Bitter, Sweet Memories

Although we were awarded the first one-dayer at Jamshedpur when unrest in thestands forced a halt to the play, I accepted Saurav Ganguly's offer to go backto the field because I would have a result on the field rather than in a drawingroom.

I will remember the Jamshedpur game for both right and wrong reasons -- rightbecause we at last won a game on this tour and wrong, because of the trouble inthe stands.

A trend has emerged where one-dayers see the crowd at its most boisterous andraucous mood. They are festive and vocal, a mix of serious and frivolous. Theones in the Tests are a bit more patient and understand the subtleties of thegame. Feelings can run high in the stands of a one-day game. At least twice inthis game before the matter got out of hand, my attention was drawn to sparks ofunrest in the crowd.

Vasbert Drakes twice complained to me about objects being thrown at him inthe fine leg area. It was disturbing but not a fit case for interruption in thegame.

Harbhajan Singh's final over brought the underlying disquiet out in the open. Itwas a good over for us as a six and a couple of fours were managed. For thefirst time the equation came down to more balls and less runs. Now empty cansand bottles started to rain from a section of the crowd and Ganguly had nooption but to take his men out of the field.

We were ahead in the equation at this stage and a winner on theDuckworth-Lewis formula. Mike Procter, the match referee, made a publicannouncement to this effect before coming over to me and briefing me of hisdecision.

A little later he came again to say Ganguly was prepared to go back to thefield and finish the game. I too was keen to have a proper end to the game andpromptly agreed.

My reasons to agree for the restart of the game was simple. I would have aresult on the field rather than in a drawing room. Besides, it is still fresh inmy mind how we choked in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy in SriLanka against South Africa in September.

It was important to know if we had learnt from it. It is vital for this teamto try and win some close finishes. Ganguly, on his part, did what anyprofessional cricketer would do under the circumstances. He was not willing tohand it over to us and was prepared to fight. He must have wanted to see if hisside could still make a match out of it and it nearly did.

In the end we won at the very last gasp with darkness creeping in thebackground. We claimed the game fair and square. I never felt physicallythreatened personally or for my team at the chaos beyond the boundary. It isdifferent for a fielding side though and for men who are stationed in the deep.

I find it difficult to comprehend that the areas most affected had loads ofpolicemen in patrol. They should have made sure the trouble-makers were broughtto book from areas where bottles were thrown. It wasn't a pretty sight and I amsure the administrators will now do what is best for the game.

I have experienced unrest in the stands in both India and Pakistan in thepast. The closest to it though was a game in the Caribbean when RichieRichardson was our captain and we lost to South Africa. The crowd didn't turnviolent as such but the hot air from the stands was palpable.

As for the game in the middle, our batting again stood us in good stead.Wavell Hinds continues his upward surge and so does Ramnaresh Sarwan. MarlonSamuels came good at his promoted position of number three. But the fieldingdisappointed us again.

I am not too surprised at our win as I believe we are a better one-day than aTest side. I don't think the absence of Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan affectsthe strength of this Indian side much. It will be interesting to see how theyrespond now.

PTI