Cricket and me

My name on the web

2011-12-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

In December 2011, I googled to see if any link shows up with my name with initials "K.R.Dinakar". I thought of listing and saving links here as and when I found. I have found quite a few, besides the ones that linkss my blogposts. There are a few from the cricket reports in the press also. I list a few.

2005 that weekday, but there was a cricket match and I did not want to miss both somehow! Our team lost toss and we were asked to bat. I wanted to finish my quota of 9 overs and attend office late, but then I found myself opening the batting. I could not get out and my stay extended to such a time that I had to apply leave for the day as I had to bowl in the afternoon session! My team mates did not hint me I had crossed 90. I was out for 94 playing a rather loose stroke. :( It could have been the only century by me for The Mysore Gymkhana. But this it remains the highest score by me for our club (besides the 3 centuries scored for my employer). http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/20/stories/2005022003981800.htm

2004 cricket league report still on line.
http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/12/stories/2004091204021600.htm

During a cricket league match, we had this reporter from The Times of India on the ground. As I was with him on the outfield during our team's batting, we saw what is reported here in this link and he (also a former team mate) mentions my name in his write-up the following day.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-22/mysore/28267515_1_instruments-cheer-girls-cricketers

Bhopal 2007. Cricket tournament. The organizers still have this on their site. List of players.
http://www.ampri.res.in/rtbm/teams.htm Since the captain did not turn up, I led our side which ended runner-up.

My letter published in Star of Mysore some time ago, but I was surprised that that is added here in this site. This is about garbage burning problem, in our city and esp. close to our house.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/738/922/065/

2005 cricket league match link still on line.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005020708261800.htm&date=2005/02/07/&prd=th&

There are a few links where I have placed some comments also, but I've not included it, but for this for a sample. http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2006/06/02/pinda-uruliso-is-not-a-cry-from-paschima-vahini/

Look for my name in the second para that is with a bunch of bold letters. Some credit that!!
http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/why-dont-we-hear-of-it-men-excelling-in-sports/

I had contributed on request, a write-up on Katte for Star of Mysore. Somaari Katte. This site has that write-up here: http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/starofmysore/katte1.htm My name is shown at the end.... it is actually me, this blogger.

My name was showing up in some other links also, Curious, I peeped into them because I thought my name and initials together were rare and not as common as a Smith or Shankar or Salman. I was surprised when I found that 'I am' a doctor http://wikimapia.org/7414740/Dr-K-R-Dinakar-s-Residence and also a leading Corporate Lawyer in Bangalore and living in Basavanagudi also! See this link!
http://bangalore.localtiger.com/bengaluru/bangalore-yellow-pages-address-telephone/legal-services/corporate-lawyers-eop/k.r.-dinakar-106867.html They were not me!

I was boasting that I was the only one with the initials and name put together. I now realize there may still be more and I shall stop boasting from now onward!

New video update of my bowling action

2011-07-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOlH3d3GPnc

The YouTube link to the video clips taken on 21st June, 2011.

My first picture with cricket players

2011-03-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful surprise yesterday, 2nd March. It was a phone call - my old team-mate and new ball partner for The Mysore Gymkhana, Prasanna Kumar from Bengaluru. Delighted, we spoke for a while reminiscing some old times. Somehow we never kept touch. Something dragged him to call me after finding my phone number.

He mentioned about an old picture with him. I did not make out what it was. So he sent it by e-mail an hour later. It was this group picture, taken at Maharaja's College Ground.

I could recognize Mysore's famous cricket coach (from the University), the one and only V.P.Mylevaganam (Mylu, as he was known to everyone), BNS Reddy (sitting with white cap) and Prasanna's face. There was another face I could recognize and it was my own! Even now I cannot recollect being grouped for this picture that day. Our further teleconversation brought out a few more names which I could attach to those strange faces like BT Narasimhamurthy, Prakash Honsoge, Ravi and K.S.Balu (with whom I later opened the bowling for our college).

Prasanna, speaking with very clear memories, said it was taken towards the end of 1978 (it could be early 1979) at the Maharaja's College Cricket Ground and that the group was of selected players from a few colleges attending a coaching camp organized by the University. This, in fact, was my first real stint with the cricket ball. Prior to that, it was all 'tennis-ball street cricket'.

This picture session is complete out of my mind, but I have clear memory of the camp which was for about a month, every morning and evening as it was my first real opportunity to play with the cricket ball. There were 4 of us from our D.Banumaiah's College. The practice sessions used to be on a temporary playing surface on the hockey ground, with cricket mat on it at a corner!

I can vividly remember how I tried to bowl. With the tennis ball I was a 'fast bowler' having a reputation for 'clean bowling the batsboys'! So I tried to do the same with the shiny (new) cricket ball also.

I used to buy Sportsweek from the pocket money (Rs.5/-) just because there was a page dedicated to Sir Donald Bradman's 'Art of Cricket'. It was a very standard manual of that day. I still have the full series that I bound up using my own methods.

(click to enlarge)

I had read in it about 'swing' and wondered.

The tennis ball was lighter and I could hurl it at great pace. This cricket ball weighed 5 3/4 ounces. I felt it quite heavy to hurl it down like that! I was lean and thin - that group picture reveals it. Plenty of effort was required to hurl that 'red cherry' down 20 yards! I knew fast bowlers ran up and delivered the ball and so I had randomly marked a run up that measured ten steps. Ten was an easy figure to remember! With the tennis ball, it required just 3-4 steps!

Now with the new ball in hand, I used to try and bowl straight and try to shatter the stumps of the batsboys. Lo and behold, the ball I hurled would head towards the batsboy and swerve away down behind him and to the wall (there was no stopping net behind). The hapless wicket-keeper could only watch it fly by. This used to happen often and I wondered why. The coach 'Mylu' used to explain that it was 'in swing' and I must try and bowl towards the edge of the mat on the 'off side' so that it would end up at the stumps. It was then I saw what 'swing' was and how others swung in the opposite direction also (out swing). I discovered that when properly directed, it would swerve from left to right a long way, really, and I could still hit the stumps. Often, batsboys thought it was going straight and wider, but much to their surprise, the ball would start dipping in towards them and when they realized, it was usually late! Control and consistency soon improved with some experience in that one month. It was a good beginning.

Lot of protective equipment is involved in cricket esp. while batting - leg guards, gloves, thigh pad and the 'box' to name only those that existed in the 1970s and in our access. I remember when Mylu had arranged a practice match between ourselves, I had gone out to bat without the 'box' completely unaware of its potential dangers of any possible hit that 'most crucial anatomical part'. How would I wear it in front of all the boys there? I was that shy then! In practice also I had batted like that on one or two occasions (and nobody knew it!!) and I wonder now, where all that courage or carelessness came from! Those were times when these cricket gear was common to the team as well.

In a few months, my bowling had improved to such a level that I was opening the bowling. Our college practise sessions mingled with that of The Mysore Gymkhana's (TMG) as 2 key players also played for TMG. I found myself playing for TMG very soon in the 4th division league (took 5 in my debut match) in 1979. In 1980, I opened the bowling for our college in the inter-collegiate tournament at Suratkal and reached up to the final.

The launch pad (Mylu's coaching camp) was of immense help. Our coach's oft repeated words "aim straight at the edge of the mat" (bowling) and "lean into the drive and follow through" (batting) still ring in the ears. Mylu retired and settled in Bengaluru. There was nothing that Mylu did not know about Mysore cricketers then as he was also involved in team selections. He was a talented hockey player also, but was more renown among people for his great gastronomic abilities!

Thanks to Prasanna for sending that e-photo which brought back all those memories from the initial years.

My fourth hat-trick

2010-11-13T06:18:00.001-08:00

I've posted the content in my main blog in this link:
http://mysoreanmusings.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-fourth-hat-trick.html
Please visit.

Some videos - vintage

2010-01-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

Gary Sobers 150 at Lord's 1973, vs England

Gary Sobers 6 sixes in an over.

Some of my bowling videos for study

2009-11-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

Situations and reasons beyond control had put me off cricket for many months for the first time ever, in the meanwhile, there was a fracture of the little toe following a freak accident at home when a crowbar came crashing down on it! So unable to wear shoes for 2 months. That is just one of them.

When I resumed playing again in late August, I thought of studying how my bowling action was - a long time dream! Even these little pocket digital cameras can do the videos now! Spotted some minor things that asked for being bettered. The shoot helped, which a teammate did.

After nearly two months, another short session was done but by this time the feeling was the old usual thing and the little nit had been sharpened out because I was aware. My other dream still stays as a dream.. that of watching myself bowling during an actual match. Because the effort that goes in during a match situation is probably one gear higher. That is the real thing. So let's see when that will be happening. I've seen people shooting videos at one or two tournament matches out of Mysore, but since I know they were for some 'record purposes' I have never bothered to procure a copy.

Now even under-19 state and zone teams are having a 'video analyst' traveling with them. This I learnt from my good friend from North Zone, Pitambar Dutt who introduced me to his colleague who was one, when their team was here in Mysore some months back. This is how technology can help a player improve further and further.

*****

This is Sharath Babu, a youngster with lots of talent.

At the receiving end

2009-01-20T08:47:00.000-08:00

Our team, The Mysore Gymkhana is used to be at the 'receiving end' - happily receiving trophies after winning matches! But we members (barring a few) are not that accustomed to be at the 'receiving end' of this sort - receiving honours on stage. Click on the above "print screen image". I was forced into that situation. Was feeling as uncomfortable as facing Joel Garner bouncers... because.... people that know me for a long time know why. I was prepared to face and take bouncers on the shoulders but not a garland landing softly and affectionately on the shoulders! I was hearing the applause from the small gathering, as it landed.

No doubt it is an honour to be at such 'receiving end' situations sometimes. That was another feather in the cap... not mine... but our team's. But for the team, this would not have come by. Also, on that day we were winning the first ever T20 tournament in Mysore, to follow up the fine show this season and having won the Mysore Zone league and the Gopalswami Tournament final in a 3-day game. That amounts to winning all three versions in cricket equivalent of 100m, 200m and the 800m races! That was a good feeling, better than the garland!

Here are a few pictures my friend Gokul Swamy took and sent them over to me. I'm thankful for him being so thoughtful.

Bizzare incidents in cricket

2008-02-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

Reading about cricket is a favourite passion to millions of cricketers, cricket followers and cricket lovers. Numerous unusual incidents have happened ever since the game has been played. Though not exactly fun, they have made the game more interesting. So here are some of those bizzare incidents recorded in various places and here I bring them all what I have collected together. Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the famous BBC commentator has written a book with a fine collection of such incidents, but I have not laid my hands on it. But am able to collect just a handful of them published in a sports magazine and a majority are from my cricket reading/following. Most of the listed incidents are from the bygone era, quite obviously. Titles to each one have been given by me.

Here we go!

Big hit:

The youngest of the Grace brothers, Fred, caught Australian big-hitter George Bonnor at point off a skier so high that the batsmen were well into their third run when the ball lodged in his hands. Bonnor said afterwards that he ‘ought to have it!’.

Spare balls

E.M.Grace, in his appearances for Thornbury, struck so many balls so hard and so far, many of them never to be seen again, that one umpire, took to keeping up to nine spare balls. This worked well enough to preserve the continuity of play until the day ‘EM’ hit an earth-shaking double century and used up the entire quota in the umpire’s pocket! (With no buildings as obstacles, sprawling grounds In those days were common in England).

Biggest palms

Pat Morfee, who played for Kent between 1910-12 has been credited with possessing the largest pair of hands in first class cricket. It is said that he could hold six cricket balls in one hand, though the records do not say whether his ‘mitts’ were renowned for their safety (while fielding)!

Change of hands

L.O.B Fleetwood-Smith of Australia began his career as a right arm medium pacer but earned fame as a left arm wrist spinner!

One leg

A.D.Denton of Northamptonshire had only one leg and played county cricket in 1919.

Twin talents

C.A.Aubrey Smith Captain of England that toured South Africa in 1888-89, later became a Hollywood film star.

Double Champion

J.W.H.T.Douglas, the England Captain was also an Olympic Boxing Champion (middleweight)!

Consecutive overs

Warwick Armstong of Australia bowled 2 consecutive overs (unintentionally from the same end) in a Test against England at Manchester in 1920-21. A.M.Moir of New Zealand for NSW and Australia repeated the feat at Wellington in 1950-51!

Better grip

C.B.Turner, who often opened the bowling for NSW and Australia with his medium paced off-spinners rubbed the ball in the dust so that he could grip it better.

Courageous best

In 1904, left hander Gilbert Jessop batting for Gloustershire against MCC scored 61 runs with only one hand (his little finger of his left hand broken) with 13 fours. The MCC attack was spearheaded by the fastest bowler of the day, Charles Kortright!

