Before it is mistaken to be some kind of end-note, let me clarify that this is what happened in what i consider the last over that i bowled in a competitive match of cricket.
This must have been late Nineties. Was asked to play for a visiting Srilankan cricket team, that boasted of some great stalwarts of the Eighties. I dont know why, i have always rated the Srilankan cricket team very highly, always. They are the West Indies of Asia, always capable of producing terrific talent year after year.
I had given up playing competitive cricket many years ago but still was fit enough to play a match. So i liked the offer to play for my employer's country. I was asked to bowl quite late in the 40 overs-a-side match. And the man at the crease was this mercurial, brash, arrogant, very talented right handed bat who should have played far more tests than he actually did. Like most other TN talent, he also used his tongue more than the bat. And withered on the vine.
The first ball was a good length sharp off-cutter that pitched fairly outside the off-stump and hit him on the pad. More than the batsman, I was shocked. Second one was a wide - excited me trying to bowl like Dennis Lillee. Third one was again a good ball - the class that he is, he respected the delivery and ignored the bowler. So three deliveries, two legitimate, only one run so far and 'just' four to go.
The third delivery was (i thought) a good length ball - even before i looked up after completing my Jeff Thomson like action, the ball was gone beyond the mid wicket fence. The umpire irritated me by holding his hands above his head far too long. I trudged to my bowling mark wondering if i should bowl a fast yorker (but what if he treats it like a spin and damages the sight screen behind me?). So i bowled a yorker length that should have crushed his toe if i had the speed of Malcolm Marshall and the accuracy of Malinga... And my fears came true. Straight six that landed on the roof of Chepauk
The wicket keeper walked to me and said i should not bowl full length. And removed the slip and added another fielder in the deep.
Delivery number 5. I prayed all known Gods and even offered to walk barefoot a particular distance if he got out - even run out was ok. I remembered the first delivery i bowled - a sharp off cutter. So, i gripped the ball across the seam and did exactly that - but never thought the batsman would walk down the pitch and take it at half-volley and smash over extra cover. 19 runs so far and one delivery to go.
Wicket keeper again to me 'cool cool machan, don't be in a hurry'. I decided to bowl him as fast i could and wanted to hit the seam on the turf. Was not sure if my bouncer would be a long hop for him.. i ran madly towards the bowling crease and bowled a perfect full toss that would have beheaded a sand-statue. He just moved towards the off-stump and sent the ball to the second tier stands in square leg. I almost cried, cursed all Gods and again prayed that this batsman should never ever play for India. 25 runs in that over. And not a single fielder moved from his place in that over. The markers retrieved the ball and threw it at me.
I tried to think of so many excuses but it all ended when the captain walked up to me and said "machchan, you should have told me that you don't bowl'
It was not out of any resolve that i have not played cricket after that - it just happened, naturally
I had given up playing competitive cricket many years ago but still was fit enough to play a match. So i liked the offer to play for my employer's country. I was asked to bowl quite late in the 40 overs-a-side match. And the man at the crease was this mercurial, brash, arrogant, very talented right handed bat who should have played far more tests than he actually did. Like most other TN talent, he also used his tongue more than the bat. And withered on the vine.
The first ball was a good length sharp off-cutter that pitched fairly outside the off-stump and hit him on the pad. More than the batsman, I was shocked. Second one was a wide - excited me trying to bowl like Dennis Lillee. Third one was again a good ball - the class that he is, he respected the delivery and ignored the bowler. So three deliveries, two legitimate, only one run so far and 'just' four to go.
The third delivery was (i thought) a good length ball - even before i looked up after completing my Jeff Thomson like action, the ball was gone beyond the mid wicket fence. The umpire irritated me by holding his hands above his head far too long. I trudged to my bowling mark wondering if i should bowl a fast yorker (but what if he treats it like a spin and damages the sight screen behind me?). So i bowled a yorker length that should have crushed his toe if i had the speed of Malcolm Marshall and the accuracy of Malinga... And my fears came true. Straight six that landed on the roof of Chepauk
The wicket keeper walked to me and said i should not bowl full length. And removed the slip and added another fielder in the deep.
Delivery number 5. I prayed all known Gods and even offered to walk barefoot a particular distance if he got out - even run out was ok. I remembered the first delivery i bowled - a sharp off cutter. So, i gripped the ball across the seam and did exactly that - but never thought the batsman would walk down the pitch and take it at half-volley and smash over extra cover. 19 runs so far and one delivery to go.
Wicket keeper again to me 'cool cool machan, don't be in a hurry'. I decided to bowl him as fast i could and wanted to hit the seam on the turf. Was not sure if my bouncer would be a long hop for him.. i ran madly towards the bowling crease and bowled a perfect full toss that would have beheaded a sand-statue. He just moved towards the off-stump and sent the ball to the second tier stands in square leg. I almost cried, cursed all Gods and again prayed that this batsman should never ever play for India. 25 runs in that over. And not a single fielder moved from his place in that over. The markers retrieved the ball and threw it at me.
I tried to think of so many excuses but it all ended when the captain walked up to me and said "machchan, you should have told me that you don't bowl'
It was not out of any resolve that i have not played cricket after that - it just happened, naturally
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