Did You Know?

’Sledging’ is a word used very fashionably by media. But where does the term originate from? The derivation of this word is known to very few people. I got to know about it when I was reading Richie Benaud’s "My Spin on Cricket". This is what Mr.Benaud had to say:-

"It happened many years ago at a party in Adelaide, in November 1967, and had nothing at all to do with anything that had occurred on a cricket field, or has happened on a cricket field since that evening. The New South Wales team threw the party but a couple of players had to leave to attend another function. When they arrived back at the party room it was to find a waitress, carrying a tray of drinks, knocking on the same door. The door was opened to display an almost empty room apart from a couple of players, one of whom, Graham Corling, who was at the time nicknamed ’I’ll be’, looked past the waitress at his two team-mates and said, using a well known four-letter expletive, that the party is over. Another player, embarrassed at the swearing in front of a lady, said: ’Aw I’ll be, that’s as subtle as a sledgehammer.’ In the way of Australian cricketers’ use of nicknames, Corling instantly became known as ’Percy’ because at that time the big song in the hit parade was ’When a Man Loves a Woman’ and the singer was Percy Sledge. From the moment anyone in Australian cricket who swore in front of a lady was said to have been guilty of sledging."

How funny it is. The word is now so commonly used and most of us don’t know where it came from. Mr.Richie Benaud does a wonderful job by keeping ordinary cricket lovers informed of what happens both on and off the field.

Save Trees to keep Cricket alive…

This World Environment Day help save Mother Earth.

As responsible citizens of the world there is a long list of things that cricketers can do to save Earth. Are cricketers doing justice to the publicity they get? They are worshipped everywhere but are they worth worshipping? Just being a responsible cricketer does no good to the world. A cricketer must also understand his social responsibilities.

Indian Premier League [IPL] might have made a lot of money and might have been in news for all the wrong reasons off late. But today let’s take notice of the good deeds IPL has undertaken. IPL has a long term partnership with United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP] to generate awareness about environment. IPL with its popularity has managed to promote UNEP. To reduce carbon footprint is one among the many projects of UNEP.

Cricketers no doubt have wide spread followers. Their hair-do, their dressing style, their accent, everything they do is copied. So cricketers have an opportunity to do good to the society. They are role models to many emergent youth. Many cricketers have made use of their status to give back to the society. It would be nicer if all cricketers make an effort to support a social cause. Steve Waugh, Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath set best examples. Steve Waugh has a charity foundation in New Delhi. He has raised funds to the underprivileged in Kolkata after being inspired by Mother Teresa.

Sachin Tendulkar has also done loads of charity work silently, away from the media glare. I wonder why! When people get to know that a Godly person like Sachin is doing charity there are more chances than not for people to follow the footsteps of their hero. I don’t get the point of doing all the good work without wanting anyone to take notice of it. This time I can’t help but disagree with the God himself. It’s important to let the world know that you are working for a noble cause. At least then people might derive inspiration to help the needy.

Cricketers with their profile and influence can do the world of good to the environment. But they have to take the initiative and spread the word to save environment.

I can’t imagine a world without trees. No trees means no bats. No bats means no cricket. No cricket means no writing for me. Having said that, I further wonder if cricketers are saving the environment or ruining it! The bats they use are made of fine willow. Hundreds of trees are cut down to manufacture bats. Is there no alternative to the present day bat? Aluminum bat might be the answer. But choosing aluminum bat over willow bat is a topic of discussion for some other day. Until then save the environment, save trees! You don’t want cricket to suffer, do you?

Fielding holds the key!

[Also on cricdude.com]

Fielding, no doubt, is as important as bowling and batting. When nothing is going the fielding side’s way, a run-out or a brilliant catch or even a good save can up the team’s antae. The best in the business was Jonty Rhodes from South Africa. What does athleticism on the field mean? – ask Jonty Rhodes, a committed and a professional sportsman. The present day cricketers have plenty to learn from him. If you want to be called professionals act like one.

The greatest teams in the world have had good fielders and outstanding all-rounders in their teams. Fielding has always been the key. Good fielders can win battles for a side. Catches win matches? Yes, indeed. Take all the catches that come your way, save the boundaries, stop the singles, make the most of the run-out opportunities, raise the morale of the bowlers and you will eventually end up winning matches. These days we don’t have fielders of the caliber of Jonty Rhodes. The world will never see another Jonty Rhodes because he is the only one of his kind. Herschel Gibbs, AB de Villiers and a couple of Australian players have managed to be the shadow of Jonty Rhodes. Just a handful of players can be called top-class fielders. But the rest have never laid emphasis on fielding.

Just when we thought India has found wonderful fielders who can deliver the goods, they have all disappointed us big time. Have you noticed our young “out of the shape” cricketers? Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh top the list of outsized cricketers. They have horribly failed to keep themselves match fit. Professional sport demands players to be fit throughout the year. Injuries can’t be avoided but putting on a lot of extra weight can’t be accepted. They need to work out their few extra calories. Yuvraj Singh in his early days was an exceptional fielder. Many went on to say that he is India’s Jonty Rhodes. Unfortunately for Indian cricket, Yuvi hasn’t made justice to his title. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina are all really good fielders. There’s no doubting that they are extremely talented. It’s important to keep your feet on the ground. They have in many occasions made the country proud. Hope they will make it bigger in the coming years.

The young brigade of team India is now being tagged to have “attitude and approach flaws” which I, personally, think is rubbish. C’mon guys, prove them wrong!