There is something about the Eden Gardens

December 1, 2012

vvs-laxman

New Delhi, December 1: There is something about Eden Gardens: an electric ambience, and an audience that recognises and appreciates quality performance, even if it comes from the visiting team. When full, the venue is transformed into a theatre of joy.

A cricket contest at Eden Gardens can be an experience of a life time, for player and spectator.

Just ask Mohammad Azharuddin. Or V.V.S. Laxman.

Laxman made 10 Test appearances at Eden Gardens and Azharuddin seven. Laxman crafted a career-best 281against Australia in that epic match in 2001, and Azharuddin produced a 110 on debut against England in 1985. Both have five centuries each at the venue.

Of course, Azharuddin was to produce a gem seven years later when he cracked a sensational 182 against the English. The 281 and the 182 are two regal batting demonstrations that continue to evoke passionate discussions even today in the paras (neighbourhoods) of Kolkata.

“There are certain grounds where you know you can do nothing wrong. For me, Eden Gardens is the one,” says Laxman.

“For me too,” says Azharuddin. “I don’t really know the reason but I always looked forward to batting at Eden Gardens.”

He was 14 when he first played at Eden Gardens in a Duleep Trophy match. “I was in awe. It was a huge ground,” he recalls.

Azharuddin’s captaincy was on the line in 1993. He was given the job for just that Test. His response was a knock of 182, but the 141 against Pakistan in 1987 remains close to his heart.

“It was my toughest hundred to make. The conditions (ball was moving a lot) and the pace attack (Imran Khan and Wasim Akram) made batting a very difficult task. The applause echoes in my memory to this day,” recalls Azharuddin.

No different was the 281 for Laxman.

“I remember every moment, every shot. It is a pleasant dream that unfolds whenever I reflect on that match.

“Eden Gardens is a very special ground for me. Terrific ambience, and the pitch is ideal for Test cricket…and then the people make it very special too. You can feel it from the time you arrive in Kolkata. The entire city becomes involved in the match,” gushes Laxman.

Laxman raves about curator Probir Mukherjee’s work.

“The pitch suits my style of batting. The ball comes on nicely, and the outfield is unbelievably fast. It adds value to your shots,” he says.

Azhar says: “I always found the pitch worthy of producing quality cricket. You play a shot and just watch the ball scorch the turf. It gives you indescribable joy.”

Laxman once said he would have loved to play an innings like Azharuddin’s 182.

And, Azharuddin returns the compliment. “I would be proud if I could bat like Laxman in that 281,” says the former India captain.

Laxman says: “It has an imposing structure, actually imploring you to give your best. Kolkata has a great sports culture.

“Yes, the ground staff is very understanding. In fact, nothing changes at Eden Gardens, the staff at the ground and the dressing room, even the caterers. I love a visit to Eden Gardens.”

“The ground staff is so polite and kind. It is the best ground in India,” says Azharuddin.



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News Network
March 2,2020

Mar 2: Indian captain Virat Kohli was left frustrated and deflated as New Zealand won the second Test inside three days in Christchurch on Monday to sweep the series.

India started the day at 90 for six and were all out for 124, before New Zealand chased down the required 132 to win for the loss of three wickets in 36 overs.

It ended a disappointing tour for India and Kohli as New Zealand, who won the first Test by 10 wickets early on day four, wrapped up the series with ease.

New Zealand are now unbeaten in their last 13 home Tests, winning nine of them, and in the past decade their record as hosts is played 39, won 20, drawn 13 and lost five.

In the latest series, on traditional New Zealand green wickets, India managed scores of 165, 191, 242 and 124, reflecting the low contributions from Kohli of 2, 19, 3 and 14.

Kohli came to New Zealand as the world's top Test batsman and oozing charm as he described New Zealand as the “nice guys” of cricket.

But during the series he lost his top ranking to Australian Steve Smith and when Kane Williamson went for three in the first innings of the second Test the pressure showed when he gave the New Zealand skipper a very animated send-off.

