As a prelude to the match on Saturday, I would like to paste a random recollection of an Indian fan’s first ever in-stadium test match…
The first test match that I attended was in 1999 in Chepauk.The fourth
and what eventually turned out to be the final day of the test match
against Pakistan.Lokapally in Hindu had written that day that it would
be worth going miles to see the match.In the sweltering heat India had
a very poor first session in which they lost Dravid to a beauty from
Wasim and Azhar and SCG controversially to Saqlain.At that moment I
felt like what the hell was Lokapally talking about.
Then as SRT got into his groove the whole atmosphere changed.After lunch it almost
seemed like all hell had broken loose in Chennai.Runs were
flowing.Pakistanis were frustrated.The crowd was now completely into
it.SRT and Mongia took India through to tea.In the middle of all this
SRT was punching his back repeatedly with his hand.A foreign couple
were sitting near me watching SRT play one of the most memorable
knocks in test cricket.On 99 Moin missed a stumping.My heart almost
stopped beating for a second.Once he got to his hundred the whole
stadium rose in one to acknowledge the effort.What a feeling that one
was.Mongia was playing good solid cricket at the other end.
New ball
was taken.The run rate just kept on increasing.SRT was continously
nursing his back and instructing and encouraging Mongia.After Mongia
got out,Joshi walked in and hit Saqlain for a six.Meanwhile SRT had
moved on to 136.The Saqlain struck.SRT got out to the doosra trying to
clear the ground.It was very agonising to watch the dismissal.The ball
seemed to hang in the air for a long time before nestling safely into
Akram’s hands.Once he got out the foreigners walked out muttering to
themselves that India would loose from there.But nobody else
moved.
Saqlain had Joshi caught and bowled.Can’t remember how Kumble
got out.Srintath was finally bowled by Saqlain.I watched in horror as
the ball rolled slowly of his bat on to the stumps and dislodge the
bails.What began as a dream,turned almost to a boring defeat in half
an hour,before springing back to life before finally ending as a
nightmare.
It was the most fascinating experience.The mood swings of
the crowd,the atmosphere,the tension can’t be described in
words.Almost surrealistically all rose in one to applaud Pakistan as
they did a victory lap.Great introduction to live cricket.Indian
victory would have made it better.But can’t complain about Pakistan’s
comeback at the death.Once in a life time experience.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by funguy: *
As a prelude to the match on Saturday, I would like to paste a random recollection of an Indian fan's first ever in-stadium test match...
It was the most fascinating experience.The mood swings of
the crowd,the atmosphere,the tension can't be described in
words.
[/QUOTE]
Isnt it always,
Always so in Cricket, but more so in a India Pakistan Game.
Always so in Cricket, but more so in a India Pakistan Game.
May the better team win on Nov 13 2004.
[/QUOTE]
Agreed bro. But you forgot to mention that inshallah Pakistan will be the better team ahhahah
That is a really cool story. I dont know what happened to Saqi. The man used to be a demon of a player. We could really use him.
What a group of players that was. I think the '99 team we had was man for man one of the most talented groups of players ever. Unfortunately leadership and morality are other issues.
i'm just curious, why do we need this forum if we already have the other one which definetly seems popular. and miss mohabat, i hope ur wishes don't come true since moin is not playing.
