I have basically given up on being entertained by cricket, but I was surprisingly entertained by the game in Bangladesh on Saturday night, with the crowd, crazy with noise, being a fine support act for the show.
India somewhat predictably piled on 370, only losing four wickets.
I’m not a fan of whitewash cricket so I only cast a casual eye as I sat writing a book called ‘Bird’ for my 15-month-old boy. It was about birds, had a rhyming narrative and pictures of birds. But it was 11.30pm and time to move on to another activity.
Continue with the cricket currently on screen to see Bangladesh chase a huge total was one option, the PlayStation another. I was opting for the latter.
But there was something interesting about the cricket – a heavy dew was visually distorting things, the stands of encompassing, raw, simple but continuous architecture were busy with people, the ball was swinging. It had the subcontinent exotic feel about it.
Sreesanth was bowling well as he began. If it’s working for him he goes alright.
The ball was really moving and he whacked the openers pads with a nice dipping in-swinger, given out but the batter reviewed the decision and was allowed to stay.
A few thick edges went to the boundary and runs were suddenly coming steadily.
But the bowlers were on top, despite the fours, edges like that are encouraging for a bowler. But Sreesanth was becoming flustered. That’s the problem with a weaker bowler, it’ll get to them.
He was bowling the fifth over, 26 or so runs made, when the Bangladesh fellow let loose with a couple of boundaries.
Sreesanth bowled a no-ball and bowled the free-hit ball lamely short and the batter pulled it to the boundary with a sweetly timed stroke, lacking absolute authority but still good, then a nice cover drive for four.
24 came off that Sreesanth over to have Bangladesh leap to an impressive 50 or so off five overs, and the crowd was absolutely insane with noise as the balls hit the boundaries.
You get a beautiful distortion when the noise hits that threshold level, and you can really feel the crowd coming at you. Not a nasty distortion, just a nice pushing of the VU meter that gives an intense wall of reverberating full noise.
I like that subcontinent-type spirit; such raw optimism, uninhibited movement of bodies, dancing, waving madly at cameras, naïve smiling and laughing, stupid congo lines, all of it. I really like it, so much better than the stiff boozed straightness of Australian crowds – pure human spirit.
You have to give it to them, they know how to support a game. Even their use of pop dance music to whoop-up the crowd seemed alright to me.
Nobody does tacky like the subcontinent can, they saturate you with it which makes it alright.
I was unaware and surprised by the fact of what a great cricket ground Bangladesh has and what a fantastic atmosphere they are capable of creating. It gives you hope.
Sreesanth was off, then the big hitter was bowled by the new bowler Patel – a predictable inside edge – spinners came on, dried up the runs and Bangladesh lost.
But it was a great first five or so overs – best I’ve seen in years.
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