“you? Nervous? Man, you’ve got more balls than girls I’ve ever known!’
‘you’ve known some weird girls then,” I say, raising an eyebrow at him.
Being a ball is never easy. It often invites so many unusual comparisons with other balls lurking around. But balls never mind. At least they never compared themselves. They kept doing what they are made for. Thrown on a 22-yard hard surface, only to be get hit by a cruel bat. And worse is, people cheer when it is hit well,does not matter a bat hit the ball or a ball hit the wicket or batsman.
Since the day this cruel game has started, balls have met many. But balls have special affections for fielders, bowlers and wicket-keepers. World saw many great fast bowlers like Ambrose,B, C and so many. Though balls never liked the ways they throw them towards batsman but at least balls got the chance to hit rather than getting hit. But spinners are good, they threw balls like a true gentleman, with all the grace and love and balls returned the favour by turning the heads of batsman. India had produced so many great spinners like Bishan Singh Bedi,
But it was true. Every bowler loved the ball. I also imagine, Ball could have found someone but it never happened. As it is said, “it’s like a feeling” and feelings come from within. No one canblame a ball if they never reciprocated that love. But finally, the day came. It was match played between SA and Pakistan in 1992 world cup in England.SA was participating first time in world cup. it was fate.
SA won the toss and chose to bat first. SA reached to a respectable total, 211. Opener Andrew Hudson played a brilliant inning, 54 of 77 balls. HansieCronje did some quickfire at the end, 47 of 53 ball. Pakistan was set to chase 212 but then “rain”happened. Once it was over, Target was reduced to 194 in 36 overs. Pakistan had a good start but slow. They lost both the openers at the score of 50 run. From here, young Inzamam-ul-Haq took the inning forward with captain Imran Khan at the other end.
Inzamam was playing brilliantly. Pakistan was lacking in the required run rate, almost 10 runs per over but presence of Inzamam was giving hopes to Pakistan. He was tearing SA bowling line-up apart. Pakistan has lost only two wickets so that required run rate was looking quite achievable. And then came a guy who did something, world had never seen before.
THE MAGICIAN IN ACTION
At the score of 135/2, Inzamam at 48, tried to hit the ball towards mid-wicket, missed. Ball hit the pad and ran towards point. Inzamam set off for a single but Imran returned him. But it was late till then. Ball was in the hand of new guy. Jhonty Rhodes, playing his 5th ODI international match, fielded the ball. Wicket-keeper was not expecting any run out so he did not bother to pick a throw, to run Inzamam out.Rhodes never threw the ball. He ran, he ran like a young leopard running towards its prey, with a lightning speed. Inzamam was quick! yes Inzamam was quick but someone was quickest ever. Rhodes dived at a full speed and destroyed the bails. Now, this had never happened before. Many batsmen came, many bowlers came but this was new. Such fielding standard was new. Cricket world had never seen such display of athletics before.
For the ball, it was new experience. An unforgettable experience. A new feeling. Something ball had never felt before, almost like a film scene. Cold breezes making the ball swing, every hit sounding like a guitar, crowd’s noise driving the ball crazy. Total filmy but it did happen.