Pankaj Singh was in shock Monday morning. He called up his parents, brothers to tell that ‘Bob Sir was no more.’ But “who Bob,” came the query from the other end — his family back home isn’t well versed about cricket except bare facts. “The same man, remember, who taught me a few tricks of the trade, coach of Pakistan team.” His heart skipped a beat. Four months ago at Jaipur, Pankaj’s 6-5 frame and searing pace had caused almost a similar upset like Ireland when he triggered a batting collapse of a near-full strength Pakistani team that played a warm-up game ahead of its Champions Trophy. With four wickets, Pankaj had knocked off the Pakistan top-order — Bob Woolmer just smiled and watched. “Next practice match, I got just one wicket and that’s when he came up to me and said, ‘you have it in you to play big cricket and you have to make some adjustments. You have to start reading the batsmen. Last time you got wickets and things were different, today you didn’t and that’s where the difference is. Don’t just run in and bowl hard, think out the batsmen. Work on your speed a bit and get in touch with me if you have any problem’,” Panjak recalls those kind words. “I remember those words, every time I play a match. Bob had no obligation to come to me and tell me. He was a world-renowned coach and I was just a youngster,” recalled the 22-year old sitting in the Ferozeshah Kotla dressing room on Wednesday. “It was his humility that touched me, a few minutes with him, indeed, changed me a lot.” Pankaj is in his third season now and has taken his team Rajasthan into the semi-finals of the Premier Cup. His economical spell today paved the way in restricting Karnataka to a modest total and is getting better with each season. There are many more who carry fond memories and cherish their interaction with Woolmer. Pankaj’s story is just one of them. Or probably, the last one.
