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.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
JohnB,in the end we are all imitations and as Donne said "no man is an island" Though sometimes you wish you were one! Here's an original: Man is basically good but his propensity to do evil far outweighs the good.
JohnB
Guest
Osopher, nothing against Vinay, but the Karl Marx quote often given as "religion is the opiate of the masses" has prompted various imitations using the same structure "... is the opiate/opium of ...". Any ground, any sport with the sort of buzz you describe is special.
Rob McLean
Guest
Phil, I too was wavering on that game. Do I watch it, don't I... I checked the scores during the Indian innings. Could see it was looking a little predictable, went back to the movie I was watching. Movie finished and it was time to feed my daughter. Might as well watch the cricket. I'm glad I did. Sreesanth was giving it all and could consider himself unlucky not to have got a wicket. He was even suitably restrained when the ball was going to the boundary - for Sreesanth, anyway. The first wicket fell, my daughter finished feeding. Time for bed. I expected the Bangers to reach about 200. The fact they got as 'close' as they did shows there is development happening. I think the size of the crowd, Bangladesh's performance and the excitement generated shows to cricket supporters like myself that Bangladesh is a viable member of the cricket community and one that deserves to be in the top flight. There certainly has been some doubt over that in the past.
Faisal Nahian
Guest
Agree with you :)
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Phil,the poor have no cynicism. They only deal in sorrow and joy. I remember I was about 10 and my dad took me to the Eden Gardens. 70,000 inside the ground and 80,000 outside. Everytime a cheer went up inside it would echo outside. There is a connect with the game in India and the rest of the subcontinent,that goes beyond the leeches that infest cricket. I also see it at the SCG with members and their sons,grandsons queing at dawn to get their vantage seats. I have seen diehards in wheelchairs waiting for the gates to open and the designated "runners" ready to sprint when the gates open at 7.30 AM. I remember being the first one on the Hill in 1971 and my Kiwi b-in-law with an esky full of Carlton Cold. It was raucous but not rude. Cricket will become a commodity if we are not careful.
phil osopher
Roar Guru
I agree Vinay and Sheek. Of course Vinay you come up with a blinder of a phrase, "..cricket is the poor mans opiate" How do you do it? I think I'll give up. And as you pointed out in your article Vinay, the crowd, the people, at the Bangladesh ground was an extremely heart warming sight. 50,000 outside the ground you said in your article? This is the true meaning of cricket and spirit. Thumbs up to them and with enthusiasm like that may they prevail to be a powerful side in years to come. The ICC will be doing all it can surely to ensure their growth? But I don't think Bangladesh did too poorly really. They still compiled almost 300 which is pretty solid. It was a slow obvious death but they still batted pretty well I thought, they just still lack that confidence to be able to go for it. But the crowd made up for it, the best 12th man in the world.
sheek
Guest
Yes, this is true. India alone, being the second most populous nation on earth, gives cricket a gravitas it would otherwise not have. Rugby union, which is played in about 10 times as many countries as cricket, would love to have a country of great population size, that is also a powerful rugby nation. But England & France, both with 50 odd million people, give or take about 5 million, is the best that rugby can call on.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Phil,cricket is fortunate that the subcontinent loves its cricket. Forget for a moment the self-interest of politicians and corporates and you are left with a spirit where cricket is the poor man's opiate. And making quite a few rich in the process.