64. Sharad Rao - Karnataka fast bowler (10 Ranji Trophy matches, 16 wickets). I hit 5 fours in one over. The slips cordon were shouting 'get him', 'kill him'. Next over he bowled, first ball, I saw it pitch on a length, just short, on the off stump, just hit it back over his head for four, straight bat... the ball rolling into the sight screen near the pavilion. KSCA stadium. One of my most memorable shots.
1985. Coffee Board ground. K.Jeshwanth (68 Ranji Trophy matches, captain, coach, 3,905 runs, 105 wickets) batting-left handed. I bowled him off stump. He went away cursing traffic on the road that a bus had distracted him - no sight boards. Nobody believed it!
1983. KSCA (M), Left hand batsman, later Karnataka. Rajesh Kamath. I took his off bail from a ball that he could not get any clue at all. More satisfying is that he was a very good defensive player difficult to get the ball past him.
1986. My 'on drive' at Poona Club. Long-on fielder had no chance of stopping even before he could take 5-6 steps. The ball raced past him. Enjoyed the timing and power that came in that shot! Bowler was Subhash Ranjane, Maharashtra fast bowler, son of India fast bowler Vasanth Ranjane (29 Ranji Trophy games, 57 wickets).
78 not out, Jai Hind, MCG, Semi final - last wicket partnership of 105 with Vedraj. 16 fours. Wearing helmet for first time in life while batting. Umashankar, fast bowler with good pace. A pull to mid wicket to the neem tree, several punches and drives... I do not know where the timing came from! It was a dream innings. On some days, we have the 'feel of the bat' much better!
Another 78, Lucknow, CSIR team. Team was in trouble. I said I will go in next. Went there, hammered the bowlers all over, a few sixes and many fours. Running between wickets with Sridhar from Hyderabad was another element in this partnership. Team got good score, but lost the match. Pitambar Dutt hammered Lawrence for 14 in one over that turned the tables in their favour.
2013, League match. Gangotri Glades, fine wicket. Do or die. I was #11. Wily fast bowler Sharath Babu - my former partner for Mys Gymk - bowling the penultimate over to this 55 year old. We were required to just survive to ensure a draw. I hit Babu for a six over long on that surprised everyone, half volley, reflex shot! Never planned, it just was a very good feeling. About 8 balls to survive. Next ball Babu bowls a bouncer. It was coming to my head, no helmet. I turned and got a glove to it. The ball lobbed up for an easy catch. We lost the match. When I went back, I was removing my cricket gear. And when it was the turn of the 'abdomen guard', there was a shock. I had forgotten to put it on when a wicket had fallen!
JSS Medical College Ground. I had taken a wicket. The umpire took the ball as is the practice when that happens. The next batsman came in and got ready, our team was clapping, encouraging me to get another wicket. All was ready. I was ready, polishing the ball, before I started my run up. I ran in normally and did my bowling action, sans the ball, the batsman was flabbergasted. I knew I had no ball and wanted to have some fun. Umpire Ananth was noting down something as he put the ball in his pocket but forgot to give me back. Everyone was surprised at this 'nothing ball'! Every one had a good laugh. Ananth "Oh".... then remembered to hand me the ball from his pocket! I repeated this at Gangotri Glades in 2010 in another game, similar situation. The umpire was Suresh 'Robin'.
And then a third time as well in another match.
In the late 70s and into the 80s our team suffered the most from umpires getting bad decisions. Once in a Mysore Zone match in 1980, I had been caught off my own boot. I knew I was out and the umpire had raised his finger, rightly. Yet, I did not look at the umpire in spite of the players celebrating my dismissal. I pretended not knowing it, but after many seconds, I walked off.
In 1994, our team was playing an important match at the Nirvana Cup at National College Ground, Bengaluru. I was fielding in the shade of the trees on the edge of the boundary close to the roadside fence. I was deep on the off side to a right handed batsman. One ball was played by the batsman and it did not come to me. I went back a few steps to take position again to get ready for the next ball. When I was ready, I was in a shock!! The next over's first ball had been bowled from the other end and I was now in an awkward fielding position! The field had changed over and I was nowhere. I suddenly realized I had slept for a few seconds and then went to the proper place. No one noticed my silly act. Luckily the ball was not hit in my direction that first ball!
Inter-office tournament is held once in two years at different places. In 2002 or so, we were playing at Hyderabad. A reputation among opponents of how good my bowling was and how difficult it was to handle my bowling was all over the sister teams of different labs around the country. One particular opening batsman from a team from Delhi was facing me in the match. A new jute mat was being used and new ones tended to produce more bounce. I bowled a really nippy delivery to him that went through the grill of his helmet and struck below the eye, left 'reetired hurt' bleeding and swollen. I was extremely worried. I saw him return after some while, face in plaster, left eye nearly closed by swelling. We won the match and later as the players were relaxing in the evening, I saw him with his mates and inquired about his pain. I was surprised by his answer "It's nothing bhaiya..... I just wanted to face your bowling". I said "You not only faced my bowling but gave your face to my bowling!" He managed to laugh with his mates and continued the walk.
Club cricket is competetive, but 'official cricket' - meaning representing the employer - is more for fun than for serious rivalry. But it can become serious and hard oftentimes - the players know it why! In my case employer means our Institute [CFTRI] and HQ [CSIR]. I try to list a few musings that have happened, briefly.
