Cricket in America

30th April 2006, 8:15 am -

We picked up the cricket sticks and yellow balls from the corner of our room and started off. A brisk ten-minute walk fighting the chilling wind and the morning laziness to reach the Lincoln Memorial Park - a large chunk of green grass full of sturdy maple trees with budding leaves, and many tall trees with unknown names.  Another two minute stride through the park took us to our play ground - a nice green carpet formation. To my wonder there were hardly anyone in such a beautiful ground.  At a distance a little girl was playing with her cute puppy and few old people were proudly walking with their special breeds of dog. Few pigeons were muttering in another corner. But other than those, we were the only crowd out there.

The most beautiful ground I have ever seen - though there was nothing to call as a pitch but just a stretch of uneven grass.  My colleague gave a call and from another side a group of young men came running. The cricketing men of different sizes - tall, short, tough, thin and big - I saw all among them. Team was formed. Toss was executed and the captain led the team on to the field. The sticks pierced through the soil and ball started bouncing. Even after the play was on, I was lost in the surroundings – comparing this beautiful ground to the Lord's, Gabba, Oval or Eden Gardens -  I wished if I had the batting skills of Sachin or the bowling pace of Shoaib or the fielding talent of Rhodes to match with the beauty of the ground.

Suddenly I saw a ball screaming at me. I put my hands together - but it was too late, it slipped through my hands on to the ground. A catch missed. I watched around awfully. I saw few unknown faces looking at me in anguish. Few were telling 'good try' though I felt a sort of hollow feel in those words. I came back from my thoughts and remained alert, but after that not even a single ball came towards me. I was called on to ball - I wished for a great action ahead. My third ball, a pretty normal one, somehow hit something on its way and uprooted the middle stump. 'Great ball' – roared many while  the batsman and I were looking at the pitch in disbelief.  That was the beginning and end of it. After that, there was no looking back. Every time I bowled, I saw the balls crossing the boundaries, speeding through the grass, disappearing among the maple trees and when I at last got a chance to bat, I saw the first ball I faced, kissing the edge of my bat into the safe hands of keeper.

Yes, it was painful to go through such a fateful day at such a beautiful ground, and to have such a dreadful beginning for my cricket in America. After all the toil, I felt the pain all over the body. But I neither felt the grief, nor the disappointment - for I was drowned in the lush beauty around me, making me forget myself - just like a perennial lover getting drowned in the eyes of his beautiful damsel.

For stats:

 

Date: 30th April 2006 - 8:30 am to 11:30 am

Two matches played : 1 won 1 lost.

Batting :

1st  - DNB

2nd   - Golden Duck (caught behind)

Bowling:        

1st  - 1 wkt for a sixer and few runs

2nd  -  0 wkt for a couple of sixes and many many runs

Fielding

2 missed catches and those were the two moments the ball came to me.