The Steepest Delivery

The steepest delivery was bowled by Charles Kortright, playing at Wallingford in a club match. The ball rose so steeply that is passed over the batsman and ‘keeper and cleared the boundary without bouncing again. He thus registered the only known instance of six byes.

Unlucky

When S.M.J.Woods of Brighton College in 1880’s he bowled an over in which he hit the stumps 8 times but got only 3 wickets. The first 3 deliveries were no-balls, the 4^th bowled a man, 5^th touched the leg stump and went for byes, 6^th an 7^th bowled men and the 8^th hit the stumps but failed to remove the bails and went for 4 more byes!

Bowled

At Sleaford on August 20, 1892, a Mr.Aitken for the local side clean bowled 3 men with successive balls, each time breaking a stump in halves – the leg, middle and off stumps respectively!

Bowled from behind the wicket

In 1948, a ball from Jack Young of Midlesex hit Warwickshire’s M.Donnelly on the foot, bounced over his head, landed behind the wicket, spun back and removed the bails!

Lucky

In the Harrow V/s Winchester match in 1965, R.N.Burchnall was struck on the head by a bumper which knocked his cap off his head onto the wicket where it hung without dislodging a bail!

The most exhausted batsman

T.A.Fison, batting for Hendon against Highgate School in 1879 hit 264 not out in 3½ hours and ran every one of them. He then left the wicket and the scorebook records his departure as “retired to catch train to continent”!

Unusual

Harold Charlwood, playing at the oval, gave a dolly catch in the deep and was dropped. He had already taken two runs and was run out when on his third. Meanwhile the second run had been signaled ‘one short’. He went down in the score book as “dropped made one run, ran one short and was run out - all in one hit!”

Wind trouble

During a Test in South Africa, there was such a strong wind that the ball bowled by slow bowlers against the wind often failed to reach the batsman! The bails were stuck on the stumps with chewed gum to prevent them from failing off too often!

Breathtaking sight

One of the most breathtaking sights ever in cricket was Gregor McGregor’s wicket-keeping to fast bowler S.M.J.Woods for Cambridge when the Scot stood up for his bowler’s fizzing Yorkers and kickers. Only once was he hit on the big toe.

The big toe

Sammy Woods was considered to be among the fastest bowlers in the world even though he bowled off only two paces. His confidence depended upon his being able to ‘feel de pitch wid de toe’ and unless he could sense the big toe of his right foot against the turf he was lost. He was pursued by his captain to wear shoes. He would tear off the toe portion secretly, so that he could feel the turf.

Fast bowling

‘Stringy Bark’ Woods, amused himself by bowling at the English team visiting Australia in the nets. The first ball cracked a post in an adjoining net. The next two hit the backnetting on the full. The batsman then retired, saying he had a letter to write to his insurance company. The story goes that when England lost the test series, ‘Stringy Bark’ said to his brother Sammy Woods “I told you they would. They don’t know the first bloody thing about fast bowling”.

Haircut

Sunil Gavaskar batting capless on a windy day in the Manchester test of 1974 had his hair cut on the field by Umpire ‘Dickie’ Bird. The wind was blowing the hair into his eyes.

Quickest pair

The record for the quickest ‘pair’ was achieved by Glamorgan’s Peter Judge, last man in against India at Cardiff. He was bowled first ball by Chandu Sarwate and to save time when the county followed on, Judge and Clay stayed on the field to open the second innings. Sarwate bowled Judge again, first ball!

Bad light

The only occasion when a fielding side appealed for bad light was during the South Africa V/s Australia Test in 1935-36 at Johannesburg. The appealer was Herbie Wade, the South African Captain. His reasoning was that his fieldsmen could get hurt!

The Timeless Test

The timeless test dragged on for 10 days, without a result at Durban from March 3 to 14, 1939. The touring England team had to catch the next boat home with the threat of World War II looming large!

For the Ashes

The bodyline tour of 1932-33 has been discussed threadbare. It is, however, not widely known that because Larwood of the devastating speed has successfully used the most deadly and shameful weapon ever used in Test Cricket, Jardine, his captain under whose instruction he had done it, had presented him an ashtray, inscribed simply “For the Ashes – from a grateful skipper”!

The Finger

The third test at Edgbaston in 1974 between India and England, was supervised by the most senior and most junior Test umpires – Charlie Elliott (43 tests) and Bill Alley making his Test debut, respectively. Alley gave Gavaskar out caught behind off the first ball of the match and he raised his finger again to uphold an ‘lbw’ appeal against Engineer to terminate the Test and the series!

Coincidence

By a splendid of coincidence, the Centenary Test at Melbourne in 1977 produced a result exactly identical to that in the first ever test match on the same ground exactly a hundred years before on March 17, 1877, Australia won by 45 runs after gaining a first innings lead of 49 runs. On March 17, 1977, Australia won once again by 45 runs after securing a first innings lead of 43 runs, against all odds!

Most Dreadful Delivery

When ‘Punter’ Humphreys played in a trial at Tonbridge, he bowled a no ball and was immediately sent off by Lord Harris. Later his lordship explained: “I did that for your own good, Humphreys. A fast bowler can be excused a no ball occasionally, but not a slow bowler like you”!

Caught not with hands

When fielding at shortleg for Surrey at Kingston in 1946, Alf Gover ‘took’ an unusual catch between his thighs while in the act of pulling on his sweater and dismissed R.N.Exton. He could see nothing as his sweater was over his head. It was Jim Laker’s first wicket in first class cricket!

Bowled, Off and Leg

In the first Test between England and India at Old Trafford in 1974, Mike Hendrick bowled Madal Lal for 2 and had his off and leg stumps knocked out with the middle stump left intact!

Sportsmanship at its best

Jubilee Test 1980, Bombay – G.R.Vishwanath, the Indian skipper calling back Bob Taylor of England at a crucial stage, when he was declared caught. He went onto make a century which helped them win the match!

The famous bouncer

Ernest Jones, the Australian fast bowler is credited to have bowled one of cricket history’s most famous balls – a bouncer that went through Dr.W.G.Grace’s beard in 1896.

Two Matches a Day

Graham Gooch once played two first class matched on August 30, 1988. He fielded for Essex V/s Surrey at the Oval after batting for England in the Test Match at Lord’s against Sri Lanka.

Cricket Humour

2008-02-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, no game other than cricket has the ability to produce incidents that are humourous. I hope not many will disagree! There are many on and off the field incidents and jokes that have been recorded in various places - in autobiographies, media, articles, books, magazines etc. Humour adds to the fun and makes playing all the more enjoyable. That's what the game is there for! Over many years of my not-too-voracious reading, I have collected a few and here they are. In the days esp. up to the 20th century, there seems to have been more incidents of fun rather than controversies triggered from on-field banter, esp. involving Australia [the present 2008 series with India Down Under]. So my small collection dates back to the days of yore.

Here they are: [I've given a title for each one of them]

Fine job:

One day, the great leg-spinner ‘Tich’ Freeman was bowling so badly that he was being hit all over the ground. After one such over his captain told ‘Tich’ that he was doing a fine job and having the batsmen in two minds – whether to hit for a six or a four!

Request:

Facing fast bowler Ray Lindwall for the first time Johnny Wardle’s bat was shaking in his hands as he took guard. “Now come on what do you want?” asked Ray. “A slow full toss down the leg side please.” came Wardle’s reply.

Long run:

Roly Thompson of Warwickhshire used to take an unnecessarily long run to bowl. Joe Hardstaff told “He takes such a long run that you are out of form by the time he reaches the stumps.”

Staying tactic:

In an England-Australia match, Ray Lindwall was bowling to a new batsman who knew that he would not survive the fury of Lindwall, decided to at least spend some time at the crease. He wanted the sight-screen to be adjusted. He was not satisfied with any position of the screen even after five minutes. The umpires got furious and asked him where exactly he wanted the screen. “In between myself and Lindwall” came the batsman’s witty reply.

Dropped catches:

On the famous occasion when Victoria amassed 1107 runs against NSW for whom Arthur Mailey was bowling, his figures were 4 for 362. He said afterwards “I should have had even better figures if a bloke in a brown trilby hat in the sixth row of the pavilion roof hadn’t dropped three sitters.”

But, is he out?

During an Indian tour of New Zealand an umpire was declining every appeal by the Indians. B.S.Chandrasekhar once bowled a batsman and appealed “Howzzaat?” The umpire retorted “Can’t you see he is bowled?” Chandra asked “ I know, but is he out?”

Walking:

Australian captain Bill Lawry, the world knew, was no ‘walker’ when it came to being ‘out’. Once he was declared caught behind but stood his ground till first slip shouted “Move it Bill, waiting for a bus or something?”

Frequent appealing:

Ashley Mallett had the habit of appealing rather too often till umpire Cecil Pepper told him quietly “You will never die wondering, son”

Famous spoonerism:

Denis Compton, a fine commentator after his playing era, often got tongue-tied over cricketers’ names. The man who suffered most at his hands [or tongue] was Alan Connolly, the Australian quickie. Compton always announced him as ‘Anal Colony’, despite repeated corrections!

Hope realized:

When the bald Brian Close announced his retirement, a gushing reporter asked “Well Closey, have any of your childhood hopes been realized?” Close quipped “Yes, when my mother used to pull my hair, I wished I didn’t have any.”

Bad patch:

Once, JWHT Douglas was in a ‘bad patch’. In a match he was just blocking the balls. Someone in the crowd shouted “Johnny Won’t Hit Today.” referring to his initials.

Not out:

When another LBW appeal was negative, Fred Trueman, the bowler asked the umpire icily “I think that’d have hit the bloody wicket. Where do you think it would have hit, huh?” “How the heck should I know? The batsman’s leg was in the way.” replied the unruffled gentleman!

Biggest hit:

When asked which was the biggest ever hit made by Gilbert Jessop himself he was fond of saying “The one that went from Beccles to London.” A reference to a ball he had once hit into a railway truck passing by!

Grand piano

A batsman had played and missed a number of times. Someone in the crowd shouted “Send him down a grand piano and see if he can play that.”

Fear of Typhoon

During a Test Match in Australia when a particular Australian batsman was going out to fact Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson, he was so nervous that he could not close the latch of the pavilion gate after him. A voice from the crowd shouted “Leave it open buddy, you won’t be long.”

Worthy bruises:

During the ‘Bodyline’ series Bill Ponsford frequently turned his back and let the ball hit him on his backside or shoulders was once bowled by behind his legs by Bill Voce to a ball that did not rise as he expected. This was at Adelaide where he made a courageous 85 and reckoned his bruises were worth 2-10-0 each. The Australians were paid 30 shillings per Test.

Which is Hobbs?

In 1920, JWHT Douglas led the Englishmen on to the Melbourne field for the first time in 8 years. Most were of average height, including Hobbs, the world’s premier batsman of that time. So an onlooker called “Which is Hobbs?” A barracker’s instant reply: “The one in white pants.”

Taste of own medicine:

Arthur Carr, the Notts captain had encouraged Larwood and Voce to bowl bodyline in several matches. Carr himself once fell flat on his posterior in dodging a bouncer from Surrey’s Maurice Allom, saying as he got up, “This is no way to play cricket.”

Testing Cricket:

The most famous cricket ignoramus was probably George Bernard Shaw, who on being told that England won the Australian Tests asked “What have they been testing?”

Owzzaat?

Notts ‘keeper Tour Oates was happy to become an umpire at the end of his playing career, when in one of his early matches as umpire at the bowler’s end saw the batsman hit squarely on the pads. “Owzzaat?” he shouted, filled with sudden excitement! “Out” said the bowler. And out it was!

Coffee apartheid:

During the 1970-71 World XI vs Australia series, Clive Lloyd was having black coffee. Richard Hutton remarked, “Don’t be racial, have some milk too!”

Radio-active Rohan:

During the 1970-71 World XI vs Australia series at Perth, Rohan Kanhai was yet again hit on the chest. When he came back after an X-ray, he was greeted by Richard Hutton with the remark “Don’t come near me with all the X-rays you’ve taken so far, you must be radio- active!”

Most garbled call:

In a letter the “The Times” in 1935, Mr. Charles Ponsonby wrote “I was playing in a match last year, and as the bowler delivered the ball the umpire muttered “B-v-v-v..” and after a sudden pause, added “I beg your pardon, I meant to say no-ball. But I dropped my teeth!”

Cunning Grace:

Bobby Abel was all set for a ton, on 96 at lunch. The fielding captain Dr.W.G.Grace told Abel that he’d help him reach his century by bowling a slow full toss just after lunch. Abel happily hit the ball from Dr.Grace not knowing he had a fieldsman placed on the mid-wicket boundary for that very purpose, only to be caught easily. Abel while walking back grumbled at Grace that he was a ‘big old toad’.

