Just read this piece about Neil Foster’s experience in India during the English Tour in 1984-85 and couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about it.
Those were the times, when we did not have TV yet in our house. I was obsessed with Cricket Commentary on the Radio and still remember how exciting it felt everytime the radio announcer came on to say something like - “Yeh Aakashvaani hai…Ab hum aapko Dilli ke Feroz Shah Kotla maidaan le chalte hain jaahan se aap Bharat aur England ke beech doosra Test match ke doosre din kaa aankho dekhaa haal soonenge”
Anyways, the 1984-85 India-England series was played in the immediate aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. I still remember the India-Pak match at Sialkot which was aborted midway when the news of Mrs Gandhi’s assassination broke. Assassinations and Terrorist attacks were not common then and it seemed like such a momentous occasion at the time.
Anyways, the piece also brought back memories of Azharuddin’s debut series when he scored 3 back-to-back centuries.
The Man(Richards) comes in. Chewing gum, twirling bat, utter disdain for the opposition. Madan Lal is dismissed from his presence with a swipe to square leg. Binny (India’s version of JLo—if you have seen him you know what I mean) is thrashed through cover. And then Doordarshan loses transmission again. “A good thing” my mother says. It is torture watching India lose. Now we can all go back to our respective lives.
Mohinder Amarnath is called into bowl. He lopes in, the only bowler in the world who decelerates as he comes to the bowling crease. A loosener, gently going down off. Dujon takes an exaggerated front foot movement and seeing the line of the ball raises his bat. --------
Read the piece, and quite a fascinating read, it was. Also even more pumped up to find out that there are hardcore fans amongst us, who still vividly remember in a picturesque way the memories from over 20 years ago. Enchanting, indeed! :)
Brings back memories. I remember watching Azharuddin in 1985 during the ODI against Pakistan at Melbourne during the mini world cup held there. His timing was exquisite. This was the comeback match for Imran as well after 2 years of injury. The ease and timing with which Azhar played our bowlers was absolutely marvelous to watch.
The 1983 finals I watched live on TV in UK. After India was dismissed for 183, I thought it was going to be a walkover for the than powerful WI. What unfolded in the next few hours was amazing. The most memorable part for me was when Kapil was running in to bowl as Windies were 9 wickets down. As he was walking back to his run up, he was constantly talking to himself obviously trying to keep himself calm.
Great blog, I still remember going out and sitting in the porch when Richard was going guns. I come back and see Kapil Dev running and running and taking the catch. Than power went off, I heard that noise and this was wicket of Gomes. Than it was me alone sitting in the chair and jumping on each wicket. Since I was the only cricket lover in a home of hockey lovers...... :-)
Man that catch is stamped on my head. Anytime someone talks about that catch I can just play the whole scene in my head. What and wasome & important catch.
:D