Comebacks!

By Rajadhyax

When cricketers make comebacks, there are varied feelings about it. First there is the obvious nostalgia for the man and his fans. Then there is the promise of rediscovering the lost touch. Of course, there is the tension about whether he will do so or not. Basically finding him fighting back to the international scene gives us a renewed belief in human effort and spirit. And above all there is the possibility of new achievements or possibly new records as well.

These last couple of weeks have seen different comebacks from various kinds of players. ‘Comeback-king’ Jimmy Amarnath was suddenly announced to be the recipient of C.K. Nayudu Award – the highest recognition for a former cricketer – and that brought him back to the headlines. Vinod Kambli, who was a resident of the reality TV show Bigg Boss, expressed his wish to play one last time along side his childhood chum Sachin Tendulkar in the next IPL. Considering his fitness it is a probable preposition. A little bird whispered that he is putting wheels into motion to get a contract with Mumbai Indians. Kambli fans just might get to see the talented guy after all one last time in the next IPL extravaganza, if things go well.

But three comebacks on the field caught everyone’s attention. Mohammad Asif came from relegation, fighting a threat to his entire career and made quite a mark in New Zealand. He bowled with fire and brimstone and got the ball to move prodigiously to pick up quite a few Kiwi batsmen. He again played a key role in reducing the Kiwis to 99 all-out in the second Test. In the first Test of the same series Shane Bond came from Test cricket-hibernation and helped New Zealand win the Test match against Pakistan from a nearly lost position. He bowled with a lot of heart on a wicket that was not exactly supporting his kind of pace bowling. He stayed around the off-stump and troubled batsmen with subtle movement off the pitch.

Almost at the same time temperamental Indian bowler Shreesanth also made a comeback to the Indian side against Sri Lanka, days after being warned by local authorities to check his temper. In fact he was categorically told to improve his behaviour or face a ban that would sideline him from all kinds of cricket in India. May be that acted as the proverbial pinch on the shoulder and he kept a steady head to go with a fantastic line and length at Kanpur. That not just brought him a five wicket haul but got India the match and the bowler ran away with a man-of-the-match.

All three bowlers need to be complimented, though they had been dropped for varying reasons. Shreesanth was out mostly on disciplinary grounds but also a little due to his inability to find the Test match kind of bowling. Bond had to miss Test matches partly due to injury and otherwise due to lack of form. Asif’s case was entirely related to disciplinary reasons. The compliments are due because it’s never easy making a comeback. Once you are out of contention, you have to go back to the drawing board. You have to stay fit. You need to recharge your batteries and play a lot of domestic cricket. You then have to make headlines at that level and come back into contention for the national side.

Mentally it is an agonising period. Like Shreesanth said after winning the man-of-the-match, you seriously start to doubt whether you will ever make it to the international scene. The doubts creep in and make you suspect your abilities. Maintaining the self-belief at that stage is a taxing game. But you have to keep doing your job at whichever level you are playing. Then it happens one day and you are recalled to the side.

From there on it’s a new beginning. You have to prove on the field that the faith shown by the national selectors is not unfounded. And all of this must have acted upon these three guys who made a booming comeback to Test cricket. But now all eyes will be on them. Fans would want them to do one better in the next few games. Now these comeback-men have to look after themselves, stay fit and prove that they can discharge their duties in this second coming. Two out of them, Asif and Shreesanth, will also have to control their behaviour. Considering that it is the tough international cricket circuit that we are talking about, all of this will be easier said than done.