Cricket, Lovely Cricket.

Cricket, Lovely Cricket is part of the famous lines of a calypso composed by Egbert Moore, under a pseudonym Lord Beginner, while celebrating the First victory of the West Indies team over England at Lord’s Cricket ground in England in 1950.

Whenever a cricket match has a thrilling finish with tension and excitement, these lines sum up the beauty of the game. The game of Cricket, beautiful to watch, has its origin in England, and considered a Gentleman’s game for it is played between two teams with eleven players on each side, testing their skills with a cricket ball and cricket bat. It is just a game of sport, and not a battle between two teams.

Present State of Game

Alas, it is not the case these days. Those famous lines are often replaced by “It’s just not Cricket” by traditionalists, and connoisseurs. There is lot of money in the game, and that brings intense competition amongst players- though good for the game- some of the players stoop to dishonest levels to win the game at any cost. When a batsman gets out, there is so much of excessive histrionics which looks hollow and unreal. I see the same exhibitionism in Football matches too, after a goal is scored. I reason that they are doing it to show off their physical prowess. Their sponsors are delighted who offer hefty sums to advertise their logos. The TV commentators excite the viewers with their flowery epithets, commenting it all, as part of the game. The youngsters, watching the game, emulate such antics as they grow up to play the game at international levels, causing their on field behaviour to disrepute.

The youngsters often argue that there was no excitement and euphoria in the past era of the game. True, yet the game produced great players possessing extraordinary skills and talents. Some of their cricketing shots still remain unparallel, and their behaviour- Impeccable.

There are cultural barriers amongst the playing countries and any remark said in the heat of the moment is often construed as a racist remark. The media waits to sensationalize the trivia following it up with debates, discussions, opinion polls, and SMS, thus contributing to a vitiating atmosphere. Such incidents can always be diffused by the players themselves on the field then and there with a friendly smile or a gesture. That would be exhilarating to watch, which would enhance the spirit of the game. Despite the brouhaha, the game continues to be played amongst countries of commonwealth, still under fine spirits. Thanks to some of the mature administrators who control the game.

The Game in India

In India, this game is treated almost as a religion. Cricket lovers are passionate and get emotional about it. The players are treated as icons by the media and the sponsors. During Cricket matches, the whole country gets on a holiday mood and the productivity slumps. What is football to Brazil and other South American Countries, Cricket is to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The diehard fans follow their National team to every venue where it plays, and very often they are shown on TV much to the delight of the spectators.

My Interest

Like all youngsters, I learnt my Cricket playing with friends and cousins in by lanes, Parks, small and large grounds, and oh yes, even in the house, and apartment complexes, much to the annoyance of elders, residents, who however enjoyed watching our skills; first with tennis balls, and later with real Cricket Balls. I played at every available opportunity in all places I grew up. I represented my School, My College, and my company till my body permitted. I excelled as a fast medium opening bowler, opening batsman, and as an off spinner. I watched many test matches in Delhi and Madras. Seeing the matches with friends and cousins was always exhilarating and adventurous. Studies and work was secondary during that time. Those were enjoyable days. These days, many schools and colleges in the Indian cities do not have a playground, and sports rarely encouraged. It is a pity that many boys and girls miss out this refreshing phase of life.

Even today, Cricket has not gone out of my life. Every evening, boys in the neighbourhood gather to play in front of my house with a tennis ball and a bat, and very often, one of them enter into the compound opening the gate, to pick up the ball hit by his friend. On seeing me, they smile, tip toe slowly requesting my permission to pick the ball up. This scene reminds of the same act I used to do when I was a kid. Any Cricket match telecast live on TV, I watch, and believe me I forget every other thing. It could be obsession. My emotions too go up and down. These days the game is played almost throughout the year by teams in the countries compatible to the climate. I have been watching Cricket on TV for the last six months.

The just concluded Test matches between India and Australia in Australia had everything a cricket fan looks for. Apart from the game, the most pleasant sight was when Australia’s new Prime Minister- Mr. Kevin Rudd- was seen chatting with the Indian Captain Mr. Anil Kumble so informally, and later he came into the commentators’ box. Joining the commentators Mr. Harsha Bhogale and Mr. Sunil Gavakar, he commented on the game’s proceedings with great skill and knowledge. This was during the second test in Sydney, where controversial issues sprung up, beside Australia winning the match in a thriller!

The game taught me so much. I learnt and exhibited leadership abilities, team spirit, patience, tolerance, taking initiatives, planning strategies, being articulate, and above all I acquired strength of character with a positive attitude. These qualities came in handy in my career life, which gave me so much satisfaction. In following the game, many cricket fans come to know about the places and the names of the grounds in all the cricket playing countries. No wonder, Indians know more about other countries than their own!

The versions of the game

At the international level, Cricket is played between the countries in three versions: Test Match (Five Days); one day International, and Twenty-twenty.

All the variants and the rules of the game differ. The skills exhibited by the players in each form of game differ as per the demands of the game. However, players prefer playing test matches as it is an endurance to the real skills of the player.

In the entire history of the game, Two TEST matches ended in a tie with no team winning despite playing all the days till the final ball being bowled. Such was the tension and thrill. In both the matches, Australia was one of the team, and other team - First tie was with West Indies at Brisbane during December, 1960; and in the second one India was the other team at Chennai (Madras) during September 1986.

E.M.Wellings in the 1961 WISDEN, commenting on the tied test wrote “The greatest test match, the greatest Cricket Match ever played with a ball”.

The late Jack Fingleton, Australian Cricketer and writer wrote an entire book describing the first tied test match.

Live Commentary

Presently, telecast on TV and commentary thereon is superb. Some of the Cricketers have taken to Commentary, after their retirement from the game. They are excellent, often debating on the finer points of the game with statistical inputs graphically, and with TV replays, one can really enjoy the game sitting at home. However the thrill of watching the game sitting inside the stadium is unparallel.

Before the matches were telecast on TV, Commentary on the Radio was immensely popular; especially those broadcast by the BBC and Radio Australia. Late Brian Johnston, Late John Arlott, Late Alan McGilvray were outstanding in describing the game’s progress to the imagination of the listeners. The Indian Commentators - V.M.Chakrapani, Saradindu Sanyal, Anand Rao, Pearson Surita, Dev Raj Puri, Dr.Narottam Puri, were equally on par, but had their own style and repetition of usage of phrases and sentences.

Superstitions

We all have our own superstitions, many being funny. We do not spell them out for the fear that we could be ridiculed. This funny aspect of human behaviour gets exhibited while watching the game on TV. If a batsman of our side gets out the moment we go to the rest room, we are cursed. We dare not go again till the end of the day. Often when we switch on the TV, the power goes off. We curse our luck, and curse the Electricity department. In the meantime, our side scores briskly. We hesitate to switch on again. The irrational behaviour is clearly visible to other members of the family, who not only call us crazy, but also curse the game!

Yet, despite all this the game moves on with increasing interests, and with increasing fan following, because Cricket is lovely.