I wanted to write a tribute to the genius and the legend who will be missed. Someone who changed the face of cricket with his magic. The flight, the drift, the dip, flipper and whatnot. He was poetry in motion. Then I thought. What am I going to write about the greatest spinner since I began to watch the game, Shane Warne, that has not been written elsewhere by much eminent columnists and scribes? Who am I, a nobody to write about the all-time-great and a freak like Warne? What am I even going to write about? Will anyone be interested to read what I have to write? Nonetheless, I must write something about him. I have written previously about Warne but that was more about his personality. Finally, I made up my mind to write the tribute.
What must I write about?
Now, the next question. What must I write about? Shall I write about the ball of the century? Ball pitching on the 8th stump outside the leg-stump and hitting the top of off. There are more than a billion memorabilia about this delivery. That is more than enough. That one delivery has been dissected enough.
Next up, shall I write about the delivery that had Strauss look like joker in a circus? As Jarrod Kimber rightly pointed out, it was delivered 10 years after the Gatting ball. By then, every possible facet of Warne’s bowling was known to everyone. Everyone knew what to expect. Yet, Warne delivered an absolutely spellbinding delivery. To my mind, this was better than the Gatting delivery because it was well after Warne began his beautiful journey. Again, another million beautiful pieces were written about it.
Third, what about the magnificent spell of bowling during the 1999 ODI World Cup Semi Final against South Africa? It was Warne who won that game. There was no way on earth Australia would have defended a less than par total without Warne. He not only picked up wickets but he induced the much needed confidence in the Australian team that they can win. However, another million pieces already.
Warne ended a couple of careers
Fourth, shall I write about that one delivery that finished Basit Ali’s career? Warne took unusually longtime to bowl the final ball of the day. Basit Ali stood like a rabbit at the crease waiting to be snared. Warne ambling along bowled him around his legs and that effectively sealed Ali’s spot. No, there were quite a few that I have read.
Fifth, how about the nervous wreck that was Daryl Cullinan? He did everything in his capacity, even opened the innings in a ODI and yet fell prey to Warne. Warne himself has ridiculed Cullinan multiple times. I do not want to add to that.
I hit upon a thought
So, what is it that I can write about? And then, it struck me. I will write about something that I suppose no one has attempted at this point. I will write about the experience of the Indian supporter watching Warne. How Warne was handled better than every other team around the world. How the Indian team for once, was able to tame a superstar. It is in no way disrespectful to the champion but it will show how satisfying was it to see a giant being tamed by the follow countrymen. It felt as though I myself had won the battle against the goliath.
The year was 1993/94, semi-finals of the Austral-Asia Cup. Until that point, India have not played Warne after his debut. He had already become a superstar. Warne was feared the world over. He had made mincemeat of South Africa, Pakistan & England until that point. His litmus test awaited him against India, the pre-eminent players of spin bowling. The first spell was quite tidy. India were cruising anyway. Everything depended on Warne. In his success stood the success of Australia. Up against him was Vinod Kambli.
Indians wanted the world to agree
Indians were all nervous. We were all waiting for us to be proven correct, that Indians are the pre-eminent players of spin bowling. We were actually waiting for confirmation. Indians did not want to hear that the Indian players are neither good in playing fast bowling nor in playing spin bowling. We wanted to be respected the worldover for our ability to play spin. When I say, we, it does not mean the playing eleven alone. It includes the entire billion population. If this acceptance comes from the white nation, we will stand vindicated. This sentiment still prevails.
Kambli against Warne
Here was Kambli who wasn’t that much experienced against the greatest spinner. How is he going to fare? Will he be a nervous wreck or will he be able to hold himself? The crowd was watching with much expectation. Sunil Gavaskar who took over the coaching duties just for that tournament was watching from the pavilion. Tension all around.
First ball, Kambli danced down the track and lofted a straight and effortless six. The hit was as smooth as a whistle. Kambli did not hesitate for a moment and that resulted in that magnificent straight six. Warne the cunning bowler was alert to the situation. He expected Kambli to come down the track again and fired a wide one the next ball but Kambli read Warne’s mind clearly and did not move an inch. The stage was set for an entertaining over.
The next ball was flighted quite generously. It was way above the eye-line of the batsman but dipped right on the slot. Kambli timed a drive towards the cover boundary with great precision. By now, Warne was rattled. One more six and a boundary followed in an over that went for 22 runs. Hoots, whistles, cat-calls ringed around the stadium. All the Indians in unison felt euphoric. Here was the greatest spinner on earth being toyed with. It was something usually Shane Warne does to his opponents but here he was on the receiving end.
It never felt better to be an Indian fan than at that point
Conclusion to The genius and the legend who will be missed
My generation is the most privileged to have watched a wizard in action. It cannot get any better than this. Warne will always remain someone special. The aura, the slow run-up, the quick arm action and the sheer revolutions on that ball will forever remain etched in the memories of everyone who had seen him bowl. Harry Potter was written much later after Warne made his debut. I wonder whether J K Rowling thought of writing stories that revolved around magic after witnessing Warne’s on field magic.