Cricket historian Gideon Haigh charms at CCI

Mumbai:  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is utilising cricket diplomacy to further strengthen India’s ties with Australia. The Australian High Commission on Saturday seemed to have reciprocated to Modi’s initiative as it promoted the ICC Cricket World 2015 which Australia would be hosting jointly with New Zealand in 2015 here in Mumbai, call it superb timing or sheer coincidence.

To bring in the occasion, it invited Gideon Haigh, a cricket historian and a writer who has been covering cricket for thirty years, for an informal interaction at the Cricket Club of India. The England-born Australian journalist enthralled those present at the event with his insightful views about the game of cricket.

The writer who has contributed to more than a hundred newspapers and magazines, touched upon various aspects of the game – from history of cricket to Big Three’s (BCCI, CA and ECB) control over the game. Albeit briefly, he even compared Tendulkar’s autobiography to Ponting’s.

Charming CCI and Adelaide Oval:

Bowled over by CCI’s charm, Gideon Haigh said he could imagine why former cricketers rave about the venue even today. He, in fact, lauded the CCI for managing to beautify the venue without making it nauseatingly modern.

Citing Adelaide Oval’s example, he lamented how some cricket venues have lost their appeal. In the process of renovation and development, the pretty cricket stadium in Bradman town compromised on a sense of view.

Fans and cricketers once cherished being at the Adelaide Oval. However, with modern structure compromising the view of Cathedral and the city, the ground now resembles a great football stadium but lost its sense of view.

Forgotten history:

Haigh opined that we tend to look at history of cricket from two perspectives – role of money and good and bad sportsmanship. Discussing how modern cricketers interpret history, Haigh said that the new crop of cricketers is interested in history. However, their idea of history is limited to creating records.

Beauty on the cricket field:

On his first trip to India, Haigh urged game’s administrators to take some necessary steps which would allow bowlers a greater say in the game. He refused to accept that people only enjoy watching batsmen (using flatter bats with almost unending sweeter spots) dominating the game.  In fact, he said, the cricket lovers were thrilled watching Mitchell Johnson thrashing English batsmen’s helmets and all the other safety equipment with fearsome pace during Australia’s 5-0 Ashes rout in 2013-14.

ICC restructuring and Big Three:

The winner of the John Curtin Prize for Journalism in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2006, Haigh remembered how one of his acquaintances termed the restricted ICC or Big Three as ‘Big One and Opportunistic Two’. While Haigh did not look too happy with Big Three choosing short-term profit over greater good of cricket, he confessed ICC was not doing too well to enrich the game either.

Tendulkar vs Ponting and Greg Chappell:

The writer of thirty books thought termed Ponting as ‘straight shooter’ who says what he sees and feels. Discussing the issue of two of modern days greats – Tendulkar and Ponting – Haigh said that as their lives and cricket careers have unfolded before us, and as they are discussed so much, their autobiographies did not offer much.

When asked about Greg Chappell who Tendulkar criticised in his recently published autobiography, Haigh said the former Indian coach is adamant in his views and has not measured up to the success he enjoyed on the cricket field. Candid in his interaction, Haigh shared one anecdote about Chappell: Greg is 100 per cent on 20 per cent of times. However, Haigh termed Chappell as smart analyst and technically innovative.