Handsome Hendren:

There was a rumour that an English team was picked merely on the players’ good looks. Later when Patsy Hendren was fielding on the boundary, someone asked him on what grounds he was picked. Hendren replied “On good looks!” A fine batsman that he was, he was certainly undeserving to be listed there!

Grace ball:

Once, Dr.W.G.Grace was a guest player against a village team. Their fast bowler uprooted Grace’s , middle stump first ball. Grace fixed a piercing eye on him and said “That was a very good trial ball, and now let’s begin.”

Boundary:

In the match between Sussex and West Indies at Hove, N.I.Thomson hit a ball from Valentine to leg and a black dog bounded on the field, seized the ball and carried it over the boundary, hotly pursued by players and umpires. The four runs were credited to Thomson, not the dog.

Comparison:

Before the start of the 1970-71 World XI vs Australia series Perth “Test”, the World XI players had gone to have a look at the wicket. England’s Richard Hutton threw the ball on the wicket and when it bounced back, he quipped “Eh, it came back! At Leeds it would have got stuck!”

Thompson’s catch:

Long ago, a batsman lifted the ball high into the clouds. A few fieldsmen got underneath it in an attempt to catch it. Suddenly, someone shouted “Leave it to Thompson.” None tried to catch it and the ball fell in a ‘forest of legs’. Thompson was not playing!

Monkey tricks:

In a country match in some English village, Dr.W.G.Grace had made 20 runs or so when he played out at a ball and missed it. The local ‘keeper snapped up the ball, whipped off the bails and screamed at the umpire in appeal. The umpire said “Not out, and look ee’re, young fellow, the crowd has come to see Doctor Grace and not any of your monkey tricks.”

Give it back in the same coin:

Eric Hollies [the bowler who bowled Bradman in his last Test innings] to a barracker in Australia who had asked sarcastically “Do they still bury their head in Birmingham?” The barracker replied “No, they stuff them and send ‘em out here.”

Australian creatures:

During the Ashes series in England, Norman Yardley the England captain got a letter from an old woman like this: “I have no interest in cricket and I do not care who wins. But the other day, quite by accident, I listened for a few minutes to the Test Match commentator. He said that someone or something called Lindwall bowling. It sounded purely a name to me, but when he proceeded to say this bowler had two long legs, one short fine leg, I was shocked. Tell me Mr.Yardley, what kind of creatures are these Australian cricketers? No wonder our Englishmen can’t win!” [From a book “Too many legs”]

Bert's batting reputation:

Bert Ironmonger, not the best of batsmen, had just gone in to bat when his wife rang up and wanted to speak to him. The room attendant said “I’m sorry, Bert has just gone in to bat” Mrs.Ironmonger replied “Don’t worry, I’ll hang on, he won’t be long.”

Not only these, there are many places where cricket humour, jokes and whatnot are available. Some of them for you in one place:

Humour at cricinfo

[some lovely jokes here]

[lists some 250 of them!]

Indian cricket jokes

[Roy Ullyett's cartoon celebrating Jim Laker's 19 wickets in 1956]

[off subject... look at the items that are in auction!]

Arthur Mailey, the famous Australian leg spinner was a famous cartoonist too. Here is one featuring the cover of a book.

Joy of TV-watching Cricket

2008-01-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Watching a cricket match on TV is not just sitting back, with some junk food by the side, counting runs, overs and wickets [not calories either!]. Cricket is for enjoyment of both the player and the beholder. In my opinion, this element of enjoyment will be missed if we take sides while watching. It would not have been cricket if Tendulkar scored a century each time he walked out to bat, or if Anil Kumble took a wicket with every ball he bowled, or India won each and every game! This is what the fanatics foolishly expect. Siding makes one tense esp., if the favoured team does badly. I know some friends who stay away from the TV when India is playing, just for that reason! "Result-in-favour-of-India-oriented" watching is no fun. It is here people miss the wonderful nuances of this great game. We must learn to recognize and appreciate the finer points of good cricket, be it from any team. That can be more pleasurable than mere statistics. Patriotism should not be taken too far while watching a cricket match. We must always keep in mind that Cricket is a hard-fought game played between two teams and the winner is always the one who performs better than the other on that day. So much involved are many, that they watch the game as if they are commanding the actions on far away grounds! One has to experience the enjoyment of watching cricket sans siding! Foolish things and brilliant acts happen and no body knows when they are coming by! After all, not for nothing, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.

Why Australian Cricket is so good

2007-12-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

Why Australia is so good

If it has to be a one liner, the answer is simple. The system in which Cricket functions Down Under is top class, at every step and the approach is totally professional. The playing conditions like ground, facilities, equipment, club set-up, etc. all play a role. Recognition of talent and not representation of zone or state is the yardstick. Only the genuinely tough and the talented players make it to the top there – even from junior level - and survive. Weaker ones naturally fall by the wayside, because there is no ‘godfather’ route to take, like here! As such, we see the best player playing for the country. Healthy competition – not politics – pushes them up. Stuff is secondary here.

The best basic conditions are available and kids learn the game there in perfect conditions. In India, we get gravel to dive to learn fielding skills!

Down Under, a player is chosen on pure merit of his talent and put on contract by Cricket Australia [CA] and is paid irrespective of whether he plays the matches or not. CA also uses the rotation basis of [important] players. Once they are on the ‘rolls’ they will get their due chances. BCCI chooses its team on zonal quota basis and once a player is chosen in the team, his main intention is to show performance that will keep him in for the next match or two. That is how it is. So he worries about his place [barring exceptions]. Once a player is dropped from the team, it is hard work! Hard work for the zonal selector! Of course, the players work hard to improve the game and performances, but that becomes sadly secondary! A CA player, even if he performs badly temporarily and is dropped, his place in the team is not in jeopardy. So when he comes back, he does his best to prove his worth without the main eye on keeping the place in the team, but to perform as per the team’s and situation’s demands. That is the difference.

Aussie aggression! It is a tactic they use to demoralize opponents. It also comes to them ‘naturally’! They are as mentally strong as they are skillful. No wonder they have often overdid ‘sledging’! They play what we call the ‘power game’ wherever possible. They also use another tactic of passing open comments in the press before any touring team visits. But then, that is their way and also they have the resources to back!

Don Bradman in one of his interviews had revealed that in Australia the young cricketer is asked by his parents on his return home “Did your team win?” What do we ask the young boy here? “Beta, how much did you score…?” That is the difference in attitudes as they grow up. Ricky Ponting once told “we play for each other”. Here, they play for themselves. Of course, there are a few exceptions here too, but then, that is the overall scenario. We can actually see that here!!

Those things aside, the way CA prepares itself for matches is totally professional, leaves no stone unturned. They are thorough in their approach, execute plans to perfection on the field, have the win-at-all-costs attitude [so they give their 100% always in whatever they do], rarely at fault in their ‘out-cricket’, play as a team and play hard cricket!

BCCI players are worried about injuries too, in the absence of the contract system. They lose money if they are out of matches. So they don’t like to get injured. A ‘comeback’ means a Herculean task [esp. for the ‘margin players’]. So, many times, we see them not ‘pushing’ in terms of effort on the field. CA players are properly taken care of even if they are injured.

Things that bother in the BCCI are not in CA, so we see the best! Most importantly, they have talent abound and always a second string is ever ready, thanks to the system and policies. Domestic cricket there is of a high standard and so players coming from there have to be high standard! They know 5 years ahead who is going represent CA. He is already ready when he gets his chance at the highest level! Not like we do here – throw a raw player up on a ‘hot tawa’ as soon as he scores a double hundred in domestic cricket! The selector shouts ‘my boy has scored, so he has to be chosen’! Besides abilities, good sporting pitches is another vital ingredient for good cricket and talent to show itself, which lacks here in our Bhaarath. The Curator of the pitch is ‘remote controlled’!

Because of such hassle-free and most probably a transparent system there with CA, players are able to step in and contribute without any mind blockages or face any hurdles. Consistent performances and results are automatic when things are that way. Another important factor why Australia is the best and why they keep winning is that they have the best balanced side. They have regular openers to give good starts, solid middle-order batting, handy all-rounders, fit wicket-taking bowlers, and a wonderful captain leading the ship! If someone fails, the other takes over and never gives up. The important thing is, they are able to retain such a balanced side, even if established players retire. And they have been doing it consistently enough to demoralize the opposition irrespective of location. That has been their key.

Ranji Trophy matches in Mysore

2007-12-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Of late, Mysore hosting a Ranji Trophy Cricket match is becoming 'usual' what with improved facilities and grounds. I was at the ground - not on the ground, playing - this time to witness a couple of hours of cricket.

"I prefer to play rather than watch", much like what "Nana" Joshi had told in Pune many years back, but that's another story.

It was after many years I was witnessing a Ranji tie, thanks to my friend, who had given me a 'pass'. Karnataka were on the field the first day, allowing Rajasthan to dominate. He was out before we arrived second day.

Gangotri Glades had been shaped up nicely. Quite a number of people turned up to witness, most probably to see Robin Uthappa in action, in particular. It was true. When I was arriving on the second afternoon, with my family, people were leaving the ground, as if Bradman was out, and I had come to know that Robin had been just out for 55. But I had to witness the dismissal of local lad KB Pawan and Sudhindra Shinde also. Karnataka were in trouble and they never came out of it despite Yere Goud's century the next day. Eventually, Rajasthan went back with more points.

I had my camera, a Panasonic Lumix FZ8 with me. Here are a few shots I took at the ground on the first two days. I could not be there on the the last two.

Sunil Joshi and B.Akhil in the two corners batting, Robin does a warm-down walk in the bottom left picture while two Karnataka players have 'a knock' after the first day's play.

Shinde and Pawan at the change of overs.

A section of the crowd.

83-year old veteran BK Ananda Rao, a leg-spinner in his hey days watches the game on the second day.

Local lad Pawan plays a defensive shot to the off.

I liked this defensive shot. Everything seems to be technically correct here. Ball hitting the middle of the bat, right beside his outstretched left pad, eyes over the ball, high left elbow, slackened bottom hand grip, back foot heel lifted, but toe inside crease! Bishnoi or Bisht of Rajasthan, I know not. Towards the end of the first day. Uthappa is at silly mid-off.

Pavilion view of the ground - two separate pictures.

Another photo-collage showing various batting action shots.

I think it is NC Aiyappa. But it may be Akhil or Vinay Kumar. I know not from these shots I took. [Except for Akhil, Robin, Pawan and Joshi, I cannot put names to any other faces in the Karnataka team]. But I loved the way these pictures turned out. You can spot the ball in the frame in each one except two or three.

THIS WAS MY ACTUAL DEBUT BEHIND THE CAMERA AT THE CRICKET GROUND!

Famous cricketers visiting us!

2007-11-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

Our house in Devaparthiva Road has a unique distinction of having been set foot by famous national cricketers. First one of course is BS Chandrsekhar. It was always in awe people of the road and at least I used to look when he arrived here visiting his paternal aunt, my grandmother. GR Viswanath had once accompanied him when they came together to some function as guests sometime in 1975 or so when both were just about at their peaks of their careers and winning matches for India.

Much later, Javagal Srinath visited to meet his friend here. But the most surprising fact of Dattu Phadkar [all-r0under who played for India in 31 Tests] visiting our house is absolutely stunning. My memory became clearer when I stumbled upon a letter written by Kitti [my uncle] to his brother [my father] at Bombay. In his letter dated 24.2.1952 [still preserved] he informs about Phadkar visiting us. In fact, he was accompanying a close family friend renown as "Bombaai Ramaswamy" from the much renown "Bombay House" in Mysore, another great sports enthusiast too. I vaguely remember my grandfather mentioning about Phadkar, but our small age could not retain this unfamiliar name. It was there in the 'recycle bin' though. Ramaswamy, in all probabilities, had brought Phadkar to meet my sportsman-grandfather.

Cricket details on Dattu Phadkar: http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/32309.html

MY FIRST WORLD CUP FINAL!

2007-11-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ever since I watched the 1983 World Cup final on TV, each final of the subsequent World Cups never fails to pull me back to that evening when India made history. There were hardly a few who could afford the TV then. Only in B&W. Cumbersome, high antennae had to be erected to catch the feeble signals from the Bangalore DD Kendra. Not all matches were telecast like today. It had telecast the semi-final in which India beat England and the World-cup bug had bitten many. I had watched the semi-final in bits and pieces on my friend Keerthi’s TV, not at his home, but at his friend’s house. His friend's TV had broken down. So we took Keerthi's TV there to Gokulam, an area in Mysore that was in the range where signals were reaching in good quality from the Bangalore Kendra. This circus could not be repeated for the 'final' for some reason and I was wondering where to watch. It was a ‘final’ that HAD to be watched, no matter where. India was to meet the mighty West Indies.

Come June 25, I met Girish Nikam, my teammate. We were to meet that evening to go ‘somewhere’ to watch. He was as determined as I. I went to his house on my bicycle, as planned. The match had begun and India was batting first. We were listening to commentary from BBC on his old vacuum-tube-Bush radio. After some time, he discovered that there was a friend close by who possessed a 'telly' hoping to fill our belly with cricket. I left my bicycle in Girish’s house (where I was to take it back the next morning) and pillioned with him on his scooter to catch the action on far away Lord’s. But we were disappointed to see such an awful TV reception there. We felt contented even as the dots and scratches annoyed us to form very fuzzy pictures and it was quite a strain to the eyes. The radio commentary guided us to know who was doing what. Such was the quality.

Girish tried another source over the phone from there. By that time, West Indies were already two or three down, chasing India’s modest 183. Viv Richards was going great guns, but we heard on radio about Kapil Dev taking a beautiful catch to send back the danger man. While that brightened India’s hopes Girish’s call brightened ours – to watch better pictures. So we rushed to the new venue, which was Girish’s friend’s friend’s house, again somewhere in Gokulam.

Our joy knew no bounds when we saw such a clear picture! We witnessed wickets tumbling. In a short while, there were about 15 lucky strangers in front of the telly! The mighty Carribeans had incredibly perished like bunnies for 140. All of us thanked the residents and left, ecstatic, having enjoyed every moment of live action that we could. On our way back, people were shouting and celebrating on the streets. It was well past midnight when Girish dropped me home where I saw worried and anxious elders awaiting my arrival and wondering my whereabouts. In those not-too-many-telephone-days, I neither thought of informing them or cared for dinner either. Such was the thrill-intensity the match provided. It was an unforgettable adventure.

P.S.

India's WC win was the reason Srinivasa Rao saw to begin a new chapter in our unique group. Masale Dose group! Read about it and more in this blog here:

http://mysoreanmusings.blogspot.com/2007/11/masale-dose-memories-and-mania.html

CRICKET, the great game

2007-11-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

Cricket is an idea. It was an idea of the gods. - Sir James Barrie

Many people ask "What is Cricket?" You have two sides; one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out when he is out. He comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in. And the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out including the not outs. That's the end of the match. That is Cricket! Durban's Kingsmead Oval's Centenary Museum has that description (in italics, above) for the tourist who wants to know what Cricket is about.

It is also worthwhile to recall a letter written by Lord Harris in THE TIMES (2.2.1931): "…You do well to love it, for it is more free from anything sordid, anything dishonourable, than any game in the world. To play it keenly, honourably, generously, self-sacrificingly, is a moral lesson in itself, and the classroom is God's air and sunshine. Foster it, my brothers, so that it may attract all who can find the time to play it; protect it from anything that would sully it, so that it may be in favour with all men…."

The game is played with a hard leather ball with a willow bat. The 'klunk' produced when ball strikes bat is sheer pleasing melody. But it is a hard game played the hard way. Only the fit, talented, hard-working and courageous can survive long playing it. There is more to Cricket than just winning and losing.

Cricket is indisputably pre-eminent for its qualities as a means of entertainment, of character building and even as a way of life. It is a game synonymous with sportsmanship and chivalrous behaviour. Great cricketers are respected all over the world not only for their technical skills, but because they are gentlemen. The game does not encourage gamesmanship or underhand tactics. The laws of the game must be obeyed and there is a strict code of personal behaviour which is intended to cover all situations not governed by precise laws. No player can ever be greater than the game itself.

Cricket is a storehouse of pleasures and rewards. The rewards of physical and mental health, personal satisfaction, life-long friendships and other less tangible things stand out. It is a game which always upholds ethics and etiquette. Cricket is renown for its 'glorious uncertainties'. The game can be very absorbing and exciting. Sometimes, soporific and dull. The progress and outcome of a match is dependant on unpredictable factors like weather, ground conditions, personality, mental poise, varying individual skills and opponent's strengths. Their combination in varying degrees is what makes the game so thrilling and keeps the suspense element till the end. They say that 'the game is not over till the last ball is bowled'. Watching the game is a sight to behold esp. when the great players are in action. The connoisseurs have always liked the Test Matches. This is where all of Cricket's nuances are in full bloom.

Numerous bizzare incidents happen in this game. Here is just one: Harold Charlwood, playing at the Oval, gave a dolly catch in the deep and was dropped. He had already taken two runs and was run out when on his third. Meanwhile the second run had been signaled 'one short'. He went down in the score-book as "dropped, made one run, ran one short and was run out. All in one hit!"

Humour in Cricket has always been amusing and unique. Cricket's own jargon adds much beauty to it and can drive a lay person crazy, like this one: During the last Ashes Test at the Oval some decades ago, Norman Yardley, the England Captain received a letter from an old woman like this : " I have no interest in cricket and I do not care who wins. But the other day, quite by accident, I listened for a few minutes to a Test Match Commentator. He said that someone or something called Lindwall bowling. It sounded purely a name to me, but when he proceeded to say this bowler had two long legs and one short fine leg, I was shocked. Tell me Mr.Yardley, what kind of creatures are these Australian cricketers? No wonder our Englishmen can't win". Sans humour, Cricket would have become quite monotonous.

There have been many great people who have thoroughly excelled. Some have even been knighted in honour of their yeomen efforts. Such a personality could be easily located by anyone. Once an Australian fan of Sir Don Bradman mailed a letter when Australia were touring England. He addressed his envelope "Mr.D.G.Bradman, Somewhere playing in England". It reached the man!

There have been many great acts of sportsmanship on the field. At Leeds in 1909, Jack Hobbs hit a ball to the mid-wicket boundary and while doing so, had dislodged a bail with his right foot. An appeal was made but neither of the two umpires had seen it and so favoured the batsman. Hobbs knew this. So, two balls later, he withdrew his bat away to a straight ball and allowed himself to be bowled.

Cricket can bring great fame and fortune but the joy it gives to the player and the beholder is immeasurable. It is probably the profoundest of all games. Perhaps this is why there are so many who are playing and following it. It is a great team-game that encourages honesty and provides a 'family atmosphere'. It prepares us to face situations positively with humility and enjoy the process more than its outcome. Victory is no doubt sweet, but it teaches you to accept a defeat gracefully.

Playing Cricket is a wonderful feeling (in its true spirits). Those who have experienced are the fortunate ones for, it is a complete game which has everything in it. It makes the man. Playing the game demands top physical fitness and athleticism. The body will not obey the mind if one is not fit. The proverb "a healthy mind in a healthy body" holds a lot of water esp. in Cricket. A 'cricketer' is a more worthy name for one who works on his fitness, who is a 'team-man', a gentleman, skillful to the extent of adapting according to different situations in matches and usually an amateur (An amateur is one who engages himself more as a pastime rather than a profession. The word amateur is often misunderstood and freely used wrongly to mean 'immature'!!). Those who fall short with these qualities are all mere 'cricket-players'. I reckon this is the subtle difference between them.

