Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Cricket @ Picket
I had written this blog about a decade ago. It was not called a blog then it was just a write-up for my English class.
June - October 1998
KV picket has had a great tradition of cricket and I had a chance to be a part of it. The KV Sangathan had decided for some reason that 1998 will be a year where the KVS Cricket National Tournament would have the winning team of each zone qualifying for the next round instead of selecting players from each zone.
We started practicing for this tournament from early June. A lot of players, sports teachers and opposition teams felt we could not make it to the National finals as we never had good players. Most of us played to bunk classes during practice, get free sports attire, and most importantly impress girls near the playground. But all of us loved and lived the game.
As we kept practicing our skills improved. Our fielding was class apart from the other schools and some people used to actually come down to watch our fielding sessions. During these drills where we would take slip catches, high catches, have run out simulations, relay throw simulations, etc. Later, we would have sprint sessions, running between the wicket sessions and so on. After all this we would have net sessions.
By the time we selected the final team, fine tuned our strategies etc it was time for the SUB REGIONAL tournament. Picket had played some three practice games before this and won them. We won this tournament beating schools like KV Trimulgery and KV Begumpet. This meant we would get a chance to visit Vizag where the REGIONAL tournament was being held and in the process bunk some more classes. We played good cricket and reached the finals and in the finals we were over confident of beating a tough Vizag side which had players from the sports hostel. We lost to a very strong side and in the process made some enemies on the field. A few players from this team would meet us in a big match later.
However, we qualified for the ZONAL tournament in Chennai and won the tournament convincingly thus making our journey into the National Level Tournament at Chandigarh. We got into the final and faced KVS Sports hostel which had some of our old foes (some players) to whom we had lost in the REGIONAL round. They started out as favourites in the final as they boasted of some strong players and had already beaten us before.
I still remember the cold morning – overcast conditions, green top and we debating whether to bat first or second. We won the toss and changed the idea of batting first and instead put the opposition in. After getting them out for 130 it was our turn.
I used to open the batting for Picket and have always preferred opening as it is always nervous to watch others play. But on this day I was down with viral fever and decided to bat down the order.
It was 112/7 when I walked into bat with three sweaters and still shivering. I guess it was cold and my nerves were also not holding on. Amidst opposition abuses, jeering, and a breaking wicket the 19 runs that me and my partner at the other end scored is something I will never forget in my life. Every run was followed by a prayer and I still remember running a double by just pushing the ball into the infield. I have never run so fast since. I have never been so desperate to win since. I have never played cricket so passionately since. We finally needed two to win and when the winning runs were hit we ran three instead of two just to be sure.
The entire team ran into the field and we celebrated as though we had won the world cup. I guess everybody cannot play for India and that moment was definitely my world cup.
June - October 1998
KV picket has had a great tradition of cricket and I had a chance to be a part of it. The KV Sangathan had decided for some reason that 1998 will be a year where the KVS Cricket National Tournament would have the winning team of each zone qualifying for the next round instead of selecting players from each zone.
We started practicing for this tournament from early June. A lot of players, sports teachers and opposition teams felt we could not make it to the National finals as we never had good players. Most of us played to bunk classes during practice, get free sports attire, and most importantly impress girls near the playground. But all of us loved and lived the game.
As we kept practicing our skills improved. Our fielding was class apart from the other schools and some people used to actually come down to watch our fielding sessions. During these drills where we would take slip catches, high catches, have run out simulations, relay throw simulations, etc. Later, we would have sprint sessions, running between the wicket sessions and so on. After all this we would have net sessions.
By the time we selected the final team, fine tuned our strategies etc it was time for the SUB REGIONAL tournament. Picket had played some three practice games before this and won them. We won this tournament beating schools like KV Trimulgery and KV Begumpet. This meant we would get a chance to visit Vizag where the REGIONAL tournament was being held and in the process bunk some more classes. We played good cricket and reached the finals and in the finals we were over confident of beating a tough Vizag side which had players from the sports hostel. We lost to a very strong side and in the process made some enemies on the field. A few players from this team would meet us in a big match later.
However, we qualified for the ZONAL tournament in Chennai and won the tournament convincingly thus making our journey into the National Level Tournament at Chandigarh. We got into the final and faced KVS Sports hostel which had some of our old foes (some players) to whom we had lost in the REGIONAL round. They started out as favourites in the final as they boasted of some strong players and had already beaten us before.
I still remember the cold morning – overcast conditions, green top and we debating whether to bat first or second. We won the toss and changed the idea of batting first and instead put the opposition in. After getting them out for 130 it was our turn.
I used to open the batting for Picket and have always preferred opening as it is always nervous to watch others play. But on this day I was down with viral fever and decided to bat down the order.
It was 112/7 when I walked into bat with three sweaters and still shivering. I guess it was cold and my nerves were also not holding on. Amidst opposition abuses, jeering, and a breaking wicket the 19 runs that me and my partner at the other end scored is something I will never forget in my life. Every run was followed by a prayer and I still remember running a double by just pushing the ball into the infield. I have never run so fast since. I have never been so desperate to win since. I have never played cricket so passionately since. We finally needed two to win and when the winning runs were hit we ran three instead of two just to be sure.
The entire team ran into the field and we celebrated as though we had won the world cup. I guess everybody cannot play for India and that moment was definitely my world cup.
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