~~~~~~
1980. Another pull shot - same ground, Subbi's "Bradman" bat, plastered all over the blade. Flat six to mid wicket.
1986, BUCC, innings of 64. Sharad Rao - Karnataka fast bowler (10 Ranji Trophy matches, 16 wickets). I hit 5 fours in one over. The slips cordon were shouting 'get him', 'kill him'. Next over he bowled, first ball, I saw it pitch on a length, just short, on the off stump, just hit it back over his head for four, straight bat... the ball rolling into the sight screen near the pavilion. KSCA stadium. One of my most memorable shots.
1985. Coffee Board ground. K.Jeshwanth (68 Ranji Trophy matches, captain, coach, 3,905 runs, 105 wickets) batting-left handed. I bowled him off stump. He went away cursing traffic on the road that a bus had distracted him - no sight boards. Nobody believed it!
1983. KSCA (M), Left hand batsman, later Karnataka. Rajesh Kamath. I took his off bail from a ball that he could not get any clue at all. More satisfying is that he was a very good defensive player difficult to get the ball past him.
1986. My 'on drive' at Poona Club. Long-on fielder had no chance of stopping even before he could take 5-6 steps. The ball raced past him. Enjoyed the timing and power that came in that shot! Bowler was Subhash Ranjane, Maharashtra fast bowler, son of India fast bowler Vasanth Ranjane (29 Ranji Trophy games, 57 wickets).
78 not out, Jai Hind, MCG, Semi final - last wicket partnership of 105 with Vedraj. 16 fours. Wearing helmet for first time in life while batting. Umashankar, fast bowler with good pace. A pull to mid wicket to the neem tree, several punches and drives... I do not know where the timing came from! It was a dream innings. On some days, we have the 'feel of the bat' much better!
Another 78, Lucknow, CSIR team. Team was in trouble. I said I will go in next. Went there, hammered the bowlers all over, a few sixes and many fours. Running between wickets with Sridhar from Hyderabad was another element in this partnership. Team got good score, but lost the match. Pitambar Dutt hammered Lawrence for 14 in one over that turned the tables in their favour.
2013, League match. Gangotri Glades, fine wicket. Do or die. I was #11. Wily fast bowler Sharath Babu - my former partner for Mys Gymk - bowling the penultimate over to this 55 year old. We were required to just survive to ensure a draw. I hit Babu for a six over long on that surprised everyone, half volley, reflex shot! Never planned, it just was a very good feeling. About 8 balls to survive. Next ball Babu bowls a bouncer. It was coming to my head, no helmet. I turned and got a glove to it. The ball lobbed up for an easy catch. We lost the match. When I went back, I was removing my cricket gear. And when it was the turn of the 'abdomen guard', there was a shock. I had forgotten to put it on when a wicket had fallen!
JSS Medical College Ground. I had taken a wicket. The umpire took the ball as is the practice when that happens. The next batsman came in and got ready, our team was clapping, encouraging me to get another wicket. All was ready. I was ready, polishing the ball, before I started my run up. I ran in normally and did my bowling action, sans the ball, the batsman was flabbergasted. I knew I had no ball and wanted to have some fun. Umpire Ananth was noting down something as he put the ball in his pocket but forgot to give me back. Everyone was surprised at this 'nothing ball'! Every one had a good laugh. Ananth "Oh".... then remembered to hand me the ball from his pocket! I repeated this at Gangotri Glades in 2010 in another game, similar situation. The umpire was Suresh 'Robin'.
And then a third time as well in another match.
In the late 70s and into the 80s our team suffered the most from umpires getting bad decisions. Once in a Mysore Zone match in 1980, I had been caught off my own boot. I knew I was out and the umpire had raised his finger, rightly. Yet, I did not look at the umpire in spite of the players celebrating my dismissal. I pretended not knowing it, but after many seconds, I walked off.
In 1994, our team was playing an important match at the Nirvana Cup at National College Ground, Bengaluru. I was fielding in the shade of the trees on the edge of the boundary close to the roadside fence. I was deep on the off side to a right handed batsman. One ball was played by the batsman and it did not come to me. I went back a few steps to take position again to get ready for the next ball. When I was ready, I was in a shock!! The next over's first ball had been bowled from the other end and I was now in an awkward fielding position! The field had changed over and I was nowhere. I suddenly realized I had slept for a few seconds and then went to the proper place. No one noticed my silly act. Luckily the ball was not hit in my direction that first ball!
Inter-office tournament is held once in two years at different places. In 2002 or so, we were playing at Hyderabad. A reputation among opponents of how good my bowling was and how difficult it was to handle my bowling was all over the sister teams of different labs around the country. One particular opening batsman from a team from Delhi was facing me in the match. A new jute mat was being used and new ones tended to produce more bounce. I bowled a really nippy delivery to him that went through the grill of his helmet and struck below the eye, left 'reetired hurt' bleeding and swollen. I was extremely worried. I saw him return after some while, face in plaster, left eye nearly closed by swelling. We won the match and later as the players were relaxing in the evening, I saw him with his mates and inquired about his pain. I was surprised by his answer "It's nothing bhaiya..... I just wanted to face your bowling". I said "You not only faced my bowling but gave your face to my bowling!" He managed to laugh with his mates and continued the walk.
