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Sight Screen

Saturday, October 29, 2005

The Book(-worma)

As I described sometime earlier in anticipation, the Waugh autobiography seemed like the definitive cricket book of my generation (so far :-). Even while I wait to lay my hands on a copy, one of our regulars here, Rupak Das, has already plunged into one. He has kindly agreed to share some snippets, impressions etc.

I will therefore, from time to time, keep bringing the topic back here. But I do promise not to reveal the ending and spoil the fun for you all :-))

At this stage I would also add my declaration that I have no links and/or agreements, financial or otherwise, whatsoever with the publishers of the book ;-)

First up...one of the forewards is by Rahul Dravid..who can surely be defined as one of the disciples of the Waugh School of Gritting It Out. Here's what he says on Waugh in the book.
Steve's legacy is hard to define, but I will remember him because he gave grit a good name. He proved that it is not only the pretty player who can capture the imagination, but also the tough and determined. Suddenly these qualities became as vital, as spoken about, as silken grace and sublime timing.
and another
I will remember the pain of not beating him in that last Test of his, in Sydney in January 2004, but also recall fondly his final innings in cricket against us, for it was a typical Steve Waugh innings: mind over matter, a man not in form but soldiering on, taking his team to safety.


And from the introduction section of the book, Waugh describes his early days thus...when he was very insecure as a player, unsure whether his future belonged in the sport.
Nestled among the sun-stealing skyscrapers of Hong Kong lies a small cricket ground. In 1988, this speck of greenery was the venue for a friendly match between the Australian touring team, en route back to Oz after a disastrous tour of Pakistan, and a Hong Kong XI. It was here, on perhaps cricket's most expensive piece of real estate, where I reached a point where something had to give. .... Well, I was experiencing what every sportsperson goes through at least once in his or her career - that deep, disturbing inner voice of negativity, the one that says, You aren't good enough, stop wasting your time, no more torture, take the easy option. Just fade away and be happy to lead a normal, controlled and relaxed life.


Then..going into the book...a funny story of Steve and Mark's first brush with the sport they would later grow up to conquer
Our very first official game of cricket was in many ways a disaster, and over before we realised what had happened. Not having a coach wasn't a promising start, and it was left to a group of mothers to guide the debutants of Panania-East Hills Under 10s. Not only did we
collapse to be all out for the grand total of four, which included three wides, but the Waugh boys lasted a meagre three deliveries. Mark had his stumps knocked over first ball, while I was fortunate that a full toss landed on my bat first up before I lost my stumps to the very next delivery. But it wasn't the pair of ducks or the
pitiful total that hurt us the most - it was the embarrassment of wearing our only pad on the wrong leg and the placement (by our parents) of our protectors on our kneecaps.


That's all for today...I'll keep coming back on this until the day you guys grow sick of it and cry out in pain ;-) And Rupak, thanks once again mate for the effort.

12 Comments:

  • Aquery: who started their career in Hongkong amidst doubts of whether he'd make it in cricket? Dravid or Steve Waugh? The wording of your post on this matter doesn't make it clear. Hope you can. Thank you. Avinash Subramaniam

    By Blogger Subramaniam Avinash, at 07:05  

  • the daily unusual: tried to clarify it now. Hope its better now.

    By Blogger worma, at 07:28  

  • nice story tombaan. I hope their revival also starts soon. We can see its within their scope.

    Btw...checked the score of Queensland match? Samuels 257...WI 612..promising show. Wonder why Lara, so short of match practise, batted at number 8?

    By Blogger worma, at 08:08  

  • "Indian board announce England tour dates"

    http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/indveng/content/story/223522.html

    Whoever said "Slowlee, softlee, catchee monkee" was obviously wrong.

    We can move sqiftly, but only once our asses are kicked by some anglo-sexon foot.

    Shameful!!!

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 10:25  

  • mock, Inglish hamari matra-bhasha nahin hai to begin with :-)

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 10:36  

  • mock, Inglish hamari matra-bhasha nahin hai to begin with :-)

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 10:36  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 10:40  

  • I am glad. Conversations with Turtles isn't my forte to begin with. Esp. the Mock variety...

    By Blogger Saurabh Wahi, at 10:41  

  • amit, hear, hear! I second that.

    Having to ignore the endless jabbering pro-and anti-SG is thoroughly annoying as the same points get rehashed. The same set of 'selective' stats get put forward and normal conversations get sidetracked.

    I got onto this thread hoping to read comments about worma's post on Waugh's book. How on earth did sg-RD get into the debate? Almost every thread gets sidebarred into a disucssion on that hackneyed topic.

    By Blogger Jaunty Quicksand, at 12:49  

  • while on waugh, who would have been my choice as the coach of Indian team, read the next piece frm
    Ranatunga...another fellow I adore, especially for his lateral thinking

    These 2 are the ones India should be after for a coaching position.
    esp when it is strictly related to strategy.

    Look at his latest piece

    http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvsl/content/story/223492.html

    Here is one guy that thinks Sangakarra is more suited to drive the nail in the coffin
    building upon the gains, rather than setting the path for others to follow.

    I well and truly agree.

    By Blogger Ginkgo, at 13:25  

  • Wait..I thought this post about Steve Waugh's book, but I see it has quickly degenerated into another Ganguly debate. Oh well.:-/

    worma, thanks for posting an excerpt...glad there is more to follow.

    By Blogger ClannZĂș, at 15:28  

  • ramshorns - you are biggest Laxman fan I have come across !!! Good on you though I do not think he deserves a place in the One Day team... sorry
    Regarding SRT, I agree with most of your points except that this time I am seeing a different SRT. If these 2 matches are a significant sample then he seems to be one determined guy - his approach, body language and everything is clicking. I think he is desperate to win a world cup !!

    By Blogger RandomThoughts, at 01:17  

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