Dec 23, 2003 10:16 PM
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(Updated Dec 23, 2003 10:20 PM)
As a kid, I always fancied myself as a cricketer, no not just an ordinary cricketer but I dreamed of being up there with the men in blue, doing the country proud. That I could not go anywhere where my dreams went is now a known story or else I would have been doing Ad films for anyone who would approach me from the ball pen maker to the automobile giant of course playing the game in between when shoots were not scheduled rather than reviewing pens, cars or cricket on Mouthshut.
Then I also shudder to think of what would have been the case if I did have a life that was dream come true. I would have been blessed with a horde of fans that would put me on a pedestal on one day after a brilliant knock or great spell of bowling and then knock me off the next instant when I failed to deliver or meet the expectations. That is when I feel that I am luckier reviewing at Mouthshut than actually playing game. This way when I set out to do what do, I have the liberty to crucify or idolize anyone or anything without being answerable to anyone.
Why such a long, winding prelude to a review on a cricket series? Well why should all Ekta Kapoor Serials start with “K”? Some questions are best left unanswered or else the prelude would be longer and we would be no wiser!
Indians went to Australia very much as the underdogs. Though ESPN STAR built it up as the “Lalkar” series, not even the “FEW GOOD MEN” on their Cricket commentary team gave Indians too much of chance. Most Indian cricket fans predicted a 4-0 white wash while the more optimistic amongst us were of the opinion that India would do well to return from Australia with a 2-0 defeat.
The critics had a field day starting from the time when the squad was announced. I must be honest enough to mention now that I too thought that people like Sanjay Bangar and Murali Karthik were given a raw deal. The first two tour games did not bring much cheer, adding to the pessimism about the team’s chances and giving enough fodder for the critics to chew and spew. A bowling coach was hired a couple of days before the first test - more criticism.
The morning of the first test, Indian playing eleven is announced, I started my day at around 5:00 am, by swearing at the team management for having left out S.Ramesh (the only player amongst the four contenders for the opening slot to impress, in the tour games) from the eleven. Stumps on first day of the first test, Australia scoring at a rate it did, gave the next day’s papers enough ammunition for regular columns and guest columns to critique India’s lack of discipline and penetration in attack, drooping shoulders, negative attitude and what not.
However, by the time the morning papers hit the coffee table, a gradual shift was taking place at the Gabba. Langer the overnight centurion was gone; Steve Waugh had stolen the customary ovation that was due to centurion by walking out on the ground a trifle too early. He then, ran out Damien Martyn and a few deliveries later stepped on his own stumps, so much for the starting on the right footing for a series that was touted as his swan song. Indian’s were making headway into the game from seemingly desperate position. By the time, the test went into the record books critics and fans alike were talking in a different language. Indian team’s weaknesses were forgotten (albeit only to resurface later after the first day of the second test), the talk in the media centered mainly around Ganguly’s heroics and the blunder’s committed by the two Steve’s (Waugh and Bucknor) during the course of the match.
End of play on the first day, second test, the critics were at it again, what with Australia making around five hundred runs in a day. Lunch on second day – Anil Kumble becomes the toast of the town, India claws back into the game. Tea on second day, India in a spot of bother – Tendulkar crucified. Stumps on the same day, a small ray of hope emerges as the “Wall” and the “Artist” cobble together a partnership of some worth. What unfolded on days 3, 4 and 5 was stuff that fantasies are made of. Yes, once can be a fluke, but the same pair of Dravid and Laxman repeating “Eden Gardens” has to be something more than merely luck. India celebrates a rare victory down under, in fact one, which came after more than two decades - All mistakes forgiven, all errors forgotten.
Hey hang on, just imagine what would have happened if India faltered on the fifth day chasing the measly total? Poor Parthiv would have been blamed for dropping Adam Gilchrist, Sachin humiliated for his twin failure, Laxman’s hurried approach in the second innings castigated, Ganguly’s lack of innovativeness as a captain bemoaned, heads would have rolled, “had the rain not intervened, India would have lost the first one too” theory re-emerged. As it is, there is section that believes India’s 1-0 scorecard is misleading as it comes against an Australian side minus McGrath, Warne and Lee. But then, in the match that India won, it went in without two of its main bowlers Zaheer and Harbhajan (I know its sacrilege to compare Zaheer with McGrath or Harbhajan with Warne, but still they are considered to be our best).
Now what am I trying to arrive at? Well it is simple and straightforward unlike the review itself. Passion is a wonderful emotion, but an overdose of it blurs our vision. We take our victories too seriously and our defeats even more so. We look for reasons; peg it on one man or at times the entire team for their inability to meet our expectations, which in the first place are often misplaced. At some level, I also wonder if my outbursts are a result of my own failures at being successful as some of these sportsmen are or is it my belief that if I know what to do in a given situation, why the hell does Sachin not know it? Cricket is often a very easy game to play sitting on the living room couches and commentary positions.
Coming back to the series, it is not over yet, two more games to go. Anything is possible. An Australian comeback, an unexpected series win for India outside India or the third possibility of a drawn series. It has all the ingredients. Steve Waugh is undoubtedly one of the best captains the game has seen; unfortunately, he will not be seen on the international circuit for too long. As much as I love India to emerge, victorious I would also love to see Waugh sign off in style. I would love to see a little glimpse of that Tendulkar/ Hayden Magic, I would love to see an exhibition of the Brett Lee’s version of “Chin Music”, I would love to see a keen contest where both the teams put their best efforts, and I would love to see the deserving team walk away with the Border-Gavaskar trophy. I am going to be up at 4:30 am sit with my pot of coffee savoring every moment of the cricketing action, appreciating each piece of cricketing magic irrespective of the team producing it.
For the time being, I am going to take off my critic’s cap and ENJOY THE GAME. What about you?
