HADLEE_KAPIL_MEETING_26MAR94

"They enhanced image of the game" by R.Mohan from Hamilton,NZ

(The Hindu, International Edition, 26 Mar 94)

It was with a quite dignity that Sir Richard Hadlee walked up to Kapil Dev to shake him by the hand and signify the handing over of the Test bowling crown. The same dignity had marked the bowling knight's career and that same dignity of bearing was also a highlight of his successor Kapil Dev's career.

There was a bond, an empathy, that many could read as the New- Zealander shook Kapil's hand warmly. The two men, with 863 wickets between them, know how much they have bent their bodies to do their mind's bidding in the seeking of wickets in the cruel and unforgiving world of Test match Cricket.

"You are truly number one now. Go ahead and enjoy the feeling," Hadlee said in the course of his speech at the Bank of New Zealand reception to the Indian cricket team before handing over a memento to Kapil to commemorate his world record.

TRIPLE WONDERS "I call you here in recognition of an outstanding achievement. It is an achievement that reveals the wonders of strength, stamina and skills. You are a model sportsman who has shown what anyone can achieve if he sets his mind to it," Hadlee said at the simple but elegant function held in the Victoria Street branch of the Bank of New Zealand here on Thursday evening.

It is not as if sparks flew when the two great seam and swing bowlers met. Their dignity of bearing may never have allowed such a thing to happen. The warmth of the meeting was al- most touching as the two men who have between them taken more test wickets than a whole generation of bowlers put together, acknowledged each other's achievements.

"I came to New Zealand to see you. I would not have come just for the record even had I needed just a few wickets more. People would then have talked loosely. I am happy just to see you, to share the momenet with you," Kapil said in a private conversation after the formalities had been dispensed with.

The ultimate bowling machine which Richard Hadlee, the first bowler to be knighted, was in his career, was sportingly recognizing the fact that another bowler, however slowly he may have done it, had in fact got ahead of him and pushed the bowling milestone towards a new frontier. Hadlee needs no reminding of the statistics of the two feats which can be seen in such contrast as to be detrimental to Kapil's performance.

Hadlee was one bowler who could recall each detail of his best spells in the game. He could reel off statistics to support his arguments. And here he was, overtaken by another who toiled on in the belief that if one tries he can get much further in the game. Kapil may not have the head for figures in such detail but he is adept enough at the simple artimetic of goal 432.