Dravid playing club cricket

[coffee_rules]

http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/legend-play/82284

The Match It was a KSCA Division II League game between BUCC and FUCC, two of the oldest clubs in Bangalore. The top two teams in the league get promoted. BUCC were second, but with another club close behind. That was why Rahul played, to ensure his team did well, and were promoted. It was a two-day game, with a points system more or less like the Ranji Trophy. Shining the Ball BUCC fielded first. Rahul was, as usual, at slip. By the tenth over, a part of his trousers was red. After every delivery, he shone the ball rigorously, as if a Zaheer Khan was looking to exploit some reverse swing. It didn’t matter to him that it was just a local bowler bowling against some local batsmen. He gave his bowler every opportunity to swing the ball. Fielding and Encouraging Most senior players in these leagues, most former and current Ranji players, do not necessarily field for the entire innings. They make the most of the services of the 12th man and often come out for a ‘break’. But not Rahul Dravid. He fielded for the entire 82 overs that we batted, he did not miss a single over. And he did not just field like an immortal surrounded by mere mortals. He encouraged his bowlers, kept giving them tips. He asked his bowlers if they wanted water. He spoke to them in English, in Kannada and in Hindi. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not I went in to bat at around 200 for 5, with my team in a spot of bother as we had lost a couple of quick wickets after a good partnership. I edged the third ball off a left-arm spinner to slip. I was dropped by none other than the man himself. It was a tough chance, dipped on him and probably didn’t carry, but I was given a life. He dived forward to try and reach it. Falling on the mud at HAL is not as nice as diving at Lord’s. He felt the impact as he rubbed the mud off his elbows. And then I batted on, had this interesting duel with their fast bowler. Copped a bouncer on the grill of my helmet. Then played one straight back to him which he threw back at me, quite dangerously. As he was about to throw, Rahul was shouting: “Easy easy, no.†The bowler later apologised to me. And then, the same left-arm spinner got me edging again. This time, Rahul took the catch, quite similar to the first one. I have never been happier getting out. After all, it took a guy with 200 Test catches to dismiss me. .... Disappointed at Getting out He had got a hundred, and taken his team to within ten runs of the lead and the all-important three points when he edged behind and was caught by the keeper. He walked to a standing ovation but he was unhappy and cursing himself, hitting the bat on the ground. He was upset at not having finished off the chase. The tail eventually did. After getting out, he sat with his sons and wife and was seen explaining something to the boys. The Crowd Usually, no more than a dog and a cow, if that, watch us play league cricket. But there was a constant stream of people coming in for this match. There was no security. They did not let him change, did not let him eat and kept hounding him for pictures and autographs. I don’t think a single person went home unhappy. He posed for everyone and never got angry, despite them not giving him a moment of privacy. The only time he showed a semblance of anger was when someone gave him a 50 rupee note to sign on. He supposedly said something along the lines of, “What is wrong with you? I don’t sign on money!†Thank you He gave a few of his teammates bats. He gave the guy who scored a century for us a pair of gloves. He ate with the team, drank water and was like just another cricketer plying his trade on the club circuit. At the end of the match, he walked out to shake hands and said to me, “Well played, and thank you, Arjun.†Thank you, Rahul Dravid, for giving us the opportunity to play against you and a weekend that we would never forget. Thank you for giving us another lesson in humility. Thank you for being an inspiration. And thank you for showing us that some dreams do come true.

:hatsoff:

[Sidhoni]

TFS!

[prinzo]

Basically he deprived a young player who could of played in that match

[Jersey #10]

He is addicted to cricket. Let someone new get a chance

[SLICKR392]

He is addicted to cricket. Let someone new get a chance

O' really?

[Jersey #10]

O' really?

absolutely

[SLICKR392]

absolutely

Its selfish in club level to do so but not in Int. cricket? Hmmm.

[Jersey #10]

Its selfish in club level to do so but not in Int. cricket? Hmmm.

What do you mean?

[Laaloo]

well considering what he did in the recent IPL, and playing for India the last 2 years, he was nothing more than a club cricketer

[Number]

Top bloke.

[hhunaeh]

tendulkar is just an excuse to bash dravid and insult sachin indirectly. It must be some other past bitterness. I don't see repect or admiration for sachin, sometimes people pretend to see attacks on sachin and use this to randomly troll, insult sachin indirectly , bash dravid directly and create general mayhem all round. Shame to see tendulkar being used like this to troll and hate. :headshake: