WorldCupClassics: Gilli Walks

Written on Tue Mar 18, 2003:

There comes a time when you have a choice between two things ...
There is glory; personal as well as for your team and people;accolades; a chance to resurrect whole of your people;regain lost pride; reach new peaks ; conquer terrotories nobody has even dreamt of even trading on. The world is looking unto you to be won.

On the other side is truth, honesty.

There lies a small catch:you've to do just one thing wrong.Nobody'll know, it has been done before and being honoured forbeing practical heros and wily foxes and cunning winners.

But there are men who :
"Can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose,
and start again at the beginnings
And never breathe a word about the loss;" -- If

These are the angels of the new age;
they walk because they know it is right thing to do; that is the right choice, baby if you would.

Take Gilli today: He is just yesterday demoted from the vice-captaincy of the test side; has not been playing upto his potential; once he was touted as the captain of this best side in the world, basically his fortunes are in slow but steady spiral downwards; his walking might open the now brittle aussie middle order(with Martyn gone and Waugh absent and only symonds and Harvys and Bichels; who have won matches but not very much well known for the consistency) to the guiles of Murali; might end up losing the semis for his team.

OR Lara in a earlier match: his team desperately needs to win this match to stay in contention for super six.He's on a dream run; playing the best cricket of his life perhaps. He is matching his rival for the best-batsman-of-the-world title stroke by stroke if not score by score.He is the one who can make the difference.Who can show the gloomy West Indian cricket light on the lost path to the glory of the past.

Both could have probably done all that provided they ignored one small pang of self conscience. The umpire any way has not given you out. so you are not out, technically.

Still they walked, only because staying ain't "cricket". These are angels among some mere mortals.

These mortals may be demi gods; but only with feet of Clay. The lightening does not last more than a fraction of a second; but till it is there; it lights the whole earth with blinding light. The dew is always evaporated with the first cruel rays of sun but till it exists it reflects and holds a beautiful image of the whole world unto itself though momentarily.That's where divinity is displayed between the mere transaction of life.

Well done Gilly; well done mate !!