Elephant in the Stadium by Arunabha Sengupta

Author:Arunabha Sengupta [Sengupta, Arunabha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
Published: 2022-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

32

WAR DANCE OF DELIGHT

IT RAINS. And it rains again. In between, the players wait. The umpires, David Constant and Charlie Elliott, keep them waiting. The wait lasts several hours.

In India Mrs Gandhi protested against the suggestions of UN observers on both sides of the borders between East and West Bengal. Such a policy came across as an insult, tending to equate India with Pakistan, thereby suggesting that Delhi was partly responsible for the genocide in East Bengal.

The conditions are not really that unsuitable for cricket. The Indian spinners may find the ball too slippery. At the same time, it seems rather harsh for the spectators who have braved the elements as well as the rush hour.

It is just as well that the first showers started when Constant and Elliott were just about to walk out to the middle. The wicket remained covered through the couple of heavy downpours. The curious playing conditions stipulate that if even one ball has been bowled in the session, the pitch will remain exposed to the rain.

When play finally begins at 2.45, the Indian bowlers taste success immediately. In fact, even before all the persevering spectators have settled back in their seats, Luckhurst yorks himself trying to hit Solkar across the line. His middle stump is bent askew. The Indian medium-pacers have thus got an early breakthrough in each innings.

A slim lead of nine runs, but it takes England six tense overs to get past it. For a while, as gentle medium-pace is pinged at them, Boycott and Edrich pretend that they are weathering a Procter-Pollock storm. In the ninth over, spin is introduced in the form of Bedi. But strangely, medium-pace continues from the other end, perhaps in the hope of a repeat of Solkar’s success. Edrich does most of the scoring. Boycott, his summer’s average of 98 notwithstanding, finds it difficult to get them off the square.

By the time Chandra joins forces with Bedi, it is the 18th over. By now Boycott has settled down, and he pulls the leg-spinner disdainfully in the direction of Father Time; 50 up for England in 82 minutes, and the advantage has shifted. Venkat, introduced late, bowls a tight line. Tea is taken at 56/1.

In the second over after tea, Boycott decides to try to hit Venkat off his length. Twice the off-spinner pitches up, and twice he is dispatched to the pickets on the off side. And then the line is varied. The ball is pitched on leg and middle. Boycott tries to turn it. Off the bat and pad it goes to leg slip where Wadekar takes the catch: 65/2. It is as clear a dismissal as one can hope to see. Boycott, however, tarries and trudges off reluctantly only when umpire Constant raises his finger.

Amiss, young, eager and as yet unproven, comes in with the Indians scenting a chance. Chandra is difficult to get away. For 13 balls, he fails to get off the mark. Off the 14th, he desperately tries to. A push to cover point, where Solkar lurks, and he is halfway down the pitch.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.