July 5, 2006
Lasting memories
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 07/05/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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The passion is still alive in West Indies
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It's been 54 days since I landed in Kingston, days spent in cricket grounds resembling a carnival setting, in hotels resembling home, in beaches resembling images on exotic postcards, and in departure lounges resembling anything between bus stations to seven-star hotels. As is always the case, sometimes I felt it was all happening too fast; sometimes I just wanted it to end then and there.
Visiting the West Indies fulfilled a lot of my childhood ambitions. As a 15-year-old night life usually involved staying awake late, tip-toeing onto the television room, muting the sound, and watching cricket from the Caribbean. The passion that was on show – the sight of people dancing in the stands, fans watching from trees, spectators constantly providing advice to the batsman – never ceased to fascinate.
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July 2, 2006
The West Indian wicketkeeper factory
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 07/02/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Wolmer's Boys' School
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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A few minutes away from Sabina Park is Wolmer's Boys’ School, founded way back in 1729 and rich in cricketing tradition. Several schools around the world have produced Test cricketers but none might be able to match Wolmer in the wicketkeeping department. Six Wolmer alumni have been West Indian Test wicketkeepers. Take that.
It’s given West Indies their first-ever Test wicketkeeper, Karl Nunes, their first centurion in England, Ivan Barrow, a captain, Gerry Alexander, a battler, Jackie Hendriks, a legend, Jeffrey Dujon, and a promising star, Carlton Baugh. That makes 417 catches and 21 stumpings at Test level, along with 5447 handy runs. If one were to write a story of West Indian wicketkeeping, it’s tough to find a better setting.
Continue reading "The West Indian wicketkeeper factory"
July 1, 2006
Gelsenkirchen tension in Jamaica
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 07/01/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Football on the giant screen in Jamaica
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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There was a moment just after the lunch break when it was difficult to gauge what was going on. Around the same time when Harbhajan Singh began the first over after the interval, Portugal and England were starting their penalty shoot-out. The giant screen, that was showing football till then, shifted to displaying the cricket score, and the spectators had to rely on a handful of television sets to follow the action in Gelsenkirchen. Dwayne Bravo probably wanted to watch the ending himself and promptly fell to Harbhajan soon after resumption. Postiga's goal was accompanied by a lot of cheer - most, it appeared, were rooting for Portugal - but they had to instantly hush it up with Bravo falling almost immediately. Such tensions.
June 30, 2006
Coney and the art of pitch analysis
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/30/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Professor Jeremy Coney takes his pitch-analysis class
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There are different ways to do a pitch report. Jeremy Coney, the former New Zealand captain, has probably covered the entire range. He’s attached a ball to a string to exorcise it, recited a poem to describe it, and once, late last year, almost did a breast stroke on land while knocking his knuckles on the pitch. Coney, who during his playing days was hailed for his ability to read pitches, loves analysing the 22 yards. On the eve of every game one can see him scrutinising the surface, tapping on it, inspecting the grass, feeling the clay … It’s almost as if he was a horticulturist on some scientific mission.
So what does Coney look for during his investigations? “I call it reading the entrails,” he says enthusiastically when asked about this whole business. “I ask myself questions as I go along. Is there grass? Is it distributed evenly? How is it shared around? Are there gaps? What sort of grass is it? Are they new young plants? Are they stressed because of lack of water? All this will tell me whether the pitch is going to be quicker at the start, or whether the ball will skid on from the grass (which is always the fastest). If it’s an old plant, the ball will hit the crown and start to do some strange things. If there is dirt there is automatically more friction. So if there are bald patches, I will know that this pitch is going to be variable and will only get worse from that point.”
Continue reading "Coney and the art of pitch analysis"
June 28, 2006
The tale of a Windies spinner
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/28/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Rangy Nanan chose a profession that merited little attention in the era of raw pace
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"For every fast bowler that played for West Indies between 1976 and 1986, there was a spinner whose ambitions of playing international were finished." Elquemedo Willett would know. One who represented West Indies in five Tests between 1973 and 1975, Willett's career came to a premature halt mainly because of West Indies' focus on pace, pace and nothing but pace. Willett's not complaining; in fact he doffs his hat to the great fast bowlers who made West Indies an invincible force. But maybe it's worth sparing a thought for an entire breed who took up, in Willett's words, a "useless profession".
