CONTRARY to assumptions levied due to the given title, Men in White: A book of cricket is not actually a book but a collection of articles that Mukul Kesavan wrote for various publications, including Wisden Asia Cricket, the Telegraph and the Hindustan Times. Different from most cricket books available in bookstores, Men in White has taken purely a spectator’s point of view, instead of a former player’s. This particular spectator, however, did grow up playing street cricket, lived life through sport-related injuries, selected his cricket idols and, like every other person that has embraced cricket as part of his or her life, formed personal opinion when it came to players and events.
The author looks back at the journey of cricket, especially from an Indian perspective. From the days of cricket as a gentleman’s sport, the innovation that was live radio commentary, through the Packer saga, the problems the sport has faced; chucking, advent of technology, implementation of various rules (especially the headless ones that the ICC repeatedly keeps implementing) as well as an interview with the great Azharuddin.
Mukul is a pure Indian breed when it comes to cricket. His balanced view on certain events, however, defies his Indian blood. Apart from all the above, the book also takes us through Mukul’s life; from his younger days playing street cricket in Pandara Park, an expansively built colony in New Delhi, through the lack of test cricket between rivals India and Pakistan in the late ’60s, to how he believes he helped India win against Australia by keeping his eyes shut.
The most interesting thing about this book, and Mukul himself, is the manner in which opinions apart from the norm are brought up — although they might result in more than a few eyebrows being raised. For example, Ricky Ponting, Alan Donald, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara have been rated by the author as great players but not revolutionaries. Unlike them, Sanath Jayasuriya, Waqar Younis, Shane Warne and Jonty Rhodes are the exemplary modern day cricketers since they transformed orthodox cricket into something that offers that extra oomph and makes viewers sit up and notice. The same sort of thinking will get readers thinking as to how a player can be charged with misleading an umpire by falsely claiming a catch when he, in actual fact, did not even appeal for it.
Men in White has this wonderful way of making readers think, as the cliché goes, outside the box; away from the newspaper reports, the comments by the television pundits and what the wise peers advise them. There is this alternative suggestion to almost everything that has been witnessed on-field, and even off it: ‘The West Indies… that’s a country only fans can visit because it’s a figment of test cricket’s imagination. It assembles itself when 11 men walk down pavilion steps to play a test match.’
Men in White, while conforming to Australia’s status as world champions, regards the mighty West Indies of the past as the true pioneers of test cricket. It is not only the Richards, the Holdings, the Sobers and the Marshalls that have had their fair share of praise, but also the West Indies supporters, the fervent followers.
As for the Australians: ‘For my brother and me, [the Australians] were hard-nosed men. Feroz Shah Kotla, winter, the 1969-70 tour, the ball slipped out of the hand of an Indian bowler and dribbled to a stop halfway down the pitch. Doug Walters (or was it Ian Redpath?) walked up to the stationary ball and teed off for four runs. I didn’t grudge him that boundary, nor did I particularly resent the sledging and effing that the Aussies pioneered in the years afterwards, but it did make it harder for me to take contemporary Australian cricketers seriously when they spasmodically committed themselves to chivalry, fair play and the spirit of the game.’
It’s not everyday that a collection of sport-related pieces that have been published randomly can form a nice read as a collated piece. There exists a flow that only cricket could hold together. The pieces are not in chronological order however. This does make it rather confusing for the reader but that is what is expected of a collated material. However, since this is a ‘book on cricket’, readers generally will be aware of events and instances occurring on either side and will serve as backing knowledge to the piece.
The book contains a lot of history — a bit too much at times. Apt, as well as bread and butter for the avid India follower, the intricate details into the history lessons can have a slight wearisome effect on a not-so-Indian fan, especially someone from the other side of the border. And Mukul does not shy away from speaking his mind even when it isn’t in the best interest of an Indian fan.
Men In White is a pleasing insight into the world of cricket as seen by an ardent Indian follower who is more neutral, when it comes to acknowledging and delivering praise where its due, than most cricket lovers. A special mention on achievements by hard-working cricketers of the subcontinent, the book is a must-read for all cricket fans. For the Pakistani public specially, as Mukul Kesavan, if asked to make a choice between Sachin Tendulkar and Javed Miandad to play for his life, will put his faith behind the great Miandad: ‘Cricket was combat for Miandad, and he never took a backward step.’
© Faras Ghani 2007
Published in Books & Authors (Dawn) 2nd Sept 2007
2 comments:
Dear Faras,
It was Keith Stackpole and not Walters or Redpath who hit the ball from Rusi Surti that slipped out of his hand. Surti sarcastically applauded this shot. Stackpole further quotes Pataudi in his abrasive autobiography, "Not Just for Openers" as saying "Well Played" and confesses that "he felt like a rat". This happened in the 1st test of the series at the Brabourne Stadium at Bombay and not at the Kotla at Delhi.
Dear Anonymous,
It was an excerpt from the book itself as Mukul probably wasn't too sure on the batsman himself. Doesn't take anything away from a thoroughly interesting read though.
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