The heat on the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) hasn't lessened with signs of the Kotla not getting an international match in the near future becoming clearer by the hour.
The heat on the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) hasn't lessened with signs of the Kotla not getting an international match in the near future becoming clearer by the hour.
ADVERTISEMENT
Things reached a ridiculous state when former Test opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, one of DDCA's senior-most officials reportedly said that the Sri Lankan team chickened out. If, what Chauhan has said is true, his reputation of saying and doing the right things will take a beating. It was Chauhan who did a wonderful job as manager of the Indian team in Australia during the racism row in 2007-08. It was the same former player who contributed to India's famous 2-1 triumph against Steve Waugh's Australians by stressing in team meetings as manager that it was every batsman's duty not to give away his wicket.
Meanwhile, MiD DAY discovered yesterday an incident mentioned by former Aussie off-spinner Ashley Mallett which did not cause an uproar way back thenu00a0-- 40 years agou00a0-- but would have certainly made headlines in this era.
In his biography of teammate Doug Walters, published by Allen & Unwin (the ace offie has written books on Ian Chappell and Jeff Thomson too), Mallett believed that the ground authorities doctored the strip mid-way through the Delhi Test of the 1969-70 series.
Here's what Mallett wrote in a chapter called Indian Summer:
"Day Three was a rest day. We were concerned that the Indian curator, with the help of ground staff, might try to make some alterations to the state of the pitch. Perhaps water and roll it, or whatever. We had an Indian helper, called Govan. Manager Fred Benett gave Govan 500 rupees to go to the ground on the rest day to ensure that there was no hanky-panky with the Test wicket. Govan reported back with a cheery smile and all was well.
"On that fateful last day, I started the second over of the morning and really tried to rip one to Mankad (Ashok). I was mindful of bowling a straighter line to him and I shall never forget it: the ball pitched on the line of off stump. Two days before the ball would have spun a foot and bounced head high to the 'keeper, but, no, the ball went dead straight and Mankad lost his off-stump. Bill Lawry (captain) was elated. He rushed up and started chortling something about a brilliant 'arm-ball'.
'Phanto (Lawry's nickname),' I said, 'arm-ballu2026 bullshit. That was an off-break and it should have turned a mile. We're playing on a different wicket'.
My statement fell on deaf ears, but I knew something was desperately wrong. This is not the same surface we played on earlier in the match. We duly lost the Test easily, with Ajit Wadekar hitting a great 91 not out and Viswanath playing some delightful cuts and sweeps for an unconquered 44. It was inconceivable that the wicket could have played so well after the events of two days earlier."
Before being bowled by Mallett for 7 in the second innings, Mankad scored a Test best of 97. Mallett also wrote that Mankad confirmed to him when he came visiting Australia two years later that there was something hanky panky with regards to the wicket.u00a0
Mankad passed away in 2008. "There was no reason for Mankad to have invented such a story, it was also impossible for me to verify the story and no way there would be an investigation. Today such an event could never happen. Well, I guess we should never say never, but it is less likely to happen, given the way the ICC police the game," Mallett wrote.
The early end to the Test proved captain Lawry was almost right. According to Mallett, a day before the game, Lawry announced that, "We'll be fishing in three days"
Mallett also recalled the Kotla's practice wickets being poor: "The practice wickets were atrocious. They were full of gremlins. The ball turned a foot, bounced outrageously high as if the spinners were bowling with tennis balls, then the odd one would skid off straight, scuttling along the ground like a startled rat. Little did we know that by Day Two the Test wicket would be no better than the ones we trained on."
Australia ended up winning the series and Mallett bagged 28 wickets.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