The list of spinners who played only a handful of games for West Indies, in that era, is endless. Raphick Jumadeen (12 Tests), Inshan Ali (12), Imtiaz Ali (1), Derick Parry (12), Albert Padmore (2), Clyde Butts, Willett, Rangy Nanan
Nanan's case is instructive. A prolific domestic wicket-taker, he got his only chance when West Indies toured Pakistan in 1980-81. He had a good time in the tour games - including snapping up 6 for 48 in an innings against the Governer's XI at Sahiwal – and made his debut on a shirt-front at Faisalabad. On a surface, which Dennis Lillie once termed as a bowler’s "graveyard", he returned impressive match figures of 4 for 91. "It wasn't all about performance," he says reflecting on those times. "We needed to understand that, irrespective of how we did, there was always a chance of not playing in the next game. That was how good the fast bowlers were. It was unfortunate. Had I played fifteen years earlier or fifteen years later, things would have been different."
Continue reading "The tale of a Windies spinner"
June 26, 2006
When The King refused to budge
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/26/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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John Bowry finds time to narrate the tale
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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It has been more than 36 years but John Bowry remembers the day vividly. He was playing for St Kitts in the 1969-70 Leeward Islands tournament in Antigua when he came against a fella called Viv Richards. Read on for an interesting anecdote:
"It was his first tournament and when we reached in Antigua, we were told he was going to kill us. Antigua won the toss and elected to bat. We didn't breach with the new ball and my captain called on me to bowl. In the first over I dismissed a batsman by the name Pat Martin and Richards came in and on my second ball to him he was caught bat-pad at leg slip. I bowled a straighter one and it bounced. He pushed forward and it came off his glove and the guy at leg-slip took it.
"He stood up as if he had not played the ball, but in my opinion he had played and in the umpires opinion he played it and the umpire raised his finger. He did not walk off immediately and the crowd charged into the ground because in that season he was in the most terrific form and a big favourite there; we all had to run off.
Continue reading "When The King refused to budge"
A siren stops play
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/26/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
Stoppages in play aren’t uncommon and this series has had its fair share. There’s been rain, plenty of it, bad light and good light – play was bizarrely not started because the umpires “expected” the rains to come. An umpiring botch up played it’s part in a 15-minute stoppage – when Ganga caught and everyone was caught napping – and in a tribute to Sachin Tendulkar, there’ve been sight-screen hassles.
At 5pm on the fourth day, a fire alarm stopped play. For nearly five minutes, the umpires and the players watched bemused as the sirens went off in various corners. Kumble was getting ready to bowl but there was no way Rudi Koertzen was going to allow proceedings to start. The alarm went off yesterday as well, just that it happened during the lunch break and nobody seemed to take it too seriously. The best part about the whole episode was that nobody appeared to want to find out about the fire, and if at all there was any, but instead focused on turning the "damn thing" off. If only there had been a real fire, it would have been a classic case of Nero playing cricket when Rome burnt.
When there's cricket there's also football
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/26/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
Life in the press box, these days at least, is making heads spin. With television sets placed on the sides, one needs to turn either way see what went on. Now if you miss any portion of the action and quickly turn to the TV screen, all you're likely to see is World Cup football. So when I missed a loud appeal for lbw, against Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and quickly turned left, all I see is David Beckham fumbling on a long-range pass. Was the ball pitched in line? Was it hitting outside off? Was it too high? Was it missing leg? All I know is that it was missing leg, only that the leg was Beckham's bumbling right foot.
June 23, 2006
The end of a 73-year wait
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/23/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Edgar Gilbert
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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Edgar Gilbert had to wait 73 years and eight days before he could actually go to a ground to watch a Test match. Gilbert, a former first-class cricketer, was one of many who flocked to Warner Park yesterday, to watch the first day of Test cricket at the world's youngest venue. Some need to wait several years to play Test cricket, others spend a lifetime just waiting to watch it.
It was no doubt an emotional moment. Gilbert, who played for St Kitts and the Combined Islands in the '60s, was reputed to have been a more-than-useful allrounder. He recalls the days when there was no television, when radio and newspapers were his only windows to the cricketing world. Gilbert speaks about how difficult it was to motivate oneself without actually getting to watch - "There was no-one to model yourself on, no-one to get inspired by." The only cricket he saw when he grew up was the tournament played between communities, and the first first-class match he ever saw was the one he played in.
Continue reading "The end of a 73-year wait"
June 22, 2006
Atkinson at work
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/22/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Andy Atkinson is back and the Indians know him well
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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The imposing figure of Andy Atkinson seems to be all over Warner Park. Sometimes he's gardening the pitch, sometimes tending to the outfield, sometimes instructing the ground staff, sometimes trying to do all of these. The bulk is unmistakable, the enthusiasm admirable.
