A Cricket Lover's Biography - 3

Previously: The Hero Cup'93

INDIA’S RUN MACHINE

India hosted the 1996 World Cup. No surprise the media went gaga about the event. The national dailies were building up the carnival every day. It is in these editorials “India’s Run Machine” hogged the headlines. I don’t think you need any hint to distinguish the player. Honestly, never imagined Tendulkar to become World’s leading run maker at this point in time.

Despite making his debut in 1989, Tendulkar wasn’t the talking point for the first few years. Gradually his exuberance, consistency, courage, style caught the public’s imagination. Kapil once said “During a practice session with school boys, I found lots of them scared to face me. But then one kid was never afraid of my pace or stature and handled my bowling bravely. The boy was none other than Sachin Tendulkar”.

The 1992 World Cup earned Tendulkar a good name. This was followed by the show in Hero cup with the ball. But all these performance subtly hid behind the star value of Azharuddin. Even other youngsters like Vinod Kambli performed consistently. But then every man needs his occasion to rise. It was the year of 1994, not just for Indian Cricket, but for World Cricket, the new Don arrived.

Tendulkar opened the batting for India the first time ever in a series played at New Zealand. On the festival of ‘Holi’, in the early hours of Sunday, New Zealand bundled to a paltry 149. Unfortunately Sidhu could not open the batting due to neck spasms. Since nobody volunteered, Tendulkar was told to open the batting. The target was cheap and the hope of little Sachin seeing off the new ball appeared bright. But what happened in reality was complete contrast. All along it is everyone’s assumption that One Day Internationals are interesting merely in the last 10 overs of an innings. Sachin broke the myth and made the first 10 overs even more exciting that day and forever in World Cricket. The ball was flying to all parts of the stadium and the bowlers & fielders left stranded. Not even an insect moved out of the spot to watch steaming Sachin, is purely an understatement. Finally when Tendulkar got out, he had blasted 82 runs in just 49 balls. Even the crowd did not bother about their side’s worst defeat, but provided a standing ovation for the genius show. At 11 overs New Zealand was 16/2 to India’s 92/1 making the comparison embarrassment. Never in the history before India demonstrated such a massive scoring rate. Finally, India completed the formality in 22 overs.

After the Innings in New Zealand

Many critics wrote off that innings as one time wonder, but Tendulkar proved everyone wrong in his subsequent outings. Today he may be batting with patience and maturity, back then it was always power punch. If any of you this generation cricket fan dumb stuck by Gayle Storm or Sehwag Blitz, then you should have witnessed Sachin in 20’s. The moment the ball left the bat it always raced to the boundary like a bullet. Guess with time he must have realized to conserve energy for a prolonged career. It is a no brainer; Tendulkar became permanent opener for India from then, until that happened (for now we don’t worry about it).

From a string of half centuries, Tendulkar completed his maiden century in the 10^th match after becoming the opener. Surely, 1994 is a dream year for him and India. A year the career skyrocketed from pedestrian walk. Mind you, before becoming a opener he had scored 1809 runs in 70 matches with the highest being 84. After becoming a opener, he has now played 450 matches, scoring 18000 runs with the highest being 200*. If you do the arithmetic you will not deny the career skyrocketed.

To put it simple and humble, Tendulkar redefined batting in cricket.

After watching Sachin Tenduilkar in 1994, without an element of doubt, I concluded; 1996 World Cup is ours. The logic, India Hosts the Tournament and the “MASTER BLASTER” scripted almost every victory for Indian Cricket. But then who knew the turmoil will come from Sri Lanka, the team largely a brush off until before the 1996 World Cup.

To be continued…

by Dinesh In the Vision of Bala

Ref: என் கிரிக்கெட் வரலாறு... - 3

PS: I might be taking a short break with respect to continuing this biography

A Cricket Lover's Biography - 2 (The Hero Cup '93)

Previously: A Cricket Lover's Biography - 1

THE HERO CUP - 1993

India lost badly in the ‘92 World Cup. Since my brother continued to fail in 9^th Grade, cricket was banned at our place. Unlike today, not much of cricket played back then. Hardly 2 or 3 series in a year and victories from these tournaments are appreciated very highly. One such series that’s still bright in my recollection is the ‘93 Hero Cup.

This tournament is good to be termed mini World Cup, otherwise an audition to the summit in ‘96. It’s also the first time India hosted an extravaganza with new innovations including D/N matches. Pakistan pulled out the last minute (fearing Hindu militants), making it a five nations affair featuring India, Zimbabwe, West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka. India faced a lot of challenges hosting, including players reporting shabby treatment and some incidents of violence here and there.

Game disrupted at Calcutta after Crowd's violent behavior

Ultimately the competition kicked off. West Indies sailed smooth to knockouts. Under Richardson the team appeared formidable with likes of Lara and Arthurton creating waves in the batting arena. Arthurton was the Bevan of West Indies during this period. Until an opposition picks his wicket, there is no security of a win. Many pundits tipped West Indies to win the Trophy. India scratched its way to the playoffs, but the journey was a roller coaster.

First they beat Sri Lanka without hassles and then lost to West Indies badly. Also the game against West Indies was disrupted due to crowd behavior for 45 minutes. If I remember correctly there was a cracker burst on the face of Keith Arthurton. At last India was asked to chase a total of 170 odd in 38 overs, but then bundled for 100 by West Indies pace battery. In the third game against Zimbabwe, no second guess after India put 248 on board. But then Flower & Co had other plans. Though India was getting wickets at regular intervals no Zimbabwe batsmen gave up the fight and kept raising the adrenaline. In the final over Zimbabwe needed 10 runs to win with 1 wicket in hand and Prabhakar bowled that over. Streak and Rennie scored 8 runs of 5 balls and Zimbabwe now needed 2 to win in 1 ball. The last ball turned to be a leg bye; Streak attempted a double and ran himself out. In the end the result was announced tie despite India lost only 5 wickets compared to Zimbabwe’s 10. India played the final league match against South Africa. India won this game comfortably after Rhodes got out during the chase.

During the Semi Finals against South Africa

Once more, India had to face South Africa in the Semi Finals and fate played its part. India bundled to a paltry 195 and South Africa begin the pursue ease. South Africans tradition to choke in the knockouts is actually a history dated from 1993. From a very comfortable situation, the batsmen suddenly panicked and started giving away their wickets in flurry. The final equation read 1 over to bowl, 6 runs to win, 2 wickets in hand. With Kapil, Prabhakar, Srinath left to bowl two overs apiece, the question loomed who will bowl the last over? In an unexpected twist, Tendulkar was given the final over which also happened to be his first over of the match. Everyone astonished at the choice. In the seat edge thriller, Tendulkar held nerve and finally India prevailed conceding just 3 runs including a wicket. If you could remember, the same ploy was repeated in the semi finals of 2002 mini World Cup against the same opposition. With dangerous Klusener at the crease, India chose to bowl Sehwag to trump South Africa.

Sachin bowls the Final Over

The Finals held at Calcutta. India batted first to score 225. Having won the Semi Finals from a very tight spot, India bowled with lots of confidence. About one lakh people in the stadium, the roar from the crowd blew the sky away. From 57/1, West Indies lost the remaining wickets in a bout for another 66 runs. Anil Kumble bowled magnificently his last spell of 4 overs to grab 4 wickets. His final tally comprised of 6-2-6-12 that also won him the man of match trophy. I still fondly remember running in the streets insane screaming after the triumph.

 

Azhar with the Hero Cup



Team celebrating the Hero Cup Victory

The young duo of Srinath and Kumble rocked the entire series while Kambli was our star batsmen. The lineup comprising the youth brigade of Vinod Kambli, Ajay Jadeja, Sanjay Manjrekar, Sachin Tendulkar, plus Azhar in top form and the senior pros Kapil Dev & Prabhakar guiding the side, I started sensing India to win the 1996 World Cup. Tendulkar was a big let down with the bat in the Hero Cup. But then how did I know he will be the trump card for India in 1996 World Cup and future editions to follow.

To be continued…

MB (Memory Bytes): It was during the Hero Cup, Jayasuriya was elevated to open the batting for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka mostly played the same squad for 1996 World Cup.

By Dinesh in the VISION OF BALA

Next Episode, Next Monday: India’s Run Machine

Ref: என் கிரிக்கெட் வரலாறு... - 2

A Cricket Lover's Biography - 1

For the first time I’m trying a biography. For starters, it would not resemble anything close to "Controversially Yours". Now, doesn’t it give you a confidence to try me? Come on!!! Give me a shot. I guarantee not to bug you.

1986

4 Runs required of 1 Ball. Chetan Sharma bowls to Javed Mianded and Mianded clobbers the delivery to midwicket stands. India loses to Pakistan in the Finals of Sharjah Cup.

It was the era Satellite TV hadn’t penetrated India. In fact, most part of Southern Tamil Nadu, Television still a luxury than need. Luckily, we owned a Black & White EC TV. Once a while, Doordarshan broadcasts cricket matches, this is the first time I’m watching one. A batsman, after defending the ball stops it with gloves, immediately turns back and walks to pavilion smiling.

“What happened? Who is this guy?”

“Mohinder Amarnath. He handled the ball” replies my brother.

So, Mohinder Amarnath is the first cricketer introduced to me. I don’t understand what happened nor did I want to know any further.

1989

Back then, if you own a Color TV you can be very proud of yourself for that is good as owning a car today. Is that a bad analogy? Don’t mind. Let’s move on. I’m now watching another cricket match in one of the residence in our street that had Color TV. All along I’ve been assuming Cricket Match is played in dirt sand. You can excuse my innocence, for that’s the feeling I get watching in our B&W TV. So here I’m, pleasantly surprised to see Cricket played in lush green outfield. At this time, I should say, I immediately fell in love with the game. It triggered my curiosity to know the nuances and the stars involved.

Slowly learnt about Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, Kiran More, Sixer Sidhu (in 1987 World Cup Sidhu hit 29 sixes) the icons of the team then. My brother introduced Srikanth and Azhar as the most fearsome batsmen of the side. Outside India I’m told Ambrose, Gooch, Boon, Dean Jones, Javed Mianded as the most dangerous players. I started watching cricket matches here and there.

1992

By this World Cup, I should say I’m mostly acquainted with the rules of the sport. Huge technology innovations, games played D/N, cameras everywhere from stumps to towers, third umpires, by all means a very attractive event of those times. The only setback being games started very early in the morning. Though I could not catch all the action, memories from the event still flash green.

With a lot of new faces, India took on England under the captaincy of Mohammad Azharuddin in the opening encounter. Though the match hung in balance most of the time, India finally bite the dust 9 runs short, despite Subroto Banerjee’s late order heroics. If that was a painful begin the loss to Australia by 1 run hurt me even more. Though I cannot recall the whole game, there is one incident that is nailed hard in my reminiscences. Ajay Jadeja runs from deep dives in front to take a stunner. On the other hand, New Zealand set the tournament on fire with Mark Greatbatch’s blazing start. India too tried the tactics by opening with Kapil Dev and Srikanth but failed. It was also the first time; Deepak Patel a spin bowler opened the bowling in Cricket.

Though India was not doing any great in the tournament, the win over Pakistan brought lots of cheers. Javed Mianded jumping up and down teasing Kiran More was the highlight of the match and still a popular video in YouTube.

Earlier, I had mentioned about some of the dangerous names of the game. But, if I were to name a dangerous team, it would be the Rainbow Nation. After 20 years of suspension from International Cricket to Apartheid policies, South Africa returned to play this World Cup. Their ploys were daring and surprised everyone. The picture of Jonty Rhodes flying to run out Inzamam Ul Haq hogged the headlines of national daily with the phrase “Is that Bird or Plane?” Such a sound portfolio South Africa lost to England in the Semi Finals on Duckworth Lewis. 22 runs from 18 balls, the equation quickly changed to 22 runs from 1 ball after the rain intervention. Despite the unfair exit, they won hearts of million fans.

On the other hand, a youthful Pakistan marched into the Finals after crucifying New Zealand in the Semi. I liked the Pakistan players very much as many of them reminded Bollywood heroes. While Inzamam ruled with the bat, Akram the Sultan of Swing uprooted the stumps of Lamb and Lewis in successive deliveries to win the Cup. Moment I saw Imran Khan lifting the beautiful trophy, a sense of anxiety prevailed in me. Will India win the World Cup?

Though India and West Indies went unnoticed in this tournament, a little dynamite exploded from each camp to seek everyone’s attention.  

Sachin Tendulkar & Brian Lara!!!

So, having followed the World Cup faithfully, my brother failed 9^th grade. As a result Cricket was banned at our home. Here and there I sneak few cricket matches. One such series that I followed discreetly is “The Hero Cup”.

To be continued…

by Dinesh IN THE VISION OF BALA

(expecting to publish one post week every monday)

Ref: என் கிரிக்கெட் வரலாறு...