The greatest players in the world have come together to battle with the unrivaled team in the world. Imagine seeing the best bowlers spinning or seaming the ball and the most outstanding batsmen dotting the ground with their classic photo-framing shots! Nothing can ‘match’ this sight, right?..... Wrong!
If anything at all, the Super Series so far, stands proof to the fact that there is so much more to the game than players. It is not about the best pacer and the best pinch-hitter and the best wicket-keeper coming together. Frankly and quite obviously, it’s about a team. Now, I am not saying that Australia would have won the matches anyway. No. What I am saying is that even the most average players up against the paramount Australians could defeat them!(unbelievable as it may sound).
It happened in the 1999 World Cup, where Bangladesh, a team little known (till then at least) beat the mighty (at that time) Pakistanis. Kenya did it when they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2003.
The fact is that players have become bigger than a team. In the early days, Don Bradman was a genius with an average of 99.94. HE was a true genius. Today, superlative terms are used so loosely, that even a Dhoni (of one-match brilliance) becomes a ‘master blaster’. Truth is, even 11 of the finest players cannot beat Australia (or any other team), if they cannot work together as a team.
But I really cannot cast aspersions on a team that has just assembled and are (most) probably groping about even now because team work does not seem to be on the top of the list in any team for that matter.
A few days ago, I had an argument with my friends regarding this very lack of spirit. From what I have seen and read so far, I have come to believe that the colonial impact of individualism and individual glory has not entirely been effaced. Not surprisingly, traces of the Raj linger even today, on the cricket fields.
Picture this – the Indian team has lost 3 or 4 wickets and Tendulkar comes out to bat (he is batting at number 5 for some weird reason). There is a set batsman in Dravid, at the score of 70, at the other end. Tendulkar does not seem to be getting his shots as he has already faced two overs with his score still at 0. A run-out situation occurs and Tendulkar is faced with a choice. If he runs back to his end, he is saved. But a set batsman goes back to the pavilion. If he runs to the other end he will very obviously get out.
Hmm… so what do you think he should do? The answer will arguably determine what is bigger….. The player or the game itself.
huh? what does colonial legacy have to do with individual glory?
ReplyDeleteanyway, and about the question atthe end i think tht bwas answered pretty well when Dravidd declared with Tendulkar on 194.
and the world 11 is a team of 11, but a team with no common purpose. a team needs to have a strong common purpose and identity.
which among other things this team lacked!
read up anonymous!!! individualism = one of the marks of colonialism. but i agree wit u on wat u said reg the world 11. they were only 11 players wit no goal. i did not write all tat.. cos if i had then i wud never hav finished my post..
ReplyDeleteso stuck to one of the main faults.. and wo doesnt know abt the dravid declaration.. there r exceptions u no.. at least u think so.. the ppl i argued wit didn't..
I was the friend with whom you had this argument. U have said, 'friends' because u know trying to win an argument against me is like winning it against several people. By d way, I said Tendulkar in 1998, when he was at his(12 year)peak. U distorted my statement 'cos afraid of my truth, though truth is subjective!
ReplyDeleteahem.. mr vikas.. i said friends cos i think u r 1.. AND my argument is that players hav become bigger than the game..(except probably in the case of the great bradman) and u proved it.. i really dont care which time period Tendulkar was playing in.. THAT was MY argument! Tendulkar at any time period.. and puhleeeeeeez! y should i b scared.. that doesnt figure at all!!
ReplyDeletehey rupha, i do agree with your point that in today's scenario, the players seem to have taken precedence over the game itself. As for vikas, just let him dwell in his own bubble of false superiority, coz that's the only way he can possibly live with himself...considering the rest of us can't !!!
ReplyDeletelol.. hey antoinetta.. u took the words out of my mouth.. was wonderin how 2 say that 2 him myself.. ;)
ReplyDeleteit feels wonderful,doesnt it Rupha?you have just began your blog and your post has already generated so many opinions and views.i enjoyed the post and am looking forward to more such rivetting posts.
ReplyDeletethis is patiently waiting,
arunima.
hey arunima... :D nice 2 c ya here... wil surely visit yours!! heard it's really good :)
ReplyDelete