Taunts and Laughter - A Sledging Encounter

From Srinivasan Venkataraman, India
This happened when our university team was involved in a pre-season practice match against a team that plays several notches higher in the local league.

This was a limited overs match, our team was chasing a huge score and we were already 7 down with a little less than half the total score to cross the hurdle. All possibilities of our opponents' victory resting solely in the hands of the weather gods. The positives on our, rather my side were: (i) I was batting in the middle (ii) Many overs left to play (atleast by tailender standards) (iii) Ball had lost the shine and was coming nicely on to the bat.

Being brought up in the Gavaskar/Dravid mould I decided to take the bowling by defending stubbornly, inspite of several taunts from the meagre spectators and atleast three fielders surrounding the bat. The opponents who had much superior bowlers were unable to get me or the other batsman out and add to this the torrid heat and their superior ego compounding the misery.

This was just one of the conversations that happened between me and the wicketkeeper in a passage of play: First ball, stoutly defended and no chance for the fielders WK: Well bowled, Mr.Bowler (I turned to the WK and smiled) me: Yeah, well bowled, I agree

Next ball, again defended ... WK: Well played, Mr Batsman! (I turned and smiled again) me: Good, you agree too!

Next ball, defended again ... WK: (comes in front of me) Why don't you play one of the tail-enderish innings-flash, miss, connect, ....get out, instead of just defending? me: Dude, I am playing for tea and then we have a team meeting during the break to discuss the strategy. Is follow-on on your scheme of things? Anyways I am in a sense helping your good bowlers become greater bowlers if they can get me out! (entire cordon of close-in fielders burst into peals of laughter)