When the Wall was built at the Oval....
Finally, India has won a test series in England after 21 years. Well, I would have postfixed the before said with ‘under the able captaincy of Rahul Dravid’. But, after witnessing the Day 4 (session 1-2) proceedings at The Oval, felt that would be a misnomer.
I have always been a great fan of blessed artistic batting skills. From the very young days of watching cricket, was a great fanatic of “Mohammad Azharuddin school of Wristy batting’. Remember those were the days of Sachins glory to ‘Bradman’ship. Yet, my eyes would be more glued to watch that wristy leg glance of Azzaa. That view of ball pitching just on middle and off, pinch of swing after pitching, bouncing till waist high and Azza would then pick that from around 4th wicket. Finally the flick of those magical wrists. Fantabulous!!!!
Buoy, wasn’t that a sight to watch. Just when, Azza lost that touch and moved along in his own notorious way, there came a lean-but-smart looking lad from Bangalore. Some of my friends used to dislike him, as he did not speak kannada fluently, even after studying in Bangalore. There was a huge media (newspaper dailies) speculation of him taking over the legacy of Gundappa Vishwanath. Wonder if he really has, so far?
In those days, cable TV at home was a strict NO. Whenever I read the scorecard in newspapers, this person would have batting strike rate hovering around 50 or 60 in one day internationals and about 'godae’ (WALL) was tailor-made for him.
Till now, I am not able to convince myself as a Dravid fanatic. No am not confused here. It is just that my attitude towards life and his functioning as a cricket player do not zip together at certain edges. Most of the times, I would be seen arguing about him. If my stance is FOR with his haters, it would be against with his lovers. This gives me that much more info on him as a cricket player. As an individual, no second thoughts in accepting him as a role-model.
Year’s passed on and he is now leading the team having tasted partial success at the helm. But, what happened at the Oval on the penultimate day of third test would be a hard nut to crack even for his supporters.
The timezone difference between Mel and UK, gives me that creamy time to watch cricket on a Macbook(roomies’) relaxingly at home with friends. They being strong dissidents of Rahul, usually end up successfully arguing for his actions. But not this time around. Of the few esteemed people who read this, please let me know if you have any answers for these:
1) Having a lead of 319 runs with 6 more sessions to play, he regrets to impose the Follow-on. Was he being courteous to his brit-counterpart, Vaughan on the 60th year of our Independence?
2) With an uncertain London weather looming large, kaptaan wanted his batsmen to increase their career batting average at the cost of lost time and therein decreasing the probability of winning the test.
3) With a weather forecast of cloudy/overcast conditions on Day 4 catalysed with Indian fast bowlers swinging both directions with such ease, did his astrologer predict a serious body blow if he batted on Day 5 ?
4) Having not imposed the Follow-On, the ‘Wisden Cricketer of the Year’ glues himself to the crease for 2 odd hours facing 96 balls for 12 runs. Was he showcasing to his son in the gallery for why he is called ‘Godae’?
I have always been a great fan of blessed artistic batting skills. From the very young days of watching cricket, was a great fanatic of “Mohammad Azharuddin school of Wristy batting’. Remember those were the days of Sachins glory to ‘Bradman’ship. Yet, my eyes would be more glued to watch that wristy leg glance of Azzaa. That view of ball pitching just on middle and off, pinch of swing after pitching, bouncing till waist high and Azza would then pick that from around 4th wicket. Finally the flick of those magical wrists. Fantabulous!!!!
Buoy, wasn’t that a sight to watch. Just when, Azza lost that touch and moved along in his own notorious way, there came a lean-but-smart looking lad from Bangalore. Some of my friends used to dislike him, as he did not speak kannada fluently, even after studying in Bangalore. There was a huge media (newspaper dailies) speculation of him taking over the legacy of Gundappa Vishwanath. Wonder if he really has, so far?
