Yearning to return home

ON THE eve of a Test at Lord's, Sunil Gavaskar was in conversation with Ian Botham and David Gower. The little master had a visitor - a senior from the batting maestro's maiden tour of the West Indies in 1971. ``Wish we had this guy to share the new ball with Kapil Dev,'' Gavaskar said wistfully when introducing the Englishmen to Devenderaj Govindraj.

In a newspaper article on the game and those not fortunate to fit into its star cast, Gavaskar mused,`` To open the bowling with him (Kailash Gattani), I would have Govindraj of Hyderabad, who went on two trips with the Indian team but never played a single Test match. That was the West Indies in '71 and to England in a couple of months.

``Govind had a lovely rhythmic run-up and bowled outswingers mainly, but had a very nasty bouncer. No less a person than Barry Richards had to take evasive action after being surprised with the pace with which Govind's bouncer came at him. Govind was also a very useful batsman, who sold his wicket dearly and a fielder with a very good throwing arm.

``In picking these two, I have overlooked the claims of a few fine new ball bowlers, notably Abdul Ismail, Anwar Sheikh, Pandurang Salgaonkar to name a few. Abdul with his deceptive action was one of the best new ball bowlers in the country.

``But considering the situation I would plumb for Govind, because Govind could also use the old ball which unfortunately, Abdul couldn't do. And Abdul had to wait until the new ball was back before getting among the wickets.''

On those two momentous '71 tours, Govindraj was sidelined, doomed to carry the drinks for the all-important Tests, but fielded for the remaining 15 of the 18 games in England. In a preview to the Manchester Test with an absolute green top on offer, sensing Govind's imminent exclusion, Australian star Keith Miller had a word of counsel for the Indian camp: If you don't bowl this young man Govindraj, India will never produce a fast bowler.

The closest Govindraj came into reckoning was perhaps in 1967. The Indian team was to leave for Australia and mentor, friend, philosopher and guide M.L. Jaisimha had got strong indications at the Khadakavasla camp preceding the tour that Govindraj would be included. Imagine their consternation when teacher and pupil were dropped.

When a call-up came for Jaisimha before the Brisbane Test, it was with a vengeance that the duo prepared for the Hyderabad skipper's comeback. Govindraj bowled his heart out in four-hour sessions along with three others, as `Jai,' bristled to teach the selectors who had dumped him, a lesson. Jai's determination was as good as his word when he cracked a century (101) and 74 that took India to the threshold of victory. Govindraj's loyalty to Jai was total. During a match in the West Indies, the latter, posted at mid-on, signalled to the former to bowl a bouncer to Gary Sobers. Without a second thought, the speedster did just as he was told. That snorter was something the great Sobers was totally unprepared for.

Being Jai's good friend, Sobers knew what to expect next. When another bumper came from Govindraj, the world's greatest all- rounder tonked the ball, over Jai's head for a six. When the players adjourned for lunch, Wes Hall put his arm around Govindraj. ``With these shoulders you want to bounce to Gary, maan,'' the dreaded tearaway asked in mock admiration.

During the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup cricket tournament in Hyderabad, Govindraj was about to bowl to Gavaskar, when Hyderabad skipper Jaisimha had instructions for him. ``See that he doesn't take a single,'' Jai exhorted Govindraj, ``and leave the rest to me.''

Working to a plan, Jai set a water-tight field. Gavaskar in his eighties, played out the first two deliveries without scoring but snicked the third. Stumper Krishnamurthy spilt the catch. That reprieve was all the Bombay stalwart needed, as he went on to three figures.

``Fielding was so lax those days,'' he recalls. ``Stopping the ball with the feet was not the done thing and several chances, that today would be snapped up instantly, would go abegging.'' Not surprisingly, Govindraj would be tried out for not more than half a dozen overs with the new ball and eased out of the firing line, when `results' were not obtained!

``Even compulsions of introducing the spinners early, may have resulted in my being taken out of the attack soon,'' he recalls. During international matches, at the start of an innings, the ball with less shine would be picked. In contrast, Hyderabad and South Zone skipper Jai would give his pacemen the choice.

Jai's trust in Govindraj was implicit. The former would plead with the late Habeeb Ahmed, who led State Bank of India in the Hyderabad league, not to overbowl Govindraj. ``A pace bowler's career span is short and see that you don't wear him out too soon,'' Jai would say.

Govindraj surfaced during three camps conducted at the Lal Bahadur stadium for youngsters. Ken Barrington described him as an Indian prodigy. Another stalwart to predict a bright future for Govindraj was Ghulam Ahmed. The Times of India's K. N. Prabhu found him the fastest Indian bowler after Mohd. Nissar.

Jaisimha, Gary Sobers and Polly Umrigar were the batsmen most difficult to bowl to. Umrigar's stance would leave all his stumps exposed, but to break into his woodwork would be near impossible, Govindraj reminisces.

In an international outing, his most memorable day was cracking an unbeaten 54 along with Eknath Solkar (45 not out) and thus warding off defeat. The Sussex side they were playing included Tony Greig and John Snow.

Strangely, Govindraj had started off as a batsman but took up swing bowling on the advice of Jaisimha. After a struggle with the run-up, he settled down to a 16-step routine. His cart-wheel action was also compared to that of Ray Lindwall.

Life has been no bed of roses for this illustrious son of toil. His first marriage to a Guyanese lady of Irish-Indian origin failed. Three children from that association were not easy to look after. Working for the State Bank of India in London, he quit his job to set up a business. That folded up and now he's a bus operator with London Transport.

His brief visit to Hyderabad in an effort to organise a benefit match, reveals a longing to be back home and with friends. Effortlessly he slips into his native Telugu and the Hindi peculiar to Hyderabad. His English shows no traces of a British accent, put on by many who've been there far less longer than he has. He's honest to admit that his 20 years in England was never without struggle.

Govindraj harbours no ill-will or rancour against anyone for being exiled from the Test arena. The quintessential sportsman, he seems reconciled to his past, replete with pain and anguish, frustrations manifested more so in fast bowlers.

Cricket to him has helped bridge relationships and to this day, he enjoys a rare rapport with teammates from the south especially and Sunil Gavaskar. He was invited by Rohan Kanhai to play his benefit match.

When he's spotted at the Fateh Maidan Club here, friends from the old days come up and embrace him, full of the Hyderabad warmth, glad to have him in their midst. After all what good is cricket or any other sport if it does not make one a better human being ?

A JOSEPH ANTONY

Hyderabad

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