Cricket Then, When I played and watched and Now, when I only watch with no Kick : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Cricket Then, When I played and watched

and Now, when I only watch with no Kick

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Today’s cricket is technology-driven. Decisions are no longer left entirely to the naked eye of umpires. There is DRS (Decision Review System), Ultra-Edge, Ball-Tracking, Slow-Motion Replays, Spider-Cam, LED Stumps, and instant Third-Umpire Irrevocable Verdicts, flashing on giant screens. Every No-Ball is checked frame by frame. Every appeal is dissected precisely. The game has become faster, louder, commercially vibrant, from Five Day Test Matches to One Day Internationals, to T20s. The cricket of the 1960s, when I played and watched it was pure, patient, and played in what was proudly called as the ‘Sportsman spirit.’  

In the absence of television sets, we listened to every word of Radio Commentators like Vizzy (Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagaram) and Chakrapani. Cricket lovers imagined every stroke and every wicket. For instance, in January 1964, the England Team, then officially known as the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the historic London-Based Club that governed English cricket for decades, toured India. Under the captaincy of MJK Smith, MCC played five Test Matches and two first-class (County) Matches.

Match between South Zone and MCC, was played in Hyderabad, at Fateh Maidan, (LB Stadium) from January 7–9, 1964. South Zone was defeated by an innings and 27 runs. MCC player Wilson displayed outstanding skill in both batting with a century, and bowling in that match. The then Hyderabad (and National) Cricket Star ML Jaisimha, did not make a good score. Out of our love for cricket, some of us who were studying at Khammam College came to Hyderabad for the first time to watch that match.  

Before the county match against South Zone, MCC played the first county match against the Indian Board President’s XI in Bangalore from January 3–5. That match ended in a draw. Apart from captain Smith, players who represented England were: Brian Bolus, Fred Titmus, John Mortimore, John Price, Colin Cowdrey, David Larter, Barry Knight, Jim Parks, Ken Barrington, and others. On the Indian side, the players included captain Mansoor Ali Khan the Nawab of Pataudi, Buddhi Kunderan, Chandu Borde, Bapu Nadkarni, Salim Abdul Durani, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Dilip Sardesai, ML Jaisimha, Rama Kant Desai, Hanumant Singh etc.

All five Test matches ended in draws. Pataudi won the toss in all five matches. In the first match held at Madras, Farokh Engineer, who was to have played as opener and wicketkeeper, was not included in the team at the last moment due to injury, and in his place, Buddhi Kunderan played. In that match, India’s first innings score was 457/7 (declared). Since Buddhi Kunderan scored 192 runs, he was retained as the opener-wicketkeeper for the remaining four matches. In the final match held at Kanpur, Pataudi despite winning the toss, surprising many, chose to put England in to bat first.

England scored a massive 559 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, throwing a big challenge before India, since it was forced to follow on as feared. India were all out for just 266 runs in their first innings. Since Nadkarni, who had come in at the end as a bowler in the first innings, played well and remained not out, captain Pataudi promoted him to open the batting in the second innings. Nadkarni responded magnificently with a century and remained unbeaten, saving India from defeat. It was tactical brilliance by Pataudi, and extraordinary character from Nadkarni.

One unforgettable reminiscence was that, the legendary bowling of Bapu Nadkarni. In one famous spell (Madras Test against MCC), he bowled an astonishing 32 consecutive overs, with 27 maidens including 21 consecutive or 131 dot balls in a row, conceding just five runs. Today, with aggressive batting, fielding restrictions, and powerplays, such an achievement of sustained accuracy is unimaginable, and would be nearly impossible. Nadkarni represented discipline, control, and mental strength. He was not dramatic, but he was relentless. Batsmen simply could not score off him.  

Each player had distinct stylish mannerisms, that won many hearts. ML Jaisimha of MCC (Maredpally Cricket Club, Hyderabad), the elegant, with a princely bearing, was admired for his grace at the crease. The Charismatic, fearless, tactically sharp Captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, despite losing vision in one eye, captained with boldness. His double century in the series demonstrated both class and courage. Salim A Durrani, was a crowd favorite. Spectators would shout, ‘Durrani Six!’ and often he would oblige, though basically he was a Bowler! He brought romance into cricket. He was both unpredictable and magical.

Chandu Borde was, as always, the ‘Dependable Sheet Anchor’ of the Indian batting line-up. In an era where pitches were uncovered and unpredictable, Borde combined technique with temperament. He stabilized innings when early wickets fell. His value was not always in flashy strokes but in resilience. Dilip Sardesai was compact and dependable, rebuilding innings with quiet determination and admirable concentration. BS Chandrasekhar, with unorthodox action and deceptive leg-spin, could suddenly transform a match, keeping batsmen uncertain and spectators spellbound.

On the England side, players like Brian Bolus, Colin Cowdrey, Fred Titmus, and MJK Smith were technically sound and disciplined cricketers. The weather however, did not suit them. I recall that, there was an instance during the series when several England (MCC) players fell ill. At one stage, they did not have eleven fully fit players to field. Indian players stepped in to field for them. It was all in the true ‘Sportsman Spirit’ unlike today.

Overall, combining all the matches, the highest run-scorers for India were Buddhi Kunderan (525), Dilip Sardesai (449), and ML Jaisimha (444). For England, Brian Bolus (391), Colin Cowdrey (309), and MJK Smith (306) scored the most runs. From both sides, Salim Durani took 11 wickets, Chandrasekhar 10 wickets, Bapu Nadkarni 9 wickets, Titmus 27 wickets, John Price 14 wickets, and Wilson 9 wickets. I remember that Hanumant Singh scored a century in the very first match he played. Likewise, Pataudi also scored a double century.

There was no talk of ‘Match Fixing.’ No betting scandals. No media trials. Just pride in performance and respect for the opponent. Cricket today is faster, richer, and scientifically analyzed. Cricket then was slower, quieter, and emotionally deeper. Today’s players are global celebrities. Those days’ players were admired like artists. Today we watch in ultra-HD clarity. Then we listened and imagined. And perhaps that imagination made the memories even more beautiful.

I also vividly recall John Reid’s inspiring captaincy for New Zealand during his visit to Hyderabad, when he had great difficulty pronouncing the name of off-spinner Venkat Raghavan, whom he generously praised as a future Test great: a fine gesture of sportsmanship that left a deep impression on me. I remember how ML Jaisimha was initially overlooked for the Australia tour, only to be recalled as indispensable, and how later, rewarding the selectors with a fine century in the second innings. I also remember Syed Abid Ali of Hyderabad excelling as opening bowler, opening batsman, and even wicketkeeper.

At one stage, the Indian Test side (almost all) was dominated by South Zone Players, many from Hyderabad, including Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi of Jaisimha’s MCC. I clearly recall Garfield Sobers taking a catch against South Zone in Hyderabad and expressing doubt, as he felt his fingers might have touched the ground. Despite the umpire seeking clarification, Sobers honestly admitting his uncertainty, strangely, the next day, sections of the media criticized him for not speaking up before being formally asked, an ironic response to an act of rare integrity.

Then, cricket was guided by conscience and character, when a player’s word could decide an outcome, and we trusted the spirit of the game. Now, it is governed by cameras and precision, where technology confirms every verdict. From conscience to cameras, that, perhaps, is ‘Then and Now.’