ENGLAND has realised to its complete horror that cricket has changed forever. While the rest of the world woke up to this fact a generation ago, it took some enthusiastic Pakistani louts (or fans, depending on which way you look at it) to drive home the message at Lord's.
When fans jumped the fence, pushed the stewards away, burst firecrackers, invaded the field, all hell broke loose. There was outrage at this bad behaviour, justified concerns were expressed about threats to player safety, from exploding pataakas and boorish spectators. But is all this such a serious matter?
It is, because sport (and that too cricket in England) is civilised activity whereas chucking beer cans at players is not. Still, the reaction of cricket authorities taken by surprise by the developments, is somewhat over the top. Would one yelp have emerged had England won and their ecstatic supporters celebrated team victory in much the same fashion? Unlikely.
England does not look like winning anything, but were this miracle to happen by any fortuitous circumstance, there would be uncontrolled jubilation at each ground. These scenes of joyous celebration would be hailed, described as a victory for cricket, projected as a triumph of sport and its abiding appeal.
Sadly, England is in the dumps, and this matter of spectator behaviour has been stirred unwittingly by none other than Nasser Hussain, the captain. His tactless plea to Asian youths to support England triggered a controversy. The point Nasser missed was he saw the symptom not the problem. An expat remains an expat, it has nothing to do with cricket, it is a social and psychological issue. A British passport does not make anyone an angrez, dil yeh to hai Hindustani/Pakistani.
This is not to refute the other theory that a cricket fan is a cricket fan also, he will appreciate good quality performance regardless of where it emanates from. Anyone will cheer Inzamam because he can bat and Waqar because he can bowl. But how do you arouse the same emotions, scream and go up in a frenzy over the likes of Vaughan, Collingwood and Ealham. Listen Nasserji: these guys are just too ordinary.
Ground invasions led to cries for fencing, increased presence of security and stiff legislation to prosecute offenders. John Major (former PM, now President of Surrey) is leading the campaign to cleanse cricket of this evil. The reformers are correct in their bid to set the wrong right but the move shows England has been left behind in cricket. With focus having shifted to the subcontinent in terms of popularity, and to Australia/South Africa for on-field strength, England has no clout in the game. It is sadly unconnected and irrelevant, clings to an outdated mindset, remains trapped in nostalgia. With circumstances bypassing it, England is not in a position to provide much direction to world cricket.
Modern developments (specially unpalatable ones like spectator invasions) jolt England, and exposes them to the raw reality of current sport. But England, committed to tradition, is strugging to manage change. Aggressive crowd behaviour is unpleasant, so is excessive commercialism but can anyone swim against the tide for long? Hence the grudging concession to night cricket (though there is light till 10 p.m.), a triangular series, more onedayers and greater accommodation for the sponsors needs.
Many, even in India, feel cricket is losing its aura and the lustre of stars is diminishing. Yesterday, kids walked around with transistors attached to their ears, and pasted newspaper pictures of heroes in scrapbooks. Today top players come out of cola bottle dhakkans, they sell tracksuits and tyres, engine oil and hair oil.
Of course when cricket is on every day, TV ratings will drop. Likewise, if top Bombay film stars present items at shaadi receptions, their aura evaporates. But the point here is not of being good or bad this is current reality, the market decides, so do not make rash judgements. If past values are imposed on contemporary cricket, then there is serious mismatch. In cricket, as in life, things change, there is constant movement, nothing remains in the same place.
Despite inconsistent results (big win over Australia, massive loss to Zimbabwe) Indian cricket is on the mend. There is competition for Test slots, except for positions at the top of the order which has vacancies. The middle order is pretty packed, and for once, medium pace berths are as overcrowded as train reservations during rush hour. That Zaheer Khan sits out of a Test, and Mohanty hardly gets a bowl in the net, shows there is abundant bench strength. Spin reserves are not as impressive but many feel Sarandeep is ripe and ready, he is a good bowler even on good tracks. The search for an effective leftarmer may take time because Sanghvi needs to progress beyond the fringes. Kartik appeared promising but has fallen off, presently he is nursing a troubling back, and may have to head for Australia for specialised attention.
Actual progress has been made in fielding, it is heartening to see players scrambling and sliding. The message from Rod Marsh and Wright that cricketers must be athletes first has sunk in. Players are working out in the gym, doing crunches, eating sensibly and all this shows in the field. Close catching is far better than earlier and younger players like Sodhi and Badani are speedy in the outfield.
Compared to the generation past the current players are expectedly more savvy and more alert. As products of a more happening society they are exposed to a lot more, their education is in fast-forward so to say, they are confident and assured. Competition compels them to slog, incentives down the line persuade youngsters to run the extra round, do one more situp, bowl another two overs in the net.
Forget for a moment India's defeats, ignore the stumbles. The team is trying, there is josh, players are determined to do well and set the record straight. Typical of this can-do approach is Laxman's incredible transformation. He failed miserably, yet recreated himself and now bats like a generous millionaire.
Why this astonishing change? Obviously there is talent, supported by a huge amount of hard work. Thirst to succeed forced him to visit libraries and read Benaud (for cricket gyaan) and the biography of Muhammad Ali (for raw inspiration).
Laxman is cultured, confident and connected. He is not the type to look down sheepishly if hustled on a cricket field. Nor are other youngsters in the team. The new breed is sturdy, more assured and this provides hope for Indian cricket.
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