CHAPTER 4
WARTIME CRICKET
SK GURUNATHAN
‚The Madras cricket season for 1942-43 will be remembered not so much for what happened
during the year as for what did not happen. As a result of the air raid alarm in the city in
April last, which, however, proved a damp squib, and due to certain other causes, especially
grounds being used for dugouts, there was little enthusiasm for the game and Madras
cricket went into doldrums. Neither did we conduct our league championship, which is ten
years old, nor did we take part in the Ranji Trophy championship, for the first time since its
inception. Maybe there were good reasons for this but there is no gainsaying the fact that
some of our young cricketers lost one precious season.
‚Cricket has a strange fascination for those who play it, peace or no peace. So far from
stopping cricket, many English cricketers have taken their bats to the battle front. Sir John
Astley tells a pleasant story of the Battle of Alma in the last World War, which shows how
cricket was never far from some soldiers' minds: the Guards, Rifle Brigade and Black Watch
were nearing the top of a mountain when a round shot came bounding along and passed
through the ranks which had 'opened to avoid it in accordance with orders.' Duff, a capital
chap and the company's best wicket keeper was just in front of Sir John who sang out, "Duff,
you are keeping wicket, you ought to have stopped that one." And Duff turned and smiling
quietly said, "No, Sir, it had a bit too much pace on it. You are the long stop sir, so I left it to
you."
‚Perhaps it was in this spirit we shook off the gloom and started to spend the whole Sunday,
playing cricket on any bit of ground that was available and towards the end of the season,
some of us felt like having had a good innings. And to make it appear that we had at least
one match of representative character, the time-honoured 'Presidency match between
Indians and Europeans, which was unfortunately given a break the previous season, was
revived. In a fine encounter, the Europeans won the match by 8 wickets.
‚Among the regular clubs, only the Madras Cricket Club, whose ground had been left intact,
played every weekend. The presence of some very fine cricketers belonging to the Services
added strength to their team, GB Edge (Staffordshire), Blunt (Worcestershire ground staff),
Robinson (Warwickshire), Weymouth, and NM Mischler were seen to advantage in one
match or other.
‚The Madras cricket season for 1942-43 will be remembered not so much for what happened
during the year as for what did not happen. As a result of the air raid alarm in the city in
April last, which, however, proved a damp squib, and due to certain other causes, especially
grounds being used for dugouts, there was little enthusiasm for the game and Madras
cricket went into doldrums. Neither did we conduct our league championship, which is ten
years old, nor did we take part in the Ranji Trophy championship, for the first time since its
inception. Maybe there were good reasons for this but there is no gainsaying the fact that
some of our young cricketers lost one precious season.
‚Cricket has a strange fascination for those who play it, peace or no peace. So far from
stopping cricket, many English cricketers have taken their bats to the battle front. Sir John
Astley tells a pleasant story of the Battle of Alma in the last World War, which shows how
cricket was never far from some soldiers' minds: the Guards, Rifle Brigade and Black Watch
were nearing the top of a mountain when a round shot came bounding along and passed
through the ranks which had 'opened to avoid it in accordance with orders.' Duff, a capital
chap and the company's best wicket keeper was just in front of Sir John who sang out, "Duff,
you are keeping wicket, you ought to have stopped that one." And Duff turned and smiling
quietly said, "No, Sir, it had a bit too much pace on it. You are the long stop sir, so I left it to
you."
‚Perhaps it was in this spirit we shook off the gloom and started to spend the whole Sunday,
playing cricket on any bit of ground that was available and towards the end of the season,
some of us felt like having had a good innings. And to make it appear that we had at least
one match of representative character, the time-honoured 'Presidency match between
Indians and Europeans, which was unfortunately given a break the previous season, was
revived. In a fine encounter, the Europeans won the match by 8 wickets.
‚Among the regular clubs, only the Madras Cricket Club, whose ground had been left intact,
played every weekend. The presence of some very fine cricketers belonging to the Services
added strength to their team, GB Edge (Staffordshire), Blunt (Worcestershire ground staff),
Robinson (Warwickshire), Weymouth, and NM Mischler were seen to advantage in one
match or other.
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