Today, when a bout of showers interrupted preparations, he ensured that the covers were completely in place, got drenched in the process and only then left. Hardly a few seconds after the showers stopped, he was behind the wheel of the ‘super-sopper’, spinning away at various angles.
India have seen him earlier, most prominently when they went to Pakistan in 2003-04. He was accused, by Inzamam-ul-Haq, of preparing pitches that didn't favour his bowlers. The battle got so intense that, when Inzamam accused him of shaving off the grass on the pitch, Atkinson hit back by shaving off his moustache, cheekily adding, "Inzy asked me to shave it off".
Continue reading "Atkinson at work"
June 19, 2006
Simply the greatest
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/19/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Just a few feet from the club ground lies Sir Frank Worrell's childhood home
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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| Nestled amid residential areas, just on the outskirts of Bridgetown, is the Empire Cricket Club. One look at the alumni list and you know why it’s universally regarded as the greatest club ever.
Empire Club might not even have existed had Herman Griffith, the former West Indian fast bowler, not been turned down by Spartan, the rival body. Griffith despite repeated attempts was spurned by Spartan, owing to the strict class structure that existed that the time. He then decided to form his own club. Curiously enough, it was formed on May 24, 1914 (Empire Day) and got its name as a result.
Most of the members stayed close by – Sir Frank Worrell grew up in a house that overlooks the club ground – and there was a slant towards good manners and behaviour. A sign on one of the walls – “No obscene language” - sums up this attitude. More than 92 years on, the club can look back proudly at its rich legacy. It’s probably the only club in the world to have three knighted members as alumni and would be tough to beat in the fast bowling stakes as well. An attempt to pick an all-time XI throws up a formidable side.
Continue reading "Simply the greatest"
June 18, 2006
In the cradle of Windies cricket
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/18/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Soaking up the sun,sand and cricket in Barbados
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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With an eight-days gap between the second and third Tests, I decided to take a diversion and pop into Barbados. Unlike any of the other islands we’ve visited, Barbados seemed to have an English feel about it. The Grantley Adams International Airport is a truly sleek construction, unlike the miniature settings in the other cities, and one could immediately sense the opulence floating through the country. The conversion rate tells you a story (1 USD is equivalent to 2 Bajan dollars). Needless to say, considering that the country primarily depends on tourism, it’s a beauty.
Continue reading "In the cradle of Windies cricket"
June 16, 2006
Sammy and the mini-bus
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/16/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Darren Sammy, the only international cricketer from St Lucia
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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It must be special to be chosen one among 160,000. Darren Sammy, the only international cricketer from St Lucia, knows the feeling. Darren played his first game in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy (which West Indies memorably won) and soon realised the enormity of his achievement. “There were more than a thousand people in the airport when I returned,” he beams, “and I realised how much it meant to the people.”
It was a triumph of sorts. His father was just 19 years old when Darren was born (his mother was staggeringly just 15) and didn’t have a steady source of income. Even later, when he worked in banana plantations, there was no guarantee of a rich crop every year. Darren himself experienced several days of working in the fields – starting as early as 6am – and had to wait till 4pm to begin his cricket practice. Luckily for him, his parents didn’t compromise on his education, a fact that helped him to play cricket in school.
Having made it to the West Indies side, Darren could make a difference. He chose a novel way of repaying his gratitude by gifting his father with a mini-bus. Sammy senior drives the mini-bus and makes a living these days; the hard days on the field are a distant memory. Daren realises that he’s scaled a barrier, yet knows that there’s lot of work left to be done.
June 14, 2006
Englishmen at Beausejour
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/14/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Danny Byrne (top) and Peter Chismon engage in their favourite pastime
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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What are two Englishmen doing in an India v West Indies Test? Watching, maybe. Peter Chismon and Danny Byrne are two globetrotting fans, who travel to various venues, irrespective of the sides playing. Both try their best to visit new venues – they were at Fatullah and Chittagong for the Australia series recently – and decided to watch the India Tests at St Lucia and St Kitts.
Chismon, a 64-year-old from Ipswich, who retired from his job of selling guns at West End a few years ago, concentrates on the game by scoring it. He makes sure he scores the game whenever he visits a venue for the first time and proudly shows his notepad where he scored the recent Australia-Bangladesh Test at Chittagong. Jason Gillespie, whose double-hundred in that match sent heads spinning in various directions, was kind enough to autograph it. That tour to Bangladesh also meant that Chismon had now watched cricket in all Test playing nations.
