Book on Lala Amarnath to be released
Compared to literature on cricketers from other lands, books on Indian cricketers are very few and this is a pity
Partab Ramchand
04-Sep-2000
Compared to literature on cricketers from other lands, books on Indian
cricketers are very few and this is a pity. For, some of the leading
players from the land have also proved to be among the game's enduring
characters.
Given this background, it is gratifying to note that veteran cricket
writer KR Wadhwaney is bringing out a book `Lala Amarnath - a stormy
petrel of Indian cricket'. The book which went into print just before
the former Indian captain died last month, gives a detailed account of
his career, the many controversies Amarnath was involved in off the
field and some interesting, little known tit bits.
Among the interesting stories listed is Amarnath's move to deny Don
Bradman his century of centuries in first class cricket. Bradman was
on 99 in the match between the touring Indian team and an Australian
XI at Sydney in 1947 when Amarnath called Gogumal Kishenchand, who had
never bowled before on the tour. Bradman was extremely cautious,
realising the shrewdness of the move, but ultimately got the all
important single in the same over. Bradman heaped praise on Amarnath
calling him ``a wonderful ambassador.''
A little known story is about the mix up about the toss in the fifth
Test at Melbourne during the same tour. When both Bradman and Amarnath
went out to toss, the Indian captain, who normally called `heads',
called `tails' in a muffled tone. When Bradman spun `heads', he
immediately asked Amarnath what was his decision as he had not heard
him calling `tails'. An awkward situation was averted when the coin
showed `heads'.
After India lost the second Test against Pakistan in 1952 at Lucknow,
the Indian team was heckled and booed. A section of the spectators
became wild and abusive. The Indian team had boarded the bus when
Amarnath, who was the Indian captain, was unable to swallow the
insults. He charged out with a bat in hand. It was a brave act which
silenced the angry crowd. This is one of the many anecdotes recalled
in the book.
Another interesting story related is when Amarnath had tied up an
attacking batsman like Harold Gimblett of Somerset during the 1946
Indian tour of England. Such was his perfect line and length that
Gimblett ventured to ask him: ''Don't you ever bowl a half-volley?''
And back came that impish Amarnath humour. ``Oh yes. I bowled one in
1940.''