A very (very) special willow-wielder

If you were to hear to what the media is saying, you would not be blamed for thinking that the first day of the fourth Test between India and Australia was about Sachin Tendulkar’s 39^th Test Hundred. Well, it was. He did play brilliantly and with far more freedom than we have seen in recent times.

Aye, the little fella played a bonny innings. But for me, the day belonged as much to someone who was just a bit taller. Someone who scored less than half the runs that Sachin did.

But man, he was every bit as bonny as the little fella. I am referring to VVS Laxman’s 51.

For many people this would be sacrilege, but for me, this series has been all about how VVS has quietly gone about showing that he is perhaps India’s best batsman in a crisis since a certain GR Vishwanath, who shared the same penchant for coming good when India seemed to need him the most. And like Laxman, he could do so with amazing grace – seemingly caressing the ball to death. And just as Laxman has been overshadowed by Sachin, so too was GR perennially in shade of a certain Sunil Manohar Gavaskar. But the shadow was largely statistical – Sachin and Sunny had infinitely better records than GR and VVS, but it would be a brave person (or an insane fan) who would say that there was too much separating the foursome in terms of sheer quality.

It was this quality that enabled VVS to shine even when Tendulkar was wreaking havoc at Adelaide earlier today. And of course, he got the runs when India had got into a minor crisis – the score 156-4 and Ganguly had been dismissed cheaply (the bowler and umpire teaming up rather well on that one, I thought, but that’s another story). He added 126 with Sachin, flicking and cutting his way to an elegant 51 before falling victim to a Lee bouncer. Once again, he had helped dig India out of a hole. And done so without having appeared to be digging at all.

The Aussies must hate the very sight of him. As for me, I will simply paraphrase what the great Sir Raymond Priestley had said about Antartic Explorers:

“"For scientific batting, give me Rahul Dravid; for swift and efficient run accumulation, Sachin Tendulkar; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for VVS Laxman."

'nuff said.

Michael and the disappearing fungus!

All right, this is not an entry about cricket in its purest sense. But well, one of the game’s practitioners gave me a nasty shock a couple of days ago and I am still reeling.

I refer to the man they call Pup. Michael Clarke. Notwithstanding his refusal to walk and his claiming a rather dubious catch at Sydney, the lad did not fit the “Ugly Aussie” tag. Well, not in appearance, at least – he had a rather wide-eyed innocent look and a nice shock of blonde hair. A bit like a smaller version of Owen Wilson with an intact nose. Even my 63-year-old mum had muttered, “Kitna pyaara bachcha hai!” (What a sweet child he is)

Alas, no more.

When I was watching the highlights of the first day’s play at Perth, I saw someone in the Aussie ranks who looked like Adam Hall (the South African of the short hair, massive posterior and all round skills) on the field. My curiosity turned to shock and then sheer horror as I realised that the person masquerading as Hall was none other than Pup. Gone was the mop of blonde hair and in its place stood cranial fungus that seemed reminiscent of a crop that had been ravaged by wildfire. Yeah, the gap-toothed grin was still there but heck, it now looked grotesque.

Seldom has beauty been so rapidly metamorphosed into something beast-like, albeit with a winsome grin. Alas and alack! 'twould seem that Clarke has attempted to follow Becks' footsteps. Thankfully, he has not yet married a Spice Girl and has shown no tendency (reported at least) to prance around in ladies' undergarments but who has seen the future?

Needless to say, I witnessed his demise at the crease with a smirk and an eye that was totally dry! Thus fall those that dare to literally take a weight off their minds (I am sure his hair weighed a fair bit!).

Finally a couple of disclaimers: 1. No, I ain’t gay. 2. No, I am not reacting like this because Clarke has got a barber to do to his scalp what nature seems to be doing without any prior request to mine!

Polite Cricket

An Indian fan couldn't have asked for a better two days (well, perhaps another hundred runs on the board) but more than the game (as gripping as it is) what strikes me more is the conduct of the players. This has undoubtedly been the politest two days of Test cricket. When Tendulkar came in to bat, Lee welcomed him with the good ol' bouncer and a smile about a yard wide. Australian batting - Lee defends a good ball and Pathan walks up to him for a casual chit-chat (wide smile being a constant). It's almost as if each one has been instructed to slap on the smile and mince the words.

Not many would complain, given the recent events but there is something so surreal about this niceness. Wickets are celebrated but not aggressively and Andrew Symonds is decidedly not looking any Indian player in the eye if he can help it. Of course, much like Sydney, he refused to walk this time too (an awkward moment, considering Raut gave him ample time to do so and only raised the finger when he figured the man wasn't walking) Really, Symonds, you ain't earning no brownie points for that (the hearing isn't over mate!)

N of course, amidst all this was the sheer joy was watching Anil Kumble celebrate his 600th wicket. The test is far from over - and this one will most definitely yield a result given that it's the second day and Australia is 195/7 in response to India's first innings score of 330.

I realise I've rambled, but it's the shock of watching two headstrong teams play their politest best! Yeah sure, we still had some dicey decisions and no doubt, we'd like to discuss at length the injustice of losing Tendulkar and Dhoni to lbws, that too for deliveries that were clearly too high or pitching outside. Bottomline, 22 players have walked out on the field with a resolve to put the game above all else (n perhaps TRPs too). The game has had its moments, just this time around its been quiet drama. If you ask me cricket hasn't been a gentleman's game in quite some time...this will take some getting used to...