More rain and even more disappointment

By G. Viswanath

DURBAN, OCT. 30. The Indian cricketers would have been a big draw and popular at Chatsworth, a flat 40-minute road journey from here. The Indian township had a dream to host and mingle with the Indian cricket team they had deep affection for. The lakhs of Indians for whom Southern Africa has become their home and country have their roots in India. But many of them do not know where their ancestors came from; only a few have taken the trouble not to forget their mother tongue which is either Hindi, Tamil or Gujarati.

But cricket has such a sweeping and dramatic effect on Indians, wherever they are as temporary residents or citizens. The Chatsworth Indians were happy they were given the three-day match between an Indian XI and S.A. President's XI. It was as the enthusiasts would say: ``Monday was the D-Day'' for them, but rain played such a spoilsports that not a ball has been bowled in the first two days. Whatever hopes that Indians of Chatsworth hung on to on Monday night was shattered in the thunder and lightning that struck the coastal city and its neighbourhood. A downpour afterwards made it worse.

The news of an extremely wet outfield reached the Indian team management almost after crack of dawn on Tuesday. Neither the Manager Dr. Mahendra Bhargava nor coach John Wright was required to visit the Oval at Chatsworth. On Monday, the umpires had inspected the ground conditions at noon; on Tuesday the team management was conveyed the news of the unsuitable conditions when they were at their breakfast table.

Plea to abandon match turned down

Another news that went around the breakfast table was that even the inland city of Blomfontein, the venue for the first Test starting on November 3, had received heavy rainfall and has interfered with the groundstaff's work in preparing the pitch. The home board was asked by the tour committee to cancel the remaining part of the match and make provision for the team's advance departure to Bloemfontein. Even a professionally-run United Cricket Board (UCB) could not meet the visitors' request because of the logistics involved in transporting the Indians were somewhat difficult to make in the eleventh hour.

So the team decided to stay put here and as per the original schedule and take the first plane out of Durban to Bloemfontein at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday. The team which had assembled for breakfast took a short break before crossing the street in front of the Holiday Inn for a run on the sidewalk along the Indian Ocean. They had to keep themselves occupied in some way or the other and the coach and physio could not have designed a better plan than to make the players fresh and keen and eager to run at a locale free of polluted air.

The irony of it all was that the day time in Durban was bright and sunny and it was impossible to believe that a cricket match could not be played in the city or at Chatsworth, which according to reports is not the right place to stage an international match. There seems to be a bitter feud going on between the officials of the Natal Cricket and the authorities at Chatsworth because the latter was not awarded a World Cup match. The rivalry among provincial officials has prevented the Indian team of practice against a a first class team before the first Test.

Poor arrangement

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has often been the target of criticism for poor arrangement by foreign teams, must take up the matter directly with the UCB or direct the team management here to seek explanation for the failure of the Chatsworth officials to restore the ground to conditions fit enough for play. Dr. Bharagva said on Monday that there was not more than five men at the Oval and that the ground did not seem to have proper facilities.

The Indians had no option, but to once again visit the Kingsmead for another round of training and practice sessions. In the prevailing situation, the umpires are not likely to deem the ground conditions fit to play on Wednesday. They have already informed the manager that they have to take into consideration the players running the risk of injury if the outfield is wet and slippery, what with only four days left for the start of the Test match in Bloemfontein.

A player who is looking forward to continue his good performance is off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. He took nine wickets in six matches of the tri-series at an average lower than 20. ``I am happy, but I would have been a happier man if India had won the final. I am very clear on my priorities. I have to bowl consistently well and take wickets for the team. I am impressed with the way Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis bat. But I still regard the Australian batsmen as better equipped,'' he said before leaving for the Kingsmead.

The Punjab off-spinner who shot into fame following his 32-wicket haul against the Australians said: ``That's history now. That will be an important performance in my career, but I am over with that performance and the hat-trick. I have to concentrate on the future. When I came here five years ago, I had little knowledge of the conditions. I am beginning to learn things. But my principal aim is to bowl well and win matches for India,'' he said.

He was widely reported in sections of the Indian press that he was finding it difficult to bowl with the Australian make `Kookabura' ball. ``I think people made a mountain of a molehill. One has to quickly adjust and adapt to conditions in international cricket. I have no problems with the `Kookabura'. I also want to bat well. I have developed a passion for batting. The thing is if I can make 30 or 40 runs batting lower in the order, it becomes a very useful contribution to the side. I have seen that happen two or three times so far.'' After being left out of the first match against South Africa at `The Wanderers', Harbhajan has grabbed the chances with both hands. Testimony of it is reflected in the six matches he bowled.

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