George Bernard Shaw (perhaps the greatest of cricket ignoramuses) had quoted: "A game played by eleven fools and watched by eleven thousand fools". Not for nothing Cricket is the most popular game.

~~~~~~~~

Cricket-sense

2007-11-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

First of all, let me mention that these points have been compiled from my many years' experience as a player. This was brought out in the form of a small booklet and distributed to the young lads at our Mysore Gymkhana Annual Cricket Coaching Camps, with a purpose that they would enjoy playing the game and learn practising on these lines. I have put down as many points as I could - from my old school of thought. Old or new, these should hold good on any day, at least most of them. There is always scope of improvement, for innovation, for learning.

Each sentence is a 'point'.

* * * * * *

FITNESS:
The primary requisite for any sportsman is physical fitness.
An unfit player is a liability to the team and may not find himself in the list!
Hard work is the one and only way to keep yourself fit (for playing in a match).
Muscles obey the mind only if the person is physically fit.
Cricket demands athleticism, strength, stamina, endurance, patience, concentration and mental toughness. Without proper physical training, it is impossible to enjoy playing!
Warm-up and stretching exercises MUST be done before playing (both practice and match). They make the muscles flexible and prevent injuries.
Muscles build up lactic acid after the event (long hard day on the field) and has a stiffening effect. Warm-down prevents it and makes you fresh for the next day.
"A healthy mind in a healthy body" : Remember this old saying, always.
Only fit sportspersons know what a "light, feathery feeling" is. Experience it!

FIELDING:
Fielding is the key esp. to limited overs cricket. It requires 120% effort. Yes, 120.
Good anticipation is the secret. You will be at the ball quicker if you anticipate!
Prevent boundaries; ‘Extra’ runs should never be gifted away.
Back-up for throws must be anticipated at all times.
A fielder must back-up for any misfield by another fielder within his reach.
Aim the base of the stumps for a direct throw - hitting chances increase!
Good fielding boosts the bowler’s confidence. All bowlers expect support.
Always call to field/catch or leave the ball to the other fieldsman.
Always throw the ball on the full to the ‘keeper when there is no chance of a run out at the bowler’s end.
Always remember these: Catches win matches. A run saved is a run scored.
Without using illegal means, maintain the shine on the ball if conditions demand.

WICKET-KEEPING:
The wicket-keeper is the king-pin of the fielding side. He is there in every ball bowled in the game.
He should ALWAYS think that each and every ball would come to him.
He should ALWAYS be ready behind the stumps to take the throws and each time the ball is played.
Conceding byes and dropping catches are his minus points.
He should keep encouraging the bowlers and fielders because he is always in the centre of action.

BATTING:
Do not throw away your wicket. Always make the bowlers earn it.
Taking singles and twos is the essence of batting. Unsettle the bowler’s rhythm by rotating the strike.
Unnecessary slogging will lead to disaster.
Keep the good balls away safely and wisely select the ones to score from.
Run the first run quickly, esp. if the ball has been hit to the deep field.
Slide the bat near the crease on full stretch esp. while completing a quick run.
Both batsmen must watch the ball till it becomes dead.
Be ready to capitalize on any fielding lapse. Put pressure on the fieldsman.
Always call and respond with a clear YES, NO or WAIT. Make calling a habit even for ‘easy’ runs.
Bat the full quota of overs.
Never run to a misfield unless there is 'a two' in it.
Build up good partnerships and accumulate as many runs as possible, without wasting opportunities, while keeping a healthy run-rate.
One mistake will bring about your downfall. If the opponent lets you escape, make them pay for it.
A captain's dream is a 'batting depth' up to #11. But remember, it is the responsibility of the first 6 or 7 batsmen in the order to score the bulk of the runs. The rest is a bonus.

BOWLING:
Put pressure on the batsmen by bowling line and length with great consistency.
Make the batsman play all the time. The more he plays, the chances of dismissing him quickly are bright.
Bowling no-balls and wides will be asking for trouble. That also delays over-rate.
Frustrate the batsmen with tight, miserly bowling. Think and bowl to the field set by the captain.
Make the batsmen earn their runs. Do not gift them away by bowling loose deliveries.
Concentrate on every ball you bowl. Bowl to the set field and plan.
Do not get panicky if a boundary is scored. Stay cool and think properly.
Conceding boundaries will only ease pressure on the opponents.
Never bowl to the batsman's advantage, if you have spotted it.

THE CAPTAIN
It is usually the best and most experienced player who becomes the captain.
He should lead by example, should command respect (not demand it!)
He should never forget that he is also one among the players.
He should try and make best use of the talent-resource available in the team.
It is his moral duty to have concern for other players.
He should not hesitate to consult others when short of ideas.
He is responsible for the team's performance, esp. bad!
The ideal position for the captain is near the centre of action. This will enable him to study the batsmen, the pitch and be easily available near the bowler for any tactical help.

SUNDRIES:
Never forget the basic techniques and etiquettes of Cricket..
Use all the available protective gear for physical safety - boosts confidence.
Always play with a positive attitude (in the nets as well as in the match) and give your best to the team.
Never under-estimate the opponent or never get over-confident. Be self-confident.
Have belief in your own skills and you will perform well.
Commitment, discipline, dedication, determination and involvement to the team and the game itself are absolutely essential to succeed.
Results are achieved only if the players combine as a team.
Do not panic at any stage. Keep your cool and think properly.
The result of the match is immaterial so long as you have played the game in its true spirits and the best of ability.
With team balance as objective, only the best eleven players will be playing the match. Others should assist in duties like scoring, helping their team-mates on the field, etc. These are also part of this team-game. That is also 'Cricket'!
Always make a sincere attempt at whatever you do on the field.
Failing to make an attempt is blameworthy, whereas failing to succeed in the attempt is not.
Never argue with the umpire’s decision.
Be honest when you make the appeal to the umpire. Do not mislead him.
Cooperation with the captain of the team in every regard will strengthen team-spirit. Respect the captain and his decisions.
Avoid shouting at others esp. on the field.
Hone your cricketing skills with regular practice. There is always scope for improvement. There is no end to learning!
Consistency is the watchword. Always look to perform better than the last time.
Stay focused on the job (match or practice) without losing concentration.
Play the game in its right spirits and enjoy playing it. That is why Cricket is here!
Play in the 'nets' as if you are playing in a match. Do not be casual.
If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail.
Play with a will to win. When the going gets tough, the tough should get going!
Experience the special joy of being part of the winning team. There is nothing like it! At the same time, be able to appreciate any good things the opponents show. "Sporting gestures" go a long way in keeping a good rapport with one and all.
Never become proud of your brilliant performances. Try to forget them then and there itself and be ready to do it again, in a better way. Learn to be humble.
Never indulge in unnecessary conversation with the opponents on the field. Avoid "sledging". It is of no good at all!
Diet: Healthy food habits have a direct relation to your performances at all times! Avoid "parties" prior to a match.
Sleep: Good rest is a must esp. before a match. There is nothing like a "good night's sleep" to make you fresh and energetic, both mentally and physically.
Never be ashamed to learn from others. There is much to learn from watching others. Be observant.
Become a "cricketer" not merely a cricket player! A "good cricketer" is closest to a "complete sportsman"!
If Cricket is taken in its right perspective, it will make you a good useful person in society.
Read about Cricket. Imagine Cricket. Be mad about Cricket. But NEVER EVER neglect studies. If you do, you will be "stumped"!
Always remember, no player is greater than this wonderful game of Cricket.

Newspaper clippings of our matches

2007-08-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

It has always been a great thrill to see our own names appearing in the newspapers for a good performance on the field for our teams. Those who score at least 20 runs or take 2 wickets will find their names in the match's brief scores that the press reports in its sports columns. When I began my cricket career, much talk was about that and often was a teasing point that I noticed with others referred as 'playing for paper scores?'. In one of my very early matches for our college, I had taken just one wicket and was disappointed that I could not qualify for this 'paper score'. Lo and behold! The next morning after we won the match, I was so thrilled to see that someone had added my name in that list and made it as two wickets! My hairs stood on end on seeing the name but I had not deserved it. Anyway, little did I know then, that it was the only undeserving occasion, the first and last. Numerous performances later on got its deserving place. Here is the first one that appeared as a headline in my debut match for The Mysore Gymkhana. This time, it was a real thrill. Here are clippings of my first two matches:

Some old performers in this, my second season in the clipping below.

Probably my inspiration was from my cousin B.S. Chandrasekhar's clippings which his father B.S.Subramanyam 'albumed' and used to showed us with great pride. I had seen it as a boy and that was always in my mind. I remember asking Chandra's mother for a cricket cap when she showed us a suitcase full of his prized caps from various teams he played. I can still recall that scene and my disappointment when she replied, "Sorry, they are not the ones to give anyone". I did not know then, the importance at all of "winning a cap" as it is called in cricketing terms!

In 1981, I was already playing for the Mysore Zone Under-25 team for the second time. This has an interesting little story. I took 6 wickets and Sanath took 4 [See headline]. Before that during the luncheon, we had eaten a few 'poories' [I remember it was at Indra Bhavan] - he six and me four. But the number of wickets were interchanged! He later played for Karnataka. Mysore zone won the match easily.

MOMEMT OF GLORY, personal best also:

The Mysore Gymkhana had won all seven matches in the league [and got promoted to the 3rd division, the happiest thing] and the quarter final in 1983. This was the semi-final on a rain affected turf wicket [KSCA Stadium] where batting was very difficult. Winning the toss, our team made a poor decision of batting first and were soon defending our paltry score. At the end of the first day, I had all 7 that fell and on the next morning, Kashi could not latch on to a tough chance that could have turned the match. But their last 3 wickets held on to overtake our score, but never easily. I finished with my best of 8-50.

Same venue, 1986. One of my best innings against a team that boasted 7 Ranji Trophy players. We were never going to win as we had lost early wickets when I went in. I can still remember the shots I played esp. to Sharad Rao who was at that time playing for Karnataka. In one over, I hit 5 boundaries, including a no ball. The third was worst and a lucky one too as it was a bouncer that flew past my head off the edge of the bat. But the one I still can 'feeeeel' is the one I played in his next over's first ball which I took it on the rise and put it away back over his head for four. I hung on for a while but was out attempting a long-off six. Caught [late] Ranjit Khanwilkar bowled Shavir Tarapore 64. Had he missed it, it was a six alright. We soon lost the match, but with some resistance.

Mid-way through the 1986 season, one J.C.Srinath [the world knows him now!] had joined our ranks with great potential as an all-rounder. We had a long partnership together to save the match when a win though within reach, was not possible. This was after I enjoyed taking 7 wickets on this Maharaja's College turf wicket, which very soon got reverted to the old jute matting. FOUR WICKETS IN SIX BALLS -- ALL BOWLED!

After a poor first spell, I bowled the end overs when the match was seemingly far from our reach. They were sitting pretty, lot of wickets in hand and a few more runs to get. I was bowling the 29th [out of 30]. Lo and behold! My rhythm was back and so were four batsmen in that over, ALL OF THEM BOWLED! It was W-W-o-W-W-o - over! The match was now with us when the last over remained. Guruprasad bowled it and there was a run out. We had turned the match!! The paper misses to report this rare feat! I was given the Man of the Match prize from the Guest, A.V.Jayaprakash, which was a cricket shirt.

Ten wickets in the match for a bowler does not occur often, esp. in the club matches as two-innings matches are far and few. I was happy The Mysore Gymkhana entered the final through one such performance besides others' contributions in 1994 .

Next year, there was a repeat, but on a higher stage, the final!

Year 2000 has been a good one for The Mysore Gymkhana. We won the first division league and later went on to win another feather in the cap - the "Special Tournament" beating 3 better teams from Bangalore, convincingly. This was another personal moment of glory. After an enjoyable and productive bowling spell, it was pleasing to hear the Chief Guest of a small function organized at the KSCA, Javagal Srinath showering praise on me as well as our P.Ashok. [Read] The way we crushed the heroes is worth remembering for decades!
It was me with the willow this time having got yet another good opportunity to save the face of our team from a debacle. At one stage we were 12 for 5 and recovered to 149 for 9. This was when No.11 Vedraj joined me at the crease with me also on zero. Vedraj got out at 24 but not before he helped me add a century partnership - probably my best when the chips were down.
Again with the bat, for my highest score for The Mysore Gymkhana - 94.

ONE THOUSAND WICKETS, KEEPING OWN RECORDS....!

Score-book preparation and maintenance was a responsibility I undertook myself on behalf of our tennis ball cricket team (Dumma Vasu's team - more on it later). In the meantime, international cricket records interested me through sports magazines and I found it fascinating. What I would do with this tennis ball cricket scores was to work out simple statistics of our players and prepare a sheet to discuss at the ground that fascinated others too. This interest followed me even after I began regular league cricket with the cricket ball. I had developed by habit of maintaining a diary [inspired by my late great grandfather] and this helped me to maintain a separate record of the matches which I entered as and when I played , esp. my bowling analysis. [This book is still in the running!]. It went on and on for many years until one day I felt I should count the number of wickets that have fallen from my bowling. It was 859. So from then on, I knew ONE THOUSAND was near and would come soon. I tracked every wicket as it came by and I knew that my bowling had sent back the one thousandth batsman when P. Ashok caught the ball at long on at the SAI ground in Bangalore in May 2002. It was not a moment I enjoyed because we were not winning that match and all I did was tell Ashok about the landmark as soon as he caught it. It took 24 years for this personal landmark to be reached. I am not the only one in club cricket to have done it as there are quite a few who have played more cricket and with more wickets, but I must say that I might be the only one keeping track of all my own wickets of all the matches I play. I have enjoyed this habit! Here is how I keep the minimum entries. This is a page showing one of my recent and successful league seasons that also helped our club win the shield.

A few weeks after that one thousandth wicket came by, a good friend asked casually what's new. We were meeting after a long long time and since he too was a cricketer for our club, I told him about that landmark and that our club was winning [as usual]. Being connected to the Press, he caught me. He thought it was a remarkable achievement and wanted it to get it out in print, which I really did not want. He cornered me and I had to give way and also give my photograph! This is the first time the individual picture appeared in print! That was the remarkable achievement!

In June 2002, soon after this appeared in the paper, I posted it to my friends with this message:

Hello!
I think you know that I have been playing a bit of Cricket all these years. Since 1978-79 to be precise. Recording my own match performances (because no one else did it for me!) was an old habit which I have persevered. This record has now revealed a statistically important figure concerning the number of wickets captured by me. Believe me, it has crossed ONE THOUSAND. I am happy to share this revelation with you.
But that was never my goal. The real goal IS always to to try and win the game for the team. Individual efforts and figures have value only if it contributes to the cause of the team's performance and outcome of the game. At the end of the day, what satisfies me more than anything else is to be on the winning side.

There may be a few around, who also have crossed this magic figure of 1K but never keep track. Mine has come to light only because I kept track and recently bothered to total all of them. Probably, I may be one of the few medium-pace bowlers to have done it playing mostly on week-ends while there may be few others who have played more than me and captured more as well.I had the privelege of attending camps twice at Pune where
former Indian Wicket-keeper late "Nana" Joshi was the coach. He had written a letter to me advising me to 'forget the good performances then and there itself after the match and be ready to do better the next time'. Actually I was already of the same mould and his advise only strengthened it.

I have attached a couple of files. One contains the image of the featured article (on yours truly) that appeared in the local newspaper recently. The other one is a rare photograph of me returning after a memorable spell of 6-17, which had a hat-trick in the final at Nagpur on the last day of December 2001. I must tell you about this hat-trick (my third one). The first one was bowled leg stump. The second, middle stump. The new
batsman was sent in with instructions to cover all the stumps to save the hat-trick. He covered. But my third successive in-swinger managed to curl in and kissed the off stump!!

Hope you have enjoyed this mail.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Here are some responses from well-wishers:

Dear Dinu: Heartiest CONGRATULATIONS! We are delighted!!

And, we are all proud of YOU!

What makes your 1,000th cricketing "scalp" unique is you’ve achieved it without fanfare, media blitz, or corporate sponsorship/incentive. On your own steam — with sincerity, passion, dedication, determination, and sublime grace.

… If only you’d had a Godfather, juxtaposed by that extra bit of luck, you’d have surely played for India… Perish the thought, all the same, because you’ve, quite truly, reached a novel summit, which many would only dream of — but, seldom attain!

You’ve done it — in style, yes. With the right temporal mix. To quote Earl Nightingale: "Attitude is the reflection of a person, and our world mirrors our attitude."

Our wholehearted congrats, on your roseate apotheosis, once again!

Much affection/Raj, Shobha, Javvy, and Sanjiv

PS: Got to know about your signal feat through Pushpa, too. Your great pal, Refli, is just as much delighted!

(Raj, my well-wisher... you can see who he is through the links)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Dinoo,

Received your email and was so excited to learn that you have taken more
than 1000 wickets. That's an outstanding achievement. But it does not
surprise me. You deserve it. Your knowledge of the game and the way you
practice, has paid you dividends. I am so proud that I had an opportunity
to play with you. Unfortunately, I regret that I was unable to continue
playing with you. Anyway, be very proud of yourself. Congratulations on
your awesome achievement and continued success in your future endeavours.
Please keep me posted on Gymkhana's matches.
Yours lovingly,
Kashi

(Our team's captain for a long time, now settled in the US)

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Dinu,

I am fine and hope the same from your end, received your mail in connection
with your stupendous acheivement of reaching a very important milestone in
anyone's career of claiming 1,000 wickets in all forms of cricket. The
statistical part of it is okay but the important point to be appreciated is
that you could keep a track of it despite your other committments " Hats off
to you" in addition to you all your colleagues, players, last but not the
least your family needs to be congratulated for all the support, criticism,
and compliments they would have payed to you in your endeavour.

I have always admired you first as a person and then as a dedicated
cricketer who goes all out to do the best and then leave the rest to god. I
am so fortunate that I could play little bit of cricket with you as my co
player and also to have played under esteemed captainship.

Yours affectionately,
K.SRIRAM

(My long time team-mate for CSIR)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Dinu,
Thank you for your mail. Apologies for the late
response. I am very happy to learn about your new
record and read with delight, your account of what
must be a crowning glory in your 20 + yrs in the game.
It was great to see your hat trick photo and the news
article; though I'm sorry to note that it is hardly
the media coverage worthy of a cricketer of your deeds
and stature. I hope your story will be an inspiration to all young
fast bowlers in Mysore. You had always been an
inspiration to me early on from the time I played the
game back in 1990. I remember the thrilling sight of
watching you and JS in action together that year in
the league finals and I still remember your long and
graceful run-up to the wicket and that effortless
high-arm action and follow through. It was a good
education for me and on certain occasions when I was
bowling at my best, I would adapt your style with
wonderful results. In later years, it was also a
privilege to face you in a match and you certainly
made me think a lot and take on the amazing variety
you let loose. It was also very kind of you to devote
some time to try and iron out my problems with the
game and I can't think of any other senior cricketer
who would have taken the trouble to handle youngsters
patiently when approached; definitely not in the same
calm and manner you possessed.
I sincerely hope that the blessed authorities in
Mysore will set aside personal vendettas and other
prejudices and focus on bringing back the glory of
Mysore cricket; should that ever happen, it would be
great to know you're actively involved. Meanwhile I
will raise a toast to your achievement and will look
forward to hearing from you.

Thanks and regards,

Gokul

(An ardent cricket follower who played with our group)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Dinu,

I would like to appologise for my late reply, since I was out for some time from my office. I am very delighted to know your wonderful performance and great achievements!!!. It is really unimagenable. I am extreamely happy to say now that I have played for many years ( app.10 years) with such a wonderful cricketer. Infact I have learned profession in cricket from you only. I also have the previlage to say that I had the opurtunity to play under your captaincy. If I take my cricketing periods I think I could perform very consistentely either with bat or ball. I remember that you showed so much confidence on me whenever get in to bat and bowl. It brings me the sweet olden days memaries. Now I am really missing to play cricket with you.

You also showed yourself as a role modal for others espicially for youngsters and me as well. It is not you missed play for Karnataka or India, but they really missed to see the wonderful cricketer.

I really don't have words to praise you. I know much more achievements are awaited in near future. I also find the opurtunity to play cricket with you once again.

With regards

P.Ravi

(My CFTRI team-mate)

+++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Dinu,

Received your mail. Accept my hearty congratulations on achieving a rare feat of 1000 wickets in the cricket matches you have played. I feel that only very few would have achieved such a feat. I am very glad that I was a part of the few wickets you took with my catching as wicket keeper and a very few as a fieldsman. I recollect those wonderful moments when we enjoyed the game. I had no goals set and I played the game to simply enjoy myself.

Do keep in touch.

Yours truly,

Lakshmi.

(Lakshminarasimha, former batsman/wicket-keeper for TMG)

++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Dinakar,
Thanks for the wonderful e-mail. It was nice reading it especially the hattrick part.
As discussed earlier the article in SOM could have been written better but I am sure you must have received a lot of congragulatory message. Is your team doing anything about it. The record is all the more creditable as you are a week-end player.
All the best again.
With warm regards,
niranjan

(It was this Niranjan Nikam who cashed upon my very casual revelation which he saw to it that this landmark came to light, so publicly.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Hearty, hearty & very hearty Congratulations dear Dinakar,
After reading your mail & the attachmant, I indeed feel privileged that I know you at my personal level - as I have always felt, u r certainly a national class cricketer in our CSIR family. I also feel bad that as a govt. rules governed orgn., CSIR has not been able to give you your due in terms of recognition and award despite your over two decades of contribution to CSIR cricket. I wud suggest that u may kindly bring the 'star of the week' article to the kind notice of President, SPB.
Let me also congratulate Mrs. Dinakar on your grand accomplishment(s). All this wud not have been possible without her support, as the saying goes, 'behind every successful man there is always a woman'.
Best regards to you & Mrs. Dinakar.
Sincerely,
Saxena

(He was our Secretary for a few years)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dinu,
That is an awesone feat by any standards! CONGRATS! First for all, thanks
for all the years of good fun cricket we played together since I was in
primary school all the way to my coming here. Secondly, your book keeping.
It takes a lot of disicpline and application to do that sort of stuff
especially over a long period of time. I am amazed at your fitness to keep
playing the game at that level [no small feat for a pace bowler!].

This is excellent news. Hope some this rubs off to our galaga - i recently
read that he has retired from test cricket. The article made some comments
that he had made about not being complete etc - But he is only behind the
great Kapil dev in terms of wickets for a fast bowler! Surely, he should be
satisfied with that accomplishment!

Anyway, Congrats again. It is fun to think of those good old days...

Jayanth.

(Stylish batsman for TMG, street-mate whom I have seen from his cradle-days)

++++++++++++++++++++++

Collection of Autographs of cricketers

2007-08-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Collecting autographs of Test Cricketers has been a great fancy ever since the game has been internationalized. They are treasured possessions and showed to friends and others with great pride. Taking them by hand after meeting has its own pleasure - because earlier, meeting them was not a chance that came by often and one had to be lucky to be able to do that. I remember asking my grand-aunt who was the mother of B.S.Chandrasekhar to get autographs of cricketers for me through him!! Of course, that enthusiasm of a young boy did all that without understanding how trivial for them these are! Opportunities to meet or even have a 'darshan' of cricketers never came by, but when it did, we were ready with the little autograph books, eagerly looking for any chance of having one in our book. I have managed a few. Let me begin with sharing four of my *treasures* that have not been got by hand, but by mail.

I had come to know that National Cricket Teams respond to fan mail. Individual cricketers have done that with great enthusiasm as well, including Sir Donald Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar. They have spent many hours writing letters to their fans. I used to write letters to the captains of teams when they come to Bangalore for a Test Match and mail it with the address of the State Cricket Association. They were duly passed on to the addressee and have promptly responded to my request for autographs of the entire team and mailing it back using the SASE. I feature here four of the many I have got because these are personally autographed while the rest were the printed reproductions which makes no sense!

I had written to Bishen Singh Bedi when England toured India. But to my great surprise, I got this one from him on the BCA letterhead! [I also wrote to Tony Greig, the England Captain and he responded too - this time, I had sent his picture on which I wanted his autograph. Shown at left]. In this, I had the problem of identifying whose signature is which, esp. some were very tricky! In the meantime, there was a Tamil magazine "Ananda Vikatan" which had pictures of them with autographs printed on their own pictures. Using this as a guide, I could identify all those. See below:

Australian Tour to India, 1979. Kim Hughes was the captain. See Allan Border's autograph also.Allan Border's 1986 Australian Team

John Wright's New Zealand Team, 1988.

Around the same time I had written to Tony Greig [above], I had done the same to Sunil Gavaskar sending him a magazine [Sportsweek] clipping of his picture. His promptness in returning it with my request honoured, was astounding.

Cricket and me, looking back

2007-08-02T10:22:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken by my Sri B.S.Subbakrishna [eldest brother of B.S.Chandrasehkar, also my first cousin] who was visiting Mysore from Chicago, USA in April 2007. He wanted a picture of me on that famous pavilion at Maharaja's College Ground. Incidentally, my favourite ground and on which I had the good opportunity to play 110 matches! The letter "L" on the "Pavilion" there took a hit from a sixer hit by { in 196_ } . That letter was tilted for a few decades, as if to remember that great hit from the middle. It has since been set right. Sri Subbakrishna remembered his days with the Sunny Side.

My third year playing with the regular cricket ball got me in to the Mysore Zone team, 1981, through The Mysore Gymkhana.

A couple of my cricket cartoons

2007-07-24T04:30:00.001-07:00

Roy Ullyett cartoon in The Daily Express celebrates Laker's achievement, England v Australia, Manchester, July 31, 1956.
Jim Laker had taken 19 wickets in that Test Match, still a world record.
~~~~~~~~
I am not a Roy Ullyett but a couple of them have "happened", much to my own joy! I used to enjoy Ullyett's work carried by Sportsweek in the 1970s.

