This post is about magic,elegance and spells. Before you jump to the words like Accio, Avada Kedavra and sundry incantations from Ole Harry Potter, let me say this is about another Wizard who has given me joy over the years. This post was triggered from a replay of match on telly which set me thinking. The Wizard is no Harry Potter but a toothy Hyderabadi who answers to the name of VVS Laxman. And instead of a wand, he wields the willow. Ah,well wands are sure made from willow in the Harry Potter universe. He averages less than 50 (less than Gautam Gambhir) but his innings retain a special place on one's memories. To me, he was all magic. When Michaelangelo was asked how did he create those wonderful pieces of sculpture in the Sistine Chapel, he said the sculpture was already there in the block of granite, he just set it free. There is such an inevitability in a Tendulkar classic. The innings is there, it is bound to happen and he will make it happen as Sun shall rise in the East. In case of Laxman, there is almost a childlike need to create magic. The audience is enthralled and enchanted and he looks forward to what will happen next. Almost like the petal in the water magic by Lily Potter. Its simple, its beautiful and it transcends normal thoughts.
Everybody talks about the iconic 281 Kolkata classic. For me, its the 32 runs he made in South Africa which was magical and at the same time ephemeral like all magic is. Its probably the best 32 runs anybody has made. The standout shot for me was a hook of Shaun Pollock for a six which was sheer beauty. In the movie Escape to Victory, the good (the only one) German General replays the bicycle kick of Pele in his mind and applauds it after every one has stopped clapping. He applauds for the sheer poetry, elegance and magic. I would do the same for that six of Pollock.
I have met VVS on a flight once to Hyderabad. By meet, I mean we traveled by the same plan. But I shall use the word meet for bragging rights. Thats my party line and I am sticking to it!!! First impressions would indicate a self-effacing person off the field. On the field, one gets a feeling that he is thinking new ways of conjuring magic. In a test against the mighty Australians, they had two fielders on the offside seperated by an arms length from each other. In fact , if they were to stretch their hands their fingertips would touch each other. And then Laxman caressed the ball which bisected the two fielders and raced to the boundary leaving the fielders scratching their heads. Magic is deception and deception is magic. Like all elegant batsmen, Laxman always had the extra second to play his shots. It was always great to see him almost slow the ball down and then scratch his chin and decide which shot he would play. Neo from Matrix,anyone?
Inzamam had always the extra time, but he was hampered by the lumbering gait which was like a time bombing waiting to explode in the next run out. Mahela Jayawardene has same magic to an extent and no better exhibition than the 100 he made in the WC final before it was drowned by the whirr of the Dhoni helicopter.
If there was a person for whom I would pay money to watch, it would be Laxman. There is always "Where were you " moment. Like where were you when Man landed on the moon? Where were you when Rajiv Gandhi was assasinated? In cricketing lore, it has always been "Where were you when Laxman made that 281?" at least for me.
Not for him, the savagery of Sehwag or the dependability of Dravid or the inevitability of Sachin. It is always been the caress , the touch and timing. He has been criticised for lack of footwork. I say, when did a Wizard ever walk? Even the Death Eaters flew. Alladin had his carpet. Laxman has his willow.
TO Laxman for those 'Pele' moments. And I am sure somewhere Down Under the Aussies agree!!!!
Everybody talks about the iconic 281 Kolkata classic. For me, its the 32 runs he made in South Africa which was magical and at the same time ephemeral like all magic is. Its probably the best 32 runs anybody has made. The standout shot for me was a hook of Shaun Pollock for a six which was sheer beauty. In the movie Escape to Victory, the good (the only one) German General replays the bicycle kick of Pele in his mind and applauds it after every one has stopped clapping. He applauds for the sheer poetry, elegance and magic. I would do the same for that six of Pollock.
I have met VVS on a flight once to Hyderabad. By meet, I mean we traveled by the same plan. But I shall use the word meet for bragging rights. Thats my party line and I am sticking to it!!! First impressions would indicate a self-effacing person off the field. On the field, one gets a feeling that he is thinking new ways of conjuring magic. In a test against the mighty Australians, they had two fielders on the offside seperated by an arms length from each other. In fact , if they were to stretch their hands their fingertips would touch each other. And then Laxman caressed the ball which bisected the two fielders and raced to the boundary leaving the fielders scratching their heads. Magic is deception and deception is magic. Like all elegant batsmen, Laxman always had the extra second to play his shots. It was always great to see him almost slow the ball down and then scratch his chin and decide which shot he would play. Neo from Matrix,anyone?
Inzamam had always the extra time, but he was hampered by the lumbering gait which was like a time bombing waiting to explode in the next run out. Mahela Jayawardene has same magic to an extent and no better exhibition than the 100 he made in the WC final before it was drowned by the whirr of the Dhoni helicopter.
If there was a person for whom I would pay money to watch, it would be Laxman. There is always "Where were you " moment. Like where were you when Man landed on the moon? Where were you when Rajiv Gandhi was assasinated? In cricketing lore, it has always been "Where were you when Laxman made that 281?" at least for me.
Not for him, the savagery of Sehwag or the dependability of Dravid or the inevitability of Sachin. It is always been the caress , the touch and timing. He has been criticised for lack of footwork. I say, when did a Wizard ever walk? Even the Death Eaters flew. Alladin had his carpet. Laxman has his willow.
TO Laxman for those 'Pele' moments. And I am sure somewhere Down Under the Aussies agree!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment