You have a neighbour who has waged war against you for over 75 years—militarily as well as through terrorism. Throughout this time, you have tolerated, responded only when provoked, and shown restraint rooted in cultural tolerance. But when your civilians are massacred in cold blood, while on holiday with their families, tolerance begins to border on cowardice—unless there is an adequate response. At that point, it is no longer a dispute; it is war.
We often hear the wise say that sports and politics should not mix. Yet this advice seems much easier to give than to follow. When your nation is reeling from continuous bloodshed, shaking hands with the enemy—even on a sports field—feels like an empty gesture. In such an atmosphere, sports inevitably becomes secondary.
So, what is the solution? At first glance, it seems simple: do not play against the enemy. Do not send teams there, do not host theirs, and halt all cultural and sporting exchanges until the situation stabilizes. Straightforward enough in bilateral contests. However, at global or multi-nation tournaments, the question becomes more complicated. Opting out of participation does send a firm and symbolic message, but it also carries significant implications. It denies athletes critical opportunities, undermines the competitiveness of tournaments, and deprives fans of the very essence of sport—the contest.
Sport today is not a pastime but a global industry. Millions depend on it for their livelihood. Unlike engineers, doctors, or bankers, whose professional careers can last decades, athletes have a brief window to perform and earn. Every contest counts—it is the culmination of years of preparation. Too often, when we call for boycotts, we overlook this reality.
This brings us to India’s recent situation. The seemingly easy answer was: India should not have participated in the Asia Cup. Indeed, political opponents and public voices called for a boycott, supported by hashtags and even street hooliganism, such as breaking televisions showing the games. Yet, they ignored the larger impact. If India withdraws from multilateral competitions, the International Cricket Council (ICC) suffers financially. With the majority of sponsorships dependent on India, ICC events would struggle to survive without Indian participation. Experts from England and Australia often remind India that, as the “big brother” of world cricket, its presence is essential, even at the cost of its own sentiments.
Pakistan, on the other hand, benefits from this structure—its cricketing system survives on revenues generated by Indian audiences and sponsors, even while its administration fuels terrorism across the border. This paradox places the BCCI in a Hobson’s choice. And yet, India’s government, understanding global responsibilities and long-term implications, allowed participation in the Asia Cup.
But what of the players, caught in this crossfire? They are professionals contracted to the BCCI, with little personal choice in the matter. Their only avenue to express solidarity with victims and dissatisfaction with the situation was symbolic gestures—most notably, refusing to engage in handshakes. Predictably, critics labelled this “unsportsmanlike,” ignoring the hypocrisy: those who insist politics should stay out of sport are often the first to inject it selectively when it suits them.
The controversy intensified during the presentation ceremony. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), insisted on personally presenting the trophy despite India’s objections. An administrator’s role is to serve the spirit of the contest, not personal ego. The winners receiving their prize is more significant than who hands it over. Naqvi could have easily avoided the controversy by delegating the task—but instead chose political theatre over sportsmanship.
India, ultimately, lost nothing of substance. The team secured a record eighth Asia Cup title. The trophy presentation, or lack thereof, is symbolic—the real loss was to the credibility of the ACC and its leadership, who failed to uphold the dignity of sport.
So, what lies ahead? Possibly, the end—at least temporarily—of ACC championships. Even in Pakistan, voices may rise against matches with India, as public humiliation must have intensified with off-field drama. For decades, India alone bore the burden of choice—whether to play or not. That equation may finally change, with Pakistan’s administration beginning to feel the pressure of its own public sentiment.
ભારત અને ઇંગ્લેન્ડ વચ્ચે તાજેતરમાં રમાયેલી પાંચ ટેસ્ટની શૃંખલા પટૌડી ટ્રોફી કે જે હવે ‘એન્ડરસન – તેંડુલકર ટ્રોફી’ ના નામે ઓળખાય છે, તેના જેવી ધમાકેદાર ટેસ્ટ ક્રિકેટની જાહેરાત બીજી કોઈ હોઈ ના શકે . પાંચે પાંચ ટેસ્ટ મેચો પાંચમા દિવસ સુધી ચાલી અને શ્રેણીના છ અઠવાડીયા દરમ્યાન શ્ર્વાસ થંભાવી દે તેવી ક્રિકેટની રમત જોવા મળી. આ શ્રેણીની નવા નામકરણ બાદની આ પ્રથમ આવૃત્તિ હતી, જે ટેસ્ટ ક્રિકેટના ઈતિહાસમાં સુવર્ણ અક્ષરથી લખાશે. નવા વર્લ્ડ ટેસ્ટ ચેમ્પિયનશિપ ચક્રની પોતાની પહેલી શ્રેણીમાં ઇંગ્લેન્ડ અને મહેમાન ભારત — બંનેએ તમામ પાંચ ટેસ્ટમાં જબરદસ્ત લડાયક રમત નું પ્રદર્શન કર્યું. મુકાબલો ૨-૨ થી ડ્રૉ રહ્યો પણ મને ખાત્રી છે કે બંને ટીમો અને તેમના ચાહકવર્ગ ને આ મુકાબલો જીત માં થી હારમાં પરીણમ્યો તેવી લાગણી થઇ હશે….હાથકો આયા પર મુંહકો ના લગાયા! છેલ્લી ટેસ્ટના છેલ્લા દિવસે છેલ્લી વીકેટ અને માત્ર 6 રનનું છેટું રહ્યું હતું શ્રુંખલાના પરિણામથી! ભારતના ઝડપી બોલરોએ અને ખાસ કરીને મોહમ્મદ સિરાજે તેમની ક્રિકેટની જિંદગીની સર્વોત્તમ બોલિંગનું પ્રદર્શન કર્યું. પ્રસિધ્ધ ક્રિશ્ના અને આકાશ દીપે, સિરાજને બરાબર સાથ આપ્યો અને સમયાનુસાર ઇંગ્લેન્ડ ની ભાગીદારીઓ તોડવામાં મહત્ત્વનો ભાગ ભજવ્યો. દુનિયાના સર્વશ્રેષ્ઠ બોલર જસપ્રીત બૂમરા જે આ ટેસ્ટ રમી ના શક્યા, તેમની ગેરહાજરી, પ્રમાણમાં નવી કહેવાય તેવી આ બોલિંગ ની ટુકડીએ લાગવા ના દીધી! ભારતની ટીમના ચાહકો આ છેલ્લી ટેસ્ટનો વિજય એટલાંજ વર્ષો વાગોળશે જેટલાં વર્ષો ઇંગ્લેન્ડના ચાહકો આ હારની ટીસ અનુભવતા રહેશે. છેલ્લી ટેસ્ટ એટલી રોમાંચક રહી કે તેની લાગણીના પૂરમાં આગલી ચાર ટેસ્ટની કાંટાની ટક્કર ભૂલી જવાય. આ શ્રેણી કોઈ સુપર હિટ ફિલ્મ જેવી રહી, જે મને ખાત્રી છે કે વર્ષો પછી પણ આખા ક્રિકેટ જગતમાં અત્યંત સફળ તેવી શ્રેણીઓમાંની એક,તેવી ગણાશે.
રોહિત શર્મા, વિરાટ કોહલી અને રવિ અશ્વિન જેવા ત્રણ દિગ્ગજોની નિવૃત્તિ બાદ ભારતની ટીમ થોડાં અનિશ્ચિત અને બદલાવના માહોલમાં હતી. ટીમની કમાન પ્રથમ વખત યુવા કૅપ્ટન શુભમન ગિલના હાથમાં સોંપવામાં આવી હતી, જેમણે ઇંગ્લેન્ડમાં અત્યાર સુધી માત્ર એક જ ટેસ્ટ રમી હતી. અનેક નિષ્ણાતો માનતા હતા કે સારી રીતે સ્થિર થયેલી ઇંગ્લિશ ટીમ મહેમાનોને સરળતાથી હરાવી દેશે. ભલે ઇંગ્લેન્ડનું તેજ બોલિંગ આક્રમણ છેલ્લા વર્ષો કરતાં થોડું બદલાયેલું હોય, પરંતુ એ કોઈ ચિંતા નહોતી — ખાસ કરીને જ્યારે કૅપ્ટન બેન સ્ટોક્સ બોલિંગ માટે તંદુરસ્ત અને તૈયાર હતા.
ભારત તરફથી ટોચના ક્રમમાં મોટા ફેરફાર કરવામાં આવ્યા હતા. સૌથી અનુભવી બેટ્સમેન કે.એલ. રાહુલ ઓપનર તરીકે ઉતર્યા, જ્યારે કૅપ્ટન ગિલે મહત્વનો ચોથો ક્રમ સંભાળ્યો. યશસ્વી જયસ્વાલ પહેલેથી જ ઓપનિંગમાં મજબૂત સ્થાન બનાવી ચૂક્યા હતા અને ઇંગ્લેન્ડ સામે ઘરઆંગણે શાનદાર શ્રેણી રમી ચૂક્યા હતા, છતાં આ તેમની ઇંગ્લેન્ડની પહેલી જ સફર હતી. ભારતના પ્રમાણમાં નવા અને ઇંગ્લેન્ડના વાતાવરણ માટે બિનઅનુભવી તેવા બેટિંગ ક્રમાંક માટે આ ખૂબ મોટો પડકાર હતો. આ કારણે જ મહત્તમ વિવેચક અને ચાહકવર્ગની માન્યતા હતી કે ભારતની ટીમ માટે આ શ્રેણી જીતવી અશક્ય છે. તદઉપરાંત, ભારતના વિજય માટે જે સૌથી વધુ મહત્વનું અંગ ગણાય તેવા ઝડપી બોલર બૂમરા માત્ર ત્રણ ટેસ્ટ રમવાના હતાં તેવી ઘોષણા બીસીસીઆઇ દ્વારા શ્રેણીની શરૂઆતમાંજ કરવામાં આવી હતી. સૌથી મોટા હથિયાર વગર લડાઈ જીતવી તે લોઢાના ચણા ચાવવા બરાબર હતું. બૂમરા જેવો ખેલાડી માત્ર વિકેટો જ નથી ખેરવતો; તેની હાજરી માત્ર પ્રતિસ્પર્ધી ઉપર દબાવ વધારવામાં અગત્યનો ભાગ ભજવે છે. ક્રિકેટની રમત ખેલાડી જેટલી શરીરની શક્તિથી જીતે છે તેથી ઘણી વધુ મનની શક્તિથી જીતે છે. આ શ્રેણી આ વાતનું એક ઉત્તમોત્તમ ઉદાહરણ છે.
પાંચમી ટેસ્ટના આંચકપૂર્ણ પરિણામ બાદ આગલી ચાર ટેસ્ટ મેચોમાં જે રસાકસીની રમત થઈ તે કોઈના માનસપટ પરથી ભુસાઈ જાય તે વાત નવાઈ પમાડે તેવી નથી. અને આ પરિણામને બન્ને પક્ષ માટે હું આંચકાજનક માનું છું. ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના ચાહકો માટે વિજયનો પ્યાલો હોઠ પાસે આવીને છીનવાઇ ગયો જ્યારે ભારતના ચાહકો માટે, મૃતપ્રાય થયેલી ટેસ્ટ અને શૃંખલમાં જાણે ચમત્કારિક રીતે પ્રાણ ફૂંકાયો! છેલ્લા દિવસની રમત શરૂ થઈ ત્યારે ઇંગ્લૅન્ડને માત્ર ૩૫ જ રનની જરૂર હતી અને હજુ તેમની પાસે ૪ વિકેટો હતી. અને દિવસના પહેલાં બે જ બોલમાં આ લક્ષ્ય ઘટીને ૨૭ થઈ ગયું ત્યારે ભારતની ટીમના, ભલભલા આશાવાદી ચાહકોએ પણ જીતની આશા છોડી દીધી હતી. પણ આજ સમયે ખેલાડીઓની માનસિક શક્તિનું સાચું પરીક્ષણ થાય છે. અને જેટલો આશાવાદ ભારતના ખેલાડીઓમાં જીત માટે દેખાયો કદાચ તેટલીજ અનિશ્ચિતતા અને ગભરાટ ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના પૂછડિયા ખેલાડીઓમાં દેખાયો. જોકે એમ કહેવું પડે કે તેમના એક ઓલ રાઉંડર ખેલાડી ક્રિસ વોંકસના ઇજાગ્રસ્ત હોવાથી તેની ખોટ મોંઘી સાબિત થઈ. પણ જ્યારે ઇંગ્લૅન્ડનો જુમલો માત્ર ૩ વિકેટે ૩૦૧ રનનો હતો અને તેઓ વિજયથી માત્ર ૭૫ રનની દૂરી પર હતાં તથા તેમના બે બેટધરો લગભગ ૨૦૦ રનની ભાગીદારી નોંધાવી, ભારતની બોલિંગ ઉપર સંપૂર્ણપણે હાવી થઈ ગયા હતાં, ત્યારે ભારતના બોલરોએ તેમની આશા છોડી ન હતી. ઇંગ્લૅન્ડ માટે ટેસ્ટ અને શ્રેણી જીતવી તે હવે માત્ર એક ઔપચારિક વાત હતી. પણ ઘણી વખત અનપેક્ષિત સરળતા વ્યક્તિને ધ્યાન ભુલાવી દે છે. મારી દ્રષ્ટિએ રમતે આ ક્ષણે એક મોટો પલટો ખાધો અને તેના આચકમાંથી ઇંગ્લૅન્ડ બહાર નીકળી ના શક્યું. ભારત માટે તો ડૂબતાંને તીનકાનો સહારો તેવી ચોથી વિકેટ જે ભારતને હેરી બ્રૂક દ્વારા એક અનપેક્ષિત ભેટ રૂપે મળી, અને ત્યારબાદ ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના બૅટિંગ ક્રમાંકમાં અચાનક માનસિક પરિવર્તન દેખાયું, તેણે ભારતના ખેલાડીઓને અને ખાસ કરીને મોહમ્મદ સિરાજને બાજી પલટી નાખવામાં ખૂબ મદદ કરી. આ માટે ભારતીય ટીમ અને ખાસ કરીને તેમની બોલિંગ ટુકડીએ જે લડાયક મનોવૃત્તિ બતાવી તેની સરાહના કરવી રહી. હાથમાં આવેલી એક નાની અમથી તક પણ શી રીતે સંપૂર્ણ સફળતામાં પરિવર્તિત કરી શકાય, તેનું આ એક ઉત્કૃષ્ટ ઉદાહરણ છે. આ આખી ટેસ્ટ મેચ અને ખાસ કરીને ચોથી ઇનિંગ, કેમ ટેસ્ટ ક્રિકેટ, ટેસ્ટ એટલેકે એક પરીક્ષણ કહેવાય છે, અને તે શા માટે ક્રિકેટની રમતમાં માનસિક શક્તિની ચરમસીમાનું પ્રતિક છે, તેનું જ્વલંત ઉદાહરણ છે. સદીઓ સુધી આખી દુનિયામાં ક્રિકેટના રસિયાઓ અને ક્રિકેટના કોચ, આ ચોથી ઇનિંગ નું વિશ્લેષણ કરતાં રહેશે. આ ટેસ્ટ અને શ્રેણી ઊગતા ખેલાડીઓને માટે એક અભ્યાસક્રમ સમાન બની રહેશે, બન્ને પરિસ્થિતિઓ માટે; શી રીતે છેલ્લા બોલ સુધી વિજય માટે આશા ના છોડવી અને શી રીતે જ્યાં સુધી વિજય નથી મળ્યો ત્યાં સુધી લક્ષ્ય ઉપરથી બેધ્યાન ના થવું! ભારતના બોલરોએ જે છેલ્લા બોલ સુધી લડી લેવાની મનોશક્તિનું પ્રદર્શન કર્યું તે માત્ર તેમની વ્યક્તિગત પ્રગતિ જ નહીં પણ ભારતની બિનઅનુભવી ટીમ માટે પણ એક શક્તિવર્ધક ઔષધ તરીકે કામ કરશે તેમાં મને કોઈ શંકા નથી. જ્યારે પણ કોઈ ટીમ દિગ્ગજ ખેલાડીઓની નિવૃત્તિ બાદ નવેસરથી પોતાની ઓળખ સાબિત કરવાના પ્રયાસમાં હોય ત્યારે આવા પરિણામ એક ઐશ્વરીય સંકેત હોય છે.
આદર્શ રીતે, જ્યારે શૃંખલા પૂરી થાય ત્યારે નફા નુકસાન નો હિસાબ માંડવો પડે છે. પણ આવા ઉત્તેજનાપૂર્ણ પરિણામ બાદ ભારતીય ટીમ, ચાહકો અને સંચાલકોમાં અતિ ઉલ્લાસની લાગણી હોય તે સ્વાભાવિક છે. ભારતીય પત્રકાર વર્ગ અને સોશિયલ મીડિયા પણ ૨-૨ ના પરિણામને વિજય માનીને હરખાઈ રહી છે, ત્યારે શ્રેણીનું પરિણામ કેટલા અંશે વ્યાજબી કહેવાય, તે પ્રશ્ન પુછવો વ્યાજબી અને જરૂરી છે. હારેલી ટીમ આવા સંતુલિત પરિણામને હમેશ ઉચિત ઠેરવવાનનો પ્રયત્ન કરશે, અને જ્યારે આ ટીમ ઇંગ્લૅન્ડ હોય ત્યારે તો ખાસ. પોતાની હારને પણ કેવી ચતુરાઈથી વિજયમાં બતાવવી તેમાં ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના પત્રકારો અને ચાહકોનો જોટો જડવો મુશ્કેલ છે. હજુ સુધી એક પણ ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના પત્રકારે આવી હાથમાં આવેલી બાજી હારવી તે માનસિક ગભરાટનું પરિણામ હોવું તથા ‘બાઝબોલ’ ના નગારા હેઠળ કોઈ પણ પરિસ્થિતિમાં માત્ર આક્રમક રમતજ રમવી તેવી મનઃસ્થિતિનું પરિણામ હોવું, તે કબૂલ્યું નથી. હેરી બ્રૂકની કબૂલાત કે તેની અકાળે આપી દીધેલી વિકેટ ટીમને ભારે પડી ગઈ, તે એક માત્ર અંદેશો છે. મને ખાતરી છે કે અંગ્રેજો ટીમ મહી આવી ચર્ચા ખુલ્લે આમ કરશે અને ક્યાં શી રીતે ભૂલો થઈ તેનો હિસાબ જરૂર માંડશે; પણ જાહેરમાં કબૂલાત કરવી તે તેમના લોહીમાં નથી. અને ખાસ કરીને જ્યારે થોડાજ મહિનામાં તેઓ એશિસનો જંગ લડવા ઓસ્ટ્રેલિયાના પ્રવાસે જવાના છે ત્યારે તો એક એક શબ્દ તોલી તોલીને બોલવું તે તેમની રણનીતિ રહી છે.
ભારતના પક્ષે, નફા નુકસાન નો હિસાબ થોડો સરળ છે. શૂભમન ગિલ માટે એક સૌથી મોટી સકારાત્મક વાત એ હતી કે તેમના ઉપર જીતની અપેક્ષા તેમના પહેલાં ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના પ્રવાસે ગયેલ કપ્તાનો, વિરાટ કોહલી અથવા રોહિત શર્મા કરતાં ઘણી ઓછી હતી. નવોદિત અને બિનઅનુભવી કપ્તાનના નેજા હેઠળ, દિગ્ગજ ખેલાડીઓની નિવૃત્તિ બાદ, ઇંગ્લૅન્ડનો પાંચ ટેસ્ટમાં પડકાર ઝીલવો અને વિજયી બનીને આવવું તેવી અપેક્ષા જવલ્લેજ કોઈ રાખતું હતું. મારા હિસાબે, આ ભારતની ટીમ કદાચ ૩-૧ અથવા ૪-૧ થી પરાજિત થઈ ને પરત થઈ હોત તો પણ પત્રકાર અને સોશિયલ મીડિયા તેને કબૂલી લેત. એટલા માટેજ, ૨-૨ ની બરાબરી શ્રેણી ના વિજય બરાબર લાગે છે. પણ શું આ લાગણી હોવી, તે માત્ર છેલ્લી ટેસ્ટના ચમત્કારિક વિજયના કારણે જ છે?
હું માનું છું કે આ ભારતીય નવોદિત ખેલાડીઓની ટીમે એવા ઘણા પ્રમાણ આ શૃંખલા દરમ્યાન આપ્યા છે કે જે છેલ્લી ટેસ્ટના વિજયની પૃષ્ઠભૂમિમાં રહેલા હોવાથી, આ વિજયને વધુ સ્વીકાર્ય બનાવે છે. આ શ્રેણીમાં ઘણા નવા વિક્રમ સ્થાપિત થયા જેના અહેવાલોથી સૌ વાકેફ છે, માટે તેમનું પુનરાવર્તન કરવાનો મારો ઇરાદો નથી. પણ કોઈ પણ કપ્તાન પોતાની પહેલી સંપૂર્ણ શ્રેણી ઇંગ્લૅન્ડમાં રમતો હોય અને સર ડોન બ્રેડમેનના શ્રેણીના કુલ ૮૧૦ રનના વિક્રમને તોડવાની નજીક હોય તો તેનો ઉલ્લેખ ના કરવો તે એક ક્ષતિ લેખાશે. ચોથી ટેસ્ટ ના પહેલાં દાવમાં શૃંખલાની ચોથી સદી નોંધાવીને શૂભમન ગિલ આ વિક્રમ થી માત્ર ૧૦૦ રન દૂર હતાં અને બીજી શક્ય ત્રણ ઇનિંગ્સ તેમના હાથમાં હતી. આખરે તેઓ આ વિક્રમથી ૫૬ રન દૂર રહી ગયા પણ તેમણે સોબર્સ, ગાવર, ગાવસ્કર અને ગૂચ જેવા મહાન ક્રિકેટરોના રેકોર્ડને આંબી બ્રેડમેન પછી બીજું સ્થાન લીધું તે એક ખૂબ મોટી સફળતા કહેવાય. ગિલના આ રનોના વરસાદમાં ભારતના બીજા પાંચ બેટધરોનું પ્રદર્શન એટલું પ્રસિદ્ધિ પામી ના શક્યું. રાહુલ અને જાડેજાએ ૫૦૦+ રન બનાવ્યા જ્યારે પંત અને જૈસવાલે ૪૦૦+ રનોનો ફાળો આપ્યો. વોશિંગ્ટન સુંદર એક પ્રતિભાશાળી ઓલ રાઉંડર તરીકે પ્રસ્થાપિત થયા અને પોતાની કારકિર્દીની પહેલી સદી નોંધાવી. ભારત પક્ષે કુલ ૧૨ સદીઓ નોંધાઈ જે એક અનપેક્ષિત વિક્રમ કહેવાય. બન્ને પક્ષે, રનોનો ધોધ વરસ્યો. મોટે ભાગે ઇંગ્લૅન્ડમાં પહેલી ઇનિંગનો ૩૫૦ રનનો સ્કોર પ્રતિસ્પર્ધી માટે પડકારરૂપ ગણાય. આનું કારણ ખાસ કરીને ઇંગ્લૅન્ડની ઘાસ વાળી પિચ, વાદળછાયું વાતાવરણ અને તેમનો ડ્યૂક બોલ, જે સ્વિંગ બોલિંગને ખૂબ મદદરૂપ બની રહે છે. પણ છેલ્લા થોડા સમયથી, અને ખાસ કરીને જ્યારથી ઇંગ્લેન્ડે ‘બાઝબોલ’ નીતિ અપનાવી છે ત્યારથી તેમની પિચો થોડી બેટિંગને અનુરૂપ બની છે. આ વાત તેમના પ્રચારતંત્ર દ્વારા ખૂબ કાબેલિયતથી અને કોઈ વખત અયોગ્ય કહેવાય તેવી રીતે બૅટિંગની પ્રશસ્તિ દ્વારા છુપાવવામાં આવે છે. જ્યારે થોડી ‘મસાલેદાર’ પિચ ઉપર તેમના બેટધારો નિષ્ફળ જાય, જેમ પાંચમી ટેસ્ટની પહેલાં દાવમાં અને બીજા દાવમાં ૭ વિકેટો માત્ર ૬૬ રનમાં, ત્યારે તેને અપવાદરૂપ ગણી ટાળવામાં તેમની કુનેહ દેખાઈ આવે છે. આવી, પ્રમાણમાં બેટિંગ માટે સરળ કહેવાય તેવી પિચો ઉપર આ શૃંખલા રમાઈ તે બોલિંગના રેકોર્ડ તપાસતા જણાઈ આવે છે. પાંચે પાંચ ટેસ્ટ મેચો પાંચમા દિવસ સુધી ચાલી, તે આજના સમયમાં લગભગ અસામાન્ય કહેવાય તેવી વાત છે. છેલ્લા દાવમાં પણ ટીમ ૩૫૦ થી વધુ ના લક્ષની નજીક સરળતાથી જઈ શકે તે ઇંગ્લૅન્ડના ટેસ્ટ ક્રિકેટના ઇતિહાસમાં એક અસાધારણ વાત કહેવાય. ભારત તરફથી, ઝડપી ગોલંદાજોએ ખૂબ મહેનત કરી અને મુશ્કેલ પરિસ્થિતિઓમાં પણ ટીમને હમેશા પ્રતિસ્પર્ધી સાથેજ હરીફાઈમાં રાખી. બૂમરા જેવા મેચ-વિનર બોલરની અનિયમિત ઉપલબ્ધિને કારણે દબાવમાં આવવાને બદલે તેને તકમાં ફેરવી ભારતને વિજય અપાવ્યો જે ભવિષ્ય માટે ખૂબ ફાયદાકારક સાબિત થશે. આમાં ખાસ કરીને મોહમ્મદ સિરાજ ના જેટલા વખાણ કરી તેટલા ઓછા છે. તેમની આ શૃંખલા દરમ્યાન કામગીરીને બિરદાવવા યોગ્ય શબ્દો મળે તેમ નથી. આ શ્રેણીના ઘણા સકારાત્મક મુદ્દા છે જેની ચર્ચા વર્ષો સુધી ચાહક વર્ગ કરશે. પણ બન્ને પક્ષ માટે જો કોઈ ટીકા કરવી હોય તો તે છે બન્ને ટીમોની હવામાં ફિલ્ડિંગ. બન્ને ટીમોએ કુલ્લે ૪૦ કેચ છોડ્યા! ભારતે ૨૩ અને ઇંગ્લેન્ડે ૧૭. ઇંગ્લેન્ડે પાંચમી ટેસ્ટમાંજ ૬ કેચ પડતાં મૂક્યા જે તેમને ભારે પડ્યા અને તેમના પત્રાકરોએ વગાડી વગાડીને આ વાતને ભારતની સુંદર બોલિંગ દ્વારા વિજયની અગત્યતાને ઓછી બતાવવાનો બાલિશ પ્રયત્ન કર્યો. પણ તેમણે એ ઉલ્લેખ કદાપિ ના કર્યો કે જો ભારતે પહેલી ટેસ્ટમાં ૬ કેચ અને બીજી બે ટેસ્ટમાં ૧૨ કેચ પડતાં મૂક્યા ના હોત તો ચોથી ટેસ્ટ આવતા પહેલાં, ભારતે આ શ્રેણી જીતી લીધી હોત. આ ત્રણ ટેસ્ટમાં ૧૮ કેચ છોડવાથી મારા હિસાબે ભારતે હાથમાં આવેલી શ્રેણી જતી કરી. વધુ વિશ્લેષણ માટે ક્રિકબઝ ના સુંદર લેખની લિન્ક આપું છું. (Unforced errors cost India a deserved series win in England). ખેર, જ્યાં રસાકસીની રમત હોય ત્યાં આંચકાજનક પરિણામો અને આઘાતજનક ભૂલો સાથેજ આવતી હોય છે. બધી વાતોની તુલના કરતાં બન્ને ટીમોને એવું લાગે કે તેમના હાથમાંથી વિજયકળશ છૂટી ગયો. આ વાત ભલે બન્ને ટીમો માટે હારજનક લાગે, પણ તેના કારણે જ ટેસ્ટ ક્રિકેટ જીત્યું તેમ કહેવામાં કોઈ અતિશયોક્તિ નથી. ટેસ્ટ ક્રિકેટ, ઝિંદાબાદ!
English Translation
Long Live Test Cricket!
The recently concluded five-Test series between India and England—the Pataudi Trophy, now known as the “Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy”—was as explosive an advertisement for Test cricket as one could imagine. All five matches went to the fifth day, delivering breathless cricket over six weeks. This was the series’ first edition under its new name, one that will be etched in golden letters in Test cricket history. For their first series of the new World Test Championship cycle, both England and visiting India displayed remarkable fighting spirit across all five Tests. The 2–2 result might feel like both teams and their fans experienced a bittersweet outcome … the sense of having snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, or vice versa. Remarkably, on the final day of the last Test, the teams were separated by a single wicket and just 6 runs! Couldn’t have been any closer!
In the final innings, India’s fast bowlers—particularly Mohammad Siraj—delivered some of the best bowling performances of their careers. Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep provided able support by breaking England’s partnerships whenever needed. Even with the absence of Jasprit Bumrah—the best bowlers in the world, who could not play in this Test—this relatively new Indian pace unit did not let the team miss him. Indian fans will cherish the final Test win for years, as England supporters will long feel the sting of that defeat. The last Test was so dramatic that it overshadowed the fierce contest of the preceding four tests. This was like a superhit film that, I am certain, will be regarded as one of the most compelling series in cricket history for years to come.
Following the retirements of legends Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian team was in a period of transition and uncertainty. For the first time, the captaincy was handed over to Shubman Gill, who had played just one Test in England until then. Many experts felt that a well-settled England side would easily defeat the visitors—even though England’s pace attack has changed somewhat over the years, having Ben Stokes fully fit and ready to bowl meant there was nothing really to worry about from their perspective.
India underwent major changes at the top of the batting order. The most experienced batsman, KL Rahul, opened the innings, while newly appointed captain Gill took on the vital No. 4 position. Yashasvi Jaiswal had already established himself as a strong opener with a stellar home series against England, but this was his first tour of England. For a batting lineup that was still relatively new and inexperienced in English conditions, the challenge was immense. Consequently, most critics and fans believed that winning this series would be impossible for India. On top of that, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had already announced at the start of the series that Jasprit Bumrah—widely considered India’s most crucial weapon—would only be available for three of the five Tests. Trying to win a battle without your best weapon is like biting on iron bullets. Bumrah is not just about taking wickets; his very presence exerts immense pressure on the opposition. Cricket is won as much by mental strength as it is by physical prowess. This series served as a prime example of that.
After the stunning outcome of the fifth Test, one might almost forget the nail-biting cricket that occurred in the previous four matches. I call the result shocking for both sides: England supporters felt victory was snatched away from their very lips, while Indian fans witnessed a miraculous revival in what seemed like a lost Test—and series. On the final day, England needed only 35 runs with four wickets in hand. When they shaved off 8 runs in the first two balls of the day to bring the target down to 27, even India’s most optimistic Indian fan started losing hope. Yet high-pressure situations are where a player’s mental strength is tested, and India’s level of optimism for victory seemed to match the level of anxiety that crept into England’s lower order. Naturally, they sorely missed all-rounder Chris Woakes, who was injured.
Still, when England were on 301 for just three wickets—only 75 runs from victory—and two of their batters had already posted a partnership of nearly 200 runs, completely dominating the Indian bowling, the Indian bowlers refused to give up. England’s victory in that Test and the series seemed little more than a formality at that point. But sometimes apparent ease leads to carelessness. In my view, the match took a sharp turn here, from which England never recovered. For India, Harry Brook’s unexpected gift of his wicket gave them a ray of hope. It opened the door a crack which their bowlers slammed open. Suddenly, England’s batting ranks showed signs of panic, which suited India’s bowlers—especially Mohammad Siraj—perfectly in turning the tables. The Indian team, and particularly its bowling unit, deserves kudos for their fighting spirit. They showed exactly how to convert even the smallest opening into complete success. This entire Test match, especially that fourth innings, is a burning example of why Test cricket is called a “test” and why mental strength stands as the pinnacle of the sport. Cricket fans and coaches worldwide will analyze that fourth innings for decades to come. This Test and the entire series will serve as something to study for future players—for both scenarios: how to never lose hope until the last ball, and why not to lose focus on the target until it’s truly achieved. The Indian bowlers’ tenacity to fight right to the end will not only boost their own individual growth but will also act as a powerful tonic for the relatively inexperienced Indian team. Whenever a team is trying to reestablish its identity after the retirement of great players, triumphs like this are a godsend.
Ideally, once a series ends, it is customary to tally wins and losses. Yet after such an exhilarating finale, it is natural for the Indian team, their fans, and officials to be overjoyed. Indian journalists and social media are celebrating the 2–2 result like a victory. That raises the question: how reasonable is it to count this outcome as a win? A team that loses a series often claims that a tied result is fair, and with England, that is especially true. English reporters and fans are unmatched in their ability to spin a defeat into a victory. So far, not a single English journalist has admitted that their team choked, this was the result of stage fright or that the unwavering “Bazball” aggression under all circumstances led to their undoing. Harry Brook’s admission that his untimely wicket was costly for the team, is the only half-hint in that direction. I am sure the England team will discuss these mistakes internally, but public acknowledgment is not in their nature, especially with the Ashes in Australia only a few months away, where every public statement is weighed carefully.
From India’s perspective, the post-series assessment is somewhat simpler. For Shubman Gill, the biggest positive was that there were far fewer expectations on him than there would have been on more seasoned captains like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma on their previous tours of England. Under a new and inexperienced captain, with legends newly retired, almost no one expected India to return triumphant. Even if India had ended up losing 3–1 or 4–1, the media and social media fans would have accepted it. That is why a 2–2 tied series feels like a triumph. But is this perception merely a result of that miraculous victory in the last Test?
I believe this new Indian team provided plenty of evidence of its capabilities throughout the series—evidence that, though slightly overshadowed by the final Test’s heroics, makes that victory all the more credible. Many new records were set during this series; everyone is aware of them, so I’m not going to repeat them. However, it would be remiss not to mention about the Shubhman Gill, the captain playing a first full series in England, and nearly breaking Sir Don Bradman’s record of 810 runs across a series. After scoring his fourth century of the series in the first innings of the fourth Test, he was just 100 runs shy of that milestone, and still had potentially three innings to bat. In the end, he fell 56 runs short of Bradman’s record. Still, surpassing legends like Sobers, Gower, Gavaskar, and Gooch to claim second place is a monumental achievement. Amid the run blitz from Gill, India’s other five batters gained comparatively less fame—even though Rahul and Jadeja each scored 500+ runs, and Pant and Jaiswal contributed over 400 each. Washington Sundar also established himself as a talented all-rounder, registering his maiden century. India posted 12 centuries in total, an unexpected record. Runs flowed from both sides. Normally in England, a first-innings total of 350 is considered formidable because of the grassy wickets, overcast conditions, and the Duke ball’s assistance to swing. But since England adopted their “Bazball” approach, the pitches have become more batting-friendly—something their PR machine often attributing success to “great batting” and downplaying the relatively benign surfaces. If they fail on a more “spicy” track—like England did in the first innings of the fifth Test (and lost 7 for 66 in the second)—they label it an exception. The fact remains: these were batting-friendly pitches, which the bowling records confirm. All five Tests lasted to the fifth day, which is quite a rarity in modern cricket. Even in the final innings, teams were comfortably chasing targets of 350+—extraordinary in England’s Test history.
On India’s side, the fast bowlers worked tirelessly and kept the team competitive, even when the conditions were stacked against them. Rather than wilting under the pressure of Bumrah’s sporadic availability, they turned opportunity into victory, a huge plus for India’s future. Mohammad Siraj deserves endless praise—the words to describe his contribution to the series simply fall short.
A striking point that fans of both teams will discuss for years to come is the fielding—especially the catching. Both teams dropped a combined total of 40 catches, with India missing 23 and England 17. England dropped six catches in the fifth Test alone, which proved very costly for them, though some of their reporters tried clumsily to downplay India’s superb bowling by harping on those missed catches. Nowhere did they mention that in the first Test, India dropped six catches, and in the next two Tests combined, another twelve. Without those 18 missed catches, India might well have sewn up the series before the fourth Test. In fact, an excellent Cricbuzz article titled “Unforced errors cost India a deserved series win in England” analyzes this in detail. Of course, where there is a close contest, shocking results and unexpected mistakes often go hand in hand. Both teams may be feeling that the trophy slipped from their grasp. While that might bring each team some heartache, it is also precisely why Test cricket itself has emerged the winner.
After a long time, saw a good classical test type innings last night from Shubhman Gill at Edgebaston. Innings where the solidity of defence formed the basis of run making. The first thought in facing every ball was to deny a wicket and still think of making a run. Coaxing the ball through the gaps without any undue risk. Either punching it hard to the fence or playing it softly away from the fielder and taking a single, every shot told the opposition that you can’t get me out, try whatever you want to do. Good old classical way of playing cricket.
In the era when the white ball short format cricket takes a centre stage, boundaries are specifically shortened to let unintended batting errors become sixes, bats have blades as thick as a tree trunk and edges give bowlers heart aches instead of wickets, such batting had become an exotic species on the verge of extinction! Cross batted biffs or what I fondly call as “bhathabaji”, where run making is more an accident than design, the numbers on the scorecard often leaves an old timer like me, a self – proclaimed connoisseur of cricket; dissatisfied and in some ways, cheated! Sure, run making is the name of the game. But when it accompanies a quality of batsmanship that pleases the eye, the enjoyment doubles. The short format game has cultivated the era where the run making has become the focus; how you get them, is not! It’s a bit like moving away from meaningful lyrics of a song fitting a melody to the adrenalin pumping rhythm taking the precedence in music making! You enjoy both, but a caress to the fence gives more pleasure to the cricketing soul than a cross batted biff over the fence. In terms of contest also, the former is more valuable as it breaks the bowlers’ confidence while the latter gives the bowler some hope!
Test cricket is a slow burn. A great first innings often doesn’t translate into a great last innings and a win! So, the key is not to just win a contest or small battles. Every battle won must translate into winning a war. And when your opponent is as good or better than you under the conditions, you need to dominate him mentally. Winning a few sessions isn’t enough. This is where showing complete command over your batsmanship gives your opponent despair. And equally importantly, your team a belief that you can win the war. When it comes from the leader, it acts as a tonic for the team.
Years back, in Indian cricket, Sunny Gavaskar’s batting used to give Indian team a hope that they can draw a test match, which was equal to a win in those days! Then a series of batters came along who took Indian batsmanship to new heights and instilled belief that we can win. There was solidity coupled with aesthetic beauty in run making. And occasionally that transcended into ethereal experience of watching a batter use his bat as a wizard’s wand and create magic. Watching Very Very Special Laxman gave me that feeling. Last night, Shubhman Gill reminded me of that bygone era of ethereal beauty, where he and batters like Mark Waugh used to not just rule the cricket field but also our hearts. Those beautiful memories had somehow got buried under the bazzballing avalanche. Thanks Shubhman, for reviving those great memories. May this continue through the series and beyond and make this ungainly contest between bliss and biff in test cricket, irrelevant!
Sorry, have been flying around, so no contact. Heard this when I was a fly on the wall somewhere..
Small Boss (b): Sir, this is brewing into a big problem. Big Boss (B): (snaps out of his snooze with a Homer Simpson drawl) Brew, ahhaaaa….I love my brew. How can brewing be a problem? b: Sir, I mean the cricket scandal; this spot-fixing by cricketers may fix us. B: (suddenly sits up) How? b: Well Sir, obviously everyone will think if cricketers are so corrupt what about the cricket board? B: How can people connect cricketers to the Board? We said and did nothing when IPL kicked out cricketers, did we? b: Errrr..well, (coughs), sir, we sort of managed it…newspapers did report Sports minister’s complain to his counterpart about being snubbed and a national insult and all the patriotic emotional….. B: (cuts him off) Well, that is just standard political rhetoric. Does not prove our connection to the players. If anything, it will prove to the world that the government is also operating as per international standards like that…what do you call it? (snaps his fingers) aaha, the ISO!! But anyway, I do accept that we have to be seen to be doing something. After all, that IS our job. What do you think? b: Well, sir,we can put the blame on an external influence…(winks) B: Aha! Got you now. We better stay out of this whole thing, or we will have to answer the fans and government or even intelligence agency…(shiver runs through him) now, that could get messy. So the best outcome will be blaming BCCI and/or Indian government. The gullible fans will just lap it up. We can probably motivate some government official to blame Indians somehow? b: That would be most wise, Sir. Batting, bookies and Indians are synonymous anyway. Remember John the bookie? I think if we dig hard enough, we can discover a Moolchand somewhere?? B: Moolchand? b: Moolchand or Mazhar, what’s in a name, Sir. If he is a bookie, he out to be Indian! B: Good, call the High Commissioner to London; time for him to start paying back for all the bloody free tickets he has been enjoying. It is best that government handle this or we can offend cricket’s Big Brother…and as you know, without Him, all our high-flying lifestyle will come down crashing!! Also tell the coach this time to keep his mouth shut unlike the previous one, who spilled the bloody beans on the Sydney test! b: Sir, with all the due respect, we may still need plan B. You know what, Sir, its a pity that we were not playing at home.. B: Why do you say that? b: Because then our intelligent agency would have “explained” that video footage evidence suitably. Unfortunately we are dealing with Scotland Yard.. B: (with a large grin showing paan-chewed, gold-capped teeth): You gave me an idea Chhotu. Isn’t it correct that even though we are playing in England, we are the host nation? So we can claim we are still the host board for this series. We should have home advantage and hence we can summon our police to do the investigation instead of the Scotland Yard! Problem solved!! b: Umm, Sir, but the home series was against the Australians. Against England, we are visitors. B: Oh well, ok. May be I should keep my eyes open in the meetings! Bloody meetings, why do we keep them after Lunch? Anyway, that will be our plan B. b: What exactly are you saying, Sir? B: Well, I tell you what. If the players have not left the country after completing the home series, they are, technically speaking, still at home!! Chhotu looks stunned!! And seems like that is not a first.. Big B continues.. B: Plan B; let us blame the ECB for bringing in foreign police to do the investigation. Frankly, my dear chap, it is racism!! And to be perfectly honest, our intelligence agency would do a lot better job than Scotland yard. They have received plenty of recommendations from foreign governments like India and USA!! b: Well, Sir, ECB has actually been very kind to us in hosting Australian series. That may not go down well.. B: Well, Poms need Pounds too. Don’t worry, I will explain it all to that fellow, what’s his name…ah well, whoever, when we meet at the Champions League T20 retreat in South Africa… He understands sub-continent politics quite well… b: Brilliant, Sir, as usual…aap ka jawab nahi..Just for my curiosity, do you seriously believe there is Indian hand in everything wrong happening here? B: Absolutely..no doubts. b: Even in natural disasters like the floods, tropical cyclones, earthquakes etc? B: Of course. I am amazed you can’t see that, Chhotu. May be that is why you are small. India gave us the wrong side of the land. But more importantly, if they had not separated, it would have been India suffering now! I tell you, they are rogues.. b: (opens his mouth to say something but words do not emerge)…. B: I must confess though, that I do not see Indian hand in everything. b: So are you really saying there was some calamity in which there was no Indian hand? Which one Sir? B: Well, the tropical cyclone Phet, which hit us hard and completely missed India! b: So you are saying that India was not responsible for the cyclone Phet, correct? B: I didn’t say that Chhotu. I said, there was no Indian HAND in that. There were plenty of Indian mouths!! b: (almost falling off his chair) What? B: Well, I tell you; mark my words my dear chap. It was those billions of Indian mouths that were blowing hard at the cyclone and diverted it from their western sea coast to Karachi! b: (suddenly tumbles out of his chair and touches the feet of Big B): Tusi badi top ho Sir! Now I know why no one except you deserves to sit on this chair..
Been sneezing since…Now I know how even a fly on the wall catches cold!!
So John Howard, ex-PM of Australia has failed another “election”. In some ways you can say that he lost a winnable one this time unlike the one he lost to Kevin Rudd in Nov 2007. I honestly thought he would have got used to loosing by now! Apparently, you can neither take out the politics from the politician nor a politician from politics!! Most Pollies in all countries have a very sharp sense of smell; they will smell-out power even from a chook-raffle! Top level sports administration, obviously represents a pot of honey to a bear; especially to those who are missing their power-fix. And when a sport interests lots of people and spins a few bobs, it is certainly like a full syringe to a junkie.
But you can fool some people sometimes. Little Johhny is now facing the barbs from the thorns he nurtured during his tenure. While he did some excellent work to turn Australian economy around, his ultra-conservative beliefs could not adept to the fast changing canvas of this small but increasingly multi-cultural society. For whatever reason, even at the peak of his powers, he was viewed by many (and not necessarily coloured population only) as a torch-bearer of long defunct white-Australia policy. His utter refusal to apologise to the aborigines for whatever reason, did not help his cause. For all I know, he may be merely simplistic; convinced that anything different from his belief does not merit any attention from him. Fair enough, for an individual. Unfortunately that is not a trait of a leader. Great leaders never divide; they have a gift to unite the most diverse. Looking at the diverse nature of ICC, where 10 full member countries represent a myriad of colours and cultures, I was surprised that Cricket Australia manipulated Howard above what would have been a very welcome candidate like the kiwi Sir John Anderson, especially when Australia already had their turn in Malcolm Grey. All those detractors crying foul and complaining today about subcontinent’s so-called power “abuse”, very conveniently forget that CA did exactly the same by bullying New Zealand cricket. CA did that simply because they could. Those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones at others.
While Australia and New Zealand had an option to choose their representative to head ICC, their representative was eventually going to represent all member countries. With an incredibly complex cultural mix of ICC, what you need is a candidate acceptable to all. If CA had applied that criteria, Howard would have failed in CA’s board room itself. I am sure CA board members are not naive. So the obvious inference is that they wanted to bring in Howard as their Axe-man; someone who would not hesitate to seek and chuck out the “rotten eggs”. After all, those backward third world and corrupt countries can only produce corrupt leaders who are now corrupting the beautiful English game. Why is that so hard to understand? What all the “chest-beaters” in Australia (I can actually hear a giggle from across the Tasman sea!) conveniently forget is that CA (probably with support from England) tried a political stunt which back fired. It happens; get on with it.
In politics, there is a critical process called face-saving formula. What now, is the face-saving formula for CA? Re-nominating Howard would be provocative and more importantly, likely to get snubbed again! I am not sure if CA is actually that masochistic! Sir John Anderson is hardly going to accept the used-towel nomination, especially when his claim to the nomination merited first-choice. In fact I can see NZ completely washing their hands off this affair. CA can dig in their heels and refuse to nominate any one. That will certainly look churlish. Like it or not, political and economic reality is that CA has to participate in this process as a part of ICC board and nominate someone who can take the attention away from this affair and still become a respected board member and a fantastic representative of all cricket playing countries. Some one like Gideon Haigh (who seems to have a one-point agenda of BCCI bashing) claims there was no better nominee for CA than John Howard. Get real Haighy; Mark Taylor will be well respected and will contribute towards bringing closer, all cricket boards. And that is lot more worthy cause than mending the ruffled ego of little Johny…
If you were frozen in early 70s and thawed today, you won’t be blamed for being surprised at not recognizing the game of cricket. Night cricket, coloured clothing, bright lights, skimpily dressed cheers leaders, loud music and an almost universal par run rate of 6-8 runs per over, would certainly confuse you as to the identity of this vaguely familiar beast. And if you were unfortunate enough to see or follow “Player Auction” you would have required medical attention! Historians and anthropologists tell us that evolution is an extremely slow process. Hence I consider cricket fans of my generation, extremely lucky. We can claim to have seen evolution of a game that hardly changed for over a century, from its “Lagaan” days.
No one, including the protagonists knew that Kerry Packer’s fight with the Australian cricket board to get Australian TV broadcast rights would turn out to be lot more than merely a clash of egos. When the push came to the shove, Packer’s so-called circus ended up being the evolutionary impetus that the game needed. What World Series cricket started was reluctantly accepted by the so-called bastions of the game almost like a bitter pill, simply because the audience could not be denied the super mix of serious cricket with entertainment. History repeated itself when T20, once again with its roots in English domestic cricket was picked up by BCCI almost reluctantly and converted into a global product. If some one had told me a decade back that a yet unproven test bowler like Kemar Roach will earn close to a million US in a country where many of its finest cricketers earned just enough to keep their heads above water, I would have politely guided him to the bus no. 111. (Destination Mental Hospital in Ahmedabad). Trust English to invent something and let others to actually show its true worth!! Traditionalists rarely benefit from serendipity…
Being a lover of traditional cricket, I must confess I was almost a non-believer in this hit and giggle. Having played in a few 20-over-a-side flood lit tennis ball cricket tournaments in India, even though as a summer past-time, I did understand the power of this format to attract a large section of audience who otherwise found traditional cricket far too slow and even boring. However I did not anticipate my excitement and sleepless nights due to IPL 3; not that I am complaining! It is a spectacle not to be missed for those who love the game of cricket. I love Test cricket over anything, but my cricket-fix can be satiated to some extent with a T20 within a short span; especially as there are not many test matches being played. As we say in Gujarati, “Na mama karta kano mamo saro” (verbal translation; better one-eyed uncle than none!!). I may have started my attraction to this format with a bit of scepticism, but as old Shammi Kapoor song goes, “Aap yoon hi agar hamse milte rahe, dekhiye ek din pyar ho jayega!” (Keep meeting like this and one day you will fall for me), I have met T20 sufficient number of times.
Its immense popularity in India though purely accidental, also represents a successful marriage between business and entertainment. At one point, BCCI refused to acknowledge its presence and even refused to put up a team for inaugural world cup, by not starting a domestic comp; the only cricket board in the world to do so. They did not expect Indian team’s out-of-no-where win in the inaugural event. That was enough to ignite the cricket-mad India, mainly since it included two special wins over arch rivals Pakistan. Kapil’s Devils did exactly the same in 1983 for the 50 overs format. Who will forget that bizarre bowl out in the first T20 world cup fixture between India and Pakistan? After the game ended in a tie, the hilarious and now redundant bowl-out tie-breaker rule was applied, when no Pakistani bowler could hit the defenceless stumps, where as Indian net-bowlers did so with aplomb. That must rank as one of the funniest thing I have ever seen on the cricket field….it was as if even the stumps were mocking Pakistan bowlers who balked and could not deliver a straight one. Why take long run-up and deliver a leg spinner or a leg cutter when the purpose is to hit the stumps with no batsman in front? I am sure Afridi and Umar Gul will have nightmares of that event long after they retire. Is there any surprise why Indians are more successful in all facets of life than their erstwhile brothers? The final was another cracker that will go down in the annals on Indian history as a golden page. Pakistan played brilliant cricket but Indians were just that bit better and a tad lucky!! You have to be, especially when you need hands of someone like Appam to bring the curtain down on the last act!
T20 is very much like watching a movie where the whole life of a character is condensed. It showcases all the elements of cricket within a short period, matching short attention span of many viewers. Normally oldies like me like to reserve that opinion for younger generation, but really, lack of patience has nothing to do with the age. Honestly I can’t understand why older folks would not enjoy shorter version more; after all the time left for them on this earth, will fit in lot more T20s than test cricket! But then you know that often those who complain, are the ones who “voyeur” it most. Cricket and miniskirts have something in common…
Fear that this format may kill what is traditionally held very close to cricket lovers’ hearts has some validity. All the mastery required to stay at the crease or to “think” out a batsman who has come to the crease with a liberal dose of “Favicol” or “Liquid Nails”, in a game of unlimited overs, is not required in the shorter version. Believe it or not, but God does not give THAT mastery even to the so-called gifted. It has to be learned hard way through the toils of innumerable hot days on the paddocks. Uneven, unmade or batsmen-friendly wickets; amateur, unresponsive and often one-eyed umpires; butter fingered team mates; no-clue captains are some elements that teach a wannabe cricketer to get his or her runs or wickets in the most obvious ways. Most importantly, longer version teaches a player, the most important aspect of cricket, or indeed life; that you must learn to control your mind. A player has to go through so many filters before making it to the top that often these obstacles become insurmountable for many. That is why test cricket is the ultimate test of the full range of a player’s ability; not just God given talent but those illusive ingredients called temperament and attitude. Without that many talented players failed to reach the zenith they could have.
Comparatively, to succeed in T20 format, you need to be able to biff more than pat; clear rather than pierce the field, be lucky rather than skillful. It is more physical. A lucky mishit or a French-cut can be the difference between a champ and a chump. Often a morsel of luck could do what a wagon full of skills couldn’t. You may say that T20 is more a gamble than a competition. Having said that, even though the psychological component of the longer version of the game manifests differently in T20, the result is the same. Sometimes a player may travel a life time in a space of 20 overs.. .any doubts just ask Misbah-Ul-Haq!! From a cricketer’s point of view, in T20 you are on a hiding to nothing. A bowler may have to bowl only 4 overs in the whole game, but the emotional roller-coaster could demand the energy of a 20 over marathon. Every one will forget your earlier 23 balls if the last one goes awry. Similarly for a batsman, a complete change of mindset will demand a huge mental effort. T20 challenges a player as much psychologically as the longer version; it requires a player to respond in a far shorter time frame. Look at who are the top players in the IPL 3 so far; classical test match players like Kallis, Tendulkar, Kumble and Murli are ahead of T20 specialists. Class and experience can adjust to anything indicating that T20 is not all slam-bang.
So is T20 really a dooms day machine for the game of cricket as many are lamenting? Many doubting Thomases had similarly predicted death of test cricket when T20’s predecessor, the 50 over ODI format became popular. Test cricket is thriving, and if you ask me, the reason is mainly one day cricket. ODI’s popularity has been responsible for evolution of players who have made run scoring as their only goal even in test cricket. A run rate close to 4 runs per over in test cricket is almost expected today; if that happened in seventies, I am sure it would have resulted in a few coronaries. It is almost as if the batsmen have thrown off their mental shackles. That is the most important reason for more results in the test matches even in days of batting friendly conditions and laws. Due to ODIs, the most significant improvement has been in fielding. From seventies fielding sides, where many fielders used to “escort” the ball to the fence, to the nineties sides with many fielders who would routinely dive or slide to stop even a single, is a quantum leap mainly as a result of the exposure of the players at very young age to the ODIs. Using same corollary, I believe T20 will bring some unseen, unexpected bonuses to the traditional cricket. Equipment is one area that looks very fertile for improvement. A few cricket boards are already trialling coloured cricket balls to promote night test cricket; Mongoose long-handle bat has already made its debut in IPL 3. I am sure we will see new strategies invented to counter the ever changing scenario on the cricket field. Since the days of Kerry Packer, everything that has been thrown in the path of this great game has actually empowered rather than stymie it. Cricket is a dynamic entity; almost like the sub-continent culture which has absorbed everything that has attacked it in last 5000 years but has continuously evolved to progress. Perhaps that is why it is so popular on the sub-continent; perhaps sub-continent culture needs cricket as much as cricket needs it.
Ok, so you don’t know me. I am Mr. Hyde… who “unhydes” when the good old Dr. Jekyll goes to sleep. I can tell you he doesn’t like me, but ..z..z..z..z….better not waste time.
I say bring back the Biff in cricket! What’s wrong with the cricket world? NZ and Aussies are having a terrific series sharing an ugly love, of the game as well as of the opposition. Instead of celebrating that, all are whining! If you believe sledging was bad, you better get your head examined. I believe cricket is a sissy game, or how can you explain a bloke with a bat in his hand complaining to the umpire, match referee, journalists, prime minister, his wife and even Mr. Spock, when the bowler doubts his lineage in no uncertain terms? Why not use it on his head!!
Cum’on, cricket is such a slow, boring simmer, it needs an ignition, a fire, an explosion like the good old contact sports. Whack, crash, tackle, bang and you get your money’s worth. All this nonsense about “threading the ball through the gap”…blah..blah..blah…if you want to thread, why not go to the sissy tailoring class?? What is wrong with a bit of a bang on the crash helmet? Have you ever heard a Rugby or an American Football players complain? Don’t you know some heads are like hard hats anyways!! Can you imagine the GGT “Great God Tendulkar” (henceforth SRT is renamed so) attracting cricket HATERS to the game?? Tell you what; Mitch Johnson can..and so could Merve Hughes;.the same Merve the Mo, who actually used his spit as a weapon on the Kiwi batsman, Mark Greatbach!! A bit of a spit on the sheep steak on a barbie, that’s what adds to the taste, maaate! Why complain about it? Even the Kiwi liked it. I mean, cum’on why else would Merve the Mo be a selector; often he doesn’t even know domestic players that he is supposed to select from! Duh!
Tell you what, there is a lot of debate going on about how cricket could survive in today’s times. This load of crap about the Spirit of the law and all that sissy stuff of no cursing/ sledging/ pushing is what is actually killing the game; not the bloody T20; that is da real think. But hey, for all Bollywood sentimentals and tear-wipers if test cricket is what it takes, hell, why not add a bit of fun to it? Here is how to do that..and again ugly aussies are the inventors (anything new to happen to cricket has come from Australia..remember the two-balls cricket?). Why not mix just a bit of Rugby rules into cricket?
Picture this; a batsman hits the ball, or as you call “threading”, a fielder is running after it to stop from crossing the boundary; and suddenly a player from the batting side (let us call him a forward) runs on to the field and crash tackles the fielder..Bang! and the spectators forget all about the ball and the batsman. Watching the fielders get crash-tackled is the real fun, man! Also from what I hear, spectators like to see the fours and sixes. Of course, the forwards will not be allowed on the field till the ball is bowled. And also other fielders can assist their mate from being tackled. I mean, the rules must be fair, for chris’ sake.
Another interesting innovation that will be a great success is that a fielder can also tackle the batsman while he is trying to take a run. And it is only fair that a batsman is free to use his bat to reach the crease. I mean, let’s make it a bit more “competitive”. The stupid rule of “Obstruction” should be the first one to be scratched off the MCC Book of Cricket Laws.
Picture another scenario; the bowler gets hit for a six and obviously does not believe it is fair (just as Mitch was completely justified in believing when he head-butted that Styrofoam inside the helmet!), what does he do? GLARE?? What a rot; again as per the democratic norm, he should be allowed to get even, by having one crack at the batsman….by chucking a fast one at his head or body…see what you can do with THAT champ? Didn’t some one say, don’t get angry, get even?? Since no runs can be scored of that delivery, all the fielders must come in, close to the pitch and can shout profanities at the batsman while the bowler is taking a swing. That is what I would call as a real Free-hit, not this other ridiculous thing in the vogue in limited overs cricket. This would also take care of multitude of complaints about how cricket has become batsman friendly…bring back a bit of balance to the game, eh?