Continue reading "Englishmen at Beausejour"
June 12, 2006
Dhoni takes a liking for dominoes
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/12/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni took to dominoes easily
© Brian Camacho
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The Mohammad Kaif press conference, at the end of the second day's play, had a special visitor. Sitting among the journalists was a certain Dhoni, observing the questions being asked and Kaif's responses to them. He couldn't hold himself back from smirking at a couple of questions and finally, when he realised he had to go, put his hand up and shouted out (in Hindi): "How do you plan to celebrate this century?".
Kaif treated it like any other question, though, and patted it back calmly: "There are still three days to go, we need to make sure we win this Test. We will think of celebrating after that." Dhoni had his fill and he soon walked off, asking Kaif to join the rest of the boys at the beach when he had finished.
A few days back, in a sponsored party where both teams were invited, Dhoni decided to take the lead and try out a game of dominoes. Not only did he learn the rules quickly, but also managed to pick up a few nuances by observing closely. Within a few minutes, he was on his way, partnering Kaif in a victorious debut campaign. Given a choice between holding back and having a go, there's normally only one route Dhoni will choose.
June 10, 2006
High five for the Soca Warriors
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/10/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
Around 1:50pm local time, despite no real action happening on the field, a loud cheer went out in the stands. The Soca Warriors from Trinidad & Tobago had managed an honourable draw against Sweden in their World Cup opener at Dortmund. Brian Lara appeared to get the message, his face lighting up with a spontaneous smile. An announcement was made after a few minutes and the excitement, especially among the Trinidad boys, was palpable. Lara exchanged a high five with Dwayne Bravo in the slips while Daren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan began to beam as well.
June 7, 2006
The ARG's colourful presence lives on
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/07/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Labon Kenneth Blackburn Leeweltine Buckonon Benjamin, or Gravy to the cricketing world
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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| Not only did the last five days produce great cricket but, personally at least, introduced one to the joys of the Antigua Recreation Ground, or ARG to most. When a stadium's farewell assumes as much importance as a cricketer's, you know that there must be a special allure that draws in people.
The fact that it's centrally located is vital, with several people passing by the ground daily, even if there is no match going on. Viv Richards's association with the ground started even before he began playing. With the Antigua Grammar School, where he studied, being close by, and the local prison, where his father worked, adjoining the ground, Richards was bound to be an ARG regular. Incidentally, during the early years of the ground, the entire ground staff comprised inmates of the adjacent prison.
Continue reading "The ARG's colourful presence lives on"
June 6, 2006
Bhangra fever in Antigua
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/06/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
Having absorbed the reggae and soca music all day long in the stadium, it came as a pleasant shock, late in the night, to see a group of locals gathered at Heritage Key, the main city centre, swinging to the strains of Bhangra.
It wouldn't have been surprising in Trinidad, which has a large East Indian community, but to see Antiguans enjoy Mundiya to bach ke rahin was a revelation. It was odd to see them 'wining' – a form more focused on hip gyrations - as opposed to following the traditional Punjabi steps. You could even see them mouthing some of the lyrics, though, what they meant was pretty much lost on them.
Continue reading "Bhangra fever in Antigua"
June 5, 2006
The man who oversaw West Indies' golden era
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/05/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Steve Camacho
©Cricinfo Ltd
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It was interesting to see Steve Camacho and Andy Roberts chat at the Antigua Recreation Ground, considering that the end of one career heralded the beginning of another. Camacho, the former West Indies opener, toured England in 1973 and in the second game of the tour, against Hampshire, came up against a fiery young Roberts.
Camacho, who batted in spectacles, went to hook a short ball and was hit in the face. He underwent an operation for a depressed fracture of the cheek and returned home without taking further part in the series. Roberts made his Test debut one year later, and established himself as one of the best bowlers within the next couple of years.
"It's something we've put behind us," says Camacho recalling the incident. "You can't look to take it personally, it's cricket and we need to acknowledge that such incidents happen." After recovering from injury, Camacho played a few seasons of first-class cricket but soon went on to become a pioneer in West Indian cricket administration. He was the West Indian board's first full-time employee and served as secretary, chief executive officer, and Test selector.
