Tags:
Journalism of Courage
New Delhi, Feb 8: Amidst the euphoria over Anil Kumble’s historic second innings figures of 10 for 74 that helped India beat Pakistan by a 212-run margin in the second Test here last evening, the man responsible’ for preparing the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch was almost forgotten. Radheysham Sharma heaved a sigh of relief at the end of the match, his hard labour over the past 20 days having finally borne fruit.
“From the very beginning, I had been saying that there would be a result in the game. After Shiv Sena activists dug up the pitch last month, we were hardly left with 20-odd days to repair the damage. It was always going to be a difficult job to get the pitch ready in time for a five-day game. But the groundsmen worked overtime to make it possible,” Radheysham said after the presentation ceremony at the Kotla.
But hasn’t the Kotla wicket become bowler-friendly in recent years compared to its previous reputation of being batsmen’s paradise? In 1981-82, the Ranji Trophy final between Delhi and Karnatakahere saw 1412 runs being amassed for the loss of 18 wickets. Karnataka made 705 (helped by four centuries) and Delhi replied with 707 for eight (two hundreds).
Radheysham, known in cricket circles here more for his role as the coach of one of the pioneer clubs of the Capital (Subhania), has a ready answer: “Wickets all over the world tend to change with the passage of time. The weather plays a major role in this respect. Lack of sufficent watering and over-exposure (too many matches without giving sufficient rest) are also the reasons for the change form,” he said.
Radheshyam, however, happy at the turn of events. “I thanked God when Azhar won the toss and elected to bat. Toss was always going to be vital here although I had taken care to see both batsmen and bowlers got enough help. The way Ramesh, Azhar, Ganguly and Srinath played for India and Anwar and Afridi for Pakistan in their second innings, none can blame the pitch,” he said.
When asked for his reactions after his record-equalling feat,Kumble had said that he “would like to take the Kotla wicket wherever I go to play.” That is a tribute not only to the leggie’s bowling abilities but also to Radheysham Sharma’s pitch-preparation skills.