In those days, cable TV at home was a strict NO. Whenever I read the scorecard in newspapers, this person would have batting strike rate hovering around 50 or 60 in one day internationals and about 'godae’ (WALL) was tailor-made for him.
Till now, I am not able to convince myself as a Dravid fanatic. No am not confused here. It is just that my attitude towards life and his functioning as a cricket player do not zip together at certain edges. Most of the times, I would be seen arguing about him. If my stance is FOR with his haters, it would be against with his lovers. This gives me that much more info on him as a cricket player. As an individual, no second thoughts in accepting him as a role-model.
Year’s passed on and he is now leading the team having tasted partial success at the helm. But, what happened at the Oval on the penultimate day of third test would be a hard nut to crack even for his supporters.
The timezone difference between Mel and UK, gives me that creamy time to watch cricket on a Macbook(roomies’) relaxingly at home with friends. They being strong dissidents of Rahul, usually end up successfully arguing for his actions. But not this time around. Of the few esteemed people who read this, please let me know if you have any answers for these:
1) Having a lead of 319 runs with 6 more sessions to play, he regrets to impose the Follow-on. Was he being courteous to his brit-counterpart, Vaughan on the 60th year of our Independence?
2) With an uncertain London weather looming large, kaptaan wanted his batsmen to increase their career batting average at the cost of lost time and therein decreasing the probability of winning the test.
3) With a weather forecast of cloudy/overcast conditions on Day 4 catalysed with Indian fast bowlers swinging both directions with such ease, did his astrologer predict a serious body blow if he batted on Day 5 ?
4) Having not imposed the Follow-On, the ‘Wisden Cricketer of the Year’ glues himself to the crease for 2 odd hours facing 96 balls for 12 runs. Was he showcasing to his son in the gallery for why he is called ‘Godae’?
5) ‘Great’ Brian Lara on his farewell test match presentation ceremony asked the spectators – ‘Did I entertain you?’ If our kaptaan asked the same at Oval, bet me the decibel level of booing would have knocked down the London Bridge.
Well I was fired many more such questions. For the above ones I felt, being silent was being divinw. But, what all the detractors fail to contemplate:
1) Team filled with senior players, few noteable ex-captains, wasn’t it a collective decision not to impose follow-on. Why blame (if at all) Rahul?
2) Without Ryan Sidebottom featuring in the 2nd innings bowling attack, wasn’t the opposition bowling attack similar to a second rung county side?
3) Indian bowling spearhead, Zaheer khan, would not have bowled with same zeal and energy with his thigh strain, if Dravid had imposed the Follow-on.
4) With Sachin turning the ball like Murali on a day-3 turf, wasn’t it advantageous to present the Day 5 wicket to the likes of Kumble and Sachin?
One thing for sure, the Day-4 episode at the Oval would linger in every Dravid supporters and detractors for years to come. Moreso, in arguments dissecting his leadership skills.
This should not deter me in extending as many kudos to the Indian team for having been there and done it in style. Yooo!!!!!!
Well I was fired many more such questions. For the above ones I felt, being silent was being divinw. But, what all the detractors fail to contemplate:
1) Team filled with senior players, few noteable ex-captains, wasn’t it a collective decision not to impose follow-on. Why blame (if at all) Rahul?
2) Without Ryan Sidebottom featuring in the 2nd innings bowling attack, wasn’t the opposition bowling attack similar to a second rung county side?
3) Indian bowling spearhead, Zaheer khan, would not have bowled with same zeal and energy with his thigh strain, if Dravid had imposed the Follow-on.
4) With Sachin turning the ball like Murali on a day-3 turf, wasn’t it advantageous to present the Day 5 wicket to the likes of Kumble and Sachin?
One thing for sure, the Day-4 episode at the Oval would linger in every Dravid supporters and detractors for years to come. Moreso, in arguments dissecting his leadership skills.
This should not deter me in extending as many kudos to the Indian team for having been there and done it in style. Yooo!!!!!!
Keep Rocking :-)
posted by Pakku at 3:46 PM
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