Continue reading "The man who oversaw West Indies' golden era"
June 4, 2006
Reggae with Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/04/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Curtly Ambrose and Richie Richardson: part of Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead
© Cricinfo Ltd
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It was a sight to watch Curtly Ambrose, that archetypal destroyer, and Richie Richardson, that marauding hookmeister, strum gentle reggae tunes and regale an audience. Both are part of The Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead, whose latest performance was at Spliff, an outdoor bar close to the ARG.
Curtly was on bass guitar, Richie was on rhythm. For the early part of the show, Curtly was on the right extreme and Richie was on the left, while Bankers, the lead singer, and Jason, the drummer, orchestrated the show. Soon, with television cameramen and other mediapersons showering them with all the spotlight, both decided to mingle with the crowd.
In the crowd was Bridgette, Curtly's wife, and Aileen, Richie's wife. Bridgette says they've been playing seriously since 2002, adding that Curtly used to fool around with the guitar even during his playing days. Bridgette met Ambrose through her cousin – Winston Benjamin, one in a long line of Antiguans who bowled fast. Curtly's favourite band, Bridgette reveals, is Culture, a reggae band that was a part of the vibrant, politically-charged Jamaican reggae scene in the late '70s.
Continue reading "Reggae with Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead"
From possibility to realisation
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/04/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
As our taxi passes by All Saints Comprehensive School, our driver informs us of its fast-bowling legacy. Four Tests cricketers have emerged from All Saints – Eldine Baptiste, Winston Benjamin, Curtly Ambrose and Kenneth Benjamin. Between them you have 2543 first-class wickets and a tremendous amount of firepower. Another All Saints fast bowler, Anthony Merrick played for West Indies A. Yet, it isn't a school that's produced only fast bowlers. Ridley Jacobs, the wicketkeeper-batsman who even captained West Indies in two Tests, is also an alumni. Not for nothing is the school's motto, 'From possibility to realisation'.
June 3, 2006
'There used to be people falling off trees'
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/03/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
Richie Richardson laments the absence of spectators on the opening day of the Antigua Test. He remembers how he cherished playing at the ARG (Antigua Recreation Ground), his home ground, and how the atmosphere would often get electric. "There used to be people falling off trees."
One can visualise the setting. The ARG is small and quite cute with certain low-lying stands allowing for the breeze to gush through. The Chickie stand and the Party stand set the rhythm for the crowd, with calypso and soca (an acronym for soul calypso) playing between overs.
Sadly, only around thousand people landed up to watch the first day. Lara felt that it was a result of West Indies' poor performances, yet was confident that they "could win the crowds back". The weekend promises better fare. For the trees to be occupied, though, we may require a thriller.
June 1, 2006
A game of Warri
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 06/01/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Harbhajan Singh tries his hand at a game of Warri
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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Harbhajan Singh wracks his brains over a game of Warri, a pastime that the locals introduce him to. Warri is played in India as well – it's known as Pallanguzhi in Tamil – but, going by the mystified looks, none of the Indians seemed to have heard of it.
If you have mastered Warri, you earn the title of "professor". One such professor decided to give Harbhajan a lesson, teaching him the intricacies of the game. A Warri board comprises twelve large pockets, into which 48 beads are filled equally. The player who begins empties one of the pits that belongs to him and distributes the seeds - one for each pit in a clockwise direction. He continues the process by emptying the pit next to where he ends the first set of seeds. He carries on the process until the end, when if he finds more than one empty pit, he gives up the turn to the other player. If he finds one empty pit next to the pit where he ended, then he captures all the seeds gathered on the right side of the empty pit. The player who captures the most seeds ends up the winner.
Continue reading "A game of Warri"
May 31, 2006
The King's brother
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/31/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Mervin Richards: the more talented brother?
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As astonishing as it may sound, Viv Richards's mother felt that he wasn't the most talented cricketer she'd seen. She reserved that accolade for Mervin, her other son. Mention it to Mervin and he blushes naughtily: "Nah. I was probably more wristy and stylish but Viv was something else."
Mervin didn't play too much cricket; football was his preferred sport. In fact, he's currently the president of the Antigua Football Association. "We played a lot of football. Viv was in defence, me in midfield. Viv had a great leap. He could clear from dangerous positions. He would often come from behind and score. Football lost a great defender in Viv."
Continue reading "The King's brother"
May 29, 2006
Dravid gets a call ...
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/29/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
If not for a phone call from Ranjib Biswal, the Indian selector who is doubling up as the team manager, Rahul Dravid might have not addressed the press after the game. In what was a blatant lapse, Dravid left with the rest of the team after the game, forgetting his customary meeting with the members of the media. To his credit, though, he made sure he returned, termed it as a "miscommunication" and was pretty apologetic.
