Now, I'm all for knowing about cricket history and lore and so forth. I could spend hours with a well written book on cricket, reading about the Victor Trumpers and the Mushtaq Alis. But, thats a personal choice. I learn about cricket history because I am interested in it.

So, why should the members of our team be expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of cricket history? If they are interested in it, thats good for them, but if they aren't, let them be! Trying to put down people, and saying that they dont deserve certain records because they weren't aware of those records is a bit too much, isn't it?

I could go on and on, but the point, I hope, has been made- the cricketers are here to do a job, i.e. play well for the country. Delighting in their not being able to break a record, because they dont "respect their elders enough to go and find out all about them" is, I think, stretching it too far. Think about it- do we expect our players to be Gods of All Things?

Ramachandra Guha had an interesting take on it. He said that its more evident of players coming from different places. Tendulkar, Gavaskar would have been told about the Mumbai cricketing history. Kumble about Karnataka's history - G.Vishwanath among others. Sehwag, Pathan represent a breed of cricketers who play the game for the sole love of it.

I like my cricket history but if some one doesn't, its not a big issue.

The whole episode is so amusing. One would expect national team cricketers to be aware of the names of past heroes. However, one cannot expect them to know all the records that stand. If they know much, that is a bonus.

I am sure that Dravid with all his acumen should have known about the record.But if he didn't, the team management or the other seniors in the team watching the game should have got the message out to them that they were nearing a long standing record. They should have asked for the light offer after the record was taken and not left the effort for the next morning. The fact that there was no message sent out is dismaying. That was possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity to claim the record.
Anyways, we should be happy that Veeru is not the one to change his game to chse records for the record's sake. I hope he remains that way.

I just love the fact that they were neither aware of the record nor bothered to chase any records. It was pretty obvious the only figures they cared about were that of Pakistan's first Inn Total and the number of days they were to bat. And to be honest that's all they should have cared about anyways. Personal feats and indvidual milestones are not for real team players. Kudos to Sehwag and Dravid.

Narayanan: I personally dont find it strange that Sehwag "did not know" about Pankaj Roy etc. It is not a crime. History is relevant as long as it teaches something. But not in a sport like cricket (unless the history is about the weather). And as for Dravid not doing anything, we all know that Dravid is not the sort of guy who is known to be emotinal about records. So, as captain, I dont think he cares. Neither does Sehwag! That is a refreshing change.
Lahar: Your conclusion is fitting. It is high time that we stopped judging cricketers based on the off the field good work they do. My funda is that - as long as a cricketer does not misbehave off the field, I am totally ok with his "lack of charity work" or lack of education etc., as long as his on-field effort is exemplery!

A similar situation in the 1996 World Cup.

South Africa vs UAE - Gary Kirsten 188 not out.

He claimed, after the match, that he had no idea that 189 was the record, and was given this info towards the fag end of the innings.

His claims stands up to scrutiny - he seemed very relaxed till like the 48th over or so, when instructions came in from the dressing room to crank it up a notch and go for the record. After that it was frenetic running - he seemed to have lost the ability to pick the gaps in the field!

The difference is here - Kirsten just did not know about the record. Even thinking that he wouldn't have known who Viv Richards was, is a crime :)

For the national cricketer it is good to know about great past cricketers and their achievments.But it is not a crime if they don't. Their lack of interest in records will not reduce them as talented cricketer.