Swansong

It's the last match of the cricket series between India and
Pakistan. The current series has had four one day internationals so
far. Two matches have been won by India and the other two by Pakistan.
This match is naturally the decider. The game is being played at Eden
Gardens, Calcutta. The stadium is filled to capacity which means that
there are a hundred thousand people cheering for the Indians. Everybody
knows that it's the last match for middle-order batsman Roger Sen. He
has had an illustrious career as a gatherer of runs. Roger is a
right-handed batsman. He has scored twenty-five centuries in tests and
as many in one day matches. He has always been an aggressive player.
Each of his innings is made up of an impressive number of sixes. And
most of his sixes are hit in the 'V', above long off or long on. The
spinners have always feared Roger because he can use his feet very
well. He can easily get to the pitch of the ball and give the flighted
ball the treatment it deserves. But all this was true of the old,
dependable Roger Sen. For the past two years Roger has been a shadow of
his old brilliant self. He has been frightened of the fast, rising
ball, succumbing to any delivery bowled at his body. What is more, the
spinners now claim his scalp with astonishing regularity. Before the
present match began Roger called a news conference in which he declared
his retirement. Only a year ago Roger had covered himself with glory by
captaining his national team to a famous victory in the World Cup
Cricket final. Thereafter he began losing his form. And what a loss it
was! The public that had once worshipped the ground he walked on now
pelted him with bottles as he boarded the team bus to the stadium. They
called him 'Loser Loser' all the time. But all this was due to end
today. It was Roger Sen's last match for his country.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Their batsmen all played
well. Two of them scored centuries. When the stipulated fifty overs
were finally completed Pakistan had made 376 runs for the loss of six
wickets. It was india's turn to bat. The Pakistani bowling attack was
formidable and India began to lose wickets at regular intervals.
At
34 for 3, Roger Sen walked into the ground to a standing ovation from
his home crowd. The first ball he faced was fast and aimed at his head.
Quite nonchalantly he hooked it for a six. The next delivery was a good
length ball on the middle stump. With the charm of the old Roger Sen he
hoisted it over long-off for a really huge over boundary. But there
were problems. India lost more wickets and more till the score read 64
for 9. The two batsmen at the crease were Roger, not out on 60 and the
fast bowler Mike Holder not out on 5. Roger walked up to Mike and
winked. Then he said, "Just keep playing." Well, it was Roger who
played what was truly the innings of his life. His square cuts were out
of the world. His cover drives were sheer poetry. His sweeps were
smooth and his late cuts delectable. His leg glances were delicate. He
hit as many as twenty sixes some of which were the result of difficult
shots played on the backfoot. Now anyone who has played cricket will
tell you that you must have amazing hand-eye co-ordination to hit a six
on the backfoot. When Mike scored his last boundary India had completed
an impossible victory. Roger was not out on 193. His teammates carried
him out to the dressing room. The chairman of selectors persuaded Roger
to reconsider his decision but Roger's mind was made. He would never
play cricket again.