Over to the Soca Warriors
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/29/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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'T&T qualifying for the World Cup was like Lara breaking the world record,' says Dwayne Bravo, who had a rocking time in the ODI series against India
© Getty Images
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The crowds at the Queen's Park Oval haven't been short on the musical front. One of the catchy tunes has been the one toasting the Soca Warriors, the T&T football team that's gearing up to play in their first World Cup.
Cricinfo asked a couple of the Trinidad cricketers to talk about the excitement.
"T&T qualifying for the World Cup was like Lara breaking the world record,” said Dwayne Bravo. “Dwight Yorke may be old but he isn’t finished yet, he is still got a lot of strength and pace in his legs. Obviously, England and Sweden will make the play but we will be dangerous in counterattacks."
Dave Mohammed recalled that when T&T had qualified, by beating Bahrain in the play off, the cricket side were in Australia. "The Trinidad boys - Lara, Bravo, Ganga and me - celebrated with a small party together. Even though we may be playing cricket, we will follow our side closely on the internet and on TV."
May 27, 2006
It just takes one missile ...
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/27/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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West Indian fans always find something to cheer about
© AFP
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32nd over of the West Indies innings. Yuvraj Singh to Lara, back of a length delivery outside off, glided to third man delectably. Harbhajan and Raina give chase. As they near the boundary line, a yellow object is hurled from someone in the bottom tier of the Cyril L Duprey stand. Raina is mortified; Harbhajan has a puzzled look. Play is held up for a couple of minutes, Dravid has a word with the umpire and security personnel try and hunt out the culprit.
Continue reading "It just takes one missile ..."
May 25, 2006
Gearing up for the World Cup
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/25/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Work in progress: the Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua
© Cricinfo Ltd
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With direct flights all taken, I had chosen to go from St Kitts to Port-of-Spain via Antigua. With seven hours to kill, there was enough time to drop in at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium, which is being readied for the World Cup next year.
Located in Northsound, around 10 kilometres from the Antigua Recreation Ground, the stadium lies in isolation with large empty spaces surrounding it. With mountains enveloping the ground, though from a fair distance, the top view is more like a giant crater.
Like the new stadium at Trelawny, located in the north coast of Jamaica, what strikes you first is the Chinese influence. Around 300 workers from the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) drive the building project and are complemented by around 100 locals. But why has the project gone to a Chinese company? Superior efficiency and better man-management skills are two points that are usually cited.
Continue reading "Gearing up for the World Cup"
May 24, 2006
Lara holds court
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/24/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
Q: Chanderpaul appeared to bat better once he got the runner. Why was that?
A: Ah. We need to trigger him off sometimes. He's probably something like what Gordon Greenidge did around 20 years back. (Limping on one leg, Greenidge hit an awesome 214 not out to storm West Indies to a victory at Lord's in 1984)
Q: Will winning the series in front of your home crowd be similar to T&T qualifying for the football World Cup?
A: Not really. We'll probably reserve that feeling for winning the cricket World Cup next year.
Q: Your impressions of Warner Park …
A: I played here 17 years ago when I had a wonderful time against a guy called [Narendra] Hirwani. But it didn't look like this. It's a great stadium now.
Q: Your reaction to Sachin Tendulkar missing out on this tour …
A: It's disappointing that he's not coming. We are all entertainers. It's a big loss to the Caribbean people, a big loss to viewing public. The likes of Sarwan and Chris Gayle have great respect for him. We [Sachin and Lara] do have matches to play against each other – in the ICC Champions Trophy, maybe in America. We want to win, but we want to win against the best team.
May 22, 2006
Asafa Powell - Jamaica's sprint king
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/22/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Asafa Powell: gearing up for the 'greatest race'
© Cricinfo Ltd
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The 100 metres race at the forthcoming IAAF meet at Gateshead in England, just about three weeks away, is arguably the most-hyped athletics event in recent times but Asafa Powell, the Jamaican sprint king, appears completely unfazed.
In a quiet setting in the National Stadium at Kingston, he seems unflappable, going through his paces undisturbed, preparing to take on Justin Gatlin, his arch-rival. Gatlin recently, for a few days at least, broke Asafa's record but now, after a few scientific adjustments, they stand on an equal 9.77 seconds.
When Cricinfo decided to disturb him, just for the sake of the high of speaking to the fastest man in the world, he obliges readily. He knows it's probably "the greatest race that will ever be run" but somehow manages to maintain a humorous countenance.