There was further evidence of frustration when he was caught on camera yelling an obscenity at a group of New Zealand supporters on Sunday.

The end came quickly for India on day three as Tim Southee and Trent Boult tormented the batsmen with their variety of inswing and outswing deliveries targeting both sides of the stumps.

Hanuma Vihari was the first to fall, in Southee's second over, when he turned a legside delivery too fine and was caught by BJ Watling diving to his left.

Five balls later and with no addition to the score, India's other overnight batsman Rishabh Pant was caught behind off a Boult delivery that swung away.

Mohammed Shami was caught for five by Tom Blundell at deep mid-wicket and Jasprit Bumrah was run out when trying to give the strike to Ravindra Jadeja, who was unbeaten on 16.

Boult and Southee signed for most of the dismissals with Boult taking four for 28 and Southee three for 36. The swing pair accounted for 25 of the 40 Indian wickets in the series.

There was enough seam and swing available for India to keep the New Zealand batsmen guessing but Bumrah and Umesh Yadav were unable to apply consistent pressure and Mohammed Shami was troubled by a sore shoulder.

New Zealand coasted through a century opening stand by Tom Latham and Blundell before losing three quick wickets.

Latham notched his 18th half-century and second of the Test before he was caught behind off Yadav for 52, Kane Williamson had a short stay for five, and Blundell went for 55.

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News Network
June 10,2020

Kingston, Jun 10: "Enough is enough", said West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he opened up on the raging issue of racism and called for "respect and equality" for black people, who have faced discrimination for years.

Bravo joined the likes of his former captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle in denouncing racism in the wake of African-American George Floyd's killing at the hands of a white police officer in the USA.

"It's sad to see what's going on around the world. As a black man, we know the history of what black people have been through. We never ask for revenge, we ask for equality and respect. That's it," Bravo told former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in an Instagram live chat on Tuesday.

"We give respect to others. Why is it that we are facing this over and over? Now enough is enough. We just want equality. We don't want revenge, war.

"We just want respect. We share love and appreciate people for who they are. That's what is most important."

The 36-year-old, who has played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs and 71 T20Is for West Indies, said he wants the world to know that they are powerful and beautiful people and gave the example of greats such as Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan.

"I just want our brothers and sisters to know that we are powerful and beautiful. And at the end of the day, you look at some of the greats of the world, whether it is Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan we have had leaders who paved the way for us," he said.

Two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain Sammy had earlier alleged that a racist nickname was used to address him during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad and demanded an apology.

Sammy said he was called 'Kalu' while he was in India. 'Kalu' is a derogatory word to describe black people.

Gayle, who too plays in the IPL, took to Twitter to back Sammy, saying that racism does exist in cricket.

"It's never too late to fight for the right cause or what you've experienced over the years! So much more to your story, @darensammy88. Like I said, it's in the game!!," Gayle tweeted.

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Agencies
February 7,2020

New Delhi, Feb 7: It was on February 7, 1999, that Anil Kumble became just the second bowler in the history of cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match.

He achieved the feat against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, now known as Arun Jaitley cricket stadium in Delhi during the second Test of the two-match series.

India had set Pakistan a target of 420 runs in the match and the visitors got off to a steady start as openers Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar put on 101 runs for the first wicket.

It was then Kumble who came into the attack and wreaked havoc on the Pakistani batting line-up.

The spinner, also known as 'Jumbo' first dismissed Afridi (41) in the 25th over. After the right-handed batter's dismissal, India kept on taking wickets through Kumble and Pakistan was reduced to 128/6 in no time.

Kumble then kept on taking wickets at regular intervals and he got his tenth scalp in the 61st over after dismissing Wasim Akram.

This effort enabled India to register a win by 212 runs, and Kumble became the second bowler after England's Jim Laker to take all ten wickets in a single Test inning.

Kumble finished with the bowling figures of 10-74 from 26.3 overs.

Kumble announced his retirement from international cricket in 2008 and finished with 619 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He has the third-highest number of wickets in Tests, only behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia's Shane Warne (708).

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