Rose Bowl Delight

My humble apologies for cutting short the England-Sri Lanka Test series in my last article—yes, today the third Test starts, and that too at the lovely Rose Bowl in Hampshire, and what a Test it will be! Dilshan, of couse, will not be there—and a reluctant Sangakkara captains again—but he had a 153 against Essex in the county match between the Tests, and Thirimanne (all the Lankan names sound so beautifully like Ranatunga scampering a short single), Dilshan’s replacement in the opening slot, had 104 not out. [caption id=“attachment_26916” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=" The Rose Bowl in Southampton, southern England, on June 16, 2011. Ian Kingston/AFP"] [/caption] The Lankans are looking for revenge and a final victory but I predict an England victory, with Anderson back in full form, and the English lions so keen to be ready for us when we arrive in England in July. Now, why did I assume the series was of only two Tests? Well, aside from old-age, I have only two excuses—one, my nostalgic cynicism; and, two, the  long,  nine-day gap between the second and third Tests, which is such a  return to the ‘old-days’ that I was clean bowled. So I logged onto Cricinfo to make sure of my facts this time, and there it was —Lanka 337/9 and 38/3 against Essex, and Essex 351, with Randiv taking 4/76— facts which did not find their way into any newspaper I saw, which is such a pity, and I am not only being nostalgic and cynical. Go back with me to ‘77 and ‘78 and the daily sports pages full of English county news, and the name, IT Botham popping up every day—scoring and taking wickets, 74 and 4/56 all over the place—and you knew he was going to be a star. This is what  I miss—the joy of simply scanning the scores and finding gems like Botham in the maze. Meanwhile, the predictable happened in the Windies—we win three and the series, and then lose the fourth—and today is the fifth, which we must win, just to keep the momentum and the spirits high. Just saw the film ‘Fire in Babylon’, about the great years of Windies cricket in late 70s, the 80s, and the early 90s. What a joy to see them all again, from Lloyd to Richards to Marshall, with the pace quartet in between, and Lillie and Thomson pounding in as only they could. A treat and, yes, so sad. It is almost a ‘Jurassic Park’ of Windies cricket. Where did it disappear to? It’s a question to be pondered over. But they had 14  years without losing a Test series—14 years!! We have just managed three, and we are number one in the world—oh, my! The only thing missing in the film was Gavaskar taking on those Windies bowlers—this was pioneering heroism at its best. His batting against them is what prepared the way for Sachin and then Sehwag, instilled in them that self-belief, that inner strength to take on the best . I cannot wait for the Tests in the Windies to begin—to feel that deep excitement when the first ball is bowled and faced. Roberts to Gavaskar, and we are underway. Sunil tucks him off his legs, and the great Andy knows he is in for a long, long day… Lloyd moves square-leg a little deeper… Roberts turns to begin his shuffling run… Gavaskar at the non-striker end rests on his bat, other hand curled on hip… And all is well with the world.