Shiver me timbers

On India's first trip to the West Indies in 1952-53, after our flight to London we had to travel by ship to Jamaica. We were joined by some of the West Indians who had been playing in the counties - among them Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes, and Alf Valentine.

I was the youngest member of our team, and I happened to be in the same cabin as Vinoo Mankad, my mentor. We had a state cabin since Vinoo bhai was the vice-captain. We were rather privileged, with our own bathroom and toilet, and a little sit-out for the view.

Midway into the voyage, Vinoo bhai suddenly started shivering and requested that I cover him with blankets. I did as he said but it was no use. I used his and my blankets, and the spares - seven in all - but the shivering didn't stop. He complained of a body ache as well, and wanted some weight placed on him to help ease the pain. So I put both our kit bags on top of the pile of blankets he was under, and then sat on him!

None of it seemed to work. So I decided to go for the ship's doctor. I ran into one of the ship's crew on the way, who asked me: "What's the problem, lad?" I told him about Vinoo bhai's uncontrollable shivering. He asked if I had tried using the blankets. I told him I had already used all seven blankets at hand. "Seven blankets and still shivering!" he said. "Nothing can help him, except a woman."