ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAI

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Brabourne Stadium, Bombay [March 1945].

The Ranji Trophy boasts a rich and esteemed history, with limited participation from foreign players. However, during the later stages of World War II, when a considerable number of Allied servicemen were stationed in India, there were sporadic appearances by overseas cricketers for domestic teams. In the 1944-45 season, one of England's cricketing greats, Denis Compton, participated in this esteemed tournament, representing Holkars. Interestingly, Compton only made a single appearance in the early rounds, scoring 22 against Bengal. However, he made a significant impact in the semi-final, top scoring with 81 as Holkar defeated Madras.

The final match, held at the Brabourne Stadium, pitted Holkar against Bombay. Despite a perfect pitch and intense heat, Bombay, led by captain Vijay Merchant, chose to bat after winning the toss, posting a formidable 462 runs, gaining a first innings lead of 102. Furthermore in the second innings, Holkar faced not only a deficit but also a unique challenge imposed by Nayudu, their captain, who forbade his team from drinking during play, except for Compton. This unusual restriction took its toll on the Holkar bowlers, allowing Bombay to amass 764 runs, setting a daunting target of 869.

Although Holkar faced early setbacks at 12 for 2, a resilient partnership between Mushtaq Ali and Compton briefly sparked hope for a remarkable victory. Despite the pressure, the duo managed to maneuver the field and steal crucial runs. However, Mushtaq's dismissal halted their momentum, and despite Compton's valiant effort, Holkar fell short. Compton remained unbeaten on 249, with the match producing a record aggregate of 2078 runs for a first-class game at that time.

Presently, numerous Indian cricketers view playing Ranji Trophy matches with disdain. Yet, they must not overlook the tournament's rich history and the remarkable players who graced it. After all, none of them can be compared to the legendary Denis Compton.

REFERENCES-

1. Martin Williamson, Compton, Ranji and the missing rupees, ESPN CricInfo. 

2. Denis Compton Tim Heald (Pavilion, 1994)

3. The Hindu, Ramachandra Guha. 

AUSTRALIA ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS

 

Image Credit- The Hindu.

Venue- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad [November 19, 2023].

It was the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Hosts India were facing 5 times champion Australia at their own backyard. India on one hand was unbeaten in this tournament, whereas the Aussies did taste defeat on a couple of occasions during the group-stage games. However, the previous records don't matter much at this stage of the tournament. Either you perform and win the trophy or else the opposition will knock you down. 

In this high voltage match, Australian Captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to field first. It was a packed stadium as over 1 Lakh Indian Spectators were out there to cheer their team. Amidst a sea of blue, Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill came out to bat.  The Hosts began their innings strongly, with captain Rohit Sharma scoring 47 runs off 31 balls. However, they suffered setbacks when they lost Shubman Gill, Rohit, and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession, leaving them at 81/3. Virat Kohli and K. L. Rahul then forged a partnership of 67 runs for the fourth wicket, but Kohli was eventually dismissed for a gritty 54. After the departure of Kohli the scoring rate slowed down drastically.  Furthermore, Rahul's dismissal for 66 added more woes as the Indian scorecard now read 203/6. The remaining batsmen struggled to accelerate the scoring rate, and the innings concluded with Kuldeep Yadav's dismissal on the last ball of the 50th over, with a below-par score of 240.

Interestingly Australia's innings too got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 47 runs within the first seven overs. However, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the innings with a partnership of 192 runs in 36 overs. Travis Head scored one of the brilliant hundreds in the history of the World Cup. He literally blew away the Indian Bowling Line-up. Apart from Head, Marnus too scored a solid 58* as the Aussies came closer to their 6th World Cup Title. 

Head was eventually dismissed for 137 by Mohammed Siraj. However, by then Australia was already on the cusp of victory. Glenn Maxwell came in next and sealed the win by hitting the required two runs off the following ball, securing a six-wicket victory for Australia.

The Mighty Aussies silenced the Home Crowd with their performance. Captain Cummins delivered what he promised before the game. 

To watch the highlight of the final, Click Here.

To watch the knock of Travis Head, Click Here.   

SUPER BEN

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Old Trafford, Manchester [June-July 2020].

In the summer of 2020, the West Indies Cricket Team embarked on a tour to England for a series of 3 test matches. Originally planned for May, the series was postponed for a month due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, because of Covid restrictions, the matches were held without spectators. The Windies claimed victory in the first test at Southampton, taking a 1-0 lead in the series, before proceeding to Manchester for the remaining matches. A draw or win in the second match would have allowed the Windies to retain the Wisden Trophy, while the hosts needed victories in both tests to secure the series.

In a crucial test, West Indian Captain Jason Holder won the toss and elected to field first. The visitors made an impressive start by taking three early wickets, with the score at 81/3 when Ben Stokes entered the crease. Facing a precarious situation, Stokes delivered one of the finest test innings, scoring a magnificent 176 runs from 356 deliveries, guiding his team to a competitive total of 469. His innings, featuring 17 boundaries and 2 sixes, shifted the momentum firmly in England's favor.

In reply to England's 469, the Windies managed 287 runs in their first innings, avoiding the follow-on but conceding an advantage to the English. However, adverse weather conditions resulted in reduced overs, prompting England to aim for quick runs in the second innings and hasten the Windies' return to bat. In a bold move, Ben Stokes was sent to open the innings and responded impressively with a rapid 78* off 57 balls, as England declared at 129/3.

With the Windies tasked with chasing 312 runs in around 85 overs and England needing 10 wickets for victory, the chase promised to be challenging. English bowlers, led by Stuart Broad, rose to the occasion, dismissing the Windies for just 198 runs in their second innings. Ben Stokes, for his outstanding performances with both bat and ball, was named the man of the match. His contributions were pivotal in England's series-levelling victory, eventually clinching the series 2-1, a feat made possible in large part by his exceptional performances.

To watch the performance of Ben Stokes, Click Here.