A small corner of glory in foreign land

I desist telling that but I have to say that I do have sense of déjà vu.
Poetic justice has been meted out to the ‘Men in Blue’. Jo’berg has been the place of redemption for them. I would evade words such as “I saw it coming”, but truth is it was long over due. And what a better place than Jo’berg.to drape yourself in glory.

But why Jo’berg you may tempt to ask . Well Jo’berg has been place for many crucial battles for India and unfortunately in the heat of moment at famous “Wanderers” they have always been found wandering, drifting away from that sweet perfume of victory.

Circa 1992, South Africa is back into cricketing world with big bang leaving those much scorned apartheids behind. well I have fleeting memories of this match , don’t expect much from a 10-11 year old who is still learning ropes of balancing his life between unjust demands of school and late hours of cricket watching. All I remember a young 19 year old scoring a breath taking Ton , kinda daja vu for young cricket fan like me who has seen his exploits earlier at WACA, Perth , said 2 be the perfect place for a batman who relishes chin music with red cherry shootin past his ears . Do I need to mention teenager’s name , most definitely he is SRT(Sachin to us ). South Africa saves the match as Jonty Rhodes feels padwork can effectively substitute willow craft and umpires feel ‘LBW’ is not a part of any legal cricketing dictionary. Hmm on that sunny day at Jo’berg we were 11 against 13, despair writs large over all Indian faces and match ends in a tame draw.

1997- I have already seen couple of tests in this series. In first match we are molested (a kind of assault you take, grin and put your hand forward to congratulate the assaulter), second we again ate humble pie, a pie I never relish (Fatso Indians need to shed weight and pull up their socks to make it worth while --I wince, grimace and end up uttering),
So we are back to lovely Jo’berg and a new star is born. Indian wickets keep falling like nine pins, huh what’s new? History repeats itself you may tempt to utter, hold a while and behold the sight of young titan standing tall among debris of mere mortals, Name is RD, Dravid ,, Rahul Dravid. The man who brings fresh breeze from garden city and rock solid technique even lightening fast Donald fails to breach. We are here , we are here to overcome proteas , but oh dear fat lady you forget to sing , yeah it rains heavily and Proteas scrap through courtesy some rock solid show by Cullinan and Klusner and sudden amnesia of googly,leg breaks and top spin by Kumble does the rest. “A great ton , a victory would have been icing on cake” is all young titan can mutter. Jo’ you again leave us empty handed all this truly ardent fan of cricket (me who else) can hiss.



2003- Stage can’t get bigger than this. The coliseum is ready and so are young gladiators to wrench all guts and blood they have on this cricketing field. Yeah sir and ma’am too (if they have developed sudden interest in a game played by gentlemen in silk flannels) this is the culmination of cricket carnival 2003 (WC). But God suddenly discovers his ancestral roots lie somewhere down under,” what a time to know your DNA God!” I end up cursing Him. Ponting and Martyn make hay in brilliant sunshine with our cannon fodder(if you call them bowlers) , rest is history and a frustrated soul hits the sack earlier than usual. SRT gets man of the tournament award from none other than great sir Garfield Sobers, but personal glory is lost in sea of yellow shirts and odd baggy green cap, world cup is taking next flight to Brisbane mate.


2006- Enough pasting already received, Indians are looking a harried lot. Few heads start to roll, few oldies have suddenly found warmth in hearts of team management.
All signs of despair, desperation when you try all the tricks up your sleeve to avoid constant hammering that has been well your destiny. From no where appear three demi gods of Indian cricket. players who were left in cold not long ago and pension(if BCCI gives one) was pretty much on cards for them. One , an elegant southpaw so called God of all beautiful things on off side, other a smiling assassin who mesmerized all willow wielders world over and made them question basic laws of physics. Third, a very stylish bat , cherry always ordered him when he chose to caress it , ask kangaroos who learnt it hard way when paradise was lost for them in a garden of Eden.

But timely arrival of three gentlemen (old wine tastes better) and a pumped up lad from down south ensure Jo’berg is no longer a cursed place. From what could have been Jo’berg has been transformed into a place of we have tasted it here. India is no longer left wandering at “Wanderers” .

Way to go boys, you never know they may get a pasting in next test. A leather hunt is very much in offing and I am not denying it, but taste of first (be it love, honor or victory is always special). Soak up the sun boys; relish the richly deserved first hurrah in South Africa. ‘Wanderers’ was destined to be your place.

Ps: someone tell certain John Terry, Jo’berg is the place for paper tigers and WC-Soccer Finale is slated to be very much here. Deja vu ….eh Poms!!!!