And finally, I did it. I thought my little career in Cricket was over when I fell from a rather harmless bike and broke my right hand collar bone. So when I decided to participate in this year’s Deloitte tournament, a few eyebrows were raised (including mine in private). But I decided to continue. I started running for 30 minutes in the gym and pulled the roving machine (I don’t know what they call it). I didn’t feel any pain in my hand so I thought it was okay. So the D day arrived. I was there in the stadium at 7’o clock, one hour ahead of the scheduled start of play. When I entered the stadium I saw a young girl in her jagging clothes doing the rounds. The face looked familiar. I instantly recognized the figure to be Mithali Raj (the first woman double centurion for India). But one of my friends told me that it was not her. But my first instinct is always right. That’s how I recognized Sunitha Williams in the JFK airport when nobody else did. My friend told me she was doing her thirteenth round around the stadium. I decided to control my inquisitiveness and continue with my practice. I started doing the catching practice. And it came along well ( I had always been a good fielder you know). In the meanwhile, the lady (who I thought is Mithali, was doing her running between the wickets practice). And after twenty minutes my curiosity over powered me and I decided to go ask her whether she was Mithali. At that point in time, she was done with her running practice and was moving towards the grounds men (yea there were two of them who were setting things up for us for the match). She talked to them in telugu and moved. Me and my friend were almost near her and asked the grounds men whether it was Mithali. They replied in the affirmative. I immediately followed her and said “Excuse me”. She was not listening. May be it was her Ipod which was preventing her from hearing me. It was three times before she finally removed an earplug and turned and gave that look. I don’t know how to describe that but it was not courteous. I just asked her, “Are you Mithali Raj”, and she replied “Yea” with a voice that could have turned even a stalker away. I dint know what else to do. I was so happy that it was her and I could see her. I just turned back and continued with my practice. She went along and continued hers. In hindsight, I think I was being so stupid. I could have told her that I follow Women’s cricket keenly as well and asked for her autograph. At least I could have told her that she is doing a great job and wished her the best. I dint do any of this. Probably I was overwhelmed by the moment. Anyways, it was good to recognize a lady who makes the country proud instead of going behind a cine star. I also think she might have been happy to have known that somebody in India recognizes women cricketers too. :)
Now coming back to the match. We won the toss and elected to field first. I was asked to field in the third man area. After two overs, I said to Atul (my captain) that I will be effective in the inner ring where I can save singles. He obliged and put me in short cover position. Fielding is always fun and I expect the ball to come to me always. So it was not a problem for me. The only question was whether I will be able to throw faster. But I dint require a strong throwing arm to effect two run outs. My reflexes were so good that by the time I dived and stopped those shots to effect the run outs, the batsmen were in such a hurry to cross over that they didn’t expect me to stop them and they ended up shaking hands with each other. So I had all the time in the world to throw it back to the keeper to knock the bails off (err sorry we didn’t have the bails).
We had the opposition under the mat at 31 for 5 and I decided to bowl. People told me to take one thing at a time since they were worried that I might do some damage to the right hand. But I insisted on bowling and they had to relent. I took 13 steps and started to bowl. The first one came along nicely and the batsman defended it. The second one went past the batsman who tried to cut it and edged behind. Karthik took a good catch standing up. I was delighted to have got that wicket. I bowled one more over after that and I felt pretty okay with it. The opposition didn’t do anything special. They stuck it out. But we were giving away too many wides for comfort. I guess we had 25 to 30 in total and they scored 101 in 16 overs. Not a big target. Run a ball and we should be good to go. We lost couple of early wickets and I went to the crease. Couple of inside edges to get me going and I started to feel better when this bowler came along. The first ball from him was a big chucking delivery which the umpire failed to notice. I was at the non strikers end and I immediately told the umpire that I think he was chucking. The umpire didn’t reply. We decided to go on. I lost my partner to a needless run out and Atul came to the crease. I told him to watch out and complain about the bowler. He watched him for one ball and went straight to the umpire to complain. I can tell you the umpires were so stupid that they didn’t even know whether to call it a no ball or not. And the Irony is that I was frustrated at the non action of the umpires and decided to give that bowler a lesson on cricket. I decided to pull that chucker and inside edged the ball on to the stumps. More than losing my wicket, I was so annoyed with those two umpires who stood there like a shopping mall doll. Worse still, we lost Atul and Karthik in the same over to the chucker. The match was virtually over by then. A couple of late bursts from our team members and we went close, but we lost the match by 12 runs. Stupidity. I should have shown more patience and stayed there at the wicket. But instead, I allowed my emotion to take over that lead to my downfall. We have another match coming up in a fortnight’s time. Let me see how I fare.
And by the way, England is losing :)
Now coming back to the match. We won the toss and elected to field first. I was asked to field in the third man area. After two overs, I said to Atul (my captain) that I will be effective in the inner ring where I can save singles. He obliged and put me in short cover position. Fielding is always fun and I expect the ball to come to me always. So it was not a problem for me. The only question was whether I will be able to throw faster. But I dint require a strong throwing arm to effect two run outs. My reflexes were so good that by the time I dived and stopped those shots to effect the run outs, the batsmen were in such a hurry to cross over that they didn’t expect me to stop them and they ended up shaking hands with each other. So I had all the time in the world to throw it back to the keeper to knock the bails off (err sorry we didn’t have the bails).
We had the opposition under the mat at 31 for 5 and I decided to bowl. People told me to take one thing at a time since they were worried that I might do some damage to the right hand. But I insisted on bowling and they had to relent. I took 13 steps and started to bowl. The first one came along nicely and the batsman defended it. The second one went past the batsman who tried to cut it and edged behind. Karthik took a good catch standing up. I was delighted to have got that wicket. I bowled one more over after that and I felt pretty okay with it. The opposition didn’t do anything special. They stuck it out. But we were giving away too many wides for comfort. I guess we had 25 to 30 in total and they scored 101 in 16 overs. Not a big target. Run a ball and we should be good to go. We lost couple of early wickets and I went to the crease. Couple of inside edges to get me going and I started to feel better when this bowler came along. The first ball from him was a big chucking delivery which the umpire failed to notice. I was at the non strikers end and I immediately told the umpire that I think he was chucking. The umpire didn’t reply. We decided to go on. I lost my partner to a needless run out and Atul came to the crease. I told him to watch out and complain about the bowler. He watched him for one ball and went straight to the umpire to complain. I can tell you the umpires were so stupid that they didn’t even know whether to call it a no ball or not. And the Irony is that I was frustrated at the non action of the umpires and decided to give that bowler a lesson on cricket. I decided to pull that chucker and inside edged the ball on to the stumps. More than losing my wicket, I was so annoyed with those two umpires who stood there like a shopping mall doll. Worse still, we lost Atul and Karthik in the same over to the chucker. The match was virtually over by then. A couple of late bursts from our team members and we went close, but we lost the match by 12 runs. Stupidity. I should have shown more patience and stayed there at the wicket. But instead, I allowed my emotion to take over that lead to my downfall. We have another match coming up in a fortnight’s time. Let me see how I fare.
And by the way, England is losing :)
