Tour Diary
Manuka's New Zealand connection
The Indians sides to have played at the Manuka Oval in the past and why the ground has a Maori name
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
The history of India at the Manuka Oval has some nice touches. The first time an Indians side played here was in 1947, when Probir Sen, the wicketkeeper from Kolkata, top-scored in the first innings. Probir is forever associated with a story of conceding just four byes when in an innings when India conceded 575 in Melbourne. He was later to jokingly remark: “But only four balls reached me”. Also in that team was Gogumal Kishenchand, popularly recalled for being the bowler off whom Don Bradman scored his 100th first-class century.
India’s touring side also played here in 1981. Opening the bowling for India was Yograj Singh and Kapil Dev: one a promising bowler whose career fizzled out, the other a raw quick who went on to achieve greatness. Yograj, by the way, managed nine runs in the game, seven more than what his son (Yuvraj) managed in the first innings here.
The 1991 side is interesting. Nine members of the side have moved on. It involved on to-be television expert (Kris Srikkanth), three potential coaches (Manoj Prabhakar, Pravin Amre and Chandrakant Pandit), two future selectors (Dilip Vengsarkar and Venkatapathy Raju), two prospective commentators (Sanjay Manjrekar and Ravi Shastri), one potential match referee (Javagal Srinath). Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly were the other two members. What fate awaits? My guess: one a cricketing ambassador, the other a television expert.
Full postSledging one's way to success
"I don't think we're generally big sledgers," said Mark Higgs, the ACT XI captain
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
The day begins with the news about Ricky Ponting's parents being forced to change their home telephone number after receiving abusive and threatening calls. What a fine mess we've gotten ourselves into. A photo of Ponting has made most front pages for the last few days, all showing him in a glum state. Some captains just can't enjoy their 16th consecutive Test win. We soon get another bit of news: India planned to wear black armbands for the warm-up game in Canberra. We reach the Manuka Oval and see nothing. Maybe they were wearing white armbands, well camouflaged over their sparkling flannels.
The press box at the Manuka is square of the wicket. The problem is it's at the same height as the stands. So all we can see is people's backsides. Luckily there's a television, which means while we are a few feet from the action, we are watching it on TV. It's a sleepy day. Only a smattering of spectators land up. Photos show packed audiences watching Prime Ministers' XI taking on visiting sides down the years but a picture of this game is unlikely to be framed indoors.
Some time around the afternoon Harbhajan Singh walks out to the middle and lasts exactly three deliveries. Apparently there were some boos around the ground but most of us didn't hear much. Neither did Rahul Dravid, neither did Mark Higgs, the ACT Invitational XI captain. Did Higgs and his team decide they wouldn't sledge during the game? "I don't think we're generally big sledgers," he smiles. "We are a small state and it's hard for us to push that envelope." What are you alleging Higgsy? Is sledging directly related to success rate? Evil thought.
Full postLetters to the Editor
What Australian readers have been writing in to newspapers regarding the Sydney Test
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
The response in Australia has been overwhelming. So much so that India, for the last two days, have appeared to be the home side.
Several editorials, columnists and television experts have come out strongly against Ricky Ponting and his side but the really poignant messages have been in the 'Letters to the Editor' section.
Matt Webber, writing in from Currumbin Waters in Queensland, says: "I have been at the SCG every day of every Test match for the past 16 years. On previous occasions I always left the ground with a rich array of emotions. On Sunday I left with only a feeling of dismay. Ponting has failed the game and failed his country."
Full postGilly's big move
"Phil Emery was a better keeper at that time," remembers Steve Rixon, who was coaching the New South Wales side in the 1992-93 season when Adam Gilchrist made his first-class debut
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Steve Rixon, the former Australian wicketkeeper, remembers the early 1990s well. He was coaching the New South Wales side in the 1992-93 season when Adam Gilchrist made his first-class debut. He was forced to play as a specialist batsman because Phil Emery had the wicketkeeping slot. The side won the Sheffield Shield but Gilchrist struggled to keep his place in the side, playing only three first-class matches in the following season. In 1994 Gilchrist decided to shift across the country, moving to Western Australia.
"Phil Emery was a better keeper at that time," remembers Rixon. "So I picked Adam as a batsman. He didn’t succeed as a plain batsman but that’s life. The best thing that happened to him is that he went to Western Australia. And everyone wanted him to succeed. For me it's not about New South Wales, Western Australia or Queensland. The purpose in life is not just to win Sheffield Shield but to get best players for Australia."