Continue reading "Asafa Powell - Jamaica's sprint king"
May 21, 2006
Never another like Collie
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/21/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Collie Smith’s tombstone (Click here for a bigger image)
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The five epithets inscribed on his gravestone tell the story - keen
cricketer, unselfish friend, worthy hero, loyal disciple, happy warrior. They all refer to someone who Sir Garfield Sobers felt was a greater allrounder than himself; someone who was the "people's hero" in Jamaica; and someone whose magical spirit was tragically cut short at the tender age of 26. O'Neill Gordon Smith, or Collie to most, will never be forgotten in these parts, especially in the regions around Boys' Town.
When Sobers devotes an entire chapter in his book, Cricket Crusader, to a fellow cricketer, you realise he must have been special. In the chapter titled 'Collie', Sobers wrote: "He had the heart of a giant, an unquenchable ecstasy of spirit, a joyous nature and unmatchable zest for living - and for cricket." The performances show Collie to be special: at 21, in 1954-55, he scored centuries in consecutive games against Australia on his first-class and Test debut respectively; and at 24 he produced a hundred in his first appearance against England, during the course of which he hit a six off Jim Laker which broke the tiles on the ladies' balcony over long-on.
Continue reading "Never another like Collie"
May 20, 2006
Marley country
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/20/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Bob Marley's house in Trench Town
©Cricinfo Ltd
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Once you enter Trench Town, it doesn't take too long to realise that you're in Bob Marley territory. The walls have caricatures of Marley and bright screaming headlines concerning the Wailers. In a lane opposite Boys' Town cricket and football club, is arguably one of Jamaica's most famous houses – the one where Marley lived.
There's a flag of Jamaica outside, music blaring from a speaker, and a couple of men, decorated with Rastafarian braids, smoking. We're not allowed inside the house but take a tour of the backyard. There's Marley's van, now in a dilapidated state, on the verge of collapse; there's Marley's statue, a medium-sized structure erected from plaster of Paris, with a guitar in his hand and a football at his feet. On the plinth, are drawings of Haile Selassie I, the Ethopian emperor who was a strong advocate of Rastafarianism, and Marcus Garvey, one of the pioneers of black emancipation in these parts. Hens cackle at Marley's feet; the music in the background gets louder.
Continue reading "Marley country"
May 19, 2006
Chappell upstages Yuvraj in thriller
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/19/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
It's raining on the eve of the match and the Indian batsmen are forced into a makeshift indoor arrangement. It's interesting to observe how they practice mastering their catching, with a pseudo hand table-tennis kind of game.
Two tables, one smaller than the other, are placed one next to the other. One player underarms it on the table and the other is supposed to catch it clean - no fumbling, no use of body, no juggling. He also can't catch it with his hands in the table area. Each fumble or drop costs a point. The first to five loses. Sehwag joyfully registers victory after victory, in a winner stays format, before Yuvraj ends his reign.
Yuvraj stays on to eventually beat all but there's one hurdle even he can't clear. Chappell arrives right at the end and upstages him 5-4 in the most thrilling event of the day. Frazer says Chappell can play this game all day and recalls a tour of the USA when Chappell went undefeated. Playing a similar sort of game called twisty-twosty, BJT Bosanquet invented the googly. Watch this space for further developments.
Soccer frenzy at Kingston
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/19/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Fans watch the champs league final at Kingston club
© Cricinfo Ltd
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It's all happening at the Kingston Cricket Club at Sabina Park. Nothing to do with cricket, but a small matter of around 40 fans watching Arsenal take on Barcelona in the Champions League final. Support is divided. Raucous noise threatens to shatter a few glass bottles in the bar. The referee, being an easy target to vent spleen, dies a thousand deaths. Either way he is doomed – the abuses are guaranteed.
Arsenal lose one man. Mayhem. Arsenal score. Mayhem. Soon after half-time, the bar manager realises that people are more interested in the football than in his beer. He promptly switches off the television. Says there's construction work to be completed ahead of the India-West Indies cricket match.
The television outside is working on a tube that's on its last legs. Pictures are hazy, footballers are smudged colours on the screen, and the scoreline is illegible. Barcelona score. The roof quivers. Barcelona score again. The entire stadium reverberates. Barcelona win. Song and dance. Barcelona fans want all the beer in the world. Arsenal fans begin hunting for the manager.
