Great Cricket Test Match-South Africa vs. India-Eden Gardens-1996

As they say test match is the great game. And when it is a true test it shows why still, to any avid cricket spectator will always put it above any other forms of cricket.

There were many great test matches. But the one I will cherish will be the 2 ^nd test in 1996 between South Africa vs. India t in Eden Gardens. A game that will always be remembered for the ephemeral cricketer, Mohd. Azharuddin. He was player like very few. A true believer in destiny. It did not matter what were the circumstances. If he believed it was his day, he will play as if it was his last. His wrist work was legendary. I am sure the wristiest player I have ever seen. And if one was looking for a good example of his true class and also his character than this would be the game.

I still remember where I was. I had permanently started staying at our new house. And with its little or no infrastructure, the only means I could follow the game was via radio. With the game being played in Eden Gardens, all of Calcutta was as excited as if it was the second Durga Puja in a month. The game was played from Nov 27-dec 1. But the most important reason I will always cherish the game was as I mentally saw the game, in RADIO. I say it as I always felt when you are listening to radio, with your imagination doing the seeing; it elevates game to almost ephemeral proportions.

For Mohd. Azharuddin he already lost his captaincy. Many were feeling it was the end of his career which was already 12 -13 years of some great cricket. It certainly seemed especially with coming of the new crowd of batting talent in Sachin, Dravid, and Ganguly & Laxman. But for his entire fan, this will be his phoenix rise, a display of what it meant to Azharuddin. And where else this rise could be besides his favorite venue, Eden Gardens. He comes to crease when all the top players were lost to certainly one of the best fast bowler of all times, Donald. Even in the dead pitches of India he ransacked the top half of Indian batting. India was 7/116 with South Africa already scored 428 in 1st Innings. Donald had already scrapped off the big shots and Azhar had to come back after being retired hurt at 3/87. Luckily Donald had to take off because of being hurt. And in this precarious situation Azhar comes to pitch. And what a game it became. Azhar massacred all the bowlers but especially the new debutant Lance Klusner. His innings was 0/95 after 14 overs, with one over where he was smashed for 4 fours. Azhar scored 106 and with him and Kumble they took India out of certainly a follow-on and innings defeat. 

But for lot of us who liked him, the 2nd innings showed why we like this enigmatic guy. 2nd Innings is very similar to 1st innings. India already has lost all the top line except Dravid with score at  4/28. Azhar joins Dravid. They score a good 60 runs, with Dravid scoring 21 in 121 balls. With his departure and with Klusner showing his mettle, Donald never played in the test again, the onus was with Azhar. But it was Azhar; he was still swash bucking as if he could push India out by his swagger. And this time it was Klusner's turn. And with Azhar gone India lost by 329 runs.

Though India still lost the game, as Klusner who was certainly one of the better fast bowlers showed his mettle in the 2nd innings when he got 8/64, . But for Azhar fans and especially people from Calcutta it was one of the greatest innings we would ever see.

You tube video of Azhar's 1st innings -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4MCwlGi-Mo

Why Nelson Mandela rings a bell in me

 Growing as Indian, just as Fareed had talked when he mentioned about Nelson, there was always a charm to the 19th century Liberal gentleman which Gandhi, Nehru and even Nelson was one. They were born to century old eastern philosophy but were enlightened by the missionary schools of the British system. And these two amalgamations produced a very powerful force in all these people. 

Where their hearts was still Eastern their outlook was Western, open, forward looking. As someone told about Mandela's spirituality, he believed in infinity. Something which is not very true, of any pure conservative eastern folks.

For us who also had a slight degree of same upbringing, but with a much more western world we were born, but certainly lived predominately in our later years, many of the thoughts and action done by them was more an anathema. To be surprised by the strength of power all these individual had. Be it Nehru’s writing his best book in Prison when the British were trying to crush their spirits and at a personal level with his wife dying. Or be it Mandela and his associates being always happy when they were tried for crime which certainly would have got all of them hanged. 

But with Nehru and Gandhi they will always remain an Anathema. They died much before I was born. And in many ways they will always appeal to me, in many ways I will never be totally be able to connect with them.

Mandela in that ways certainly is an exception. Though he is truly an Eastern 19th century Liberal gentleman, he lived in a timeframe where western forces of open markets and demise of communists is a norm. And in him I see a person who though because of his upbringing should have alighted to these current forces he did. Much like many of us, who have a very socialistic thinking but know that today's world demand embracing open market/Rageanism/Hayek for daily life. And that is where Mandela can be an interesting example of how to align the socialistic thoughts of personal upliftment in a market driven economy. Juxtaposed thoughts with divergent aims and thought processes.

one big reason to supplement my hearing of "The Documentary" by BBC on Nelson Mandela by a good Autobiography on him. Again the rational-de force which made me writes this article.

Living a Dream!!!

 Like most of us who come from the lower middle class in as they used to call 3rd World World. Where we grew up not really poor, but just an echelon below where poverty and hunger was a truth besides few days in our lives where food was a scarcity. With all these scarcity we grew up as hard working never feeling we were enlightened to anything. We had to earn and create a world where we want to be. So most of our lives we spent seeing we use every minute of our lives judiciously. This during our High School days meant, putting over 8-10 hours in study. Atleast we aimed for it. Could not do as we had to spend 1-2 hour commuting to school for studying.

And as they hard work does pay. And when I think about my life it has been kind to me. Knowing that there are millions of people who are more talented better looking and are entitled to be in my position, I feel humbled that I have what I have. Live in county which is at pinnacle of its height, coming from a culture which only recently has been started being appreciated for it greatness. Finally moved to a place which is considered by many "Time magazine article of why Texas/Dallas is what future of US will be" is the best place to stay (best city to stay after Boston). At a career level, finally able to work in Technology that not only pays well, but with most companies looking in going a big way in the online way, especially with mobile technologies’ penetration and ubituousness. But most importantly at personal level having a very loving wife, and certainly one of the best people I have ever meet and staying at a house in a nice neighborhood of correct size and location.

So looking back, when three of us grew in a 550 square foot space with years where my Dad's business was not doing good, thus financially insecurity. To a house sound-level still affects me still now, to nice work, place to work and great wife and family, I am indebted to people who have made this possible. Humbled that I am, this also carries with a duty to see that with my privilege I do not feel entitlement, but more importantly pass these virtues to others who are as entitled to better living as I am living.