In the first Test
(test no. 2207) against West Indies, India is in a comfortable position
302/4. Virat Kohli unbeaten on 143;
Shikhar Dhawan made 84. Kohli joins
Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid as Indian Captains making centuries in WI. Before you read further, do you the Indian
wicket-keeper, (retired last year) who
made a century against WI but went on to play only 6 tests and 12 ODIs ?
There were times
when teams feared touring West Indies – and many players career ended because
of such tour. In 1970-71, Dilip
Sardesai’s career was seemingly closing.
He hit 212 at Kingston and made 642 in that Series but was outsmarted by
the arrival of the compact little master Sunil Gavaskar who made 774 runs in
that single Series and changed the way Indians batted.
This Test is played
at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The new venue, built in time for the 2007
World Cup, has stands named after Curtly
Ambrose and Andy Roberts. Statistically,
15 consecutive Tests in which West Indies haven't beaten India, starting from
their tour of India in 2002. India have won eight, and seven have been drawn.
India are the only team West Indies haven't beaten in a Test since October
2002.
Antigua, also known
as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the West
Indies. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main
island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda became an
independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations in Nov 1981. Antigua means
"ancient" in Spanish, its economy is mainly reliant on tourism, with the
agricultural sector serving the domestic market.
English Harbour on
the south-eastern coast is famed for its protected shelter during violent
storms. It is the site of a restored British colonial naval station called
"Nelson's Dockyard" after Captain Horatio Nelson. Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, was Senior Naval Officer of the Leeward
Islands from 1784 to 1787 on H.M.S. Boreas. During his tenure, he tried to
enforce the Navigation Acts. These acts prohibited trade with the newly formed
United States of America. Most of the merchants in Antigua depended upon
American trade, so many of them despised Captain Nelson. As a result, he was
unable to get a promotion for some time after his stint on the island. The
Americans were at this time trading with the islands, taking advantage of the
register of their ships, which had been issued while they were British
subjects. Nelson knew that, by the Navigation Act, no foreigners, directly or
indirectly, are permitted to carry on any trade with these possessions.
Antigua was one of
the very first nations to legalize, license, and regulate online gambling and
is a primary location for incorporation of online gambling companies. In 2006 the United States Congress voted to
approve the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which criminalized the
operations of offshore gambling operators which take wagers from American-based
gamblers. This was a prima facie violation of the GATS treaty obligations
enforced by the WTO, resulting in a series of rulings unfavorable to the US.
The Guns for
Antigua scandal was a political scandal involving the shipment of Israeli-made
weapons through Antigua to the Medellin drug cartel in Colombia. The affair was
exposed by the Louis Blom-Cooper Royal Commission, following the discovery that
several murders in Colombia had been perpetrated with Israeli guns that had
been shipped through Antigua and were ostensibly for the Royal Antigua and
Barbuda Defence Force, which is equipped for free by the United States.
In May 2002, Sourav
Ganguly led Indians played WI led by Hooper.
Wasim Jaffer 86; Rahul Dravid 91; Sourav 45 made runs. VVS Laxman made 130; the young Ratra in his
maiden tour made unbeaten 115 with tail for company. India declared at 513/9 – but had to bowl all
its 11 [yes, the keeper Ajay Ratra too bowled an over] in a meandering draw as
WI declared at 629/9 with centuries by Carl Hooper, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ridley
Jacobs. The test is remembered for Anil Kumble bowling with his face bandaged. Kumble
sent down 14 consecutive overs and became the first bowler to dismiss Brian
Lara while bowling with a broken jaw. He was due to fly back to Bangalore the
following day for surgery, and as he said, "At least I can now go home
with the thought that I tried my best.
Batting at No. 7
(Ajay Ratra at No. 8 made a century), Kumble was hit by Merv Dillon. He spat
out blood but batted on for another 20 minutes. The series was poised 1-1 and
this was the fourth Test. India declared at 513 for 9. Test was drawn, Kumble
reasoned about his bowling "I
didn't want to sit around" !
Ajay Ratra has
retired. Ratra last played a first-class
game in 2013 for Tripura. Ratra, made
his international debut in 2002, played six Tests and 12 ODIs for India. His
maiden Test century against West Indies made him the fifth-youngest Indian
player and the youngest wicketkeeper to score a Test hundred. He was just 20 and it was only his third Test,
but later the summer proved to be cruel as he lost his place in the Test side
to Parthiv Patel, and in the one-day side to the appointment of Rahul Dravid as
keeper in the quest for balance. Ratra was part of the Indian under-19 team
that won the Youth World Cup in early 2000, and the following season, he
captained them to victory over England in a home series.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
22nd
July 2016.
Photo credits :
cricinfo.com
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