After both elevens have been without from within twice,
including those not out,
then the barman may pull the stopper out!
Category Archives: Cricket
Corridor to International Cricket
Best of Corridor Cricket at St Joseph’s College, Colombo in the early 1970s (© Ranjan Mellawa)
Defying the playing ban, many played “Corridor Cricket” in small groups. Hitting a paper ball or a cotton-filled chalk duster with two palms pressed together in a corridor was quite popular.
A countrywide change in school hours took effect in the early 1970s. Accordingly, St Joseph’s College, Colombo, where I gathered my virtue and knowledge, advanced its closing time from 3.15 to 1.30 in the afternoon. The revised school hours reduced the one-hour break for lunch to half an hour. Students were not expected to run around and play any sport during the break, but “Book Cricket” was our innovative option. Two people played it, flipping pages of a textbook at random, and based on the last digit of the right-hand-side (even-numbered) page. Last digits of 2, 4, and 6, counted as runs scored; 0 would be a wicket, and 8, a no-ball. For the toss, both the players opened a page and the one whose last digit was greater won.
Sri Lanka in The Ashes?
Seen this before? The scoreboard operator is ready for action at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy final between India and Sri Lanka on 29 September 2002. (© ESPNcricinfo Ltd)
Soon after Sri Lanka’s infamous ODI win against Australia in Melbourne, November 2010, we were at the nearby rail station to get back to our hotel. There were posters in the station announcing the forthcoming “The Ashes” series. On seeing those, a young Sri Lankan cricket fan lamented, “Why aren’t we (Sri Lanka) invited to take part in The Ashes!”
This wonderful game has had its share of complications. I am no expert but have tried to clarify a few cricketing terms that fans regularly come across, but often not properly understood by them.
A Memorable Moment
Jonathan Trott congratulating Rahul Dravid after the latter’s final ODI innings on 16 September 2011
In sport, there are winners and losers. But for a genuine fan, what matters most is how you play the game. Sport can be elevated to higher levels when the participants start to measure their success against the respect they get from their teammates as well as the opponents. Cricket is supposedly a Gentleman’s Game. Is it now? Despite various initiatives by the custodians to uphold the spirit of the game, acts in line with that theme are few and far between around the world.