Ponting owes Bedi an apology

Ricky Ponting owes Bishan Bedi an apology. The spinning great was invited by Australia’s bowling coach and team manager to the nets to help the Aussie bowlers. And Bedi, who believes knowledge should be shared, was only too happy to oblige. Yet the Australian captain has said, “I don’t know how Bedi landed up there.” It is rude, and shows a regrettable lack of grace from the captain of the No. 1 team in the world. Gate-crashing team practice is hardly the kind of sport international players are wont to indulge in, and to suggest that Bedi “landed up” uninvited is ridiculous.

Especially since Bedi has, over the years, been one of the most generous of players, magnanimous in sharing his experience with the young and old. Even in his playing days, Bedi was always ready to help out a player, regardless of whether he was a team-mate or in the opposition. In 1972-73 against England when he and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar claimed 60 wickets between them in India’s series win, he took time out to bowl to the struggling opening batsman Dennis Amiss. The coaching session worked so well that Amiss made 112, 158 and 99 in Test matches in Pakistan that followed, and never looked back after that.

In the 1980s, on a turner in Bangalore, Bedi, approached by the Pakistani spinners for advice told them, “On a spinning track, the most dangerous ball is the one that does not spin.” It was a lesson offspinner Tauseef Ahmed and left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim took to heart. They claimed nine wickets each in Pakistan’s 16-run victory in a low-scoring match. Bedi was called anti-national then by narrow, parochial minds. He responded that he was part of a brotherhood, and bowlers had access to his knowledge and experience any time, anywhere.

Spinners who have come with touring sides have made it a point to seek out Bedi. In recent years, Shane Warne, Daniel Vettori and Monty Panesar have all benefited from sessions with the articulate Bedi. “I told Jason Krejza to bowl more slowly,” he said speaking of the offspinner in the current Australian team. “He bowls too fast for an offie, and that is asking for trouble against batsmen like [Sachin] Tendulkar.”

Such generosity is not unusual in the game. Players who respond to a larger call than mere nationhood have contributed to its folklore. The Australian legspinner Arthur Mailey, chastised for showing the Englishman Ian Peebles his grip for the googly, said famously, “Cricket is like art. It is international.” He was speaking for all true cricketers.

Wasim Akram agreed with that sentiment when he helped India’s Irfan Pathan with some fine tuning. On an earlier tour, perhaps embarrassed by his deputy Javed Miandad calling Manoj Prabhakar a chucker, Imran Khan passed on useful tips to the Indian bowler.

In none of these instances did the opposition complain about receiving the advice. Or insult an ex-player for being helpful.