Number Nine

The Doctors' Club in Calcutta is a close-knit organization. The
dwelling that physically houses the club is near Fort William. Like all
doctors everywhere doctors in this city are also very busy people. So
during the week only a few members visit the club. However issues of
the physicians come regularly. There is a music room where eminent
artistes give performances. Some enterprising visitors to the club also
play some musical instruments once in a while. But by and large the
music room remains vacant. The library next door has a large number of
books. As expected most of the books cover medicine, physiology,
surgery etc. However a few self-help books and comic books also find
place in this massive room lined with book cases. Doctors from all over
the province visit the club library to refer to the valuable books and
journals there. But their children come to the club to play cricket. It
is common knowledge in Calcutta that the cricket facilities at the
doctors' club are the very best. The pitch has been prepared by a
talented curator from Bombay. The grass is imported. Funds have never
been a problem for the doctors and a lot of money is poured into the
upkeep of their cricket ground. The children are not allowed to play on
the pitch. They can bat and bowl everywhere except the small grassless
strip in the middle. That strip is reserved for a very special event.
Every year all doctors are requested to cease work on the second Sunday
of January. On that day the doctors above forty team up against the
doctors below forty in a fifty-over cricket match. This match is held
on the premises of the club. No expense is spared to make the match a
success. From the galleries to the grass to the pitch everything wears
a new look. The spectators include the families of the doctors, their
friends and a few political dignitaries. A famous commentator is
usually invited to provide running commentary on the public address
system.
The match this year is very special. The seniors have in their team Dr
Ray who has played professional cricket. The juniors are led by Dr
Ganguly a current professional. Both teams have practiced hard for two
months. Expectations are high on both sides. The match started at
exactly nine am in the morning. The seniors won the toss and elected to
bat. The sky was blue as blue could be with a few white fluffy clouds.
Dr Ray opened the batting for the seniors with Dr Sen. The juniors
started with the pacers Dr Sing and Dr Ron. However the bowlers were
hit all over the place. Dr Ray scored with cuts, drives, pulls and
hooks. For nearly three overs he hit nothing but over boundaries. When
the spinner Dr Bal was introduced he was given the beating of his life.
His five overs cost an unbelievable 180 runs. However he was able to
get Dr Ray out caught and bowled. Thereafter wickets kept falling at
regular intervals. Despite this the juniors' bowling seemed very weak.
It appeared that they were lacking in sheer talent. By the time the
seniors' innings ended they had piled up 499 runs. At lunch there was a
ghostly silence. Even the children who were usually chirpy were
silenced into shock. Everyone knew that the seniors' target was
impossible to get to.
At exactly one pm the juniors' batsmen took the field. The left-handed
Dr Ganguly and Dr Ron opened the innings. Dr Ray opened the bowling
with his leg spin. Disaster struck as the juniors began to lose
wickets. First it was 0 for 1 then 0 for 2 then 0 for 3. People were
starting to leave the ground. Wickets kept on falling till the
score-sheet read a shocking 0 for 7. By now the juniors were silently
weeping. The juniors often lost this yearly match but never without a
fight. As the ground waited in silence batsman number nine walked in.
He was the spinner Dr Bal. The man whom he was going to face was the
leggie Dr Ray. As he waited for the ball to be delivered he adjusted
his green cap. And then it began. The next ball was hit for a huge six.
Thereafter whatever was thrown at Dr Bal was hit for a six. The
scoreboard kept racing like it was crazy. From 0 for 7 it was soon 200
for 7. People from all around the club were arriving to take a look at
the run-feast that was happening. No matter what kind of bowling was
tried each and every ball received the same treatment-it was hit for a
six. After one and a half hour the juniors were within smelling
distance of victory. People could not believe what they were
witnessing. Soon Dr Ray introduced Dr Butt. He was a very strong man
and was known to have a fiery temper. Dr Butt started aiming for Dr
Bal's midriff. Still Dr Bal was not deterred. In exactly two and a half
hours the scores were even. Only a single was needed. The other batsman
Dr Dig was on strike. He had no trouble in completing the run. The
juniors had won. Dr Bal was carried out of the ground by his
team-mates. As they were celebrating an old man came and sat next to
them silently. Dr Bal was saying, 'As I was coming out of the dressing
room, I found this cap in one corner of the wardrobe. I wore it and
something happened to me'. Dr Ganguly patted him on the back and
suggested, 'It's your ability man and our luck that has made this win
possible'. Suddenly the old man began talking. In a voice that was
almost inaudible he said, 'I used to work as a driver in this club. I
know that the cap Dr Bal is wearing. It was once worn by the best
batsman ever, the Don. That cap was worn by Sir Donald George
Bradman.'