This is my original. I was bowling in our Mysore Gymkhana nets one evening when this idea flashed after seeing some of the bowlers bowl very short.

When Mysore Zone were in Tumkur in 1981, our manager V.P.Mylevaghanam, a jolly good man, renown for his great abilities and gift of gastronomy and gluttony, shared a joke or an incident [I'm now not sure] while he walked the boys back to the hotel room after dinner. This one is based on that.

Sports in the blood

2007-07-20T08:43:00.001-07:00

This testimonial of my great grandfather K.Mylar Rao (he seemed to called Malhari Rao earlier) says that he had a good physique and was an ardent cricketer in his college days. He was good at Bridge (cards) also in his later years. He was a life member of Cosmopolitan Club and Mysore Sports Club, Mysore after he retired from service in 1926.

Surely he must have had a good physique as I am told he took regular strolls and used the dumb bells to maintain his body and health. He must have been a supreme example of a healthy mind in a healthy body - he was an avid reader too which the big library suggests.

My grandfather K.M.Subba Rao was even better. He was a much renown sportsman esp. in his heydays and even till the end. aside from his profession as a respected and renown lawyer and a distinguished citizen of Mysore.

H.H. The Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar hands over the cup to Subba Rao for Golf at the Mysore Sports Club's tournament, about 1966, at the MSC grounds as Farrokh Irani looks on.

Probably this pic was taken in 1952 at the Cosmopolitan Club during a Tennis tournament. BS Dattatri is to his right.
Madras Christian College Cricket Team, Winners of Inter-Collegiate Cricket Shield, 1918.

Subba Rao is the non-striker at the far end in this picture, probably of the early 1950s or thereabouts, playing in a Lawyers tournament [most likely]. The ground is the "Ovals" [now the Athletic Ground opposite Crawford Hall]. In the background is the Maharaja's / Yuvaraja's College Buildings and the Oriental Research Institute.

This must be a picture of the early 1930s. One of the few where both KM Subba Rao and his father K Mylar Rao are in together [see marked arrows]. Also together in this are HH Krishnarajendra Wadiyar IV, HE Kanteerava Narasa Raja Wadiyar (The Yuvaraja of Mysore) and a young Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and Sir Mirza Ismail. The building is of the Mysore Sports Club. Probably this is a group of elite Mysoreans who are sports-lovers. Mylar Rao was also a keen sportsman skilled in Cricket in his younger days, Tennis and Bridge. Mysore Sports Club was formed later. The building is still there but a facade has come up.

Below is a letter from Prof. J.G.Tait's letter to K.M.Subba Rao. Tait was his teacher in the Presidency College, Madras. Reading this letter is a pleasure, for many things. He remembers his student with great affection and shares his feelings like a friend. He remembers a few other names also so vividly even after many years after his retirement. It shows how that bondage between the teacher and pupil was in those days. Subba Rao and Tait exchanged letters even after Tait went back to England in the early 1920s after his retirement. Apart from Subba Rao's all-round talent Tait in this letter remembers a cricket match:

[ Page 4 and 1 here] - click to enlarge and read

[ Page 2 and 3 here] - click to enlarge and read

On the left side, which is page 2 of the letter, Tait vividly remembers one of Subba Rao's famous bowling spells where he had turned the match in one over by taking four of their best wickets. It was for Presidency College (in 1920) against Madras Christian College. He also feels sorry when he came to know about the accident Subba Rao sustained and had to stop playing cricket [it might have happened a few months or a couple of years before 1926]. That incident he used to describe to us, showing his little finger that had broken while taking a catch. That little finger can be seen in one of the pictures I am with him [in one of my other posts].

Notable is J.G.Tait, his teacher, seated centre in the picture below.

Presidency College Athletic Association -Cricket & Hockey, Madras, 1919-1920.

Presidency College Football Team, Madras, 1919-20

Medals and Trophies in the showcase.

Left Picture - of 1920s; Right Picture - 1952.

Grandfather KM Subba Rao with his treasured trophies won in many sports: Athletics, Badminton, Billiards, Bridge, Cricket, Football, Golf, Hockey and mainly Tennis. What a list!

I am told by Capt. P.Alasingachar (P.A.Char), who was a schoolmate of my father K.S. Ramachandra Rao that he too was very talented in Football greatly but his poor eyesight curbed it greatly. My father was fond of telling that once his nose was struck from one side by a football and turned it to that side, but another blow from the other side a few years later almost straightened it. But I have seen him play Table Tennis with great skill as he used his spin to great effect and Bridge in which he was quite an exponent.

Ramachandra Rao seen here top row in father's Mysore Sports Club Blazer represented his Institute in Bridge, 1976.

When sports is in the blood, we will not be discouraged at home. Sports gives us so much in terms of joy and friends and develops a personality while it teaches life through its successes and failures, importance of hard work, discipline, etc. Sports makes us as people! It teaches many lessons, if only they are pursued in true spirits.

In the above picture, I walk off after a memorable bowling spell that won our CSIR team the final match at Nagpur, 2001.

B.S CHANDRASEKHAR, nephew of Subba Rao.

Sports in the blood is something quite a fortunate thing to be blessed with!

