Art of Cricket to A-Z of Bradman

The small town where we lived in our childhood had two large playgrounds that belonged to the two High Schools, one run by the Town Municipality and the other by a Private Education Trust. They were the days without computers and mobiles, and naturally evenings were occupied in playing in these two big fields. There were another half a dozen medium and small grounds as well that belonged to other smaller schools. There was a great but healthy rivalry between the two high schools in various competitions, be it sports or other extra-curricular activities. The annual cricket match between the two high schools was an event that was eagerly looked forward to by all sports enthusiasts. Students from all over the taluk (tehsil) studied in these two schools. Many lived in hostels and some had private arrangements for pursuing their studies.

The town had a cricket group that played as a team only when an outside team was invited to play in the town. A blackboard kept on the previous day, in the town's main circle near the municipal office, used to announce the conduct of the match. Some of the elderly players in the team, mostly in their twenties and early thirties, had already finished their studies and were living in the nearby big city either for higher studies or employment. On the day of the match they would come together and assemble in the ground just before the match. The shortage of players to make up the final XI was managed by picking the deficit from among us youngsters. I was the official scorer for these unofficial matches. There was no remuneration for the official scorer, but the privilege of joining the participating teams for lunch was extended as a perk.

The eldest son of the town's transport operator was the team's captain. He was chosen as a captain for three reasons. That he was a good fast bowler was the first reason. He owned the playing kit was the second reason. He funded the expenses for the match and lunch was the third and more important reason. He was a fun loving young man and had contacts in the city for inviting other teams to come and play in our town. Though not practicing as a regular team, the winning record of the team was indeed satisfactory.

On one such match days, the captain had brought a copy of "The Art of Cricket" to the playground. The only source to see books for youngsters like us in those days were the school library or homes of teachers or local scholars. Books were prized possession and were never parted with. Borrowing books for school children like us was almost impossible. Don Bradman, a revered name then (as it is even today) was the author of the book. The book was passed around the elder members of the team. I got to touch the book when it was passed around. "The Art of Cricket" is actually a technical manual written by the Don himself and was originally published in the year 1958. The book was acclaimed as the best coaching book on cricket and holds its own high position even today, despite a plethora of books on cricket. The book has seen several revisions and editions and remains a popular book on the art of cricket.

I wanted to borrow the book and read it. The captain had already refused to give it to two of his elderly teammates. Asking him for the book appeared to be the toughest task at that time. I mustered courage and went to him in the restaurant during the lunch recess. My request was for getting the book for one day. He looked at me and asked me to sit down on the chair opposite to him.

"Are you in the same class as my younger brother Raju?"
"Yes, we are in the same class."
"How is he in his studies?"
"He is doing alright. Attends school regularly."
"He failed in Mathematics."
"He was more interested in sports last year. Now he is okay."
"I understand that you help him in his studies."
"Not much. I try to help the way I can."
"You know I do not give the book to anybody."
"I need for only one day. I will return it safely. I will keep it neat and clean."
"I will give it to you as a special case. Bur for only three days."

Two days were enough to read through the book. The book was returned with thanks well before the deadline.

*****

My niece visited her sister presently living in Australia. As a part of the sight seeing trips she visited Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral, New South Wales. Bowral town is 126 kilo meters from Sydney. While on the visit, she was kind to remember with my interest in cricket literature. She bought a book titled "The A-Z of Bradman". The first thing she did after landing in Bangalore was to meet me and handover the book. Such a nice gesture.

This book by Alan Eason is different from other books. The author studied Accountancy, but the book says he found words more interesting than figures. He started by contributed crossword puzzles to newspapers, covering a wide range of subjects. Sports and cricket got included and he used this background to present the Don from A to Z in this book. The book, spread over 440 pages gives all types of information about the Don arranged from A to Z. It contains information about his life, career in cricket and the many interesting personalities that were an integral part of his life. The book starts from Aberdeen seaport in Scotland, where the Don played his last match in Britain, and ends with with Zanetti Paul, the freelance artiste. For those who have not heard of Paul Zanetti, his cartoon of God asking for the Don's autograph on his arrival in Heaven after his death on 25th February 2001 appeared in many newspapers and summed up Don Bradman's popularity.

There are many interesting details in the book. Don Bradman averaged 101.39 before his last test innings. He needed four runs in the last innings to end with an average of 100 runs. He was astonishingly out for a second ball duck. Many things are said about the same. Some even went to the extent of saying that there were tears in his eyes as he faced the ball since he was ending his test career. He could not see the ball properly and got out, they said. But the don himself denied these opinions. In a television interview Ray Martin asked him " Do you laugh when you think, it is the most famous duck in cricket history?", Bradman replied "No, I don't laugh much about it, because I am very sorry that I made a duck, and I would have been glad if I had only made those four runs so I could finish with an average of 100". 

*****

In his "The Art Of Cricket", Don Bradman emphasises the importance of preparing physically and mentally for each cricket match, be it a club game or a test match. He deals at length on the choosing of proper gear like leg guards, gloves or a bat, or polishing the shoe and checking the nails on the boots. Things have changed a lot from the time of buying a bat and seasoning it with Linseed Oil. Modren bats are indeed different. Nevertheless, choosing the appropriate gear and checking their working before the match are as important today as in his playing days. Even slight carelessness in the preparation may turn out to be the end of what could be a great innings. This we see even today, when a batsman fails to ground his bat while taking a quick single or even while backing up at the bowler's end. Bradman's this lesson is equally applicable in every walk of life. Giving importance to minor details can be the boundary line between success and failure in any walk of life.

Fifty years is a long time indeed. "The Art Of Cricket" had to be borrowed for two days. "The A-Z Of Bradman" will be with me for much longer. Its reading pleasure can be savoured leisurely! There should certainly be many worthy lessons in it that can be used in future.