Vohra: Retired stars should play if it is for worthy cause

Bikram Vohra 10:50 12/11/2015
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  • All Stars: Currently entertaining in the US.

    That great comedian Robin Williams once called cricket baseball on Valium. If that was harsh it’s small potatoes compared to the crusty commentary by Ian Chappell on the current All Stars series being played in the USA.

    Save for a match played between the Windies and the Kiwis in 2012 in Florida this is the first foray to acquaint Americans with the game and rake in gate money.

    For years now, the US has been inoculated against cricket fever and though soccer has dribbled its way into the country, cricket is still pretty much a non-starter.

    I watched the first game late at night and the novelty was fun but ‘friendlies’ have no fire and by the time the game at Citi-Field had limped to its end much of the sheen had worn off and I, for one, was wishing it was over.

    The second match scheduled for last evening did not make me change my plans. Come Saturday it will be at best desultory and sporadic viewing. Yes, there were 40,000 people in the stadium having a blast and enjoying seeing their heroes as they tottered into antiquity but Chappell’s remarks resonated in the aftermath.

    In capsule he said the whole point of retiring was not to play anymore. And what was the fun in watching ageing cricketers creaking about the field unable to bend down and pick up a ball.

    We all have an image of players like Lara and Sachin and Shoaib. So what viewing value is there in seeing the has-beens past their prime? Let’s keep that image intact of when they were at their peak not back in base camp. Their get up and go for the best part has got up and gone.

    One other valid point: why would you introduce cricket to the US with yesterday’s players who would only be able to give you a watered down version of how cricket is played and the prowess required. Scarcely sets the Hudson on fire.

    If you recall, last year the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks flew to Sydney to play each other in a bid to spark an interest in baseball. But these were top drawer teams and that made sense. You got the best in the game not folks who had hung up their gloves a decade ago.

    Out of breath bowlers, stiff legged fielders and rusty batsmen do not make for anything more than a happy circus and if it is just that. Guess it is okay to splash about in nostalgia but it will not be able to sustain itself over the long haul.

    Rather than watch the game you tend to get involved in rather rude assessments of the once lean, mean fighting machines. My goodness, is that Ambrose? Look at Pollock, I’d never recognise him, Shoaib’s fire is more a matchstick in the wind. Stuff like that. 

    And then before you know it, you are setting them up for derision and being unpleasant and that’s not nice.

    There will be a lot of takers for Ian’s irritation but one can counter the criticism. I’d walk a mile to see McEnroe play a game with Sampras or Connors even today replete with a temper tantrum. Three minutes of Mohammed Ali prancing about the ring with a Mike Tyson. Barry Bonds, Wilt Chamberlain, Pele, people who truly make for the element of ‘exhibition’ in the publicity of the event.

    Shane Warne expressed his disappointment over Chappell’s comments. Perhaps the one way to deflect the mocking element that tends to seep through is to play these sort of promotional matches for a specific charity. That gives it an immediate legitimacy and moves it from the realm of clowning about to adopting a worthy cause. That way you get to see the heroes of the past and also enjoy the shenanigans because it is a happy outing but with a purpose.

    Don’t expect to see Ian there. He rounds off his remarks by saying a fool and his money are easily parted, he’d never pay to watch has-beens perform. Come on, Ian, get in the mood, it wasn’t so bad you needed Valium.

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