Highs and lows of my cricketing romance

There have been two completely contratsing feelings during the last few days and I must admit that probably the romance with cricket is taking a back seat for me. There is a lurking danger that in the long run when cricket starts loosing some of its glorious and flamboyant characters or hard fighters, I might not call it a gentleman's game anymore.

At a time when whole of India is busking in the glory of one of the most comprehensive victrories overseas,let me also go berserk. This has been especially a special one and for obvious reasons pumped a deep sense of relief within. On a day when everybody is talking about how great this victory has been, how the team has shown character and fighting spirit after being down in the dumps there would be probably few like me (seriously speaking, sometimes I guess I become too much cynic to handle, but there is this old wine which seems to gush the wrong feelings) who would like to beleive this victory as a different story all together.

There were times when cricket seemed to be the worst game on the planet, Indian team was nothing more than a group of 11 foreign players whom I didn't recognize and kept up the charge only with the false belief that this team doesn't represent a foolish like me. But probably with this victory I would mix in the majority again, slowly but surely. Probably that's why this game is called a great leveller.

The next essay of Indian saga would start on the Boxing day at the Kingsmead stadium, Durban - where India will again start from 0/0. Who knows, they may put up a repeat of the shameful overseas capitulation, they might go down without a semblance of fight which is so natural to this mercurical group or may be to all of our surprise they could pull out one more unbelievable win again.

But whatever happens, I would congratulate a small player in this galaxy of stars to be able to carry successfully my hopes and come out winner against all odds to instill a sense of pride within a community.

This must be one of those days in the history of this great game that after few more days one would like it not to appear at all. But, even as we continue to mourn the loss of arguably one of the most charismatic characters on the cricket field, the truth remains that till date we have been fortunate enough to be mesmerised by the sheer magical power of this wizard.

Lets pay a homage to Shane Keith Warne, the greatest leg spinner ever to grace the cricketing arena. As we prepare to bid farewell to this flamboyant magician, who has been charming to say the least (both on and off the field) - our mind would be reliving those magical moments that he had delivered throughout his illustrious career. The ball of the century, the duel with tendulkar, the famous talk with ganguly (after which he became tempted and got stumpted and India lost the game), the honest confession about the nightmares, the spellbound final over of the 1999 WC semifinal, the innumerable webbing spells of spin magic which enabled australia to be the victorious side - each and every instance would be a part of the folklore which would continue to encourage and inspire children in the future to be a leg spinner.

He is the reason for the popularity and craze behind the leg spin, he is the epitome of all fighting spirit and like phoenix has come alive after every thrasing - be it personal or professional. One of the rare talent who probably has not ever been dropped because of poor form, one of the rare character who sometimes pushed the line too much yet the player who has provided the purest and wildest entertainment to viwers around the world. The scene of him spinnig the red cherry in his magical fingers, the vicious spin which would put any groundsman to utter shame and disbelief and the fear amongst the batsmen across the world about facing him at any time are testimony to his greatness.

He has enviable record against all big cricket teams and unlike some other players has not increased his tally by merely taking wickets against minnows. Also, he has been generous enough to give credit to batsmen when it was due. All these make him a character to remember for ever.

No doubt that cricket would be less attractive from a day in near future and except batsmen, nobody inside or outside the field would enjoy the game unlike it has been till date.