Some terms used herein won't be able find the same connotation in d mindspaces of the ppl nonsynonymous wit Cricket.
Here I begin. An area of 8ft. by 12ft., lifted on a plinth of a building, accommodating 2 steps on the way thru. Extending all the way to the compound of the house (d boundary rope). Considering oneself as a right handed batsman on guard, there lay a main door to d right hand corner of the stumps n a glass window leading midway towards d boundary rope. Left sided landscape consisted of a 3.5ft railing running thru half d length of d field, wit a pillar supporting d canopy above.
The Veranda (a classified English word in Oxford's dictionary), the childhood dream of many aspiring cricketers, a stepping stone towards Team India, the place where me, my siblings, cousins, buddys n not so buddys grew up practicing the trade, even elders sometimes (wen they wanted to feel young). A trade passionate enuf to find a mention here.
So many memories attached, so many great victories achieved, some hard fought defeats n some damp squibs (dull one sided games included) are soon going to fall to d ever raging monster called Time. D moment has come for the Mecca of Cricket in Abad to fall a victim and fade into oblivion.
The acumen of elder folks living in 198-A, N-3, Cidco cud no more b held to a ransom. Tat a decision of sealing it into a Guest Room is, rather was, disheartening, damping and ever so saddening. It was like Mr. Ramakant Achrekar asking Saching Tendulkar after spending 10yrs @Shivaji Park to start taking to Carrom. Shattering!!!
The picture of it fading behing those Red Bricks finds a connection wit Salim watching Anarkali being burried alive behind a wall by d 'Jahapana'. And from d inside, it doesn't quite feel like quintessential, fresh to d memory battles wer executed thr, it surely has lost its Aura. It wil b curtains on d several budding and enigmatic careers. N d dream of making it Big goes to d Dogs wit it.
A brief Descrition of the place:
A veranda as mentioned earlier, wit its back wall acting like Adam Gilchrist, diving both ways to get U out (he'll finally retire now). D door on d right, towards point was a major wicket grabbing position, wit Ponting earlier n Yuvraj later manning d positions (quite funny, considering Yuvraj these days is not gud enuf to even field at Mid-On).
Any deflection of the small sphere, after hitting d flank and from any angle on to d Glass Window was an automatic indication tat d batsman had failed. If not for tis obnoxious yet excitement inducing rule, the legend of d square wud not have been possible (no-brainer considering d window was al d much imp). Straight outta d house over d boundary was again a farewel to d batsman (even wit tat, many a passers-by have narrowly escaped landing into their graves, they had to watch d nxt time they crossed tat section of d road)
No 6 runs awarded (rather 4 declared) even if it landed over d line inside d compound, such care taken courteously for d well being of those above mentioned passers-by. A leak thru d porous main gate, halved d runs (newest rule to b introduced). Straight over d leg-side railing or even into d neighbours' much loved garden was declared as Out. A cover drive for a right hander taking a deflection from d off-side wall to d leg-side compound was a wel earned 6 though. It did come wit a downside, d shot brought Gilly n Ricky vry much into d game n more often than not they came to d party, al thnx 2 faulty shot selection.
Fully pitched outswingers n ones aimed @ d ribs wer d toughest deliveries 2 crack. My fav shot stil being d cover drive, immense plesure one cud derive after its perfect execution, no matter how many runs it fetched. Some times, with more eager beings vying 2 b a part of d Eden epic, runners too wer introduced. Not to mention they created utter confusion given d short space to accommodate d batsman, d non-striker, d bowler n a couple of fielders sometimes. They wer allowed a run only if d ball crossed d steps to d lower part of d field.
Also various other versions of d game wer played here too, ICC isn't d only one frowned upon by d sporting world for having a game played in 3 formats :). A fad had emerged somewhr in between (can't remember d time, 2nd yr of engg mayb) whr underarm cricket was played in d honour of d gr8 Chappel bros. No consideration was given to d fielders n tat was d only time wen brute force was applied by d batsman to win games (it was banned later on).
Another format whr underarm, touch to run, one bounce one hand catch n 3 fielders around d bat tryin to pouch onto smething was invented, it was practiced only wen everyone was tired playing d normal format, no wonder Test cricket has lost its proud status. Anything going down d steps was out herein. D toughest format for d batsmen.
Lotsa runs wer scored, lotsa wickets taken, handful of stunners pouched onto, a few broken shards of d window glass n a rare abuse from d passer-by if n wen d ball flew past their noses or wrapped them in d backside, constituted a routine wen life had nothing else to offer.
With tis I go into Mourning, announcing the Eden square closed for any further action. N wit more ppl who contributed their blood n sweat to it, coming to know of tis development, I expect more n more Condolences pouring in.
Hard Luck guys, greener pastures await. Like was thinking wat cud be done inside d new room to keep d spirit going. N d answer is simple: take to playing Carrom, ofcourse :P
Vital Stats:
Notable Players:
Roshan Rane
Sumeet Deshmane aka Murali (d most difficult bowler to negotiate)
Udit Wadgaonkar aka Darren Gough (one wit an enviable length)
Suresh Shelke aka Chanderpaul (jus coz he resembled one)
Harpreet Ghai aka Harry (real life)
and
myself, Sandesh Deshmane
Best Young Talent: Amey Deshpande aka Chikky, now a snr player (Mendis of sorts, does spin it anywhr)
Last Bowler to Bowl: Harbhajan Singh
Last Batsman to Bat: Ross Taylor
(in free time everyone of us imitated real life legends)
Best Shot: Harry straight onto 1st floor balcony of d house across d road
Best Series:
Roshan (Aus) v Sandesh (Ind), Winter 2004 (5-Night Test Rubber)
Fair-play Award:
to everyone, reason being, there wer never any proper sticks at d batman's end. Stumps wer virtual n upto a certain height. So trust played a huge factor in dismissals which clearly missed d Sweet spot. Oh! wel trust played a humongous part in any case.
Epics r based on trust n m proud tat all of us together cud script one at our Beloved Eden, R.I.P.
PS: extremely regretful if i have missed out anything or anybody, plz feel free to point tat out. It stil has to sink in n m in a state of shock!