Cricket is so sissy…half the time the players are sitting, talking, watching TV, playing Nintendo, sleeping, playing cards(!!), talking on the mobile phone (bookies or fans) and still call themselves playing cricket?? Imagine if you do that at work; what would your boss say? Ask any true Aussie who has chucked a sickie to watch the game and got caught on the camera! Poor fellow paid with his pay for the day apart from his gate money! Better make these over-paid and under-worked cricketers provide entertainment instead of sitting on their back sides. Let us say, those who are not designated “forwards” as described above, can “perform”. There should be at least four stages set up out side the boundary rope and players can jump up on the stage to do the “Darde Disko” when their mate hits a four or a six. Imagine the GGT boogying when Appam hits a four!! This will also give the substitutes to “get involved” in the game! And all the batsmen will have to shake in an inverse proportion to the runs they score…meaning less they score more they dance. After all, they must earn the handsome amounts they are paid!
Tell you what, no one will ever complain about dwindling crowds in cricket…..and finally women’s cricket will get its due in the world cricket; actually it may even surpass men’s game in crowd numbers!!! If you know what I mean..;-)
My cup is full…no, no, it is running over! I have been lucky to see one of the finest symphonies ever to have been played on the cricket field. Tendulkar’s unbeaten double ton last night was not merely an incredible achievement being first ever in 39 years and 2961 ODIs played so far, but a real master class. The control with which he coaxed the ball in to the gaps was really seen to be believed. No words can describe the beauty of it. More than the milestone, I was awe-struck by sheer control, incredible placement and almost no violence in scoring at a break-neck speed. There are players who can bludgeon the ball (as Dhoni last night), or dominate the scene completely (a la Viv Richards’ unbeaten 189 at Old Trafford in 1984), or manufacture shots to befuddle the bowlers like Sehwag usually does, but only Tendulkar in the mood he was in yesterday, could have made bowlers and fielders feel totally helpless and still enjoy the spectacle. Even agreeing that the conditions were perfect for batting, the opponent was far from toothless. A look at his batting chart will reveal that he played strokes all round. What it will not reveal is how he evaded fielders specifically placed to stop his shots. The performance was so commanding that it was like a maestro playing a club side; just that the bowling attack he shred to pieces is one of the best in the business today.
It was obvious that the bowlers could do little to stop him. Indeed the only lip any bowler could have given him was for running on the pitch like Dayle Steyn probably tried to; basically every thing the poor fellow tried had failed to disturb Tendulkar’s concentration and incandescent stroke play. When 145 km fast swinging yorkers outside the off stump are perfectly placed into midwicket gap to find the fence, and that too without violence, the bowler can only sigh. All pace bowlers, champions or otherwise, go through various steps of emotional expressions when they are bowling; a taunting smile, in-your-face frightening stare, a snarl, a tantrum, an ugly remark, kicking the invisible grass, pulling own hairs, shouting nasties at his own fielders, luck and even umpires. What I saw yesterday on the faces of Steyn and all SA bowlers was sheer tranquillity with a sense of inevitability after being dispatched to the fence. It was as if they were saying “Oh well, let us try again and hope that he gets tired or bored and gives his wicket away”. It was not helplessness; it was almost as if they were in a trance, having reached a state of Nirvana; an acceptance beyond pain. It was as if after midway through his innings, every ball bowled to Tendulkar was a “Prasad”, an offering to the God with sincere prayer that he will accept and make you a part of Himself…the innings was simply beyond all adjectives; in fact a new adjective “Tendulkar 200” would be an epitome of adjectives describing sheer beauty of batting..to me at least.
Now to the record part. There are quite a few batsmen I can think of, who deserved the record of scoring first ever double ton in an ODI, but Tendulkar gave it a credibility it deserves. Just as Robin Jackman commented on air before Tendulkar crossed 194, that he had nothing against Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe being at the top of the tree in individual score list in ODI (did you know that??), but somehow Tendulkar’s name at the top makes more sense. Usually awards make recipients more creditable; however there are some people who make an award more creditable. e.g. a Nobel Peace Prize is poorer for not having Mahatma Gandhi on its roster. Batting record for highest ODI individual score was the same without Sachin’s name on it. As the legendary cricket record breaker of all times, Sunny Gavaskar (in late 80s, an Indian author actually published a small book on Gavaskar’s records!), used to say that all cricket records are meant to be broken. And this one shall be broken too…in due course. Hard to say when though, since this one took some time. But that will never diminish the lustre of this innings. After having been written off a few times in his career, the maestro showed to every one what he has evolved into. To bat through 50 overs after playing international cricket for 20 years at an “old” age of 36 (in cricketing sense) he was answering not only his detractors but also setting a bar for his much younger colleagues. I don’t envy the young wannabe Sachins, nor his detractors who do not have a place to hide today..
The man is a genius, no one doubts that. What majority of fans miss is what goes on in that brain. He still possess that almost boyish love for the game. His passion still reminds me of that same baby-faced 14 year old I saw for the first time on Motibaug ground, Baroda (in 1987?) when he came with the Bombay team. We knew he was not going to make his debut; so we all went previous evening to see him bat in the nets. I remembered the same Sachin yesterday; same passion and love for the game, same hunger for runs. Age may have mellowed his swashbuckling style (ask Abdul Kadir who was carted for 3 sixes in an over even before Sachin had played any international game or Shane Warne of the 1997 “nightmares of Sachin coming at me”); but that is precisely where his his mastery lies..in not continuing a mono-dimensional approach to his game. His greatness is in his ability to adept his game to his advancing age. Here is a man who exactly knows how to maximise his talents under any adversity. I have seen many batsmen loosing their ability either due to age or psychological scars (like Krishnamachari Srikanth). What Tendulkar has displayed that needs to be understood and revered by every cricket fan, is his vice-like mind control. He has evolved a batting style that marries his body’s increasing limitations, his soul’s need (hunger for runs) and his team’s success. That is the work of a master!
Another thing. I have a feeling that this symphony that we call Sachin is reaching a crescendo. His last 10 international centuries have come in 33 innings in last 12 months. It is almost as if he has picked up furious pace as he is approaching final destination; may be that will come at World Cup 2011 on the sub-continent. He seems to be focussed upon making the most of the available period before calling it quits. Mark my words folks, we are in for a treat! I still feel he will continue in Test cricket beyond 2011, till he sees new crop of Indian batsmen adjust internationally to help India maintain the top rank achieved after so much effort. I really believe he is that type of a player; a total team man for whom the team’s success means more than his own. My suggestion is don’t miss to watch the maestro every time you have an opportunity..or else “धुन्ध्ते रह जाओगे” (for those who do not know Hindi: “you will keep searching for him”). Go Sachin, you little beauty!!
Another symphony from Motzart of Cricket, Lax, the Axeman. And what a contrasting day of cricket it was yesterday. Even if you may not have watched it, I am sure you can imagine Laxman and Dhoni sharing a long pertnership (I think this is their first century partnership). Laxman’s silken touch sending the cricket ball to the fence without apparent power intersperced with Dhoni’s violent treatment, was like listening to a Ghazal and a Bhangra at the same time. I love melody and rythem both equally and it was fantastic to watch. So where is this test and India’s tenuous hold on the top ranking in the ICC test championship headed? I reckon, Indians will be able to force a decision in their favour even though the wicket looks nice to bat on. I believe you need to give lots of rotation to the ball on this wicket to create an impact; Bhajji and Mishra should be able to do so and with a lead of 347, put Proteas under pressure and share the series. At worst, Indians will be chasing ~50 in fourth innings.
Also, good to see Yusuf Pathan come into the ODI team. He seems to be in great form; remains to be seen if he can stand up to the pressure of playing against probably the best bowling side in the world, with the same confidence he takes into a Ranji game. I reckon he can. He seems to be that ever-elusive all -rounder, “poor-man’s Kapil” that his younger sibling gave me a glimps of being, at the start of his career in 2004. All those who listened to me know how certain I was about Irfan Pathan becoming that important all-rounder Indian test team so desperately needs. While Yusuf Pathan is still many miles from reaching there, I believe he has the capability and, most importantly, ATTITUDE to be there. He can fill in that spot at 7, given that the “Prince” Yuvraj Singh at number 6 has done very little in test matches to support immense faith placed by his captain and selectors. About time to give the Prince a bit of competition..
Imagine this; after two years, Indian test batting order can read like so: Shewag/Gambhir (1 & 2); Badri Nath / Murli Vijay(3), Virat Kohli/Suresh Raina (4), Laxman (5), Dhoni (6) and Yusuf Pathan (7). While it won’t be easy to replace Tendulkar and Dravid, above players if given enough exposure can at least give a start to a new order.
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