Poor crowds cause for worry

The Indian cricketers must be basking in the glory of their triumph over Australia in the Four Test series by two victories to nil.

Not satisfied with that they are now, if the three of seven one-dayers against England which ended in easy victories is an indication, then they are on the way to mauling the Englishmen and securing a seven-nil triumph.

While the Indian cricketers had it easy against Australia, alarm bells were rung when poor crowds turned out at all four venues where the Tests were played.

In the past packed houses were more the rule rather than the exception. Before the series began, it was hyped and built to be the ‘mother of all cricketing battles’. Hitherto unseen and unheard of publicity, both in the print and TV media were given to the maximum.

But when the series unfolded and began to roll, it was surprising to note the poor crowd turn out. With the publicity given, big crowds were expected. But the poor crowd turn out would have been disappointing to the organisers.

Even with India striding to victory over the much hyped Australians, crowds did not turn up to cheer their cricketers and join the celebration.

That was sad.

Twenty20 to blame

The consensus by those who are in the know, is that the Twenty20 bash has gone to be extremely attractive and that they would go to pay ungrudgingly to watch the instant action where it is hit out or get out. To hell with the traditions and the niceties of the time honoured established game - Test cricket.

India and Pakistan were two countries where crowds used to flock in their numbers to take in the action. But sadly spectators have now turned their backs on Test cricket and gone for the Twenty20.

But it is good that the crowds have not shunned the 50-over one day internationals. That should be pleasing to the respective Cricket Boards. Test cricket will have to rethink.

Field placing

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s field placing in the final Test where he had eight fielders on one side of the wicket and only one on the other came in for a bit of criticism.

But India in the lead by one Test and with the Aussies wanting only a draw to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indians had every right to throttle the Aussies and deprive them of victory, by trying every trick in the trade, as long as it was in the rules.

And there is no rule in the book that says or indicates how many fielders could be placed on off-side. There is a rule that says that no more than two fielders could be placed behind the wicket on the leg-side.

Chappell most vocal critic

Ian Chappell the former Australian captain who was giving expert comments with former Indian allrounder Mohinder Amaranath on NEO Sports was the most vocal on Singh’s tactics and called on the International Cricket Council to have a look at this style of field placing.

Chappell’s worry was that this style of field placing will kill the game as a spectacle. We are in agreement with him.

Dhoni was playing according to the rules. We would like to jog Ian’s memory to the under-arm incident his brother Greg was involved in where he asked his younger brother Trevor to bowl an under-arm ball against New Zealand in a one-day game.

There again Greg was playing to the rules that incident nearly brought both countries to war. As long as the game is played according to the rules, however negative and unpalatable, the fact is that, that is how the rule book has it.

Subsequently the ICC rewrote the rules. Let’s hope the ICC will rethink and do something and make Ian Chappell happy.

Chappell must remember that in today’s context winning is not everything. It is the thing.

Hooliganism in football

Hooliganism in football is nothing new. It happens in the 202 countries where football is played and it was no different in Sri Lanka and at the CR & FC Ground when Saunders played Ratnam in the Premier League match last Sunday.

A Ratnam player is alleged to have hit a Saunder’s supporter which ignited the fire that we are told led to a free-for-all.

It was sad that the match that was evenly contested up to that time had to be called off and probably put off for another day.

The Disciplinary Committee of the governing body would give its verdict after studying the report of the referee and probably the versions of the two clubs.

Football the world over sees a bit of fisticuffs. One can’t forget the head-butting by France’s Zidare in a World Cup clash.

There have been many more incidents that need not be reiterated.

One hopes that the cyclops would not bash Manilal Fernando for that incident.

Crime reporters

In the good old days inter-school football matches between St. Benedict’s, St. Joseph’s, De Mazenod, St. Anthony’s, Wattala and Zahira College were not only keenly contested on the field, but off field too with supporters having a game of their own.

Once when a Sports Editor asked the then Editor of the Daily News,, Clarence Fernando who was also a Benedictine whether he should send sports reporters to cover the Zahira-St. Benedict’s game, the Editor who was famous for his jest said: “Not sports reporters, send crime reporters”, to the amusement of the Editorial Staff.

M.J.M. Zarook easily the most experienced, knowledgeable and respected journalist will bear testimony to this statement by Editor Fernando.