Some pictures from my Cricket album

2007-07-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

Right: 1974 picture from the Box Camera - posing, trying to copy action from sports magazines. The 'backyard cricketer'!

Before the match, during 'warm-up practice'. A fine shot by V.Shankar of NAL, Bangalore who had his camera on tour. Came to know of this shot only when I saw the print! 1985, Poona Club Ground. It seems a perfect shot by me as well!

This one on the right is again taken by Shankar during the Nets at NCL ground, Pune during the same camp, 1985. I was the last batsman for the session and all the fielders had been called on to the off side and I was asked by our coach "Nana" Joshi to hit shots only on that side. Here is my favourite back foot punch that gave me lots of fun if not runs! Again, I was amazed to see in print my favourite shot! Thanks Shankar.

Heads of Sarfraz and Hafeez on top in this picture [left] by a passerby has been chopped off. Very unfortunate. 1985 camp. Nana Joshi with us. Shankar is the one seen with least hair. It was a fantastic camp that lasted ten days. Everybody enjoyed their cricket, their stay, as a team. The coach was a person of great qualities. He used to show how to dive to hold catches and he was 61 at that time.

This picture [right] was taken at Jammu on my first tour with the CSIR team in 1983. The chief guest was the then Chief Minister of J&K, Dr. Farooq Abdulla.

In 1987, our CSIR team played the Nayudamma Memorial Tournament at Delhi. Chief Guest for the Inauguration was the then Indian Captain, Kapil Dev. Seen here is Subramanya of NAL to my right, Hafeez, Venkatesh, Manager Narayanan. Our team won the final.

For the first time, I was representing the CSIR cricket team in a Coaching Camp before we went to Jammu later in the year, 1983. It was at Poona. Former Test Wicket-keeper Nana Joshi was our coach. SS Wazir from Jammu, a Ranji Trophy player was our captain. Traveling alone was an adventure for me as I was doing so for the first time. It was smooth. All travel arrangements there were by letters and not by telephone as we do nowadays! BD Kocchar was the organizer there at NCL, Poona and this picture was sent by him to all the players by post on his own - what a fine gesture! The way he took care personally, of all the arrangements and players was exemplary. It was a great trip to begin my stint with the CSIR cricket team. All faces were new to me! I was happy to have Subramanya, Giridhar and Indrakumar from NAL, Bangalore because I could speak Kannada with them, being not well-versed in Hindi which most of my team-mates conversed.

Smiles on this picture on the left is because it was a re-take as the photographer had missed the moment and that we missed the hands on re-take. Look where the hands are! It was for the CFTRI team.

Musings from 'official level' cricket field

2007-06-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

Click the above picture - it will take you to my webshots album containing a few pictures.
~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~

CSIR Cricket team was to take part in the Silver Jubilee tournament at RRL, Jammu in 1983. Our team manager, Sri. R. Narayanan sent us letters well before the journey asking us to practice so that "success we may attain will be a stepping stone for further laurels…". After he closed his letter with 'yours friendly' there was a unique postscript hinting that it was a knock-out tournament: "Your stay in Jammu very much depends on your stay at the wicket." Neither our batsmen stayed long enough on that Azad Stadium wicket, nor our wicket-keeper held on to easy catches (esp. 3 in 3 balls from my bowling - some record in itself!) and our stay in Jammu really depended on that!

A practice match was part of a 10-day coaching camp for our CSIR cricket team at NCL, Pune in 1987. The opponents did not turn up. Team manager Sri Narayanan held a meeting in the pavilion. The players agreed to play a double wicket tournament among ourselves. Teams were drawn and to even out the odd number, Sri Narayanan was made to play with Lawrence of NCL. None of us had seen Narayanan, a contemporary of S.Venkataraghavan, play. When our teams clashed [I was partnering R.Sreedhar of CSIR Complex, Chennai] in the quarter-final or so, I was surprised to see Narayanan bowl a tight line and length of off-spin right away (without practice!), though I managed a sixer off him! But he could boast of remaining 'not out' with the bat. In the end, Sreedhar and I won the final and the prize of Rs.25/- [I duly got my share of Rs.12.50] which Sri Narayanan had sponsored before start.

During the Nayudamma Memorial tournament at Nagpur in 1988, our CSIR team was short of one player. To make up the eleven, Sri Narayanan suggested that we borrowed the player from the opponent team's surplus - they were two. How to choose was the problem. Sri Narayanan decided to go for a 'toss of coin' after allotting 'heads' to one player and 'tails' to the other. Up went the spinning coin, down it came with a clink, rolled and rolled around only to settle nicely on its edge! They had to be given equal chances!

Disbursing TA/DA was a real pain in the neck esp. to the manager of our CSIR Cricket team as it was to be drawn from the host Institute. In the Inter-Agency tournament for the SSBMT at Lucknow in 1993, the Valedictory function had begun, yet, our payments had not been settled. Sri Narayanan had to fight the 'fight of his life' to make it happen! I had to actually run straight from the Cash Section to the dais (being captain of CSIR) to receive the prize as our team name was called. Handing over the trophy to my teammate I ran into the waiting car that took me to the Railway Station. The train left in two minutes after I boarded it. I was 'runner-up' all the way!

CFTRI was playing the SSBMTournament at Roorkee in 1986. Anti-inflammatory sprays had just been made available in first-aid kits and provided at the ground. It was new to us and everybody. My veteran team-mate K.Srinivasa held a difficult catch at slip from my bowling and his immediate reaction was not the usual joy! He was holding his hand up and calling 'spray, spray'. His finger was injured, but found joy getting it 'sprayed' with the new fizzing medication! We had forgotten for a moment how terrifically good that catch was.