May 18, 2006
The curator with an elephant's memory
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/18/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Charlie shows the Lawrence Rowe grip
© Cricinfo Ltd
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Joseph Charles Morris, or simply Charlie, is integral to Sabina Park. Way back in 1959, he came to the ground as a volunteer ball boy. Soon he was part of the groundstaff, earning a royal sum of five shillings a week. Thirteen years later, he was elevated to the post of curator. Where there's Charlie, there's a story. He has the memory of an elephant and the cheekiness of a squirrel.
In 1972 both Charlie and Lawrence Rowe made their Test debuts, one with a roller and the other with a bat. Charlie did his bit by giving the local hero a belter; Rowe responded by smacking 214 and 100 not out. Charlie remembers the knock, tells you how Rowe's grip was one of a kind, tells you that there was no batsman more beautiful to watch, repeats that there was no batsman more beautiful to watch. "He whistle when he cover-drove maan, we soon whistle with him."
Continue reading "The curator with an elephant's memory"
May 17, 2006
'Slow death' at Montego Bay
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/17/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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A smiling slow death
© Cricinfo
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The setting for the Indians’ opening fixture of the West Indian tour was in stark contrast to what they experienced in Pakistan, on their previous overseas tour, five months ago. In January this year, they kicked off their campaign against Pakistan A at Bagh-e-Jinnah, a pastoral setting in Lahore, in extremely chilly conditions.
Security concerns prompted the authorities to disallow the fans into the arena and eager spectators watched from beyond the pickets. It was more like watching an exhibition match with the mute button turned on.
Jarrett Park was quite the opposite. Around 4000 enthusiasts packed the picturesque football stadium – the last international side to play here was England, back in 1998 - and created a carnival atmosphere. A commentator kept them updated with the goings-on and triggered several moments of mirth with his jocular style.
Continue reading "'Slow death' at Montego Bay"
May 15, 2006
Baldheads - the new dread
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/15/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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Baldhead bowls, the new dread bats
© Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
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No sooner had the Indians recovered from the jet-lag, than they unleashed their latest fashion statement - Baldheads Unlimited. Sreesanth set things rolling even before leaving India, and it didn't take too long for Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina to catch on.
Sreesanth, it is learnt, shaved his head for religious reasons but Pathan and Raina joined the when-in-Windies-do-as-the-locals-do brigade couple of days after landing.
Continue reading "Baldheads - the new dread"
May 14, 2006
Melbourne in Kingston
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/14/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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The Melbourne Cricket Club
© Cricinfo Ltd
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Tucked away in a quiet corner of Kingston, at the end of Courtney Walsh Drive, is the Melbourne Cricket Club. Founded way back in 1892, the club boasts a glittering array of alumni, serving as a feeder for Jamaica's state team. Arthur Barrett and Sam Morgan led the way; Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh, who is the current president, have ends named after them; Marlon Samuels and Carlton Baugh jr carry on the tradition.
Like Sabina Park, it has a bar near the pavilion, with photographs of famous teams decorating the walls. The dressing room is quaint – with wooden benches arranged in a classroom-like setting and shelves on one wall that act as kit-bag enclosures. One of the shelves has a rusty label that says C Walsh. He’s all over town this fella – in his bar Cuddyz in New Kingston, in his sports shop in Courtney Walsh boulevard, in Sabina Park ...
Continue reading "Melbourne in Kingston"
May 13, 2006
Rum, coffee, Marley and cricket
Posted by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on 05/13/2006 in India in West Indies 2006
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The scene outside the Norman Manley Airport in Kingston
© Cricinfo
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Long flight journeys and slow-moving immigration queues can get tedious. I was half asleep while exchanging my currency at Heathrow airport, almost mistaking a five hundred dollar note for a fifty. Despite wanting to enjoy the country side, and despite Dire Straits blaring into my ears, I ended up snoozing on the bus to Gatwick.
But sometime before noon, with my watch still showing Mumbai time and with my thoughts focused firmly on sleep, I entered a quite exotic world. It was something I had only seen on television and read about. I had just checked into the British Airways flight to Kingston.
As I settled to wait in the corner of the departure lounge, there was someone humming Bob Marley’s No Woman, no cry, several young men with the characteristic Rastafarian braided hair, little kids with curled mops, as if intentionally burnt. There was a Jamaican businessman “traveling to see the cricket; to see Lara’s boys whip ye guyz”. There was a buzz around, people conversing in patois, an almost broken English, joking, singing. Suddenly, all sleep disappeared. It was time to get up, stand up.
Continue reading "Rum, coffee, Marley and cricket"
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