That's cricket for you.
The other evening, a good friend whose life has been logistically redefined by bachelorhood, after many years of harmonious marriage, invited me to watch the Indians play the Australians at Barbados. The game was billed by Indian sports-journalists as the match of the tournament, the final of the finals, the end of cricketing imagination.
I did not wish to watch the game for two reasons. One, Barbados was a lively wicket that would offer bounce and carry to the Aussie pace bowlers and we have had ample evidence of our paper tigers on subcontinental tracks engaging in many bodily contortions to make up for the lack of technique. The Aussies would pepper our celebrities with short-pitched stuff that would make television viewing an embarrassment for someone who is avidly saffron-white and green. Two, our celebrities appeared like zombies after a month-long wine-women-song-Bollywood and cricket carnival called the IPL and they appeared to be strutting around the field like envelopes without addresses.
I shared these anxieties with my friend who on account of an evening's loneliness still wished that I came over for a sundowner. Not wishing to appear churlish, I agreed. As expected, the Glenfiddich was infinitely better than the game I peeked at every five overs. And despite the disappointing result I was hailed as a prophet.
This is the way the T20 ends
This is the way the T20 ends
This is the way the T20 ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Quietly, on the other hand, our women's team has been doing India proud without claiming significant space in the media. And perhaps because of that.The failures of men are more important than the pride women enable us to feel through the success they achieve. And the malady of discrimination stretches to every social dynamic of pain, humiliation and marginality: female infanticide, foeticide, dowry deaths, honour killings, violence and harassment.
Many of my friends ask me why I get serious after the bonhomie of light-hearted stuff that is easier to read and digest. And I reply: that's cricket.
Very well written. You are getting me hooked on your writings now. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis T20 is / was such a drama this season. I am glad its over now, at least for some time till Coach Kirsten gets those bad boys all shaped up.
Thanks. Enjoy your special day.
ReplyDeleteI am sick and tired of T-20...first in the form of IPL and its associated controversies and then in the form of the world cup and India's dismal performance. Cheers to the women's cricket team for keeping the tricolour flying high!
ReplyDeleteAs the great Belafonte said... Man smart, Wimmin smarter.
ReplyDeleteBut now Men in blue are blue, smarting even more, after gettin in with the Lalit Modi smart set n probably wishin they weren't such smartasses.
Bad puns spun here are entirely non-unintentional.
Sir, I feel sorry for these modern day Girmitiyas. I mean how much can we expect from them who travelled from eerghar to peerghat after a month long of playing and partying.Without any practice. From batsman's Paradise to hell. From curry to calypso. What these millionaire Bondage labourers want is some proper rest. And if they would have rejected to play or party that would have been considered blasphemy by the church(B.C.C.I) Which controls the so called religion called Cricket.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it. You have something to write about.
ReplyDelete