We may have had an overdose of cricket in recent times. Form may have gotten mistaken for class and some minnows may have even defeated a world eleven somewhere but cricket’s best known extravaganza would soon get underway in India, Ceylon and Bangladesh. We have had such a surfeit of cricket that it hardly matters who plays whom.
This tournament is important for me because we may not get to see the likes of Tendulkar, Ponting and Muralitharan playing a world cup again. Happy to be wrong on this. They have been my favorites in any form of cricket and I have had the privilege of watching some great cricket from these legends, sitting in the gallery. I know I invite scorn by admiring Ponting – but who can pull a good length ball over midwicket with such felicity (Viv Richards excepted)
Looking back, we have come a very long way. What started as a Prudential Cup in 1975, the initial three tournaments go down as nostalgic as a black and white movie of yester years – a time when players appeared in white flannels, when there were 60 overs a side, when there were no flood-lit matches, it was the red cherry instead of this white leather, boundaries appeared larger and distant, Walsh would smile even if the batsman was plumb in front as opposed to a Sreeshanth or a Lee today who would stare and deride a batsman to death for missing a nearly wide ball. Bedi would bowl his entire 12 overs non-stop and India almost played three spinners, Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott played a full tournament. Tony Greig and Mohinder Amarnath have been key bowlers in their games, Gavaskar would take his own time to middle the ball, while Asif Iqbal had more value as a fast runner between wickets than as an all-rounder. There was hardly a difference between test cricket and a limited over international then. Not anymore. Today, one has to deliver even before the game starts.
The game has changed significantly – not just in the areas of rules, dresses and spirit – it has been a thorough overhaul. And the metamorphosis is as palpable as between a go-carting and formula 1 racing. Innovation has been total. It’s just not cricket anymore, it’s more a mental warfare. And an exhibition of high class athleticism and sharp thinking.
With almost 6 weeks of high voltage drama in offing, its time to start looking around to buy colored acrylic wares to match the team of the day. Srilanka should be favorites. There aren’t many Mahelas and Sangakkaras around.
PS: With this fanatic rage for improvisation and innovation, will we end up having a scenario where cricket is played like this: It starts like a test match where the two sides play the first innings. Then instead of the second innings, there is a 50 overs-a-side match. And a 20-20 in the last few hours of the fifth day. If still some time left, a 30 minute hockey match between the two sides. All within the allotted 5 days.
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