Superstitions rampant in cricket in old days

Superstition in sport, across the ages, have come to acquire the significance of unwritten laws or conventions. While it is tempting to scoff at them, it is not easy to break them, for one is afraid of the likely heart-breaks.

Hanif Mohammed - before facing, a bowler touched his belly – he thumped his chest and adjusted his cap.

Sir Len Hutton – he got a five shilling coin from grandfather’s friend with assurance never to part with it. On one occasion when he didn’t have coin with him, he broke his arm at a Army gymnasium-the coin was used for the toss.

One can no more explain belief in superstition as it has undergone certain changes with time. First it had a religious or patristic clock, then there was the patriotic fervour where the blessing of the local deity for strength and triumphant return. This is supposed to be invoking the blessings for victory and to ward off the effect of evil spirit.

Hanif touched belly, thumped chest before first ball

Cricket in the good old days had many instances of players indulging in various acts in the hope of getting results. There was in Pakistan when the team captained by Karder toured India in 1952. Hanif Mohammed, the Little Master, before facing a bowler touched his belly, thumped his chest and adjusted his cap as if he was going through a whole process of short silent prayer. If and when he missed doing this, his skipper missed few heart beats and the next man was seen walking to the wicket.

But before the 1952 tour of India by Pakistan where Hanif Mohammad was seen in the thick of things, he was bang in action when MCC touring side came to Pakistan in 1951 and Hanif as a 16-year-old schoolboy hit the headlines. It was no record innings that brought him fame. But it was simply the great courage that the boy had in him. He occupied the crease for 3 hours to make 26 runs in the first Test where he showed his skill. His performance saved his side - and the match ended in a draw.

Adhikari - first look at the Sun

Hemu Adhikari, the Indian cricketer had a habit which will satisfy the moderns while not letting down the superstitious folk. While walking into bat the first thing on which 'Hemu would set his eye on is the sun which, the scientifically - minded would tell in a flash and tell the on - lookers that he was getting adjusted to the light. Others maintain that Hemu, being a worshipper of the sun, looks at it in a prayerful mood.

Cricket, modern in outlook, and democratic in character, has its roots deep in the past. It has no use for reason or logic or else it would lose its glory of being a game of uncertainties. Even in the present age it retains like old wine some of its prized characteristics. One of them is faith in superstitions. Some cricketers of the past may well have been advised by that great cricketer: "Cricketers are notoriously superstitious. He often used to say that had you ever asked anyone to dinner before a big match, make sure that duck is not on the menu, while if your guest has failed to score in either innings, pears for the obseert are most unwelcome."

Hutton preferred 'duck' rather than lose coin

Even the Great Master, Sir Leonard Hutton, was not free from superstitions. There was a time when he was reconciled in scoring a duck than part with a five shilling coin given to him by his grandfather's friend with the advice never to part with it. He got this coin when he scored his first 50 for Pudsey. The Story goes that the one occasion that he (Hulton) didn't have the coin with him, he broke his arm in an army gymnasium. The coin was used for the toss.

Weekes had faith in Red cap

The West Indians, too, are in the picture. Everton Weekes, during his playing days had a thought that his Barbados cap was more responsible for his big scores than his prowess in hitting at the ball. Once in England, he wore the National (West Indian) red cap and was out to low score and in the next innings he was seen wearing his favourite cap and he scored a century!

The pick of cricketers for luck

"Bill" Edrich and Sir Jack Hobbs put on the left pad first; Insole wore a particular shirt, Warr on the 1951 Australian tour ran into the pavilian and stroked a Woolly - Koala bear (presented to the team) when in need of a wicket; Dennis Compton carried a silver four-leaf Clover; Hugh Tayfield kissed the Springbok in his cap when he felt the need of luck to get a wicket and A.H. Kardar carried a King George VI penny which was minted in 1945, the year he entered first class cricket.

Belief in superstitions is perhaps like snoring, which we all deny when awake, but beats the bard loudest when all are asleep!