Its Going… going.. and gone, not talking about something that just vanished to outer space; talking about a cricket ball. I know everybody is bored with overdose of cricket and too much of masala cricket that has lots of controversy as its topping and dressing. I started following the game of cricket very early, most probably studying in 7th or 8th grade. We were having a Murphy radio. Those days radio mean electricity, battery operated radios were not available, so it was having a fix position in the house. Using a Radio mean Bengal’s pride, even it is not on the record but everyone knows that J. C. Bose was very much involved in the invention of this gadget. Those days radios need an antenna and there was a yearly charge by government, you have to acquire a license and renew it every year, the inspector would knock your door every now and then to check it. When my addiction with cricket was at its prime, we solely depend on that radio for news and commentary. That radio was something, the phrase that can be fit to it "L*** ka bhoot bato se nahi manta", it would leave me high and dry and stop at the middle for no cause, often we used our fist, poor radio. That time only bothered with the runs that our team scored and if we were winning or losing. Tony Greig came with English team and started fielding at Silly Mid Off with his almost seven feet frame and without any protection, Silly man, so my knowledge about the fielding positions was improved a lot and finally came to know about all legs, like forward short leg, fine leg, long leg and deep fine leg. Then Bye! Bye! to the radios and enter the Television. TV gave us a complete view of the game and knowledge that includes all the finer points. Why only cricket? About all sports, like Stephen Edberg’s touch volley, Steffi Graff’s forehand shot or those tactical moves of Sir Alex.
Today I will talk about a Cricket Genius who is one of kind. A genius cannot be judge by a single outing; still I go to a particular series that was in 1998, when Australian came to India with Michael Taylor as its captain. We won the test series 2-1 and then there was a triangular one-day series with Zimbabwe was the other team. For the first time Australia started with different teams for two different version of the game, so Michael Taylor departed with few other team members and Steve Waugh stepped in. We gone to loss the final and proceed to Sharjah for another triangular series with Australia and New Zealand. The cricket in Sharjah brought big money or call it oily money and since all sorts of dirty thing started in cricket.
In that series India beat Australia in Semi final, thanks to an unbelievable batting display by none other than Sachin Tendulkar, 143 from 109 balls, the particular match also remembered for that famous desert storm. India to play final with Australia, and once again the man call Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar shows the way with a high quality 134 run. We won the cup. During that match what I enjoyed most apart from batting display by maestro was the commentary by Tony Greig, the famous one was “He's hit that one ... He has HIT that one!! ... its going .. going .. ON TO THE ROOF! ... WHAT A PLAYER!! ... superb player!! ".
Since, another twelve years passed by, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the man still standing tall with his arrays of shots. He does not need slogging or improvising, even playing this heavily spiced masala cricket known as IPL. When he finally leaves the field, cricket may be not as same as it was. People will never know what is real cricket was, hardly able to see a man who can play all the real shots that are written in a cricket book. His strong side, none, he can play either side of the wicket with complete ease. In personal front, he is not a big mouthed or self-praising fellow, taken praise and brickbat in same manner without uttering a word, that what a genius is different from other. He does not need a desert to create a storm. On eve of his 37th birthday, dedicate this page to him.
!!!Rise above the politics and give due respect to the deserved one, giving due respect is a huge assets and works like an echo, returned same way as rendered.!!!
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