Manifestations of the demon

Somerset were to play the Eagles (they did yesterday), it was a crucial encounter. They needed their top order to fire, help them post a good total on board. So that their bits and pieces bowlers would step in to give them a helping hand. Even before the ink dried on the strategy map there was ink on someone’s passport - The stamp of goodbye, the mark of departure or whatever you would want to call it. The passport belonged to one Marcus Edward Trescothick, the same man who had to leave half way from a party that toured India and again in the midst of an Ashes campaign.

Marcus was (rather is) fighting demons from within, demons that wouldn’t want to see him leave the shores of England to play. After a concerted fight Marcus seemed to have managed to cage the demons during a tour of UAE early this year. He landed in India on a positive note, though he didn’t make any notable contribution, his team banked on his experience. After all he was the top dog in the last county season.

But Marcus did well to fight them, in fact he nearly vanquished them before this reappearance. Demons, they have their way.

Manoj Prabhakar said he is a glorified luggage handler. One could understand Prabhakar’s frustrations. For, in a cricket team the luggage handler is the booker… Well err… I mean the one who takes care of the travel arrangement of the touring party. I am sure Prabhakar thought he was the master Booker, every bookie’s friend and a smart cookie who tries deflecting the blame. So why someone else? (BTW, did he aim his potshots at Russell Radhakrishnan or Venky ??)

Nonsense apart, Venkatesh Prasad is probably one of the qualified coaches in India, he did well while as the coach of Karnataka. Whatever said about his speed, he was an intelligent bowler and was successful too. If he was not, any of Ashish Winston Zaidi, Dodda Ganesh, David Johnson, Abhay Kuruvilla & Paras Mahbrey would have played more tests than him. Add their numbers together it would still be lesser than Venky’s. I am sure he contributed something atleast.

He was perched on top of the open bus savoring the T20 win, he was on top of the world when some commentators called India’s bowling attack the best in the world.

But that was before the demons had their way.

Robin Singh or Robbing Singh, call him whatever. He is one of the earnest figures in Indian cricket, again one of the few qualified figures. Hardworking and sincere, that is how most of his peers describe him. I am sure Sachin Tendulkar wouldn’t have recommended his name as Mumbai Indians coach for nothing.

Sachin called him just before the demons ejected him. And then, the demons had their way.

Rahul Dravid, whatever said he definitely is an all season’s player. He is one of the most successful ODI players India has ever had, someone who brought solidity into the middle order. He has more been a silent samurai than a cricket player. For, he’s had to slay the demons all through his career.

Does anyone remember Jaywant Lele ? Rahul Dravid is not fit for ODI’s he proclaimed and had him dropped from the team. Dravid fought his way back. And then it was the Colonel’s turn, he had to stand down as captain (I thought he was a rather successful captain) and saw himself dropped from the ODI team.

And then came the bouncers, those were the demons down Rohit Sharma & Suresh Raina’s alley. They saw the resurgence of Dravid, but it was shortlived. The next place where the Indians play ODI’s is at home where it doesn’t bounce that well.

So the demons had their way.

Demons have had their way either by themselves as the Trescothick story illustrates or through a demoniac as in the case of Venky, Robin & Rahul.

Many variants of demon but their objective is the same, elimination. Raina’s, Bhajji’s and even Dhoni’s run for that amulet, the day when the demons would chase you is not too far.

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