Full postHarris' honours board
The story of the cupboard, on which Rodney Harris has etched the hundreds and five-fors at the SCG over the last decade, is fascinating
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Seventy six year old Rocky Harris sits calmly outside the visitors’ dressing room at the Sydney Cricket Ground. A war veteran, Harris was part of the Malay insurgency from 1952 to 1965 before taking to umpiring in the early 1970s. Since 1995 he has been in charge of the visitors’ dressing room at the SCG and has a special cupboard inside to commemorate the fine performers.
The story of the cupboard, on which he’s etched the hundreds and five-fors at the SCG over the last decade, is fascinating. “In 1999, Mark Harrity, a quick bowler from South Australia, fell for a first-ball duck, walked into the dressing room and kicked the cupboard. A few months later, Andy Bichel got caught down the leg side, came back in and also kicked the cupboard door. So I wrote those two names in the spot where they kicked the cupboard.
Full postA master of subtlety
The newly unveiled Richie Benaud statue has obviously been crafted by someone with an eye for detail
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
The newly unveiled Richie Benaud statue has obviously been crafted by someone with an eye for detail. It's of a dashing young Benaud with his shirt partly unbuttoned, one hand holding a ball, and the other directing a fielder. Steve Waugh has spoken about the shirt - "It shows his flair and individuality" - but it was the field-setting gesture which a few others enjoyed.
Richie's brother, John, played three Tests in the early 1970s but was more renowned as a national selector during Australia's transition phase in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "It's the left hand which is great to see," says John. "Richie was one for subtle gestures. You always needed to keep watching him because he could make a gesture anytime." John goes on to mimic his brother's signals - stealthily moving his hand behind his back and asking a mid-off to go wider. "You never knew when he could come up with these signals because he believed in subtlety."
Full postDivided loyalties
Australian fans are finding this series a strange one to watch
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Australian fans are finding this series a strange one to watch. They obviously support the home team but they’re also yearning for competition. They’re seeing themselves swaying gently: backing the home team but hoping for a contest.
The crowd response today was typical. Every four struck by VVS Laxman was met with gasps, every four from Rahul Dravid with warm applause. Close to 30,000 people urged Dravid to get a move on, when he found himself stuck on 18, and accorded a raucous cheer when he pushed a single.
Full postAn Australian anecdote ... or two
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Former Australian players love their anecdotes. West Indian legends prefer to talk of matches or other players - at least the ones I encountered - but Australians remember the little stories.
Former allrounder Allan Davidson loves to tell a story. He was in India in the early 1980s and visited his old friend Vijay Manjrekar in Bombay. He is halfway through the story even before we have introduced ourselves. "And Vijay shows me two boys who are interested in cricket. One was his son, Sanjay, and the other was a little fella called Sachin. The same guy who's wearing a floppy hat today. Yes. And I showed Sachin how to bowl seam up. He ran up with those small steps even then. Good enthusiastic boy."
Full postBeating the heat ... in Chennai
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
Greg Matthews was at India’s net session yesterday. He was chatting to Harbhajan Singh about the art of offspin, working on his flight and elbow position. But it was fitting that he was wearing a sweater despite the warm conditions and bowled a few balls with a cap on – that’s exactly how Indian fans remember him from the sensational tied Test in Madras back in 1986.
Matthews’ ten wickets went a long way in the dramatic match but it was his eccentricities that stood out. In scorching, humid conditions that caused Dean Jones to nearly pass out, Matthews bowled with a jumper on all day. The temperature was around 40 °C and the humidity 80% but Matthews’ theory was he would radiate rather than absorb heat. While the rest of his team-mates suffered, he stunned them with both ball and attitude.
Full postAustralia's original don
In case you took Don Bradman out of the equation, who would be the greatest batsman cricket has known?
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
25-Feb-2013
In case you took Don Bradman out of the equation, who would be the greatest batsman cricket has known? One walk into the MCG and you can’t miss the veneration accorded to Bill Ponsford, a phenomenal run-making machine in his own right.
The statue of Ponsford outside Gate 1 captures the man: he’s finished with the shot, bat in one hand and taking off for the run. It’s almost as if the sculptor is saying: there was never a doubt he could score, let’s show everyone what came after.
Full post