During the II Nayudamma Memorial Tournament at New Delhi in 1987, I hit Ravi Khanna's (CSIR) pad with an in-swinging delivery. A lone, loud and excited "Howzzaat?" (for LBW) was heard, as if from distant heaven. It was from deep third-man! International Umpire Ram Babu Gupta, standing at the bowler's end, was taken aback by the appeal - from that far! He called the appealer [Rajendra Prasad]. He walked all the way up to be asked "Can you see anything from there, young man?" The poor fellow hung his head low but shut his mouth for the rest of the innings!

~~~~~
The picture was taken at Bhopal, March 2007.

The Bradman Genius

2007-05-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

THE BRADMAN GENIUS

Sir Donald George Bradman was dismissed for 92, not runs, but years. Not by the bowler, but by Nature. When he died in his sleep on February 25, 2001 the news hit the headline, much the same way when he was dismissed for a "duck". Bradman was doubtless the most devastating batsman the world has ever seen and a most extraordinarily talented one. Even after 50 years since he played his last game, the name of Bradman still thrills people in every walk of life. Such is the Bradman fame.

Bradman has been permanently placed on such a high pedestal simply because every requirement of batting as well as human qualities were there in him in abundance. He was gifted with perfect coordination of eye, brain and muscle and immaculate balance. His single-minded concentration, superior intelligence and self-confidence complemented perfectly with his agility and keenness of eye that lifted his performances to near super human levels. He had powerful sinewy legs and forearms and small feet (he was just about 5'7" and used size five in footwear) that allowed him to shuffle into position with lightning speed. His reflexes were sharp and true. But above all, he had a mind which reacted quicker than any other to size up where a ball would pitch, its speed, its movement and its worth. He was a shrewd captain and a master tactician.

The first thing Bradman did when he came to the crease was take a single, the first of many that soon followed, with stunning regularity. In 338 first class innings he has made only 16 'ducks'. He played the ball late and he timed his strokes to perfection. Once set, seldom have fielding sides seen his back. They were sent on a 'leather hunt'. Bradman could place the ball where he intended, with uncanny ease and manipulated the field like a puppeteer, much to the chagrin of the bowler. His shot-repertoire was unmatched. Ball selection, flawless. The cut and pull shots were his favourites, which fetched him hundreds of runs. He lacked the charm at the crease of an Alan Kippax or a Tom Graveney. He was not in that sense a stylist. But opposing captains seldom succeeded to subdue the seepage of runs from his bat.

To quote C.B.Fry (1934): "You can see it (mastery) in his face. Firm little mouth, winner's chin…. I like the little demon". Denis Compton wrote: "If any should doubt the crushing power of his strokes please, I beg you, take the word of one who has fielded on the boundary to him and watched a red round bullet repeatedly pass at unstoppable speed, and placed with such precision that I had no earthly chance of getting within reach".

One of Bradman's dictums "if you hit the ball on the ground there's less chance of getting out", sums up that he valued control over power. But his power came from well-timed shots and that typical flourish that only great players possess. In fact, he hit just 46 sixes in his entire first class career, most of these in his innings when the state of the game dictated that he could do so. He never played to the gallery. At the same time, he had high regard for the entertainment value of cricket.

In grinding out an innings Bradman saw no percentage. He was a natural stroke-maker. That he scored his runs at such a fantastic rate was the reason at times which led to "errors". His average time to score 100 runs was 2 hours 46 minutes and from 100 to 200 was 2hours 18 minutes. Throughout his career, he scored @ 42 runs per hour. His runs in Tests was 25.47 per cent of his side's total and while he was at the crease, his contribution to the partnership was 56 per cent. Such was Bradman's dominance of the bowling. He scored a hundred in a second-class game in three 8-ball overs, off 22 balls. The time was thought to be less than 18 minutes. Jack Fingleton once quipped, "You didn't bat with Bradman, you ran for him". But he was not selfish, mind you. And he never went after records. They happened.

Most of his records have been broken. But for someone to better his batting average of 99.94 in 52 Tests will take 'Bradmanesque' efforts, given the best of seasoned bats!

Don Bradman being at the crease was hot news. Ground attendances swelled. When he got out, it thinned. People came merely to see him bat. More often, they got their money's worth.

The efficiency of Bradman's technique was so consistent and seemed bereft of any shortcomings. For the bowlers to beat Bradman's bat, leave alone bowl him out, was a feat in itself. "How to dismiss Bradman?" was the chief plan of the opponents. That led to the so-called infamous "Bodyline". It was a sort of back-handed compliment to his genius that Douglas Jardine invented and employed to curtail Bradman more than winning the 'Ashes'. But the 'scheme' could only halve his output to 56.57, a failure by Bradman's own standards. Bradman countered it by unorthodox methods and he also used a tennis-style smash back over the bowler's head to good effect. He was an improviser par excellence.

To have performed those amazing feats against a background of personal turmoil debilitating illnesses, petty jealousies, irritating criticisms and the pressures caused by mass public adulation, make this phenomenon even more meritorious. No matter how much people attacked him, he rarely reacted. Critics found him as difficult to ruffle him as bowlers. He answered them with his bat.

During Bradman' s epic innings of 309 not out on the first day of the Leeds Test in 1930, P.F.Warner turned round to Lord Hawke and said: "This is like throwing stones at Gibraltar." He had come in at the fall of the first wicket in the first over of the match and England had bowled 134 overs by the end of the day, a fantastic rate. He was out at 334 the next day.

Sir Neville Cardus once asked Bradman what was his secret. 'Concentration. Every ball is for me the first ball, whether my score is 0 or 200.' And then he took his breath away by adding: 'And I never visualize the possibility of anybody getting me out.' This is the attitude which took him to such great heights.

If Bradman had not taken to cricket, he would have excelled in any ball game. For, he had that astonishing 'ball sense'. He was very good at Tennis, Golf, Billiards and Snooker. He was a Squash player of International standard and was ranked among the top players in Australia around 1939.

Music gave Bradman enormous pleasure. Apart from being an accomplished pianist, one of his compositions "Every Day is a Rainbow Day for Me" was recorded by Columbia Records.

Bradman was a man who was known for his scrupulous honesty and a wonderful sense of humour. His kindness to children and support for their charities is almost a legend in itself. Fraser White, a graphologist, interpreted his handwriting specimens and most of his great characteristics tallied.

Here is one of the most touching stories about his generosity during the 1934 England tour. Bradman saw a man looking through the gate, dejected. He was an unemployed Notts miner with no money or hope of seeing that Test Match at Nottingham. "Would you like to come in?" asked Bradman. In a jiffy, he was inside the ground. Bradman paid his way and found him a place in the grandstand and gave him a few shillings to go with. When it was discovered later that the miner, Herbert Elliot, had a wife and eight children, a subscription list was opened. Bradman headed it with a generous contribution.

Bradman was knighted in 1949. Sir Donald later revealed that had he thought his knighthood was purely a personal award he would have declined it. He had thought "it was intended as a compliment to the game of cricket and Australian cricket in particular". He always preferred to think of himself just as plain Don Bradman, the boy from Bowral. Later that year when he arrived at the SCG for a Testimonial match, the door-attendant "Smithy", who had known Sir Donald for years had always called him "Don". But this time there was a momentary hesitation. Before he could say anything, Sir Donald said: "It's still Don, Smithy." Such was his modesty.

Bradman answered his fan mails as much as he could, himself. He had received one from an Australian fan when Australia was touring England. The envelope had been addressed "D.G.Bradman, Somewhere Playing in England". The name and deeds of Bradman were known to almost everyone in the world. Even the New York Times saluted him in an editorial after he was knighted. To be a legend and to keep one's head at the same time is a challenge failed by many a hero. But Bradman excelled on that count as well.

Don Bradman speaking at a public farewell in Bowral before the 1930 England tour had said "My parents taught me to be a cricketer off the field as well as on. It was not 'did you win' but 'did you play the game?' that made the man."

A few years ago he said that he saw "many cricketers who had more ability than I had. Why they didn't make more runs than I did, I don't know". The ability to transform talent into runs more consistently than all others was the sacred secret. When asked what he would like best to be remembered for, he said "Integrity".

The world may neither see the likes of Sir Donald George Bradman, the maestro with a magic touch, nor the newspapers headlining someone for scoring nought. He was not just a batsman appearing in a lifetime but once in the life of a game.

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SOME VIDEOS ON HIS BATTING

HE DEMONSTRATES DIFFERENT STROKES IN THIS INTERVIEW- 1930

One-day Cricket

2007-05-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Most teams pass through temporary lows and highs. When low, profane expletives are thrown. When high, the same tongues or pens use great adjectives! Too much one-day cricket breed 'short memories' in the public minds and judgements are passed on a team, based on that - which is very unwise. The players are not machines, but mortal humans playing a sport. No doubt, as paid professionals, they are expected to deliver the goods. But certain factors need to be considered before slapping abuses, just because they lost a couple of tournaments.The Indian Board in its greed to spin more money, prepares hectic schedules that indirectly reflect on results while putting key players at risk of injurires. That affects the combination which forces to experiment with replacements. In the present instance, the team played after a much needed break [remember, after successful sojourns] and it is often proved to be good to be 'slow starters'. Haven't they hit peak at the right time before? The team also needs to do a few 'dry runs' with new combinations and strategies and that was practically the right time to have a feel. Certain fringe players are also worried about their places in the team and so they tend to 'play for themselves'. Our team has to cope with special factors like zonal quotas and attractive surnames to add to the already complicated 'strategies' and still be expected to win each and every game!We also fail to take account of the various playing conditions, the fitness, form and strength of our own players as well as the opposition during a match/series. They are expected to adopt to all of them and if cricket was so very predictable, we would not have been talking about it! Why did Australia lose to England yesterday? One-day cricket is mainly for 'watch and forget' entertainment, not entirely worthy of serious discussions and post-mortems. It keeps the business part of the game rolling, but what should matter is the Test Matches. For, that is the real test for any team. If you ask the players, most will vouch for it. Result-oriented, fanatic-viewing dilutes whatever enjoyment we may derive from the contest. If there were no losers, esp. in sport, there would not have been any winners!

[This was published in Star of Mysore, 2006]

Joy of TV-viewing cricket

2007-05-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Watching a cricket match on TV is not just sitting back, with some junk food by the side, counting runs, overs and wickets. Cricket is for enjoyment of both the player and the beholder. But this element of enjoyment will be missed if we take sides while watching. It would not have been cricket if Tendulkar scored a century each time he walked out to bat, or India won each and every game! This is what the fanatics foolishly expect. Siding makes one tense esp., if the favoured team does badly. I know some friends who stay away from the TV when India is playing, just for that reason. Result-in-favour-of-India-oriented watching is no fun. It is here people miss the wonderful nuances of this great game. We must learn to recognize and appreciate the finer points of good cricket, be it from any team. That can be more pleasurable than mere statistics.Patriotism should not be taken too far while watching a cricket match. Cricket is a hard-fought game played between two teams and the winner is always the one who performs better than the other on that day. So involved are many, that they watch the game as if they are commanding the actions on far away grounds! One has to experience the enjoyment of watching cricket sans siding! After all, not for nothing, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.

Memories of M.Chinnaswamy

2007-05-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

Bangalore is about to host yet another Test Match [aside from the several ODIs already hosted] this week. Allow me to share a couple of my very brief moments with the man, who made Test Matches a reality at Bangalore, M. Chinnaswamy [MC], of much revered memory.Our family was there at the wedding reception of BS Chandrasekhar. Karnataka had just won the Ranji Trophy for the first time in 1975. Most of the players were present and MC came later. We young boys were trying to identify/match the players' faces to those we had seen in the newspapers, with autograph books in hand. Looking at cricketers in flesh and blood was quite something! My grandfather [a sportsman of much fame in his days] introduced him to me. In turn, MC introduced Sanjay Desai to me - they had come together! I offered the autograph book, to which he said "nanna autograph ella yaakappa?" before obliging - his signature was already a bit shaky. Sanjay too put his in the next page. I had heard about MC during the first ever Test Match there the previous year [India vs West Indies] to which I had the good fortune of witnessing all five days with an 80-rupee season ticket. [All the stands were temporarily erected using planks and poles and the folding seats were of plywood.]

In 1983, Mysore Zone had won the SA Srinivasan Memorial tournament [under-25] for the first time and a function had been arranged here. MC was the chief guest. My turn came to receive a pullover [sponsored by Sri Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, who was also playing cricket in his college days] from MC. Someone next to him murmered something, probably about my recent prowess in that tournament, to which he said to me after handing over the pullover: "Well done, put on some shoulders, young man", putting his right hand on my left shoulder and then gave me an unforgettably warm hand shake. Perhaps it had an impression! How great the value of such names as SAS and MC became known to me as years passed by, having got a few opportunities to play at the stadium which was later aptly named after MC. In fact, as it so happened, it was there that some of the best performances for The Mysore Gymkhana, both with bat and ball have happened. The thrilling memories and those valuable autographs are much treasured and cherished.

[Letter published in Star of Mysore, 2005]

Thrills of watching a Test Match, first time

2007-05-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

Cricket has always topped the list of popular pastimes. In fact, for more than a century. One of my great grandfather's preserved testimonials, handwritten and signed by J.Cook, M.A, Principal, Central College Bangalore in 1888, praising my ancestor as an 'ardent cricketer' is ample proof. Even before 1888, in all probabilities, he would have played the game during his days in Maharaja's College and was talented enough to earn such a praise from the Principal.

Besides their own fun-cricket, Test Matches [not as many as now], provided cricket's joy mostly through newspapers, much later, the radio. But very few had the good fortune to watch a Test Match in person because they were only in the big cities. It took the yeoman efforts of a certain M.Chinnaswamy, the man who dreamt and actually brought such a wonderful privilege and status to Bangalore. Our joy soared skywards when the honey-sweet news broke out. West Indies who were to tour India in 1974-75, were to play the first Test of the series in Bangalore. It also meant that we Mysoreans were close to getting a fine opportunity to be part of it.

Excitement was building up as the day neared. My uncle wrote that he had booked one of the eighty-rupee-season tickets for me as well as for a few relatives. I was on cloud nine. I persuaded my grandfather and bought an eighty-rupee binocular. The dream of watching a Test Match and the players in flesh and blood was nearing fruition.

Collecting cricket pictures was a hobby and I used to buy the sports weekly magazine from the saved pocket-money, merely for the sake of cutting and pasting the pictures in albums. I do not remember having read even a single article! I used to imagine and imitate the styles from those action pictures. The binocular was to help me take a closer-look at the heroes.

Special buses had been arranged from Mysore for the thousands who thronged Bangalore for the historic occasion. We went in one of them, leaving behind my old grandfather, himself a great all-round sportsman, which was rather sadly ironic. But my fit and cricket-ignoramus grandmother was accompanying us in expectation of seeing her nephew, B.S.Chandrasekhar, in action. None of us had seen him play and we had longed for that occasion.

The day had arrived. The 80,000-capacity stadium (then, the MSCA) was a marvel of labour. Except for the players' pavilion, all of the 'stands' were erected entirely of wooden poles, planks and jute ropes with thatched shelters over some parts. The foldable plywood chairs had been serially numbered. The scene was set. That the precarious looking stands stood the 'test' for five days was a feat in itself!

Our 'gang', equipped with food and water for the day, reached the stadium and stood in the long queue. We had missed the toss by the time we entered. Pataudi, back at the helm, had asked Clive Lloyd to bat first. Our seats were somewhere in the 10th row, reasonably close to the boundary. A satisfaction in itself. Never before had I seen such a congregation. The noise created by the crowd was deafening and excitement was running haywire! I was to find that it was a reasonably sporting crowd, though at times a bit pranky, applauding the good cricket from either team.

I was making my debut as a test match spectator, RS Krishnaswamy was making his, behind the microphone alongside stalwarts Anant Setalwad and Tony Cozier. My uncle had his 'biggish' transistor radio to follow the commentary and to know who is who on the field. M.V. Nagendra and Jack Reuben were the umpires. For India, Hemant Kanitkar was making his debut while one Gordon Greenidge and a certain Viv Richards were making theirs for the West Indies. India had no Bedi due to some controversy but the rest of the famed spin-team were in. The oldest man in the match was 42-year old great West Indian off-spinner, Lance Gibbs.

After a few overs from Abid Ali and Solkar, the crowd noticed Chandra warming up and there was a big roar, a roar we had heard 'on the air' but now we were part of it. Greenidge (93) showed his power and southpaw Kallicharran (124), his grace and technique. Rain on the second morning tried to dampen the spirits but that was luckily short-lived. Wickets were not covered those days. Play continued after a brief stoppage and Kallicharran showed batsmanship of the highest class, playing the Indian spinners on a rain-affected wicket with masterly ease with 124. One late-cut off Prasanna stands out in my memory. Abid Ali, Solkar and Venkataraghavan displayed their close-in fielding skills. Chandra's 4-wicket haul gave us a glimpse of why he was feared by the batsmen. Richards had no clue whatsoever. Venkat's accuracy and Pras' guiles were mastered in this match.

India conceded a big lead and only Hemant Kanitkar cut his way to a top-score 65. We saw what Andy Roberts' hot pace was like and the effect of Vanburn Holder's deadly accuracy. The way Gibbs trapped Viswanath soon after he had hoisted a six was top class bowling. [There was no way I could have imagined then, that 14 years later, I was to bowl my best ever ball, a leg-cutter, to have this great man bowled off-stump for a duck in a league match.] Solkar was run out by a direct hit from long leg by Keith Boyce. It was customary that the Indian tail did not wag. Chandra getting bat on ball was duly applauded.

Greenidge again blazed with a hard hit 107. But it was Lloyd's 143-ball 163 that stunned Pataudi's Indians. The clonks were heard in spite of the crowd's noise. It was explosive power. He often swept the Indian spinners out of line. Poor, fat-tummied Kanitkar at deep square-leg was bamboozled by the accurate placement of the shots, which brought laughter to the crowd more than once. Those were days when only the slip fielders dived to make catches or saves. Lloyd's innings ended when Solkar, diving forward, made a skier at long-off look easy. They set India a big target.

Gavaskar and Engineer [of Brylcreem fame] opened again, but soon were back in the room, dismissed through breathtaking catches by Viv Richards at short-leg. Nobody who has seen these catches will ever forget for the sheer alacrity he made them. Both were 'hits' from the meat of the blade! Nearly everyone rose from their seats in utter awe! All the heroes succumbed to the pace of Roberts and Holder and the West Indies had won by 267 runs. The angry crowd broke the chairs and threw them onto the field. Luckily there was no fire. If there was one, it would have been calamitous. There were no presentation ceremonies after the match in those days and so all of us left the stadium making our way in a forest of people. What we had seen was to be the beginning of a most enthralling series that India won. The filmed highlights [no TVs in those days] were shown in theatres later on. Those were still the days when cricket was played mostly for its sake and money had not yet adulterated it.

The report on the match was read by people in the next day's paper while my attention was on the action pictures. That went on for five full days, of absolute thrill. It was exciting fun, being able to watch the heroes through my binocular and sometimes borrowing a fellow-spectator's more powerful ones to look at the faces of them, to compare with those in my cricket album. My hero was Andy Roberts, whose action I memorized and tried to imitate in my tennis-ball-cricket ventures. Venture I did, to good effect!

I returned home, proud and fully satisfied with the enjoyment of witnessing a Test Match. I was richer with the numerous brochures and sun-shades that were offered at the ground. Leave alone those wonderful memories to top them. But we envied our grandmother who was the luckiest among us all - she had the privilege of watching the second day's play from the pavilion using Chandra's pass with his sister and parents. Tall, well built, dark, bespectacled with huge lips - was how she described a West Indian whom she had seen at close range. She was referring Clive Lloyd!

The way Cricket is played, watched and followed these days has changed. Hasn't it?