Srinath singlehandedly lent comic relief in a grim situation
When Javagal Srinath, nursing an injury to his right index finger, came out to bat one handed in the second innings of the first Test against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium, pundits scratched their heads in bewilderment
Anand Vasu
04-Mar-2001
When Javagal Srinath, nursing an injury to his right index finger, came out
to bat one handed in the second innings of the first Test against Australia
at the Wankhede Stadium, pundits scratched their heads in bewilderment.
What was the Indian fast bowler and indeed the Indian think tank trying to
achieve?
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Sourav Ganguly is going through very difficult times right now. His batting
has let him down badly. When the combination of Matthew Hayden and Adam
Gilchrist made merry at the expense of the Indian spinners, the captain did
little to stem the torrent of runs. Why then did he choose to expose
India's pace spearhead in this manner? That's a question only Ganguly can
answer.
To put it in perspective, let us take a trip down memory lane and examine a
few other instances when players were injured and came in to bat using just
one hand. Probably the first recorded instance of a player batting with one
hand was Hon. LH Tennyson who made 63 and 36 for England against Australia
at Leeds in July 1921. Tennyson earlier sustained an injury in his left
hand while fielding. When he came out to bat he made these runs virtually
using only his right hand.
The second instance, equally famous occurred in June 1963, in the Lord's
Test match between England and West Indies. Colin Cowdrey, who had his left
arm fractured and in a cast and sling came to the wicket with two balls
left to be bowled. Fortunately for Cowdrey, the last two deliveries, sent
down by Wesley Hall, were negotiated by David Allen. All Cowdrey had to do
was be out in the middle. On that occasion, England needed six runs to win
when Cowdrey joined Allen and the West Indies needed just one wicket. The
match was ultimately drawn with Allen blocking the last two balls.
The third instance of a batsman playing one handed was in the Leeds Test in
July 1984 played between England and West Indies. Malcolm Marshall came out
to the face the English attack with a double fractured left thumb sustained
while trying to stop a Chris Broad stroke at point earlier in the match.
Coming in at number eleven, Marshall helped Larry Gomes go from 96 to 104.
Marshall himself made four. Amazingly enough, bowling with his good hand
Marshall claimed 7/53 in the second innings and helped West Indies take an
unassailable 3-0 lead in the five match series.
In all the above instances, players coming in have made a significant
difference to the proceedings - either saving a match, helping a team mate
reach a century or scoring runs himself.
Srinath did none of the above. All he did was embarrass himself and
highlight the conditions of the Indians, struggling against superior
opposition. What's more, he presented Glenn McGrath with the easiest Test
wicket in his career! The form the Aussies are in, the Indians can ill
afford to present them with gifts or indulge in mock heroics.
A look at the ball by ball commentary on CricInfo reinforces
the 'humour' in the situation:
91.4 Gillespie to Srinath, no run, on target, defends in the
most awkward way with the bat held in one hand
91.5 Gillespie to Srinath, no run, short ball, well directed
bounce just outside the off stump, moves across and bends down
91.6 Gillespie to Srinath, no run, Srinath moves well across
and lets the ball go past his pads, but the ball was away from
off stump too
92.3 McGrath to Srinath, no run, moves well away and tries to
make contact somehow with one hand, the ball just mises the
off stump
92.4 McGrath to Srinath, no run, short ball, directed on him,
moves away and tries to defend with one hand, misses again
92.5 McGrath to Srinath, no run, excellent stuff from Srinath.
right on target yorker from McGrath, defends it with one hand
92.6 McGrath to Srinath, no run, this time moves away and does
not take the right hand from the bat, also does not play at
it, the ball flies harmlessly outside the off stump
94.1 McGrath to Srinath, OUT: slowish ball, concentrates on
accuracy, Srinath moves away and as usual tries to defend with
one hand holding the bat, misses this time and the stumps
are shattered